anyone on Earth that I know of. After all, someone on Earth might be convicted of a serious crime and given the choice of life in prison or immigration to a colony. I can't think of one good reason why anyone would do such a thing. There's not even a black market for it."
      "I can think of one good reason," Technician Clarke said.
      "What reason?" Dickson asked.
      "To create a galactic incident. It would bind the colonists together more if they felt that someone had it in for them. Some of them believe that there are people on Earth who want revenge on them," Clarke answered.
      "Revenge? What for?" asked Dickson.
      "Because they're not in prison. They're living free while their victims suffer on Earth," Clarke answered.
      "I can believe that. When I was on my last vacation, I heard some friends of mine gripe about how criminals weren't being punished," Shelly said.
      "Less than one percent of the colonists were criminals. They don't send murderers, rapists, or violent criminals there. The only criminals they send there are non-violent and they have to be guilty of a serious felony before they become eligible. You have to embezzle a million bucks practically before Earth foots the bill to get rid of you," Dickson said.
      "It's not what they did. It's the image of them living free while others were hurt. Even if it was only economical damage they suffered," Clarke said.
      "I still say the snake I saw go behind that crate is poisonous. I'm not going back there by myself," Shelly said.
      Dickson said, "All right. Saber! How about you get that snake that Shelly saw go behind that crate?"
      "Why don't you order her like you order me?" Richard asked.
   "Never mind. I'll get this one, myself," the Chief replied.
   "Be careful. I'm sure that it's poisonous," Shelly said.
      Isaac approached the back of the crate. He pulled on the crate, shifting it a few inches away from another crate beside it. The snake he was after disappeared between the two crates. He climbed on one and prodded between them with the stick he carried. A moment later, the snake slithered out from between the two crates. Isaac turned to follow the snake, keeping his bag ready to stuff the snake in once he grabbed it. He saw the snake slide away from the crates toward another row of them. He jumped down, rushing to grab hold of the snake.
      Richard saw the snake slither out from the crates toward the next row. Horrified, he realized that Shelly was right. It didn't matter whether Clarke was right or not. What mattered was that there was a threat to one of the team. Without thinking about who was threatened, Richard threw his stick at the Chief.
      "Ow! Damn it, Richard! What the hell's wrong with you? Are you still pissed off from our earlier talk?" Dickson exclaimed.
      "I ought to be, but this was to stop you from making a mistake. Shelly's right. That snake is poisonous. I've seen plenty of those as a kid, so I ought to know," Richard replied.
      "What is it then?" Isaac asked.
      "It's a water moccasin. It can kill you," Shelly said.
      "Okay, then how do we handle this? Anyone got any ideas?" Isaac asked.
      "We'll pin it down with our sticks first. Then we'll bag it. That's the only difference," Richard said.
      "Okay. You ever pin any of them down?" Isaac asked.
      "A few," Richard answered.
      "In that case, you lead the chase. I'll do what you instruct. Shelly, find out if there are anymore of these on board, loose or caged. Make sure everyone on
      "I can think of one good reason," Technician Clarke said.
      "What reason?" Dickson asked.
      "To create a galactic incident. It would bind the colonists together more if they felt that someone had it in for them. Some of them believe that there are people on Earth who want revenge on them," Clarke answered.
      "Revenge? What for?" asked Dickson.
      "Because they're not in prison. They're living free while their victims suffer on Earth," Clarke answered.
      "I can believe that. When I was on my last vacation, I heard some friends of mine gripe about how criminals weren't being punished," Shelly said.
      "Less than one percent of the colonists were criminals. They don't send murderers, rapists, or violent criminals there. The only criminals they send there are non-violent and they have to be guilty of a serious felony before they become eligible. You have to embezzle a million bucks practically before Earth foots the bill to get rid of you," Dickson said.
      "It's not what they did. It's the image of them living free while others were hurt. Even if it was only economical damage they suffered," Clarke said.
      "I still say the snake I saw go behind that crate is poisonous. I'm not going back there by myself," Shelly said.
      Dickson said, "All right. Saber! How about you get that snake that Shelly saw go behind that crate?"
      "Why don't you order her like you order me?" Richard asked.
   "Never mind. I'll get this one, myself," the Chief replied.
   "Be careful. I'm sure that it's poisonous," Shelly said.
      Isaac approached the back of the crate. He pulled on the crate, shifting it a few inches away from another crate beside it. The snake he was after disappeared between the two crates. He climbed on one and prodded between them with the stick he carried. A moment later, the snake slithered out from between the two crates. Isaac turned to follow the snake, keeping his bag ready to stuff the snake in once he grabbed it. He saw the snake slide away from the crates toward another row of them. He jumped down, rushing to grab hold of the snake.
      Richard saw the snake slither out from the crates toward the next row. Horrified, he realized that Shelly was right. It didn't matter whether Clarke was right or not. What mattered was that there was a threat to one of the team. Without thinking about who was threatened, Richard threw his stick at the Chief.
      "Ow! Damn it, Richard! What the hell's wrong with you? Are you still pissed off from our earlier talk?" Dickson exclaimed.
      "I ought to be, but this was to stop you from making a mistake. Shelly's right. That snake is poisonous. I've seen plenty of those as a kid, so I ought to know," Richard replied.
      "What is it then?" Isaac asked.
      "It's a water moccasin. It can kill you," Shelly said.
      "Okay, then how do we handle this? Anyone got any ideas?" Isaac asked.
      "We'll pin it down with our sticks first. Then we'll bag it. That's the only difference," Richard said.
      "Okay. You ever pin any of them down?" Isaac asked.
      "A few," Richard answered.
      "In that case, you lead the chase. I'll do what you instruct. Shelly, find out if there are anymore of these on board, loose or caged. Make sure everyone on
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