ke hands. "Ah, Major Mauser. Bit of
trouble locating you." His eyes narrowed momentarily. "Trust you are
not at present affiliated with any company colors." He took in Joe's
uniform and scowled vaguely, not placing it.

Joe said in self-deprecation, "This is my own devising, sir. I thought
if I was going to have to present myself to be killed, for a living,
that I might as well show up before the screens as distinctively as
possible. I've been told that ultimately the fracas buffs make or
break you, in our category."

The marshal frowned, as though unhappy and possibly surprised at Joe's
words, however, he sat down again and repeated his question by merely
looking at the other.

"No, sir, I'm free," Joe said. "However, frankly, I wasn't looking for
a commission right at this time."

Cogswell stared at him. Mauser was a good junior officer and they'd
been through half a dozen fracases together over the years, not always
on the same side.

"Why not?" Cogswell barked. "Are you convalescing, major? Surely you
didn't manage to cop one in that last farce?"

"Personal reasons, sir."

"Very well," Cogswell growled. "However, I'm going to attempt to sway
you, major. Would seem that I am up against it, if I don't, and, in a
manner it's your fault."

Joe was bewildered. "My fault, sir?"

The older man's voice went brisk. "This is the situation. I have been
approached by the United Miners to command their forces in their trial
by combat with Carbonaceous Fuel. Same old issues, of course. Contract
between the union and corporation is usually for only two years. Each
time it comes up again, the union officials try to get a larger cut of
the pie and the hereditary heads of Carbonaceous Fuel resist.
Automatically, the Category Military Department issues a permit. The
fracases they've been fighting prove so popular that there'd be riots
if the permit was refused. Frankly, I'm no great admirer of the group
in control of United Miners, but--"

Joe was surprised enough to say, "Why not, sir?" Old pro mercenaries
seldom concerned themselves as to the issues or principles involved in
a fracas. They chose their side by more mundane considerations.

* * * * *

Marshal Cogswell looked at him testily. "Sit down, Joe. You're not on
my staff, as yet, at least. Zen take the formality!" When Joe had
accepted the chair, he growled again. "Suppose you didn't know I was
born into Category Mining?"

"No,