“Can you be sure the troops won’t be leased to someone who might use them against you?” Donal asked.

Galt’s thick fingers ceased suddenly to fill his pipe. “We can insist on guarantees.”

“But how much good are guarantees in a case like that?” asked Donal. “The man who gives you the guarantee—William—isn’t the man who might move the troops against you. If Freilander leased troops were suddenly found attacking Freilander soil, you might gain the guarantee, but lose the soil.”

Galt frowned.

“I still don’t see,” he said, “how that could work out to William’s advantage.”

“It might,” said Donal, “in a situation where what he stood to gain by Freilander fighting Freilander was worth more than the guarantee.”

“How could that be?”

Donal hesitated on the verge of those private suspicions of his own. Then he decided that they were not yet solid enough to voice to the marshal; and might, indeed, even weaken his argument.

“I don’t know,” he replied. “However, I think it’d be wise not to take the chance.”

“Hah!” Galt snorted and his fingers went back to work, filling the pipe. “You don’t have to turn the man down—and justify your refusal to Staff and Government.”

“I don’t propose that you turn him down outright,” said Donal. “I suggest you only hesitate. Say that in your considered opinion the interstellar situation right now doesn’t justify your leaving Freiland short-handed of combat troops. Your military reputation is good enough to establish such an answer beyond question.”

“Yes”—Galt put the pipe in his mouth and lit it thoughtfully—“I think I may just act on that recommendation of yours. You know, Donal, I think from now on you better remain as my aide, where I can have the benefit of your opinions handy when I need them.”

Donal winced.

“I’m sorry, sir,” he said. “But I was thinking of moving on—if you’ll release me.”

Galt’s eyebrows abruptly drew together in a thicket of dense hair. He took the pipe from his mouth.

“Oh,” he said, somewhat flatly. “Ambitious, eh?”

“Partly,” said Donal. “But partly—I’ll find it easier to oppose William as a free agent” Galt bent a long, steady look upon him.

“By heaven,” he said, “what is this personal vendetta of yours against William?”

“I’m afraid of him,” answered Donal.

“Leave him alone and he’ll certainly leave you alone. He’s got bigger fish to fry—” Galt broke off, jammed his pipe into his mouth and bit hard on the stem.

“I’m afraid,” said Donal, sadly, “there are some men between the stars that are just not meant to leave each other alone.” He straightened in his chair. “You’ll release my contract, then?”

“I won’t hold any man against his will,” growled the marshal. “Except in an emergency. Where were you thinking of going?”