Kelly asked proudly, once the ship was locked in hyperspace. "Superior intelligence and steel nerves do the trick every time."

"Poor devil, Kyne," Beliakoff sighed.

"A paranoid," Kelly diagnosed. "Did he ever tell you about the plot to keep him out of the Luna Military Academy?"

"He never talked to me much."

"That's because you're a cold, distant, unsympathetic type," Kelly said, with a complacent smile. "Me, he told everything. He applied to Luna every year. Studied all the textbooks on military organization, land tactics, sea tactics, space strategy, histories of warfare. Crammed his cabin with that junk. Knew it inside out. Fantastic memory!"

"Why didn't he get in?"

"Hemophilia. He couldn't pass the physical. He thought they were plotting against him. Still, I'm grateful for the chance at a little astrogation." With the barest hint of a smile, Kelly said, "I understand it's possible to bring a ship sidewise through the Slot at Terra."

"Please don't try," Beliakoff begged, shuddering. "I knew we should have waited for Kyne's replacement at Mala."

"We'd still be there, with a cargo of kvash turning sour."

"I was afraid it would sour anyhow," Beliakoff said, with a worrier's knack for finding trouble. "Mala is the slowest loading port this side of the Rift. I must admit, however, they didn't do badly this time."

"Noticed that, did you?" Kelly asked.

"Hm? Did you find a way of speeding them up?"

"Sure. Gave them Kyne's old dog-eared books. They're crazy about books. Really hustled for them."

Beliakoff said nothing for several seconds, but his long, sallow face became pale. "You what?"

"Gave 'em the books. Don't worry," Kelly said quickly. "Kyne gave them to me before they hauled him away."

"You gave the warfare books to the people on Mala?"

"You mean I shouldn't have? Why not? What's wrong with Mala?"

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