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that blistered this unknown world set and its glare was gone, they headed for the field.
    Whatever remote controls triggered the landing of the cargo had not functioned. It was as hatch-sealed as if in space. But they wasted no time in heading directly for the fins. Luckily the winds, with their torturing dryness, had died away, though it still hurt to breathe too deeply, and Andas wondered what long exposure to this atmosphere might do to their bodies.
    The hand and foot holds were there. Though they did not want to, they must let Turpyn make the first climb, since if the hatch was to be forced, only he could deal with it. Andas swung up close on his heels. He had no trust in the Veep.
    Clinging to the holds below Turpyn, whom he heard now and then spitting an oath in a tongue not Basic, Andas tried not to breathe too deeply and to ignore the stinging of his nose and the way his eyes teared.
    Turpyn gave a louder grunt and humped up, Andas quick to follow, with Yolyos behind him. As he pulled within the shell of the ship, he found himself in a narrow passage, so narrow that it was difficult to squeeze through. There was a second hatch Turpyn’s torch showed, but the Veep had started to climb again, using more handholds to ascend to the upper levels.
    So they won through the narrow ways meant only for techs, on major repairs, into the living quarters. After a quick inspection Turpyn gave a sigh of relief.
    â€œThis has been in use and not too long ago—perhaps on the last trip of the ship. It can be activated with some work. But we shall have to see about the controls. It will do us no good otherwise.”
    They followed him up to the control cabin. There were signs that at times this drone did carry a crew, for webbing seats were slung for both pilot and astrogator before the proper controls.
    Turpyn pushed past those to stand before the pilot’s board, studying the array of buttons and levers. Then he pressed one, and there was an audible click as a trip tape arose from a slot.
    â€œIf there is a file of these—” He weighed the useless one in his hand. Andas had already started searching by the astrogator’s seat. And his prying and pulling at a snug thumbhole paid off. A compartment opened to show in its well-cushioned interior four more tape casings. He clawed the first out to look at the symbol on its side. But he did not recognize it. In fact, they might be entirely off any galactic map he was familiar with. He dropped it to the web seat and picked a second.
    Again disappointment. No longer did he expect any luck, but perhaps some other of their company would know more. Only—the third! At first he could not believe the report of his eyes, running his finger back and forth to feel the slight roughness of that raised design, assuring himself that it was there.
    â€œInyanga—it is Inyanga!”
    Yolyos had scooped up the two discarded ones. “And that one—” He pointed to the last in the compartment.
    â€œIt does not matter!” The prince treasured his find in his two hands lest someone snatch it from him. He had his key to home. “Don’t you understand? This will take us to Inyanga—and from there you can reach your own worlds.”
    â€œStill I am interested.” Yolyos secured the last one.
    â€œNaul—”
    Andas held to his tape with a jealous grip. All right, so there was one for Naul. But they would go first to Inyanga.
    â€œI think”—the Salariki might have been reading his mind—“that you will find some slight opposition to such a plan, Prince. And we do not know where we are, so that Naul may well be the best and safest choice after all.”
    Yolyos shoved the two unknowns back into the compartment. He kept the one for Naul. But Andas had no intention of surrendering the one he held until he himself dropped it into the right slot and knew the ship was heading for home.
    Oddly enough, Turpyn paid little