way. No, neither
of the others knows anything about this conversation and they won't.
This is strictly between you and me."

"I'm awfully glad of that. And I think I ... yes, damn you, thanks!"

Garlock released her and, after a few sobs, a couple of gulps, and a
dabbing at her eyes with an inadequate handkerchief, she said: "I'm
sorry, Deggi, and you, too, Belle. I'll try not to act like such a fool
any more."

Delcamp and Belle both stared at Garlock; Belle licked her lips.

"No comment," he thought at the man; and, to Belle, "She just took a
beating. Will you sheathe your claws and take a lot of pains to be extra
nice to her the rest of the day?"

"Why, surely. I'm _always_ nice to anybody who is nice to me."

"Says you," Garlock replied, skeptically, and all four went to work as
though nothing had happened.

* * *

They went through the shops and the almost-finished ship. They studied
blueprints. They met all the Operators and discussed generators and
fields of force and mathematics and paraphysics and Guntherics. They
argued so hotly about mental control that Garlock had James bring the
_Pleiades_ over to new-christened Galaxian Field so that he could prove
his point then and there.

Entlore and Holson came along this time, as well as the ComOff; and all
three were nonplussed and surprised to see each member of the "crackpot"
group hurl the huge starship from one solar system to any other one
desired, apparently merely by thinking about it. And the "crackpots"
were extremely surprised to find themselves hopelessly lost in uncharted
galactic wildernesses every time they did not think, definitely and
positively, of one specific destination. Then Garlock took a chance. He
had to take it sometime; he might just as well do it now.

"See if you can hit Andromeda, Deggi," he suggested.

While Belle, James, and Lola held their breaths, Delcamp tried. The
starship went toward the huge nebula, but stopped at the last suitable
planet on the galaxy's rim.

"Can _you_ hit Andromeda?" Delcamp asked, more than half jealously, and
Belle tensed her muscles.

"Never tried it," Garlock said, easily. "I suppose, though, since you
couldn't kick the old girl out of our good old home galaxy, she'll just
sit right here for me, too."

He went through the motions and the _Pleiades_ did sit right
there--which was exactly what he had told her to do. And everybody--even
the "crackpots"--breathed mo