, before we come out with rifles and knock you off!
Now beat it!"

Gordon got out of the car the Kid was driving and started toward the
entrance, just as the moaning wail of the crowd behind him built up.

"You fools!" he yelled. "They're bluffing. They wouldn't dare destroy
the dome! Come on!"

But already the men were evaporating. He stared at the rout, and
suddenly stopped fighting the hands holding him. Beside him, the Kid was
crying, making horrible sounds of it. He turned slowly back to the car,
and felt it get under way. His final sight was that of the Legals and
Municipals wildly scrambling for cover from each other.

Mother Corey met him, dragging him back to a small room where he dug up
an impossibly precious bottle of brandy. "Drink it all, cobber. So one
of your Security badges had the wrong man attached to it, and word got
back. Couldn't be helped. You just ran into the sacred law of
Marsport--the one they teach kids. Be bad, and the dome'll collapse. The
dome made Marsport, and it's taboo!"

Gordon nodded. Maybe the old man was right. "If the dome gives them a
perfect cover, why let me make a jackass of myself, Mother?" he asked
numbly.

Corey shook his head, setting the heavy folds of flesh to bouncing.
"Gave them something to live for here, cobber. And when you get over
this, you're gonna announce new plans to try again. Yes, you are! But
right now, you get yourself drunk!"

He left Gordon and the bottle. After a while, the bottle was gone. He
felt number, but no better, by the time Izzy came in.

"Trench is outside in a heavy-armored car, Bruce. Says he wants to see
you. Something to discuss--a proposition!"

Gordon stood up, wobbling a little, trying to think. Then he swore, and
headed for his room. "Tell him to go to hell!"

He saw Izzy and Sheila leave, wondering vaguely where she had been.
Through the opening in the seal, he spotted them moving toward the big
car outside. Then he shrugged. He finally made the stairs and reached
his bed before he passed out.

Sheila was standing over him when he finally woke. She dumped a headache
powder into her palm and held it out, handing him a small glass of
water. He swallowed the fast-acting drug, and sat up, trying to
remember. Then he wished he couldn't.

"What did Trench want?" he asked thickly.

"He wanted to show you a badge--a Security badge made out for him," she
answered. "At least he said he wanted to show you something, and it was
ab