"This is not to your taste?"

"Sectry ... I don't know. I don't want to join the treefeeding Navy and I don't know how to tell her that!"

"Okay, I'm thinking. . . . Rather, they already know you're allergic. Let them train you. Carlot said they don't give you much sleep in training. Stay awake even when you don't have to. Get sick a lot. They'll give up."

"I thought of something better." "Listen-"

"No, you listen. I went running to Carlot and Debby. Help, I said. I'm in trouble, I said. The Navy wants me. What do I do? And we talked it over, and what I want to do now is talk to Kendy."

Jeffer's medical readings showed his shock. Kendy stopped paying attention to the impact on Levoy's Star. Paydirt!

"Rather? You told them?" "I'm letting you tell them. You and Kendy." "Kendy isn't in range yet. When he gets the record-"

Carlot said, "Kendy the Checker^"

"The same," Jeffer said. "Kendy made contact with us fourteen years ago . . . fifteen now. I made a mistake with the CARM. Kendy told us how to get home. We didn't hear from him again till... well, it was just before you showed up, Carlot. He wanted this expedition."

Debby was seething. "Jeffer, you treefeeding mutineer! What game did you think you were playing, hiding a thing like this?"

Carlot exclaimed, "You can't deal with the Checker!

We know all about-"

The record was finished. He'd reached present time. Kendy printed I'LL HANDLE IT across the bow window in front of Jeffer. He sent, "We told Clave. Rather was there, so we told him too. Hello again, Debby. Carlot, it's a pleasure to meet you at last. Rather, you did the right thing."

"And I suppose you'll try to talk me into joining the treefeeding Navy! But I won't do that, Kendy. I want out of this."

Rather wasn't aboard the CARM. Kendy couldn't get medical readings; but he sensed truth here. Never give an order that won't be obeyed! Try something else . . . while Discipline moves steadily out of range. Wrap it up fast, but wrap it tight-

Kendy asked, "Rather, what are you planning?"

"Remember Booce telling me to look undependable? The Navy expects me to stay in touch. I'm going Dark diving. Carlot and Debby and Clave are taking Logbearer to get mud for Belmy's burl tree. I'm going with them."

"Just to look undependable?"

"It's not a crime. Sectry'll hate me, and I don't like that, but it'll get me off the harpoon."