rough
the air.

Miro roared with rage, and flung her yards away, to lie, an unmoving
pathetic bundle. Then he swung his ray back into play.

But he never had a chance to use it. All the strength and fury of
Grant's lithe, steel sinews and bone were behind the solid smash that
landed squarely on the Ganymedan's chin. He went down in a slump,
completely out.

* * * * *

Grant stooped to pick up the fallen pencil-ray, thrust it in the side
flap, then hurried over to the limp figure of Nona.

"Darling," he cried, "if anything's happened to you, I'll--"

The still form stirred, sat up.

"Say that again." She was smiling weakly, but happily.

Grant flushed. "As many times later as you'll want," he said, "but now
that you're not hurt, we can't waste any time in trying to get out of
here."

He walked over to Miro, who was just coming to.

"Listen, you rat," he told the Ganymedan, who was rubbing his chin and
groaning: "you do exactly as I say, if you know what's good for you."
He shook the pencil-ray significantly.

"You can't get away with it," Miro snarled, muttering a string of
curses. There was baffled rage in his red pig-eyes.

Grant surveyed him coldly.

"We'll see about that," he snapped. "Get up." He reinforced his demand
with a well-placed kick. The huge Ganymedan came quickly to his feet.

"Walk to the wall," was the next order, "and open the trick door."

With a glance of savage hate, Miro obeyed. Grant followed him with his
pistol in readiness. The poor mindless creatures paid no heed to what
was going on, but dully continued their appointed tasks.

Pemberton hid himself behind the wall to one side. Nona did likewise,
having picked up the electro-gun meanwhile. Only Miro stood before the
opening.

"Now tell your cutthroat friends out there we want one of the liners
brought directly over the Gorm, you understand. Not the Althea,
though--that's still full of holes. And only one Ganymedan to guide
her over the wall. Be very explicit, and not a false move out of you,
or it'll be your last."

With the knowledge that two deadly weapons were pointing squarely at
him, Miro shouted unwillingly the necessary instructions to his
subordinates outside. Then Grant leaned over and kicked the slide
shut.

* * * * *

There followed tense moments of waiting. Would the workers beyond obey
their leader? Had they become suspicious, and were even now