ings on Astro's mind as twilight darkened into night
over the canyon. One, he had to find out why Roger wasn't with Tom and
Connel when they were taken into the building; two, he had to figure out
a way to contact Tom and Connel; and finally, he had to escape himself,
or help Tom and Connel escape.

The big cadet finished the last job in the machine shop. It had taken
very little time, but the big cadet had lingered over it, trying to find
answers to his three problems. Around him, the workers were leaving
their benches and lathes, to be replaced by still others. A twelve-hour
shift was being used by the Nationalists in their frantic preparations
for an attack on the Venusport garrison of the Solar Guard. Astro
finally dropped the last wrench into the tool kit and straightened up.
He stretched leisurely and glanced over at his guard. The man was still
rubbing his stomach where Astro had hit him, and he watched the big
cadet with a murderous gleam in his eye.

"All finished," said Astro. "Where and when do I eat?"

"If I had my way, you wouldn't," sneered the guard.

"Either I knock off and eat," said Astro confidently, "or I call the
foreman and you talk to Lactu."

"Feeling pretty big, aren't you?" growled the guard. "I haven't
forgotten that punch in the stomach."

"Why, I hardly touched you," said Astro in mock surprise.

The guard glared at him, muttered an oath, and turned away. Astro could
see that he was boiling, almost out of his mind with helpless,
frustrated anger, and suddenly the young cadet realized how he would be
able to move about the base freely. Grinning, he walked arrogantly in
front of the guard and out of the shop into the dark Venusian night. It
was very warm and many of the workers had stripped down to their
trousers. He passed the open doorway of a large tool shop and glanced
inside. It was empty. The men had apparently gone to eat. He suddenly
stopped, turned to the guard, and growled, "If you want to settle our
differences now, we can step inside."

The guard hesitated and glared at Astro. "When I settle with you, big
boy, you'll know about it."

"What's the matter with right now?" asked Astro. "Yellow?" He turned and
walked into the tool shop without looking back. The guard rushed after
him. But the big cadet had carefully gauged the distance between them,
and when he heard the rushing steps of the guard immediately behind him,
he suddenly spun around, swinging a roundhouse right, ca