e in their food lockers
now ourselves. Now let's get started back. The men won't take 'no' for
an answer."

I leaned closer, studying the corpses. "Come here, Kramer," I called. "I
want to show you something."

"I've seen all there is to see in there," Kramer said. "We don't want to
waste time; we want to change course now, right away."

* * * * *

I walked back to the door, and as Kramer stepped back to let me precede
him out the door, I hit him in the mouth with all my strength. His head
snapped back against the frosted wall. Then he fell out into the
passage.

I stepped over him. "Pick this up and put it in the brig," I said. The
men in the corridor fell back, muttering. As they hauled Kramer upright
I stepped through them and kept going, not running but wasting no time,
toward the bridge. One wrong move on my part now and all their misery
and fear would break loose in a riot the first act of which would be to
tear me limb from limb.

I travelled ahead of the shock. Kramer had provided the diversion I had
needed. Now I heard the sound of gathering violence growing behind me.

I was none too quick. A needler flashed at the end of the corridor just
as the lift door closed. I heard the tiny projectile ricochet off the
lift shaft.

I rode up, stepped onto the bridge and locked the lift. I keyed for
Bourdon, and to my relief got a quick response. The panic hadn't
penetrated to Missile Section yet.

"Bourdon, arm all batteries and lock onto that Mancji ship," I ordered.
"On the triple."

I turned to Clay. "I'll take over, Clay," I said. "Alter course to
intercept our late companion at two and one-half gee's."

Clay looked startled, but said only, "Aye, sir."

I keyed for a general announcement. "This is the Captain," I said.
"Action station, all hands in loose acceleration harness. We're going
after Big Brother. You're in action against the enemy now, and from this
point on I'm remembering. You men have been having a big time letting
off steam; that's over now. All sections report."

One by one the sections reported in, all but Med. and Admin. Well, I
could spare them for the present. The pressure was building now, as we
blasted around in a hairpin curve, our acceleration picking up fast.

I ordered Joyce to lock his radar on target, and switch over to
autopilot control. Then I called Power Section.

"I'm taking over all power control from the bridge," I said. "All
personn