clangor of a bell pealed through the room. The two visitors
jumped.

"What's that?" cried Knox.

"Yard time," Halloran smiled. "The men are allowed two hours out in the
yard, now. They exercise, play games, or just sit around and talk."

"Oh."

"Did I understand you correctly, Warden Halloran?" Lansing's bony face
was pale now. "Do you refuse to come with us?"

* * * * *

When the bell rang, Joe Mario had been standing near the door to the
warden's office, ostensibly filing reports. Now, he closed the drawer
with a bang, stretched, and started toward the outside door.

"Where are you going?" the guard asked suspiciously.

"The yard. Where else?"

"Not a word," Mario added virtuously. "I was too busy doin' my work.
Anyway, you gotta let me out. My team's got a ball game set for this
afternoon."

"Oh ... all right." He looked at the typists. "How about you two? Want
out?"

The two men glanced quickly at each other, then shoved back their chairs
and got up from their desks.

"Sure," one of them grinned, "I guess we'll take a little air."

* * * * *

Lansing had the feeling he used to have occasionally, back in his
university days when he lectured on freshman physics--as if he were
talking to a class of deaf students. For, like the hapless freshmen,
Warden Halloran was quite obviously not listening to him. But the
scientist plunged on. "Sir," he said hoarsely, "we need you. We _will_
need you! I'm a scientist--I know nothing of the problems of ... ah,
community living. Neither does Knox. He's accustomed to major
crises--and solving them by giving orders. But both of us know there'll
come a time when people won't take orders--"

"Absolutely correct," Knox said unexpectedly. "Once we get settled on
Mars, the military takes a back seat. And--I mean this, Lansing--_I'll_
be damn' glad of it. When the people get their towns built they'll need
some gents with the right kind know-how to help them, show them--"

"That's all very interesting, general, but it's not for me."

"Why not?"

Halloran snubbed out his cigarette, looked up at the general and at the
scientist. He smiled briefly. "It's just my job, gentlemen--let's not
discuss the matter any further. You can't make me go."

"We will!" barked Knox. "I told you you were under the jurisdiction of
the Fifth Defense Command and you are. If I want to, I can send a tank
company over here and drag y