ugh. Far to the left, a
glowing silver streak in the sky, was the familiar shape of a space
ship, growing larger by the minute. Studying it, Gene saw that it was an
armed cruiser.

"They've got wise," said Maher. "I thought they would, when we didn't
check in at Io. Probably radioed back to be on the lookout for us."

"Call MacNamara," said Gene. "We've got to see if he can set us down
faster. Maybe there's some way to step up that pile."

Maher rushed off, and Ann came in. "What's up?" she asked.

"Cruiser after us," said Gene, his face grim. "Looks like we won't get
to Chicago unless MacNamara has something up that old sleeve of his."

Ann went white, and together they waited for the old Engineer.

When he came in, Gene gestured to the telescope. "Take a look."

MacNamara squinted through the eyepiece with his double popeyes. "Don't
see a thing," he grumbled.

"Well, it's a Company Cruiser, gunned to the limit. She's going to be
near enough to shoot us down in about three hours."

"Three hours, you say?" MacNamara scratched his head. "How near we to
Earth?"

"Half a million miles."

"You could make it in the lifeboat."

Gene snorted. "That Cruiser'd shoot down the lifeboat as easy as it will
the ship--a lot easier."

"If they can catch you," said MacNamara. "Some of us must die, that the
rest may live."

"Don't start that again, Mac," said Maher impatiently. "What we want to
know is whether you can soup up that pile so we can beat that Cruiser
down to Earth?"

"Not a thing I can do," said the Chief Engineer. "We've only one set of
tubes. Full power would shoot us all over the sky. But I _can_ do
something as good."

"What?"

The old Engineer considered them through his double eyes. "The rest of
you'll take the lifeboat and make for Earth. I'll remain here on the
ship and shield your flight. I'm sure I can hide the little boat for
awhile, and then, even with one jet, I think I can delay the cruiser
until you get away. Someone's got to make a sacrifice. I'm old, and I
didn't want any of this to begin with."

Maher gasped. "Mac, you old fool. D'ya mind if I apologize for what I
just said? But you're right, that's a possible answer. Only I'll be the
one to stay."

"Do you know how to adjust the pile and the jets to make a weapon out of
them?" asked MacNamara.

"No ..." began Maher.

MacNamara grinned, "Nor am I going to tell you! So, you see, you can't
be the one to stay."

Maher gripped the