*

Douglas Alexander checked the radarscope and whistled in surprise at
the picture it revealed. "So that's where he's going," he said softly
to himself. "Cousin Alex was right as usual." He grimaced unpleasantly.
"He's up to something--that's for sure." His face twisted into an
expression that was half sneer, half triumph. "This is going to be
fun." He moved the control, and his airboat, hovering silently at five
thousand meters, dropped toward the ground in free fall as Douglas
loosened the Burkholtz in the holster at his waist. "But what is he
doing?" he muttered. The question hung unanswered in the still air of
the cabin as the airboat dropped downward.

Douglas hadn't been impressed with Blalok's attempt at a delaying
action. Normally he might have been, but his fear of his cousin was
greater than his respect for Blalok. The superintendent had only
succeeded in accomplishing something he had not intended when he had
tried to dissuade Douglas from visiting Kennon. He had made Douglas
cautious. The airboat and long-range surveillance had been the result.
For the past two nights Douglas had hung over Olympus Station, checking
the place--to leave at dawn when the new day's work began. For two
nights Kennon had been lucky. He had departed for the Egg shortly before
Douglas took up his station, and had returned after the watcher had
called it a night and had returned home. But this last night, Kennon
left late--and his departure was noted.

"Wonder who's the girl with him?" Douglas said as the boat plunged down.
"Well, I'll be finding out in a minute."

Kennon's head jerked upward at the sound of air whistling past the
airboat's hull, and a wave of icy coldness swept through his chest.
There was no question that he was discovered. His shoulders sagged.

"Well--it was a good try," he said bitterly as Copper looked at him with
sudden terror on her face.

"I don't want to die," she wailed.

"You won't--not if I can help it," Kennon said. "Move away from
me--quickly!"

"But--"

"Do as I say!" Kennon's voice was sharp. "And keep that hood over your
face."

The airboat settled softly on the ash in front of him, the door snapped
open and Douglas dropped to the ground, Burkholtz jutting from his pudgy
fist.

"My, my," Douglas said, "what have we here? Dr. Kennon and a woman!
I thought better of you than that, Doctor. And all dressed up in
antiradiation suits. This is interesting. Just what are you doing up
here