"How long did your supper period last?"
"Oh, half an hour. Maybe a little longer. You were asleep and snoring."
Lefler shook his head savagely.
"Robwood, I'm afraid you're going to have to take over the ship. I want you to put me in irons and turn me over for Makki's murder when we get to Marsport."
Robwood started so violently he almost broke his retaining straps. He stared at Lefler for a full thirty seconds before he found his voice.
"You're not serious!" he exclaimed. There was a pleading note to his tone. "Lefler, you didn't shoot him, did you?"
"I must have, Robwood. But not consciously. I've been able at last to remember a nightmare I had just before I found Makki's body.
"Makki and I were boys together, and he was just as mean and evil then as he was when he grew up. I was dreaming about the time Makki smashed my toy electric train and laughed about it. I tried to kill him then. I beat him with the semaphore and cut his face all up before he knocked me down and kicked me half senseless. I lived through that experience again in my dream.
"My bunk straps were loose when I woke up. I must have acted that dream out in a semi-conscious state. I must have gone up to the control room, tackled Makki and finally shot him."
"That's the silliest thing I ever heard of," retorted Robwood.