Manning Draco no longer lived in the tiny bachelor apartment he had once called home. Draco Vacation Service, started shortly after he had married Vega Cruikshank, had prospered right from the beginning and he had rented a modest pent-estate in the upper East side. The house, built on top of one of the giant apartment buildings, was modern in every respect and was surrounded by two acres of landscaped grounds.

Vega came running out to meet him as the cab deposited him on the landing strip in front of the house.

"Darling," she exclaimed, giving him a kiss, "you remembered and came home early."

"Remembered?" Manning asked, looking blank.

"Barnaby is five months old today," she said proudly. "You mean that isn't why you came home early?" Barnaby was, of course, Manning's and Vega's son who had been born on Caph II. He had been named after J. Barnaby Cruikshank, his grandfather, the president of the Greater Solarian Insurance Company, Monopolated, for whom Manning—in his own words—had given the best years of his life. At the age of five months, young Barnaby produced a number of gurgling sounds which Manning swore were pure Capellanese.

"I remembered his birthday," Manning said, momentarily forgetting his gloom. "I ordered him a set of atomic trains. Haven't they been delivered yet?"

"Oh, Manning," Vega said, laughing, as they went into the house. "Atomic trains. He won't be able to play with those for another six years."

"Not Barnaby," Manning declared. "He's a smart kid. He'll have them in operation before you know it."

Vega laughed again.

"But that's not the reason I'm home early," Manning said darkly.

"Sit down and relax and then you'll tell me all about it," Vega said soothingly. "Have you heard the wonderful news about father? After all these years of making big contributions to the Republocrats, he's finally been given the sort of reward he's wanted. He's been made Secretary of Planets."

"That," Manning said grimly, "is why I'm home early."

Vega recognized the tone, although she couldn't imagine what was causing it. She slipped her hand in his and waited.

"I don't know what he's up to," Manning said, "but you can be sure that it's something I 

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