d be moving--toward the mountains."
Hume stood in the open space among the bubble tents, facing him the
four men of the camp, the three civs and Rovald. "You say it's been
seven days, planet time, since I left here. They may have been five
days on that trail. If possible we have to stop them before they reach
that valley."

"A fantastic story." Chambriss wore the affronted expression of a man
who expected no interference with his own concerns. Then catching
Hume's eye he added, "Not that we doubt you, Hunter. We have the
evidence in those dumb brutes waiting out there. However, by your own
story, this Wass is an outside-the-law Veep, on this planet secretly
for criminal purposes. Surely there is no reason for us to risk our
safety in his behalf. Are you certain he is in any danger at all? You
and this young man here have, by your testimony, been into the
enemies' territory and have been able to get out again."

"Through a series of fortunate chances which might never occur again."
Hume was patient, too patient, Rovald seemed to think. His hand moved,
he was holding a ray tube so that a simple movement of the wrist could
send a crisping blast across all the rest of the party.

"I say, stop this yapping and get out there and pick up the Veep!"

"I intend to--after I call the Patrol."

Rovald's tube was now aimed directly at Hume. "No Patrol!" he
ordered.

"This wrangling has gone far enough." It was Yactisi who spoke with an
authority which startled them all. And as their attention swung to
him, he was already in action.

Rovald cried out, the weapon spun from his fingers, fingers which were
slowly reddening. Yactisi nodded with satisfaction and he held his
electo pole ready for a second attack. Vye scooped up the tube which
had whirled across the ground to strike against his borrowed boot.

"I'll set the call for the Patrol, then I'll try to locate Wass," Hume
stated.

"Sensible procedure," Yactisi approved in his dry voice. "You believe
that you are now immune to whatever force this alien installation
controls?"

"It would seem so."

"Then, of course, you must go."

"Why?" Chambriss countered for the second time. "Suppose he isn't so
immune after all? Suppose he gets out there and is captured again?
He's our pilot--do you want to be planet bound _here_?

"This man is also a pilot." Starns indicated Rovald, who was nursing
his numb hand.

"Since he, too, is one of these criminals, he's not to be truste