o suck them out into the open before they
could spot the trap, Kole. Is Lieutenant Daley in sight?"

"I saw him a while back, sir. He was headed out of a cave with the O. O.
But it turned out they were going the wrong way, because I--"

"Thanks, Kole. Report aboard ship. Don't get mixed up with the giants."

"They won't bother me, sir. It's like a bunch of big bees tearing after
a vat of nectar out here. They don't even see me."

"What did he mean?" asked Circe. "A trap?"

"Plastikoided lead box, twelve by twelve feet. All the alcohol in the
ship was poured into it an hour after we left, and they set it outside
as far from the ship as they could safely go. I didn't know it would
work, but it was a try. It still doesn't affect Jackson's orders. I
didn't know, I still don't know, but that some of the djinn can resist
the stuff."

"The _what_?" she asked, startled.

"Never mind. We've got about a quarter hour to get back. Where in blazes
is Daley?"

A small, weakened voice said in his ear, "I'm here, Pink. Jerry too. But
he's out cold. I don't feel so hot myself."

"Daley!" he roared. "Where are you?"

"Big cave, about size of Texas. Came across it trying to find our way
out. Lot of giants here. One of them saw us and picked us up and banged
us together. I think he must be saving us for a hearty lunch. He's
sitting ten feet off watching us."

"Your guns, boy!"

"No good. All the slugs are gone. Pink," said the weak, worried voice,
"do you know what time it is? You better hightail it for the ship."

"I'm coming after you," said Pink.

"Don't be a heroic son of a space cook, Pink!"

"Shut up and lie still." He switched his radio to close quarters.
"Honey, you make for the _Child_. I'll pick up the boys and be right
with you."

"You're crazy," she said flatly. "I wouldn't leave you if--"

He had switched on his chest lamp and drawn out a pen and paper from his
pocket kit. "I'm going to write Jackson a note countermanding the order.
Take it to him."

"You're wasting your time," she said grimly. "If you're going into the
cave, I'm going too."

"You fathead, you can save the ship by taking this note."

"You're doing it to save me. I won't. What happens to you happens to
me."

"My God the whole damn ship--"

"Doesn't matter to me if you're gone, Pink." Her voice was strange,
half-hysterical and oddly loving. "I don't know why I feel this way
about you, Pink. I've never been in love before. If I hadn't