gh to attach the rest of the cargo to the cable. Pull it down with
the cable and, with Mars' low gravity, the parachutes will keep it from
being damaged."

But when Jonner got back to the landing field to check on unloading
operations, his plan was smashed. As he approached the G-boat, a
mechanic wearing an ill-concealed smirk came up to him.

"Captain, looks like you sprung a leak in your fuel line," he said. "All
your hydrazine's leaked out in the sand."

Jonner swung from the waist and knocked the man flat. Then he turned on
his heel and went back to the administration building to pay the
10-credit fine he would be assessed for assaulting a spaceport employee.

* * * * *

The Space Control Commission's hearing room in Mars City was almost
empty. The examiner sat on the bench, resting his chin on his hand as he
listened to testimony. In the plaintiff's section sat Jonner, flanked by
Deveet and Lana Elden. In the defense box were the Mars Corporation
attorney and Captain Russo Baat of the _Marsward XVIII_. Kruger, seated
near the rear of the room, was the only spectator.

The Mars Corporation attorney had succeeded in delaying the final
hearing more than a 42-day Martian month by legal maneuvers. Meanwhile,
the _Marsward XVIII_ had blasted down to Phobos, and G-boats had been
shuttling back and forth unloading the vessel and reloading it for the
return trip to Earth.

When testimony had been completed, the examiner shuffled through his
papers. He put on his spectacles and peered over them at the litigants.

"It is the ruling of this court," he said formally, "that the plaintiffs
have not presented sufficient evidence to prove tampering with the fuel
line of the G-boat of the spaceship _Radiant Hope_. There is no evidence
that it was cut or burned, but only that it was broken. The court must
remind the plaintiffs that this could have been done accidentally,
through inept handling of cargo.

"Since the plaintiffs have not been able to prove their contention, this
court of complaint has no alternative than to dismiss the case."

The examiner arose and left the hearing room. Baat waddled across the
aisle, puffing.

"Too bad, Jonner," he said. "I don't like the stuff Marscorp's pulling,
and I think you know I don't have anything to do with it.

"I want to win, but I want to win fair and square. If there's anything I
can do to help...."

"Haven't got a spare G-boat in your pocket