But they said it was too dangerous to take a chance on theory when it comes to tampering with suns. We don't need copper that badly, they said."

His fists clenched in sudden passion. "We don't need copper! The galaxy as a whole doesn't need it, they meant. And what does it matter if one little world called Earth is fading and dying for lack of the copper it squandered to open up the galaxy? What does it matter, except to Earthmen?"

It was the first time that Carlin had ever seen Jonny Land give way to emotion. The superhuman strain that drove and dominated this lame, thin youngster for a moment flared hot and anguished on his face. Then his narrow shoulders sagged. He stood looking at the towering dredge with brooding eyes, before turning to Carlin.

"Carlin," he said then, "there's only one way to prove to the Council this way of Sun-mining is safe—and that's by doing it! That's what we're going to do. We're going to the Sun and come back with a shipload of copper. They'll see then that it's wholly safe. They'll have to give permission then. And a fleet of ships equipped with dredges can suck enough copper from the Sun to give Earth all the power it needs hereafter.

"You've seen the dredge and you know our plans. You've seen enough of Earth to know how much our success would mean to this world. Carlin, do you still want to tell Floring about this?"

"You couldn't!" exclaimed Harb Land harshly. "You couldn't destroy all the hope that's left for our world's people. You—all you star-world people—you owe this chance to Earth!"

Carlin stood there, torn by conflicting feelings. Strong among them was his intense admiration as an engineer for the ingenuity and daring of Jonny Land's solution to the problem.

But there were other things to consider. There was the duty he and every citizen had to support the Control Council. That support was what kept galactic civilization going. Yet these Earthmen, this little band fighting so fiercely for their ancient, worn world would flout it.

"Jonny!" came Marn's sharp cry from outside. "Jonny!"

"Something's wrong!" Jonny exclaimed, limping hastily forward.

They hurried out into the sunlight. Marn was running toward them and at the same moment they heard the drumming of an approaching ato-car.

"It's 

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