On the evening of September 9, the asteroid streaked through the night sky, drawing the awed attention of people all over the planet. It was best seen from the island of Vanuatu in the south Pacific from just after dusk to the hour before dawn when its glow was overwhelmed by the dawnlight. Had the asteroid not been controlled, September 9 would have been the first of the last days of life on Earth.

The day after, the President presided at a worldwide celebration in honor of the Starmen-a celebration to honor them for their critical role in freeing Mars from the clutches of the pirates. The celebration had been postponed when the greatest threat ever to menace the Earth was engineered by Lurton Zimbardo, and then turned aside.

The Starmen were the subjects of many award ceremonies, dinners and receptions, interviews, and parades. With them were Richard Starlight, Robert Nolan, Jesus Madera-Cruz, and others who had been instrumental in freeing the Earth from destruction. The three Starmen were delighted to see Steve Cliff again, for he was honored along with them for the part he had played in the liberation of Mars. Jack and Jill were also invited, but preferred to remain on the Moon out of the limelight.

The highlight of the celebration was a ceremony on the grounds of the capital in New Washington, when the President presented medals to the Starmen for their valor. The medals had been fashioned from plates in the Gloria, the s.p.a.ceship that had taken Lee High Eagle to Mars in 2014, the first s.p.a.ceship to carry human beings to another planet.

When it was all over, the Starmen returned to their homes in Amundsen City for a long and much-needed time of rest.

One afternoon, they were in Richard Starlight's office. Richard had not had an opportunity to hear the Starmen's entire story from beginning to end. He had invited them to join him, John Rwakatare, Robert Nolan, and Beowulf Denn for a relaxing afternoon so that the top four leaders of Starlight Enterprise and Nolan Mining Enterprise could hear firsthand the complete tale of the Starmen's adventures.

Tea and coffee were provided in a luxurious silver service that had been in Richard's family for generations-one of the few heirlooms that had been preserved through the Collapse. On the silverware was engraved the letter "R," the only clue to Richard's surname that still existed.

Nearly a century earlier, before founding Starlight Enterprise Richard's father Thomas had changed his name to "Starlight" and destroyed all records that spoke of his past.

After the three Starmen had finished recounting their adventures, no one spoke for a long time. Joe poured himself a fresh cup of tea. Most of them gazed out of the panoramic window at the desolate beauty of the lunar landscape.

At length Richard said, "Starmen, you've had some exciting adventures, and in them you've gained something valuable and lasting: you are now a team. You've learned how to work together, how to think like Starmen and act like Starmen. You're experienced, proven Starmen now! You managed to escape from the clutches of the most dangerous, crazed maniac our century has ever seen. And you've had contact, however fleeting, with the second intelligent extra-terrestrial race that Earth has met-certainly ahead of the t.i.tanians and far ahead of us!

"But as far as Starman's work goes, keep in mind that your adventures were the exception, not the rule. I know you've got exciting careers ahead, all three of you! You're three brilliant Starmen and you're a credit to Starlight Enterprise-but your next adventure could be as unglamorous as mapping geological samples in the canyons of Mercury."

"What will happen to Gene?" asked Mark.

"He will be tried with the rest of the pirates. His a.s.sistance in turning the asteroid aside and the intercession of Jesus Madera will probably stand him in good stead when his sentence is p.r.o.nounced."

"What of the aliens aboard the asteroid, sir?"

"Well, maybe they're still there and maybe they're not. We saw no trace of them after your first encounter. My guess is that there were just the two of them, maybe a few more, and that they departed from the asteroid about the time you did. We have plenty of time now to explore the entire asteroid, and if they're there, we'll find them; and if not, we'll find whatever traces there are to be found!"

But Richard was wrong. Nothing and no one on Earth had the capability of finding and entering the inner sanctum on the asteroid. The revelation of the alien inhabitants would come only if and when the aliens wished it, and even Richard Starlight could not determine or predict when that might be.

Zip said, "But it's not over yet, is it, sir? Whatever or whoever the aliens were afraid of hasn't even been identified, much less overcome.

And there are still six pirates who haven't been captured. Zimbardo is still free and we haven't any idea where he is. And the independent smugglers that Gene told us about disappeared without a trace."

