planet Algon--a world of water with a few islands dotting the surface of
an ocean--while anchored in space, some hundreds of miles above, lay a
small satellite.

"That's a funny one," said John Bridge.

The lawyer smiled. He'd grown to like Bridge. The mystery of his wealth
had been discovered months ago--he'd won a sweepstake fortune. That and
his own meager savings had together proved just sufficient to buy him a
new lease of life. His family hadn't liked the idea; but, as he'd
pointed out to them, it was his money and what use was it to him if he
was too old to enjoy it? The simplicity and good nature of the man came
as a refreshing change from the sullenness of Pellinger and the cynicism
of Jason Tarsh.

"It's a radio-platform," Delman explained.

* * * * *

Sometimes it seemed almost incredible that John Bridge had never left
the Earth. He was a Londoner by birth and, before this trip, had
traveled no farther than New York. To him, everything they saw and did
was a new adventure.

"But we don't have radio-platforms back home," Bridge said. "Why do they
need them here?"

"In our own solar system," Delman told him, "there's an interplanetary
link-up--an expensive business--but we did have them four hundred years
ago. Out here, it's not worth the cost. The platform acts as a
go-between. It can intercept messages and pass them down to the
spacedrome on Algon, or it can transmit to a spaceship in flight. But
direct contact between spaceship and spacedrome is impossible, because
the ionized layer of the atmosphere deflects the radio waves."

"I see. Is there one over Rejuvenal, then?"

"I don't think so. At least, there wasn't when I was last there. It
doesn't really warrant it. There's only the house and a small
landing-ground. And a spaceboat arrives and departs every thirty days,
so nothing can happen."

"What about boots? Do we have to wear them?"

"You mean gravity-boots?" Delman asked.

Walter Pellinger scowled irritably and shifted his position. "Yes, I
suppose so--those heavy things we wore on Borenius and Ziar."

Delman shook his head. "No, curiously enough, we don't. It's only a
tertiary planet--less than one-eighth of Earth's volume--but its
specific gravity is enormous. Rejuvenite, the rock it's composed of, is
one of the heaviest minerals ever discovered. They say--"

"Look, Delman," Walter Pellinger interrupted, "let that blasted man wear
his boots, if he wan