gaseous copper you want from it, with that magnetic dredge. But what happens on your Sun when you do it?

"You know as well as I what would happen, what has always happened when it was tried. The suction creates a whirl in the solar surface, a tiny Sun-spot that grows and grows until it's grown into a terrific solar typhoon that pours disastrous increased heat and electric force onto its planets. You know it's happened every time Sun-mining was ever tried, and that that's why Control Council forbids Sun-mining."

Jonny Land nodded calmly. "I know all that. But suppose I've found a way to do Sun-mining without starting Sun-spots?"

Disbelief hardened Carlin's voice. "You haven't. Nobody ever has. There just isn't any way—suck out gases from any point on the Sun and you lower pressure at that point, and lowered pressure automatically starts a whirl."

"Carlin, I have found such a way! I tell you, with it we can suck unlimited copper from the Sun without creating one tiny Sun-spot!"

Laird Carlin stared. "You're telling me that, because you know I'm going to report your plans to Control Operations."

"You wouldn't do that!" cried Marn, incredulously.

Carlin nodded firmly. "I don't want to but I've got to. I can't let a bunch of crazy men bring on a disaster that might scorch life itself off your inner planets."

Jonny Land's thin face flared irritable emotion as he limped forward unheeding of the gun in Carlin's hand.

"Carlin, man, be reasonable! Why do you suppose I had you come here and live with us? It was because you're a CE and I'll need another trained engineer's help in operating this thing. And do you suppose I ever thought I could get your help unless I could convince you I've found the way to safe Sun-mining? I can convince you, Carlin!"

Carlin felt the conviction in Jonny's voice. What the crippled young man said did logically explain something otherwise puzzling—why they had taken him into their home when their work was so secret.

He remembered now that it was not until Jonny Land had learned he was a CE, on his first arrival on Earth, that the young Earthman had shown interest and offered him lodgings.

"All I ask," Jonny was saying earnestly, "is that you give me a chance to 

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