"Sure," said the pilot. He tossed the dog-eared book to the sergeant.
Jeff flipped through the pages and found the day Tom's report was to
have been sent. He checked carefully, continuing through the entries for
the succeeding days, ending with the last entry made just an hour
before. There was no mention of Tom's report. Jeff turned to give the
logbook to the pilot when Vidac and Professor Sykes stepped through the
hatch. Seeing Jeff with the log in his hands, Vidac frowned.

"What are you doing here, Marshall?" he snapped.

Jeff was trapped. He came to attention and remained silent. Vidac walked
across the control deck and stood in front of him.

"Well, Marshall?" he barked. "Answer me!"

"I needed some information about the meteor dust we passed through
recently, sir," said Jeff.

Vidac turned to the professor. "Did you send him up here?"

Sykes merely shook his head.

"I lost the professor's notes and needed the information in the logbook,
sir," said Jeff.

"What are you talking about?" growled Sykes. "The notes are still in my
work journal. You put them there yourself!"

"What have you got to say to that?" demanded Vidac.