l be blown out of the ship's
pile at that instant and half your filthy city will go up in the
explosion." His smile was chiseled on his face and there was no doubt he
would do what he said. "Go ahead--fire. I think I would enjoy pressing
this."

The take-off siren was hooting now, the _close lock_ light blinking an
angry message from the bridge. Like four actors in a grim drama they
faced each other an instant more.

Then the Cassylian officer, growling with unvoicable frustrated anger,
turned and leaped back to the steps.

"All passengers board ship. Forty-five seconds to take-off. Clear the
port." The ship's officer slammed shut the cover of the box and locked
it as he talked. There was barely time to make the acceleration couches
before the _Pride of Darkhan_ cleared ground.

V.

Once the ship was in orbit the captain sent for Jason and Kerk. Kerk
took the floor and was completely frank about the previous night's
activities. The only fact of importance he left out was Jason's
background as a professional gambler. He drew a beautiful picture of
two lucky strangers whom the evil forces of Cassylia wanted to deprive
of their gambling profits. All this fitted perfectly the captain's
preconceptions of Cassylia. In the end he congratulated his officer on
the correctness of his actions and began the preparation of a long
report to his government. He gave the two men his best wishes as well as
the liberty of the ship.

It was a short trip. Jason barely had time to catch up on his sleep
before they grounded on Darkhan. Being without luggage they were the
first ones through customs. They left the shed just in time to see
another ship landing in a distant pit. Kerk stopped to watch it and
Jason followed his gaze. It was a gray, scarred ship. With the stubby
lines of a freighter--but sporting as many guns as a cruiser.

"Yours, of course," Jason said.

Kerk nodded and started towards the ship. One of the locks opened as
they came up but no one appeared. Instead a remote-release folding
ladder rattled down to the ground. Kerk swarmed up it and Jason followed
glumly. Somehow, he felt, this was overdoing the no-frills-and-nonsense
attitude.

Jason was catching on to Pyrran ways though. The reception aboard ship
for the ambassador was just what he expected. Nothing. Kerk closed the
lock himself and they found couches as the take-off horn sounded. The
main jets roared and acceleration smashed down on Jason.

It