‘And this ship?’ said Pitt, without bothering to say whether he remembered.

‘As shiny as though it had traveled no more than a few million kilometers at ordinary speeds.’

‘That's impossible. Don't bother me with these games.’

‘It's not impossible. A few million kilometers at ordinary speeds is all they passed through. The rest of the way - hyperspace.’

‘What are you talking about?’ Pitt's patience was wearing thin.

‘Superluminal flight. They've got it.’

‘That's theoretically impossible.’

‘Is it? Well, if you can think of any other way of explaining all this, go to it.’

Pitt stared at him, open-mouthed. ‘But-’

‘I know. The physicists say it's impossible, but they have it, anyway. Now let me tell you this. If they have superluminal flight, they must have superluminal communication. Then the Solar System knows they're here and it knows what's happening. If we blow the ship out of the sky, the Solar System will know that, too, and, after a while, a fleet of such vessels will come out of space, and they'll come shooting at us.’

‘What would you do, then?’ Pitt found himself temporarily unable to think.

‘What else is there to do but to greet them in friendly fashion, find out what they are, who they are, what they're doing, and what they want? Now it's my idea that they plan to land on Erythro. We'll have to land there, too, and talk to them.’

‘On Erythro?’

‘If they're on Erythro, Janus, where do you want us to be? We've got to confront them there. We've got to take that chance.’

Pitt felt his mind beginning to tick over again. He said, ‘Since this seems to you to be necessary, would you be willing to do it? With a ship and a crew, of course.’

‘You mean you won't?’

‘As Commissioner? I can't come down to greet some unknown ship.’

‘Beneath the official dignity. I see. So I'm to face the aliens, or the teeny-weenies, or the robots, or whatever, without you.’

‘I'll be in constant contact, of course, Saltade. Voice and image.’

‘At a distance.’

‘Yes, but a successful mission on your part would be suitably rewarded, after all.’

‘Is that so? In that case-’ Leverett looked at Pitt, speculatively.

Pitt waited, then said, ‘Are you going to name a price?’

‘I am going to suggest a price. If you want me to meet this vessel on Erythro, then I want Erythro.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I want Erythro as my home. I'm tired of the asteroids. I'm tired of scanning. I'm tired of people . I've had enough. I want a whole empty world. I want to build nice living quarters, get food and necessaries from the Dome, have my own farm and my own animals if I can coax them to do well.’

‘How long have you wanted this?’

‘I don't know. It's been growing on me. And since I came here and have gotten a good look at Rotor with its crowds and noise, Erythro looks better than ever to me.’

Pitt frowned. ‘That makes two of you. You're just like that mad girl.’

‘What mad girl?’

‘Eugenia Insigna's daughter. You know Insigna, I suppose.’

‘The astronomer? Of course. I haven't met her daughter.’

‘Completely mad. She wants to stay on Erythro.’

‘I don't consider that mad. I consider that very sensible. In fact, if she wants to say on Erythro, I could endure a woman-’

Pitt held up a finger. ‘I said “girl”.’

‘How old is she?’

‘Fifteen.’

‘Oh? Well, she'll get older. Unfortunately, so will I.’

‘She's not one of your raving beauties.’

‘If you'll take a good look, Janus,’ said Leverett, ‘neither am I. You have my terms.’

‘You want it officially recorded in the computer?’

‘Just as a formality, eh, Janus?’

Pitt did not smile. ‘Very well. We'll try to watch where that vessel lands, and we'll make you ready for Erythro.’