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ELEVEN WELL, WEVE LEARNED one thing, the captain remarked grumpily. The vatch evidently prefers us to stay in the ship. . . Goth said that wasnt all. Never knew there were that many cuss words! He grunted. He was dry again but still more than a little fed up with the unmannerly ways of vatches. You just forget what you heard! he said. He looked at the desk chronometer. It was over an hour since the downpour outside had begun, and it was still going on, not with its original violence but as a steady, heavy rain. The ships audio pickups registered intermittent rumbles of thunder; and the screens showed the Ventures immediate vicinity transformed to a shallow lake. The captains nostrils wrinkled briefly as if trying to catch an elusive scent. Youre sure you cant get even a trace of the thing? he asked. Goth shook her head. Far as I can make out, its been gone pretty near an hour. Think youre relling something now? The captain hesitated. No, he said at last. Not really. I just keep having a feeling … Look, witch, its getting late! Better run and get your sleep so youll stay fresh. Ill sit up for another smoke. If that self-inflated cosmic clown does show up again, Ill let you know. Selfinflated cosmic ... pretty good! Goth said admiringly, and slipped off to her cabin. The captain took out a cigarette and lit it, scowling absently at the screens. The door between the control room and the rest of the section was closed, Hulik and Vezzarn had chosen to bunk up front on the floor tonight. What with the vatchs startling thunderstorm trick coming on top of everything else theyd experienced lately, he hadnt felt like suggesting theyd be more comfortable in their staterooms. On the other hand, the night still might provide events it would be better they didnt witness, if it could be avoided. Hed brought the strongbox enclosing the Manaret synergizer out of the vault with the ships crane and set it down against the wall in the control room; an act which probably had done no