d the rubber-mounted grips of the stunner concealed
in the palm of his left hand. A slight eye-stinging flash burst in the
fading light. As the wave moved outward from the tiny device, Garth
stiffened and pitched forward, bouncing perceptibly before his body
finally succumbed to the compulsion of gravity.

Dollard aimed the hard toe of his metallic shoe and kicked him
viciously in the temple. Garth's body did not stir.

"I would have liked an engine-to-mechanic check very much," Dollard
said thoughtfully. "But these things can't always be planned neat
enough to meet every detail. There has to be leeway for diversive
action--should the situation merit it. In this case, the situation
seems to have merited it rather fully."

He began to climb the narrow aluminum rungs of the propped-up ladder.
After reaching the platform, he stood on the grilled support, his fat
panting bulk braced against the upper chord of the stabilizer fin. He
looked back briefly at Garth's unconscious form on the ground.

"You were a fool, Garth! A fool to believe that I would take you along
with me--to share a new empire. Know when I lost complete respect for
your intelligence? It was when you banked that past services for me
would assure you of future salvation. Very stupid. Didn't you know
your usefulness would end for me the moment I left Terra? Why should I
have dragged you along to drink up my oxygen, eat my food ... and
undermine me later on? No, friend Garth, you were--all along--just as
much a tool as those uniformed carcasses you poisoned on my behalf.
May you join them in the sad reflection they must now be
experiencing...."

Garth's paralyzed body lay still.

Dollard pressed against the outer panel of the hatch and stepped into
the opening that was made by the sliding section. He disappeared into
the bowels of the ship, and the hatch closed after him.

A few seconds later, a rumbling inside announced the vessel's engines
had come to life. Stubby atmospheric wings unfolded into place on the
shining metal sides. Rocket vents below the scorched tail surface
began to glow a cherry red as fused gases bit into the pitted ground.
The ship's entire length trembled slightly as it left the surface.
Climbing into the blue with an ever-increasing _whoosh_, it described
an arc over the jagged peaks and vanished.

* * * * *

Another half hour passed, before the cataleptic effect of the stunner
eased sufficiently