pty labs. The
paralysis effect of the needle gun had probably worn off. Mike hadn't
checked to find out.

Bessie and her relief operators were watching the prisoners through a
video display on the Sacred Cow's console, and would report anything
unusual that went on to Captain Andersen.

Mike, Ishie, Millie, Paul and Tombu had completed the new Confusor
drive units, and they were nearly installed.

More time would be taken arranging the engineering quarters so that
the installation of her control panel and the units themselves would
be completed.

This part, Mike didn't like too well. It meant re-arranging his
already carefully arranged units, and considerable re-wiring without
interfering with any of the basic functions of the wheel.

The new units had turned out to look very little like the original.
Fourteen feet long by eighteen inches outside diameter, they looked
very much like a group of stove-pipes arranged in a circular pattern
around the engineering quarters, braced from wall to wall.

The control console itself, even though made rapidly, had the look of
a carefully planned and well-made unit; something that might have
turned up in one of Earth's better R&D labs, as part of a
multi-million dollar project.

All together, the drive rods would provide something better than a
tenth of a gee thrust for the combined mass of the wheel, Hot Rod, the
pile and the other subsidiary units around them.

A tenth of a gee. Not enough to land on Earth; but with things down
there the way they were now, who wanted to?

With these units, the whole storehouse of the solar system was at
their disposal.

With these units they could reach the asteroids.

With these units, they could range as far out as Pluto without fear of
consequences--without, Mike added to himself, even the fear of
radiation that was a constant threat to them here, for the farther
from the sun they went, the less radiation they would have to endure.
The three months would be extended. For those who needed it, better
shielding could be found.

The system was theirs.

Possibly, also the stars beyond.

That, he reminded himself, if they could get these units installed
before the scuttlebug arrived.

Undoubtedly, Earth Security had sent arms as well as men.

Where they were, not strictly on course, but still in a satellite-type
orbit, they remained sitting ducks for any number of countermeasures
that Earth might throw against them.

Once gone