didn't catch his eye, would he be
interested in the planetary homesteading gear? I had loaded the cards
with all the things he might want, and planted the information where he
could get it. He had the bait now--but would he grab the hook?

I couldn't tell. And I could work myself into a neurotic state if I kept
running through the worry cycle. It took an effort to concentrate on
anything else, but it had to be made. The next four days passed very
slowly.

When the alarm blew off, all I felt was an intense sensation of relief.
I might be dead and blasted to dust in the next few minutes, but that
didn't seem to make much difference.

Pepe had swallowed the bait. There was only one ship in the galaxy that
could knock back a blip that big at such a distance. It was closing
last, using the raw energy of the battleship engines for a headlong
approach. My ship bucked a bit as the tug-beams locked on at maximum
distance. The radio bleeped at me for attention at the same time. I
waited as long as I dared, then flipped it on. The voice boomed out.

"... That you are under the guns of a warship! Don't attempt to run,
signal, take evasive action, or in any other way...."

"Who are you--and what the devil do you want?" I spluttered into the
mike. I had my scanner on, so they could see me, but my own screen
stayed dark. They weren't sending any picture. In a way it made my act
easier, I just played to an unseen audience. They could see the rich cut
of my clothes, the luxurious cabin behind me. Of course they couldn't
see my hands.

"It doesn't matter who we are," the radio boomed again. "Just obey
orders if you care to live. Stay away from the controls until we have
tied on, then do exactly as I say."

There were two distant clangs as magnetic grapples hit the hull. A
little later the ship lurched, drawn home against the battleship. I let
my eyes roll in fear, looking around for a way to escape--and taking a
peek at the outside scanners. The yacht was flush against the
space-filling bulk of the other ship. I pressed the button that sent the
torch-wielding robot on his way.

* * * * *

"Now let me tell you something," I snapped into the mike, wiping away
the worried billionaire expression. "First I'll repeat your own
warning--obey orders if you want to live. I'll show you why----"

When I threw the big switch a carefully worked out sequence took place.
First, of course, the hull was magnetiz