s disappearance.

* * * * *

His eyes flicked away from the screen, looked up through the skylight
above him. Outlined against the sky hung the ship. At the nose and
stern, two hemispheres of blue-white radiance fitted over the metal
framework, like the jaws of a powerful vise, holding the craft
immovable.

His gaze went back to the screen again, just in time to see Chizzy
disappear. It was as if the man had been a mere figure chalked upon a
board ... and then someone had taken a sponge and wiped him out.

Russ's fingers were flying over the keys. His thumb reached out and
tripped a lever. There was a slight hum of power.

And Chizzy stood beside him.

Chizzy did not pull his gun. He whimpered and cowered within the
invisible cradle of force.

"You're yellow," Pete snarled at him, but Chizzy only covered his eyes
with his arms.

"Look, boss," said Pete, addressing Scorio, "what are you doing here? We
left you back in New York."

Scorio did not answer. He merely glared. Pete lapsed into silence,
watching.

* * * * *

Manning stood poised before the captives, rocking back and forth on his
heels.

"A nice bag for one evening," he told Russ.

Russ grinned and stoked up his pipe.

Manning turned to the gangster chief. "What do you think we ought to do
with these fellows? We can't leave them in those force shells too long
because they'll die for lack of air. And we can't let them loose because
they might use their guns on us."

"Listen, Manning," Scorio rasped hoarsely, "just name your price to let
us loose. We'll do anything you want."

Manning drew his mouth down. "I can't think of a thing. We just don't
seem to have any use for you."

"Then what in hell," the gangster asked shakily, "are you going to do
with us?"

"You know," said Manning, "I may be a bit old-fashioned along some
lines. Maybe I am. I just don't like the idea of killing people for
money. I don't like people stealing things other people have worked hard
to get. I don't like thieves and murderers and thugs corrupting city
governments, taking tribute on every man, woman and child in our big
cities."

"But look here, Manning," pleaded Scorio, "we'd be good citizens if we
just had a chance."

Manning's face hardened. "You sent these men here to kill us tonight,
didn't you?"

"Well, not exactly. Stutsman kind of wanted you killed, but I told the
boys just to get the stuff