triumph. "You'll make the trip, Mister Boone, but you'll do it as a prisoner--under guard and confined to your quarters!" 

CHAPTER TWO 

The captain was a broad-bodied, heavy-shouldered man with the veined red nose and cheeks of a heavy drinker. The cold-eyed way he looked at Boone, low-lidded, told how he felt. 

"Don't think I've turned you loose because I like you, Boone," he clipped. "I don't. But we're coming into Saturn's orbit, and that means we need a biologist on duty. Prisoner or not, you qualify, so you're elected." 

Boone stared. "Miss Rey--" 

"Her temperature hit 104 an hour ago." 

A chill ran through Boone. "You mean--" 

"That's right. Titan fever." 

Boone caught his breath as the door swung open to admit a thin-faced young ensign. "Another down, Captain," the man reported grimly. "Verdov, converter crew." 

"That makes four. Thank the good Lord we've got plenty of chandak extract." The captain hunched forward, his thick forearms heavy on the desk. "You see where it puts us, Boone. From here on in it's monster country; we'll pass Japetus any minute. So the quicker you check the ship, the better." 

"Right." Dry-lipped, Boone pivoted and strode towards the door, gesturing to the ensign. "Come on." 

The other nodded and fell in beside him. "Where do you want to start?" 

"Top live cargo section." 

Together they rode the lift to the highest level, then walked to the end of the "A" passage. 

Boone kicked the hatch of the first bunker. "Open it up." 

"Open it--?" The ensign's eyes widened. "You mean you're going to check inside, too?" 

Boone nodded curtly. "That's right." 

"Well, if you say so...." Frowning, the ensign broke the seal; swung back the hatch. 

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