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“So we must hurry,” Portario said. “Three days, Commander, will you protect us for three days?”

A Council offense punishable by instant destruction with United Galaxies reserve ionic weapons in the hands of the super-secret police and disaster teams. And three days is a long time. I would be risking my whole Company. I heard Rajay-Ben laugh.

“Blast me, Red, it’s so damned crazy I’m for it. Let’s give it a shot.”

I did not know then how much it would really cost us. If I had I might not have agreed. Or maybe I would have, it was good to know people could still have such dreams in our computer age.

“Okay,” I said, “beam the full Companies and try to get one more. Mandasiva’s Sirian boys would be good. We’ll split the fee three ways.”

Yuan Saltario said, “Thanks, Red.”

I said, “Thank me later, if we’re still around.”

We beamed the Companies and in twenty minutes they were on their way. Straight into the biggest trouble we had had since the War of Survival. I expected trouble, but I didn’t know how much. Pete Colenso tipped me off.