The following day was a busy one.  In spite of the events of the previous evening, in spite of the tragedy, the ship's work had to go on.  There was cargo to load - casks of the local liquor, ingots of gold, the baled pelts of the great, richly-furred mountain bears.  There was the inquiry held by Captain Engels into the death of his Chief Officer, the inquiry at which, in addition to Calver, Arlen and Pender, the High priest was present.

The old Tharnian - he seemed more aged than Captain Engels himself, his green skin deeply wrinkled, his sparse hair faded to a pale yellow - was sorrowful.

He said, speaking in English, "There are those on Tharn who hate and fear you, Captain, who hate and fear the knowledge that will set all men free."

"I am afraid, Your Wisdom," said Engels, "that my own officer was in part to blame for what happened."

"The girl was not Lanoga's property," said the priest.  "She was free to go with whom she would.  Lanoga's actions were aimed as much against the University as against your people."

"And Lanoga?" asked Calver.

"If you delay your departure," said the High Priest, "you will be able to witness the execution tomorrow.

"We have to maintain our schedule," said Engels.

"And so do I," said Jane Arlen.  "If I am not required any farther, I will see to the business of the next meal, Captain."

"You may go, Mrs. Arlen."

"And if I may be spared, sir," said Calver, have the stowage to see to."

"But of course.  I forgot that you're the Mate now."

Calver and Jane left the Captain's day room, left the two old men who, although of different races, had so much in common, the two sad old men voicing their fears and regrets over a glass of wine.

Calver said, "I feel sorry for the old priest.  If he's not careful, he'll bring his world tumbling about his ears.  The way I see it, the Barons are just itching for an excuse to crush the University and all that it stands for..."

"He's no fool," Arlen told him, "and he's tougher than he looks.  I think that he rather hopes that the Barons will march on the town.  There are quite a few things you don't know, Derek.  Now that you're Chief Officer, you'll be finding them out..."

"Such as?"

"It's not for me to tell you.  I'm only the chief cook and bottle washer.  But you'll find out."

They parted company then - Arlen proceeding to her own domain, Calver to see to details of the loading.  His first task was a melancholy one - to make space for Maclean's body in one of the ship's deep-freeze chambers.  It had been decided that he would not be buried on Tharn, in the soil of an alien planet, but in Space, as a spaceman should be.