It was just before dawn when Strong visited Kit's ship. Seeing the
cadets stripped to the waist and working with the veteran spaceman, he
roared his disapproval. "Of all the crazy things to do! Don't you know
that you could have Kit disqualified for helping him?"

[Illustration: _The giant Venusian held up the oil-smeared test tube_]

"But--but--" Tom tried to stammer an explanation.

"I couldn't have done it alone," explained Kit. He looked at Strong and
their eyes met. Understanding flowed between them.

"Very well," said Strong, fighting to control himself. "If no one makes
a complaint against you, we'll let it pass."

"Thanks, Steve," said Kit.

"You should have known better, Kit," said Strong. "The Solar Guard is
supposed to be neutral throughout the entire race and do nothing but
judge it."

"I know, Steve," said Kit. "But someone dumped impure reactant into
my--"

"What?" It was the first time Strong had heard of it and he listened
intently as the cadets and Sid told him the whole story.

"Why didn't you make a complaint?" demanded Strong finally. "We'd have
given you more time to get squared away."