The three cadets looked at each other. "I guess not, sir," said Roger.
"It was pretty late. After midnight."

Vidac eyed them curiously. "And you're sure you saw no one, and that no
one saw you?"

"We can't be sure that no one saw us, sir," said Tom, "but I doubt it.
As Roger said, it was after midnight."

Vidac whirled and sat down again. He pressed a small button on his desk
and waited, silently considering the cadets, his eyes cool and level.
The door opened and Governor Hardy walked in, followed by several men.

Tom suddenly realized that it was the first time they had seen the
governor in nearly six weeks.

"Have you found Professor Sykes?" he demanded.

Vidac shook his head, then turned to the other men. Tom, with a sudden
sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, recognized them as the
colonists who had been with Ed Bush when Roger had his last argument
with the professor.

"Did you hear Cadet Manning threaten Professor Sykes?" asked Vidac.

"Yes, sir," replied one of the colonists.

"What did he say?" asked Vidac. "Repeat it for Governor Hardy."

The colonist quoted Roger's threat almost word for word and Tom noted