"And there hasn't been any explanation of why the instruments went out?"

"I haven't heard any, sir," said Astro. "Professor Sykes started out
right after we landed to investigate the satellite, but I never heard
anything more about it. When I asked him one day if he had found
anything, he told me to mind my own business."

"And now you're accused of abducting and murdering the professor," mused
Strong.

"That's it, sir," said Tom. "As I said, we didn't want to give you
anything but the facts as we know them. There are a lot of incidents
that would show Vidac is trying to pull something funny, but nothing
that could be proved."

Strong nodded. "Well, it certainly looks as though Vidac is--"

Strong was suddenly interrupted by Bush who stepped into the room
arrogantly, paralo-ray gun in hand.

"Time's up!" he yelled, waving the gun at Strong.

"I've warned you about holding a weapon on a Solar Guard officer,"
snapped Strong, rising to face the man. "Either put that thing away or
use it."

[Illustration: _"Hasn't anybody figured out why four hundred ships
crashed in landing?" Strong asked._]