nder of the Baserite ship seemed to be making a decision as
his craft hung in space. To attack or flee? Could he reach and
demolish the crippled barge before the Ptomenite fighters reached the
scene?

Both Mike and Nicko hung upon this indecision. Nicko said, "I hope
that stupid codger doesn't commit suicide. If he does, we go down
too."

"Maybe it's just as well," Mike said grimly.

"I've always subscribed to staying alive as long as possible," Nicko
retorted.

The commander made his decision. The ship streaked in, dancing like a
zephyr to avoid the crystalline ray. But there was no longer any great
danger from this because the tilt of the deck made accurate aiming
impossible for the Ptomenites.

Straight in for the kill now, came the Baserite ship; straight in
toward the crippled deck awash with the blood of smashed and maimed
soldiers; alive with the screams of the agonized and the dying.

Doree covered her face with her hands and came into Mike's arms. So
she did not see that the Ptomenites had one maneuver left; a perilous
one, but nonetheless a maneuver.

The craft was now over the level ground on the near outskirts of the
city. It hung motionless, allowing the Baserite craft to take deadly
aim.

But as the sleek ship rocketed in, the commander of the Ptomenite
craft waited until the last moment and then released whatever force
held the ship in the air. The split deck dropped like a stone, but too
late for the other ship to change course.

* * * * *

The Baserites had gambled and lost. As the ship arced again skyward, a
dozen similar fighters closed in from two directions. They emitted the
deadly crystalline fire. For a few moments, the Baserite ship seemed
unharmed. Then it's hull began to glow; a faint pink, a cherry red, a
bright crimson. Then a brilliant explosion lighted a sky made hazy by
the descending sun. And there was nothing.

Even as the Ptomenite ship plummetted downward, Mike marveled at the
effectiveness of the crystalline ray. Nothing remotely resembling it
existed in the universe he knew. Then his attention was concentrated
solely upon perils of the moment The Ptomenite commander was not able
to stop the rapid descent. He could only lessen it slightly and Mike
held Doree tight in his arms when the crash came.

He noted, fleetingly, that neither McKee nor Talbott had been injured
by the thrust of the Baserite ship. The door to the after cabin was
open