top-level scientists.

They were innocent enough in concept, and sufficiently complex in
design to require a great deal of study by these conservative
individuals who would never risk a hasty guess as to the consequences
of even so simple an action as sneezing at the wrong time.

* * * * *

Major Steve Elbertson awoke with a start, to see a medic's eyes inches
from his own. For a moment, fearing himself under physical attack, he
struck out convulsively, and then as the face withdrew he sat up
slowly.

He was slightly nauseous; very dizzy; and his instincts told him that
he needed a gallon of coffee as soon as he could get it. Then the
medic's voice penetrated.

"Please, sir, you must rest. No excitement."

Almost, he was persuaded. It would be so easy to relax; to give
someone else the responsibility. But the concept of responsibility
brought him struggling up again.

Hot Rod was a dangerous weapon. He could not act irresponsibly.

"How long was I out?" he muttered.

The medic glanced at the clock. "Just over nineteen hours, sir."

"Wha-at? You dared to keep me off duty that long? I must report for
duty at once."

"Please, sir. No excitement. You must rest. Just a moment and I'll
call Dr. Green." With that the medic turned and fled.

As Dr. Green approached, Steve Elbertson was already on his feet,
swaying dizzily, white as a sheet, but perhaps the latter was more
from anger than from anything else.

"Major Elbertson. You received a severe dose of radiation. You are
under my personal supervision and will return to bed at once."

"Is the flare over?" Elbertson asked the question, although already
vaguely aware that the ship was again spinning, that he was standing
on the floor fairly firmly, and that, therefore, the emergency must be
over.

"Yes."

"In that case, sir, my duty is to my post on Hot Rod."

"Hot Rod's out of commission and so are you. I cannot be responsible
for the consequences if you do not follow my orders."

"Explain that, please. About Hot Rod, I mean."

"Why, it was struck by a meteor shortly after the flare last night. I
think I heard someone say that it burned out Thule Base before they
managed to turn it off."

Without waiting for more, Elbertson brushed past the doctor and headed
for the bridge.

The captain was startled by the mad-looking, unshaven scarecrow of an
officer that approached him, demanding in a near-scream, "What
happened? W