Richard suddenly looked serious. "You're right, Zip-and there's still the matter of how Zimbardo knew our plans. Somewhere in our organization he has an ally-at least one."

Wulf Denn set his coffee cup down carefully and remarked, "But for now, things are peaceful. There is no danger anywhere, and no sign of any threat-and the amazing asteroid is ours to explore!"

"Right you are," agreed Rock, "and there are many secrets it can reveal to us. Time enough for us to face tomorrow's dangers tomorrow."

The Starmen were comforted. If even Rock was not on guard, they felt free to relax.

"What will you do now?" asked Robert Nolan.

"Well sir," said Mark. "David's uncle and aunt have invited all of us to go their farm in West Virginia-our parents and David's sister, too-for a long vacation. I love the stars, but frankly, spending time in the woods and fields, eating home-cooked meals at a large table with fifteen or so people, and sitting in front of a fireplace appeals to me more than I can say!"

"I don't blame you!" laughed Robert.

"But don't get too comfortable," warned Richard, with a chuckle.

"Something will come along before too long!"

"Maybe mapping geological samples in the canyons of Mercury," suggested Joe.

"Maybe," said Richard.

A little more than two months later, as the Seatons, Taylors, and Fosters prepared to celebrate Thanksgiving dinner on the farm, the Tartarus was speeding through the void.

"We've just pa.s.sed the orbit of Neptune, sir," announced the pilot.

"Thank you, Mr. Gebbeth. We're making good time." Those who had seen Lurton Zimbardo in his last hours aboard the runaway asteroid would have been surprised to learn that he could be a patient man. As he had done almost obsessively since he had fled the asteroid, he sorted through his thoughts.

"Hundreds of us reduced to dozens, and then dozens reduced to this handful of six. The Superiors promised me power once I had obtained for them the access codes to Earth's primary systems. Access codes! That's all they wanted, and Earth was to be mine for payment! I did my best!

But now I will appeal to them directly and they will push these Starmen aside without mercy!"

In the next book of the chronicles of the Starmen, JOURNEY TO THE TENTH PLANET, the threat to Earth will take new form. In the dark reaches beyond the orbit of Pluto, in the near-absolute zero of s.p.a.ce, the Starmen will finally encounter the overwhelming power of the true enemies of Earth.

THE END

Certain words used by George St. George are part of the backwoods culture of Davy Crockett, and come from the nineteenth century.

absquatulate depart, run away exflunct exhaust, beat thoroughly obflisticated bewildered, confused ramsquaddle demolish ripstavera first-rate person or thing slantindicular in a slanting direction

_________

Future volumes in the Starman series will

* Bring Earthmen face-to-face with Zimbardo's Superiors * Relate how the pirates are brought to their last stand * Introduce the spine-tingling new villain, Banjoman * Describe flilox, the new threat to Mars * Reveal the thrilling secret of the pirates' asteroid

Here's just a sample of action from the next Starman book, JOURNEY TO THE TENTH PLANET:

The long journey was coming to an end. Pluto was about three and a half billion miles from Earth, and the tenth planet was more than two billion miles farther than that-but coming closer. Its figure-eight orbit around the brown dwarf star Nemesis made it unique in the Solar System.

Now the Starventure was close enough that the tenth planet could be seen with the unaided eye. Everyone aboard was positioned at a window in the great cabin just behind the pilot's console to view the bi-stellar wanderer.

For moments no one said anything. The planet had been thoroughly described to all of them, but no scientific description, no matter how accurate, could have prepared them for the actuality.

"It looks as if it is made out of charcoal," whispered Joe finally.

"Or obsidian," contributed Mark in a subdued voice.

Before long, Joe brought the ship into a low orbit around the tenth planet. Over 4,000 miles in diameter, it was everywhere foreboding, sapping the spirit out of whoever looked upon it. The Starmen themselves were depressed at the sight.

Only about 20% of the planet's surface was anything near smooth, and the smooth parts were scattered into many different, small areas. More than half the terrain was comprised of jagged planes of crystallized material, heaped together as if at random. The planet was covered with sharp points and razor-thin ridges, scarred with tortuous narrow canyons, and marked with pits and shadows-darkness upon darkness.