Taking the first corridor to the left, he rounded a corner to find Ed
Bush standing in front of the door to the cadets' quarters. As he
approached, Bush took out his paralo-ray gun and held it on Strong.

"That's far enough, mister," said Bush.

"Do you realize what you're doing?" demanded Strong.

"Never mind what I'm doing," snapped Bush. "Who are you and what do you
want?"

"You'd better get spacewise, mister! It's against the law to hold a
weapon on an officer of the Solar Guard! I'm Captain Strong and I want
to see the cadets!"

"No one gets inside without a pass from Governor Vidac," Bush answered
surlily.

Strong pulled out the note and handed it over brusquely. Bush glanced at
it and handed it back.

"O.K.," he said. "You got ten minutes." He unlocked the door and stepped
aside.

Strong was furious at this treatment. But he held his temper in check,
realizing he had to talk to the cadets first and find out what had
happened. He would deal with Bush later. He stepped past Bush and opened
the door.

"_Polaris_ unit--stand to!" he yelled.