leepless night, left him panting heavily and soaked with
sweat. Kerk, cool of forehead and breathing normally, didn't show the
slightest sign that he had been running.

They were at the second motor level when Kerk stepped off the slowly
rising steps and waved Jason after him. As they came through the exit to
the street a car pulled up to the curb in front of them. Jason had
enough sense not to reach for his gun. At the exact moment they reached
the car the driver opened the door and stepped out. Kerk passed him a
slip of paper without saying a word and slipped in behind the wheel.
There was just time for Jason to jump in before the car pulled away. The
entire transfer had taken less than three seconds.

There had been only a glimpse of the driver in the dim light, but Jason
had recognized him. Of course he had never seen the man before, but
after knowing Kerk he couldn't mistake the compact strength of a native
Pyrran.

"That was the receipt from Ellus you gave him," Jason said.

"Of course. That takes care of the ship and the cargo. They'll be
off-planet and safely away before the casino check is traced to Ellus.
So now let's look after ourselves. I'll explain the plan in detail so
there will be no slip-ups on your part. I'll go through the whole thing
once and if there are any questions you'll ask them when I'm finished."

The tones of command were so automatic that Jason found himself
listening in quiet obedience. Though one part of his mind wanted him to
smile at the quick assumption of his incompetence.

Kerk swung the car into the steady line of traffic heading out of the
city to the spaceport. He drove easily while he talked.

"There is a search on in the city, but we're well ahead of that. I'm
sure the Cassylians don't want to advertise their bad sportsmanship so
there won't be anything as crude as a roadblock. But the port will be
crawling with every agent they have. They know once the money gets
off-planet it is gone forever. When we make a break for it they will be
sure we still have the goods. So there will be no trouble with the
munition ship getting clear."

Jason sounded a little shocked. "You mean you're setting us up as clay
pigeons to cover the take-off of the ship."

"You could put it that way. But since we have to get off-planet anyway,
there is no harm in using our escape as a smokescreen. Now shut up until
I've finished, like I told you. One more interruption and I dump you by
the road."