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Then Lucky said, "Why? What&039;s his motive?"

Urteil said calmly, "Because he&039;s afraid He&039;s out here with iven him by a lax Council of Science, and he can&039;this incoo back to Earth and cry about Mercury&039;s jinx Then he&039;ll get more money out of the Council, or, rather, out of the taxpayers, for so to Mercury to investigate, and he&039;s afraid that the Council, in

spite of itself, may learn a little of the truth You

take it from there"

Lucky said, "If this is the truth, you know it already"

"Yes, and I hope to prove it"

"But you&039;re the danger to Mindes, then By your reasoning, it is you he should try to kill"

Urteil grinned and his plump cheeks broadened until his jowly face looked wider than it was long He said, "He has tried to kill es working for the senator I can handle myself"

"Scott Mindes never tried to kill you or anybody," said Dr Gardoma, his face pinched and white "You know it, too"

Urteil made no direct answer He spoke instead to Lucky "And keep an eye on the good doctor too As I said, he&039;s great friends with Mindes If I were you, I wouldn&039;t let him treat me for as much as a headache Pills and injections can-- " He snapped Ms fingers with a sharp cracking noise

Dr Gardo thickly, said, "Some day, someone will kill you for-- "

Urteil said carelessly, "Yes? Are you planning on being the one?" He turned to go, then said over his shoulder, "Oh, I forgot I hear that old man Peverale wants to see you He&039;s very disturbed at there being no official welcoo see him and pat his poor old head for him And, Starr, another hint

After this, don&039;t use any protective suits of any kind without checking them for leaks Knohat Iain, before he could talk without choking Then he said, "He riles -"

"A hty shrewd fellow," said Lucky dryly "It seems obvious that one of his methods of attack is deliberately to say exactly what is calculated ry opponent is a half-helpless one And, Bigoes for you You can&039;t just flail away at anyone who hints you&039;re under sk feet"

"Lucky," wailed the pint-sized Martian, "he said I was hormone-deficient"

"Then learn to wait for the appropriate ruainst the tough plastic of his silver-and-verned hip boots that no one but a Martian farm boy would wear and which no Martian farlaring than the last)

Lucky said, "Well, we&039;ll look up Dr Peverale He&039;s the head of the Observatory, isn&039;t he?"

"The head of the whole Do old and he&039;s lost touch I&039;lad to say that he hates Urteil ashe can do about it He can&039;t buck the senator I wonder if the Council of Science can?" he ended gloomily

Lucky said, "I think so Now remember, I&039;ll want to see Mindes when he wakes up"

"All right Take care of yourself&039;&039;

Lucky stared at him curiously "Take care of myself? How do you mean?"

Dr Gardoma flushed "Just an expression I always say it I don&039;tby it"

"I see Well, then, we&039;ll be "

Dr Lance Peverale shook the in a man so old His dark eyes were lit with concern and appeared the darker for the white eyebrows that topped them His hair, still abundant, retained a considerable aray His lined and leathery cheeks, above which sharp cheekbones stood out proe

He spoke slowly and gently "I aentlemen,experience so soon after arriving at the Observatory I blame myself"

"You have no reason to, Dr Peverale," said Lucky

"The fault is ht to have But there, ere following an important and quite anomalous prominence, and I&039;m afraid I allowed my profession to tempt me from the proper expression of hospitality"

"In any case, you are forgiven," said Lucky, and he glanced sideith so, open-mouthed, to the old iveness," said the astronomer, "but it pleases me that you make the attempt Meanwhile, I have ordered that quarters be placed at your disposal" He linked ar the well-lit but narrow corridors of the Dome "Our facilities are crowded, particularly since Dr Mindes and his engineers have arrived and-and others Still, I iine you will find it welcome to have an opportunity to refresh yourselves and to sleep, perhaps You ish for food, I am sure, and it will be sent to you Toh for you to meet us all socially, and for us to find out your purpose in co here For myself, the fact that the Council of Science vouches for you is sufficient We will have a kind of banquet in your honor"

The corridor level was sinking as they walked, and they were burrowing into Mercury&039;s vitals toward the residential level of the Dome

Lucky said, "You are very kind Perhaps I will also have the opportunity to inspect the Observatory"

Peverale seehted at that "I will be at your service in the ret time spent in such an inspection Our ned toTerminator In that fashion, a particular portion of the Sun can be kept continually in view despite Mercury&039;s motions"

"Wonderful! But now, Dr Peverale, one question What is your opinion of Dr Mindes? I&039;d appreciate a frank ansithout any consideration for such things as diplomacy"

Peverale frowned "Are you a sub-teineer too?"

"Not quite," said Lucky, "but I was asking about Dr Mindes"