aid
earnestly. "But it's got to be what you want, too, or it's no good at
all. Don't try to be anything for my sake. Determine your own goals
clearly, and take as straight a path as you can to reach them. Just
remember, if you do choose science the standards are severe."

"It's what I want," said Ken evenly. "You said you needed me here. What
do you want me to do?"

"Empty trash cans if we ask it," Professor Maddox said. "Forget about
whose show it is. Professor Larsen and I will be directing the research,
and we'll need every pair of hands and every brain that's got an ounce
of intelligence in this field. You do whatever you are asked to do and
think of every possible answer to the questions that come before you. Is
that good enough?"

"More than enough." Ken felt a sudden stinging sensation behind his eyes
and turned to rub their corners roughly. "What about the other fellows
in the club? Can you use them, too?"

"As many as have the ounce of intelligence I spoke of. The rest of them
don't need to know the things I have told you, but with you it was
different. I had to know you understood just a little of what it means
to be a scientist."

"I'll be one. I'll show you I can be one!"

Chapter 7. _Dust from the Stars_

Ken felt he had grown 3 inches taller after his father's discussion. As
if he had passed some ancient ritual, he could be admitted to the
company of adults and his opinions would be heard.

This proved to be true. His father rapidly organized the facilities of
the college laboratories and recruited every possible science student in
the chemistry and physics departments, as well as many from the high
school. As these plans were outlined, Ken made a proposal of his own.

"I believe our first move," he said, "should be to set up a network of
amateur radio stations operating in cities where there are other
laboratories. If you could be in touch with them, ideas could be
exchanged and duplication of work avoided."

"An excellent idea," said Professor Maddox. "You can work it out as we
go along."

"No. It ought to be done immediately," Ken said. "If not, it may be
almost impossible to find anyone on the air later. There may not be many
amateurs who will bother to convert their rigs to battery operation.
There may not be many who can get the batteries together."

"Good enough!" his father said. "Let that have priority over everything
else until you get it organized. Probably you should find