wanted to say yes, but Lablet broke in with a question concerning
what had happened to him, and the pilot outlined his adventures of the
day, not forgetting to give emphasis to the incident in the celled
room when the newly rescued alien had turned upon him.

"Naturally they are suspicious," Lablet countered, "but for a people
who lack space flight, I find them unusually open-minded and ready to
accept us, strange as we must seem to them."

"Ditto done, Captain." Soriki stepped out of the flitter, the wrist
camera dangling from his fingers.

"Good." But Hobart did not buckle the strap about his arm once more,
neither did he pay any attention to Lablet. Instead, apparently coming
to some decision, he swung around to face Raf.

"You went out with that scouting party today. Think you could join
them again, if you see them moving for another foray?"

"I could try."

"Sure," Soriki chuckled, "they couldn't do any more than pop him back
at us. What do you think about them, sir? Are they fixing to blast
us?"

But the captain refused to be drawn. "I'd just like to have a record
of any more trips they make." He handed the camera to Raf. "Put that
on and don't forget to trigger it if you do go. I don't believe
they'll go out tonight. They aren't too fond of being out in the open
in darkness. We saw that last night. But keep an eye on them in the
morning--"

"Yes, sir." Raf buckled on the wristband. He wished that Hobart would
explain just what he was to look for, but the captain appeared to
think that he had made everything perfectly plain. And he walked off
with Lablet, heading to the globe, as if there was nothing more to be
said.

Soriki stretched. "I'd say we'd better take it watch and watch," he
said slowly. "The captain may think that they won't go off in the
dark, but we don't know everything about them. Suppose we just keep an
eye on them, and then you'll be ready to tail--"

Raf laughed. "Tailing would be it. I don't think I'll have a second
invitation and if I get lost--"

But Soriki shook his head. "That you won't. At least if you do--I'm
going to make a homer out of you. Just tune in your helmet buzzer."

It needed a com-tech to think of a thing like that! A small adjustment
to the earphones built into his helmet, and Soriki, operating the
flitter com, could give him a guide as efficient as the spacer's
radar! He need not fear being lost in the streets should he lose touch
with those he was spying upon