t all. In your own
brain, Gunnar, there is a charge of electricity. It may be the only real
life that you have within you. This can take it all away. That was why I
asked for a live thing to demonstrate--"

The grizzled Bron who had spoken once before now laughed good-humoredly.
"Demonstrate it on Gunnar," he suggested.

"And I will thump your skull--" Gunnar was ready to go for him, but Odin
grabbed the little giant's arm.

"He jokes. Besides, you are ruining the girl's show. This means much to
her."

Nea gave him a grateful glance. The council voted their thanks to Nea and
a tribute to her father. She was assigned a half-dozen helpers to fashion
as many of the globes as she could. They adjourned.

* * * * *

As The Nebula drove on, it became harder and harder for Odin to judge
time. He could only gauge it by some event such as the council meeting
and say "before this" or "after that."

He and Gunnar were with Ato in the control room when suddenly warning
bells began to jangle and red lights flashed on and off.

Ato adjusted the largest screen. And there, slowly revolving like an
hour-glass of gold amid uprushing sparks of sun and flame, was The Old
Ship.

Ato pointed to a bright star. "Aldebaran. They are headed there."

His voice was shaking just a bit when he called into the speaker: "Battle
stations, everyone!"

Gunnar took off for the needle-nosed instrument which he had grown to hate.
Odin stood by to help with the screens.

"Watch forward now!" Ato warned. "Sight at thirty degrees above the equator
of The Nebula. Adjust for Doppler--X over Y. We have him on the screens
now. This means that he can get a fix on us. Careful now--"

As he watched the screen, Jack Odin saw three tiny sparks leap from Grim
Hagen's ship. They danced toward them, growing as they came. At first they
were blue, but as they filled the screen, almost hiding the Old Ship from
his vision, they changed to amber and topaz.

Bells and klaxons shrieked their warnings.

Ato watched and waited. Just as the three growing lights filled the screen
he touched a lever. The Nebula danced away. Breathless, Jack Odin altered
the screens and watched the three globes of flame hurtle past them.

Far away now, they slowed like living things, puzzled at having lost their
prey.

Slowed they merged together--

And turned back upon their quarry!

CHAPTER 9

The three sunlets of flame merged together