"I'm here to take the Red oath," said Scott as he barged into Cairn's cell in the brig, "as promised."
Cairn, who was sitting cross-legged on the cot, didn't bother to open his eyes. "Took you long enough," he said calmly. "What makes you think the offer's still open?"
"This." Scott held up his left wrist with the bomb remote control strapped to it.
Puffing out his breath, Cairn opened his eyes. When he got a look at the remote, he broke into a smile. "Oh, no! What will I do? Please don't blow me up and take your precious ship with me!"
"Now why would I do that?" This time, it was Scott's turn to smile. "Reds don't blow up fellow Reds, do they?"
Cairn's smile widened. "Now you've got me interested." Uncrossing his legs, he got up from the cot. "If you're not here to threat
