Fixing his expression into a noncommittal mask, he stepped into the living room, and with his appearance the noise stopped. Twelve pair of eyes looked at him and Anne Albertson said into the silence, "I think we'd better leave, girls. We're not needed here right now." There was a murmur and a rustle, and miraculously the room was empty, except for Ellen. She stood in front of him, a slim straight girl with a face that was oddly white against the wealth of her blue-black hair. She wasn't pretty, Fiske thought. She was beautiful. "Are you off again?" Ellen asked. Fiske nodded. Wives, he suspected, were telepathic. "Admiral Koenig should go drown himself," she said bitterly. "He has no right to send you off like this. You've been home only six days." "That's twice as long as last time," Fiske pointed out reasonably. He felt proud of her. She was pure steel all the way through. No tears, no fuss, even a faint smile on her lips. If possible he loved her more than ever. "If you don't like it," he continued with a wry grin, "you might take it up with the Admiral." "Not me," Ellen said. "The one time I saw him at close range he scared me half to death." "Oh well, you needn't worry. It's just another try for prisoners. The Research Institute wants a live Eglan." "Haven't they got some? Ed Albertson came in with a few last trip." "Those were civilians. The labs want a military man or two. There's a lot of differences between the _Eglan_ military and civilians that don't make sense." "All they'd need to do is look at our fighting men. There's a lot of differences between _them_ and civilians that don't make sense." Fiske grinned. "Anyway, it's a milk run this time," he lied. "Don't kid the troops on the home front," she said. "It's big, mean, and dirty." "It's no worse than any other mission. Sure, they're all bad but I'm on detached assignment and there won't be a lot of other ships around cluttering up space and drawing attention." "I wish they'd leave us alone." "So do I. But these mule-eared Eglan militarists aren't going to be satisfied until we pin their ears back." "I suppose so, but I don't like to think of you out there." "Someone has to go," he said quietly, "and besides I've always managed to come back. I'm getting pretty good at it now." He kissed her lightly on the end of her nose. "Just keep on being good," she said. "I like having you around." She kissed him then, a fierce hungry kiss that left him breathless. "All right sailor, there's something for you to come home to. Now let's get your gear together." * * * * * Ellen followed him to the door. "I'm not going down to the field with you this time," she said. "Last time was enough. I don't think I could stand watching you disappear outside again. But I made something to take with you." She picked up a square flat package from the top of the recorder and thrust it into his hands. "Another tape like the last one?" he queried.