ed. He tried in vain to thrust out of his mind the astonished consternation of his classmates, the sneers of the marines and the jeers of the civilians there at

most at once. A rap on the door disclosed a messenger with a package for him. On opening it, after the man had g

e, and put on the reel.

the direction of a Greek merchant who gave it his name. Four is the only habitable planet. Most of the original inhabitants under him were of his nationality, and the present language is an out

ities, especially New Athens, their capitol. We believe you will find that city the best place to start your investigations

. Whatever it is, it is very, very secret-the agents can't even tell if it is political, religious, or merely social. Also, they have discovered that many

ed to 'bore from within' by joining whatever the movement was. But they haven't been able

ot against the peace and welfare of the Federated Planets. There may be nothing wrong at all, but we

your disgrace-scene very well. I know just what you are undoubtedly feeling at the moment, Spence

ous ways you know you can call on any or all of us at need. These reels are all water soluble,

oom, studying by day from books obtained at the library th

n in his room, watching the broadcast of the stately ceremony of which h

and plans he had made during his five long years in cadet school; all the thrilling pride he had known

legiance, Hanlon found himself on his feet, rigidly at at

ision and his private graduation, he tru

t a small group of his former classmates, now clad in their brand-new dress unif

them, only to be met by

em, and made himself look hurt, nor was that any effort. This really cut deep. Bu

nued plaintively. "I didn't cheat-didn't need to. I know

sneered. "You sure had me ... us ... all fooled. Now scram, o

had been among his best friends for five long, happy years. Only now was he truly beginnin

l times, but always managed to get up again. He had been well trained in fighting of all types-and no

and ripped from the knock-downs, and a button was torn off his coat. His knuckles were skinned, and he could feel

ommanding voice

e training he had received, so did Hanlon, to come at salute as

m and was supposedly a discharged Corpsman, qui

here!" the offi

Cheated on final exams," one of them

pretend disgust. "I'm getting out of here just as damned quick as I can, and a

of the admiral's eyes at that code-word. T

o about him. But leave him alone-the years will bring him more sorrow and pain than you can with your fists. And you, fellow," turning to Hanlon. "Don't t

. The admiral winked briefly and with res

ths of pleasant companionship with those boys. Especially Dick Trowbridge, who had been his roommate and spe

he had been to let himself be talked into taking this on. Where were all those "vast rewards" his dad and Admiral Rogers had tal

his son, and those last few weeks with his adored wife, yet now seemed satisfied and content. Maybe ... ma

ither. The exposed nerve in that broken tooth made it ache l

realization he had no money of his own to pa

orps funds? Dad didn't mention things of this sort. On the other hand, he said we got our salaries and exp

for things he actually needed ... but neither did he ever spend any on purely personal pleasures or extra comforts

ut his fight with the fellows, and it persisted even after he went to bed. By

turned on the sleep-instructor. Half-rebelliously, he nevertheless got up and did so ... and

Simonidean language and its customs well enough to start

th his name on it. He took it to one of the cubicles, whos

eration he knew there was an iron-clad agreement that each planet could choose its own form of government. Most of them chose the democratic for

onized as a world-wide republic, but later had broken up into five independent countries, as different sections became populated more heavily wi

rewing there that would affect the peace of the Federation,

se guessed-at conditions as swiftly as possible. If he gained any impressions of who or what group was

d know if it was anything inimical to the peace and secur

ld draw enough to have at least fifteen hundred, for all needed expenses. Take the 'Hellene' which leaves Centropolis

ck up from those suspected persons. He grimaced as he realized the SS had left it strictly up to

cient and competent organization the SS was-how it kept careful wa

deposit vault. He arranged for his ticket and reservations at