rps
could take any really effective action.

He certainly hoped that one was the top man. It was going to be hard
enough to get a line on him--to say nothing of anyone even higher.

One evening at dinner, some time later, Hanlon became aware that the
guard, Gorton, was growling at him. He looked up in surprise, and forced
himself to pay attention to the big man's words.

"I ask ya, whatcha tryin' t' do, punk?" the small pig-eyes glared redly
at him, and the voice was harsh and bitter. "Try'n'a show up us other
guards? What'sa big idea, gettin' out more ore'n we do?"

Hanlon stared back in amazement, and his voice when he answered
was a stammer of surprise. "Why ... why ... I'm not trying to do
anything ... except my job," he added more forcefully.

"We been gettin' out a reg'lar three tons a shift," the ugly face was
shoved closer to his, and Hanlon shrank back from the stench of raw
spirits breathed on him. "What'sa idea drivin' yer crew up t' three an'
a half er four?"

"I was told to keep my crew working, and I've been doing that ... and
only that!" Hanlon snapped. "And take your ugly, stinking face away from
mine!"

The disgust he felt at the brutality of these guards had made him so
soul-sick with them he wasn't going to take any guff from one of them.
Even though Gorton out-weighed him by a good sixty pounds and probably
had at least four inches longer reach, Hanlon wasn't afraid of him.

Right now he was as much in the mood for a fight as the guard seemed to
be, for at Hanlon's words Gorton's huge, ham-like hand suddenly slapped
out at the younger man. Hanlon wasn't able entirely to dodge safely,
sitting as close as they were. His head rang from the terrific blow. He
grabbed his cup of steaming coffee, and threw it backhand into Gorton's
face.

Bellowing in pain and anger, the guard jumped up, upsetting the bench,
and almost Hanlon with it. But the younger man was agile, and kept his
feet. As Gorton rushed, his long, heavy arms flailing, Hanlon ducked
away and jumped back far enough to get a firm footing on a cleared space
of floor.

All Corps cadets were well-trained in both Marquis of Queensbury
boxing, Judo and no-holds-barred barroom brawling. He knew all the
questions ... and all the answers.

So Hanlon stepped back in quickly. While Gorton was out of position from
that abortive mighty swing, he drove his fist to the wrist into the big
man's soft belly. As Gorton doubled up with an explosive gr