the outer shell of the rocket dome opened before and closed behind them. jordan set the controls in neutral and lifted his hands, muttering to himself. they were gliding through the lip of the inner shell. home.

"cheer up," said cameron breezily. "you're not really prisoners, you know."

nona seemed content, though jordan didn't. docchi said nothing, the light gone from his face. anti wasn't with them; she was floating in the tank of acid. the gravity field of the asteroid made that necessary.

the ship scraped gently and they were down. jordan touched a lever; passenger and freight locks were open.

"let's go," said dr. cameron. "i imagine there's a reception committee for you."

there was. the little rocket dome held more ships than normally came in a year. the precise confusion of military discipline was everywhere in evidence. armed guards lined either side of the landing ramp down which they walked.

at the bottom, a large telecom unit had been set up. if size indicated anything, someone considered this an important occasion. from the screen, larger than life, medicouncilor thorton looked out approvingly.

the procession from the ship halted in front of the telecom unit.

"a good job, dr. cameron," said the medicouncilor. "we were quite surprised at the escape of the four accidentals, and your disappearance, which coincided with it. from what we were able to piece together, you deliberately followed them. a splendid example of quick thinking, doctor. you deserve recognition for it."

"thank you," said cameron.

"i'm sorry i can't be there to congratulate you in person, but i will be soon." the medicouncilor paused discreetly. "at first the publicity was bad. very bad. we thought it unwise to conceal an affair of such magnitude. of course the unauthorized broadcast made it impossible. fortunately, the gravital discovery came along at just the right time. i don't mind telling you that the net effect is now in our favor."

"i hoped it would be," said cameron. "nona—"

"you've spoken about her before." the medicouncilor frowned. "we can discuss her later. for the moment, see that she and the rest of the accidentals are returned to their usual places. bring docchi to your office at once. i want to question him privately."

cameron stared at him in bewilderment. "but i thought—"

"no objections, doctor," snapped thorton. "important people are waiting for you. that is all." the telecom darkened.

"i think you heard what he said, dr. cameron." the officer at his side was very polite. he could afford to be, with the rank of three big planets on his tunic.

"very well," cameron answered. "but as commander of the asteroid, i request that you furnish a guard for the girl."

"commander?" repeated the officer. "that's funny—my orders indicate that i am, until further notice. i haven't got that notice." he looked around at his men and crooked a finger. "lieutenant, see that the little fellow—jordan, i think his name is—gets a lift back to the main dome. and you can walk the pretty lady to her room. or whatever it is she lives in." he smiled negligently at cameron. "anything to oblige another commander."