"I wonder if I did right," Tex mused darkly, "when I wangled the swap from the Oak Ridge?"
"Too late to fret. Well, I guess we might-" Oscar stopped! speaking, for the door in front of them suddenly opened! and they found themselves facing the commanding officer. He was tall, wide-shouldered, and flat-hipped, and so handsome that he looked like a television star playing a; Patrol officer. ;
"Well?" he snapped. "Don't stand chatting outside my; door. Come in!" ;
They filed in silently. Captain Yancey sat down, facing them, and looked them over, one after the other. "What's the trouble, gentlemen?" he said presently. "Are you all| struck dumb?"
Tex found his voice. "Cadet Jarman, sir, reporting to the Captain." Yancey's eyes flicked over to Matt.
Matt wet his lips. _"Cadet Dodson, sir."
"Cadet Jensen, sir, reporting as ordered." The office^ looked at Oscar sharply, then spoke to him in Venerian.
"Do these ears detect some echo of the speech of the Fair Planet
"It is true, thou old and wise one."
"Never could stand that silly talk," Yancey commented, relapsing into Basic. "I won't ask you where you are from, but-is your father in the provisions racket?"