.

"You're on course!" He pulled off his helmet and then glanced up to
find Soriki smiling at him.

"Oh, we're not such a bad collection of space bums. Maybe you'll find
that out someday, boy. They breezed you into this flight right out of
training, didn't they?"

"Just about," Raf admitted cautiously, on guard as ever against
revealing too much of himself. After all, his experience was part of
his record, which was open to anyone on board the spacer. Yes, he was
not a veteran; they must all know that.

"Someday you'll lose a little of that suspicion," the com-tech
continued, "and find out it isn't such a bad old world after all.
Here, let's see if you're on the beam." He took the helmet out of
Raf's hands and, drawing a small case of delicate instruments from his
belt pouch, unscrewed the ear plates of the com device and made some
adjustments. "Now that will keep you on the buzzer without bursting
your eardrums. Try it."

Raf fastened on the helmet and started away from the flitter. The
buzzer which he had expected to roar in his ears was only a faint
drone, and above it he could easily hear other sounds. Yet it was
there, and he tested it by a series of loops away from the flyer. Each
time as he came on the true beam he was rewarded by a deepening of the
muted note. Yes, he could be a homer with that, and at the same time
be alert to any other noise in his vicinity.

"That's it!" He paid credit where it was due. But he was unable to
break his long habit of silence. Something within him still kept him
wary of the com-tech's open friendliness.

None of the aliens approached the flitter as the shadows began to draw
in. The procession of moving teams stopped, and most of the
burden-bearing warriors withdrew to the globe and stayed there. Soriki
pointed this out.

"They're none too sure, themselves. Look as if they are closing up for
the night."

Indeed it did. The painted men had hauled up their ramp, the hatch in
the globe closed with a definite snap. Seeing that, the com-tech
laughed.

"We have a double reason for a strict watch. Suppose whatever they've
been looking for jumps _us_? They're not worrying over that it now
appears."

So they took watch and watch, three hours on and three hours in rest.
When it came Raf's turn he did not remain sitting in the flitter,
listening to the com-tech's heavy breathing, but walked a circular
beat which took him into the darkness of the night in a path about the
fly