lit open by
my blow.

There had been no alarm. The slight noise we made had not been heard
down on the busy deck. Anita and I crouched by the floor. From the
deck all this part of the room could not be seen.

"Dead."

"Oh Gregg--"

It forced our hand. I could not wait now for Miko to come. But I could
flash the Earth signal now, and then we would have to make our run to
escape.

Then I remembered that light down by the base! I kept Anita out of
sight down on the floor and went cautiously to a window. The deck was
in turmoil with brigands moving about excitedly. Not because of what
had happened in our tower signal room: they were unaware of that.

Miko's signals were showing! I could see them now plainly, down at the
crater base. A group of hand lights and small waving helio beam.

And they were being answered from the ship! Potan was on the deck--a
babble of voices, above which his rose with roars of command. At one
of the dome windows a brigand with a hand searchbeam was sending its
answering light. And I saw that Potan was working over a deck
telescope finder.

It had all come so suddenly that I was stunned. But I did not wait to
read the signals. I swung back at Anita, who stared helplessly at me.

"It's Miko! And they are answering him! Get your helmet: I'll try
firing the projector."

Or would I instead try and send a brief flash signal to Earth? There
would be no time to do both: we must escape out of here. The route up
through the dome was the only feasible one now.

This range mechanism of the projector was reasonably familiar, and I
felt that I could operate it. The range-finder and the switch were on
a ledge at one of the windows. I rushed to it. As I swung the
telescope, training it down on Miko's lights, I could see the huge
projector on the deck swinging similarly. Its movement surprised the
men who were attending it. One of them called up to me, but I ignored
him.

Then Potan looked up and saw me. He shouted in Martian at the duty
man, whom he doubtless thought was behind me: "Be ready! We may fire
on them. I'll give you the word."

The signals were proceeding. It had only been a moment. I caught
something like, "_Haljan is imposter_."

I was aiming the projector. I was aware of Anita at my elbow. I pushed
her back.

"Put on your helmet!"

I had the range. I flung the firing switch.

At the deck window the giant projector spat its deadly electronic
stream. The men down there leaped