"I haven't heard any, sir," said Astro. "Professor Sykes started out right after we landed to investigate the satellite, but I never heard anything more about it. When I asked him one day if he had found anything, he told me to mind my own business."
"And now you're accused of abducting and murdering the professor," mused Strong.
"That's it, sir," said Tom. "As I said, we didn't want to give you anything but the facts as we know them. There are a lot of incidents that would show Vidac is trying to pull something funny, but nothing that could be proved."
Strong nodded. "Well, it certainly looks as though Vidac is—"
Strong was suddenly interrupted by Bush who stepped into the room arrogantly, paralo-ray gun in hand.
"Time's up!" he yelled, waving the gun at Strong.
"Hasn't anybody figured out why four hundred ships crashed in landing?" Strong asked.
"I've warned you about holding a weapon on a Solar Guard officer," snapped Strong, rising to face the man. "Either put that thing away or use it."