"All right," I said. "What is it? I don't remember."

He was prancing again. "You don't remember! I'll say you don't remember! If you did, you'd be hiding under the bed."

That got to me. I raised up indignantly. "Hiding under the bed? Me? I don't have to hide from anything. I'm champ!"

"That's pronounced chump," he whistled nastily. He tossed me the news sheet.

The headline read: Interplanetary Champ says issues between Solar System and Centaurus should be settled in the arena.

"Did I say that?" I said interestedly. "When?"

He was almost hopping again. "To that cub reporter in the Gladiator Room, you stupid makron!"

"Don't swear at me," I growled. "I didn't know he was a reporter. Besides, what're you so excited about? Maybe it'd be a good idea."

"Look at that next head," he shrilled.

It read: Centaurians accept challenge of Jak Dempsi.