The Merliss, an interstelllar civilization, take seven boys from earth to a different earth hundreds of light years away, so they can rescue spies placed there a dozen years ago. They are trained and learn to work with each other. Can they evade capture by the local governments and enemy aliens and locate the earth-born spies? A science fiction tale of intrigue, flying saucers and alien worlds and technology, with characters who become vividly drawn and memorable friends before it is over, and with possibilities for a series to be written later.