“Why, you—” Connel’s face was twisted with rage. “You can’t threaten me!”
“I ain’t threatening you,” said Loring, “I’m telling you! If you don’t get started, you’ll never see Manning again. Or if you do, you won’t recognize him! Now make up your mind, Connel!”
The Solar Guard officer hesitated. “Give me two minutes,” he said, “and I’ll call you back. Two minutes.”
“Two minutes,” repeated Loring, “and if I don’t hear from you by then, or if you try any funny stuff, Manning gets it!”
Aboard the Polaris, the screen darkened, and Connel, his fists clenched, turned to Tom.
“We’re helpless, Tom,” he said softly. “Now that we have proof of Roger’s innocence, I have to do everything in my power to save him.”
Tom didn’t say anything. Suddenly Connel smashed one huge fist into another. “But by the blessed rings of Saturn, when I do get my hands on that Loring, I’ll—I’ll—” He broke off suddenly and turned back to the teleceiver. “I’m going to do what he wants, Tom. Roger’s life is worth a dozen like Loring, and we’ll have to take a chance that Loring will keep his word. After all,” continued the big officer softly, “our mission is complete. We’ve tested the transmitter and found it to be more than we expected. No real reason why we should stay around here any longer.”
“Yes, sir,” stammered Tom. “Sir, I—I—”
Connel waved him silent with his hand. “You don’t need to say anything, Tom. It’s just one of those things. Still I can’t help wondering what they came out here for.” He turned to the dials on the teleceiver and began twisting them. “I’ll call him, and you stand by to blast out of here.”
* * * *
Nicholas Shinny sat on the power deck and listened to Loring issue orders over the intercom.
“I don’t know if Connel will go for it, or not,” said Loring, “but just in case he doesn’t, we gotta get outta here fast! You got that, Shinny?”
“Yeah,” answered Shinny, “I got it!”
“Mason,” yelled Loring, “you take over on the radar bridge!”
“All ready up here,” said Mason.
“Well, be sure we’ve got a clear trajectory out. Better take us into the sun Alpha Centauri. That way, maybe they’ll miss us on their radar. The sun will show all sorts of blips on their screen.”
“O.K.,” said Mason. “You think he’ll go for it?”
“I don’t know,” answered Loring, “but if he doesn’t, it’s going to be space dust for Manning.”
Shinny got up and walked around the deserted power deck. His legs felt weak. The plan he had made was a desperate one. Over and over, he checked the operation in his mind. It would have to be quick, sure, and sudden. That was the only thing that would ensure success. “Yes, sir,” he thought, “if we can surprise ’em, we can get away with it.” He dug out a piece of chewing tobacco, took a bite, eyed the remaining piece, and then shoved the whole thing in his mouth. His cheek bulged.
He went to the intercom and flipped it on. “Hey, Loring,” he yelled. “I’ve got to check the timer on number-three rocket. She’s not acting just right. It’ll take me about a minute.”
“O.K.,” came Loring’s reply, “but make it snappy.”
The timers were to the left of the control board, but Shinny turned to the right and the ladder leading to the lower deck. He eased the hatch open, glanced around, and then climbed down quickly. He stopped at a locker, opened the doors quietly, and took out two paralo-ray guns and two rifles. Then, closing the doors, he made his way to the opposite side of the ship.
“Hey, Manning!” he whispered through the closed storeroom hatch. “Can ya hear me?”
“Who is it?” asked Roger.
“Me—Shinny,” hissed the wizened spaceman. He opened the hatch and Roger quickly stepped out.
“What’s the idea?” gasped Roger when Shinny shoved a rifle and pistol into his hands.
“I ain’t got time to explain now,” said Shinny. “We’ve got to hurry if we’re going to take over this tub.”
Roger’s eyes glowed. “You mean—”
“Never mind what I mean,” said Shinny. “Just listen. Loring’s on the control deck and Mason’s on the radar bridge. Loring’s just talked to Connel. He’s trying to make him blast outta here. If Connel doesn’t, Loring’s going to dump you in space!”
“Yeah, I know. That murdering space crawler!” snarled Roger. He gripped the rifle tightly. “I’ll blast him—”
“Now wait a minute,” hissed Shinny. “You go up and get Loring, see? Make it look like you got out by yourself. If you can handle him, O.K. I’ll stay in back, and if anything goes wrong, I’ll back you up!”
“Fine,” said Roger. He patted the spaceman on the back and smiled. “Don’t worry, Mr. Shinny, nothing will go wrong!”
“Watch your step. That Loring is a smart cookie!”
Roger turned into the passageway and made his way silently to the control-deck hatch. He peered around the edge of the hatch and saw Loring sitting in front of the teleceiver screen, his back toward Roger. The cadet quickly stepped into the control room, leveled the rifle, and said quietly, “All right, Loring, keep your hands in view!”
Loring spun around and stared openmouthed at Roger. “Mann—” he gasped.
“Yeah, me!” said Roger. “Call Mason and tell him to come down here on the double. But one wrong move, Loring, and I’ll give you a quick freeze with this ray gun!”
Moving slowly, Loring turned to the intercom and flipped the switch. “Hey, Mason,” he yelled. “Come down here a minute, will ya?”
“What do you want?” growled Mason. “I’ve got to figure out this course.”
Roger stepped close to Loring, raising the gun.
Loring licked his lips and turned back to the intercom. “Don’t gimme any back talk! I said get down here!”
Suddenly the teleceiver came to life. “Polaris to Space Devil! Come in, Loring! This is Major Connel on the Polaris calling Loring on the Space Devil!”
The suddenness of the voice startled Roger, and for a split second he took his eyes off Loring. In that instant Loring leaped for the boy, grabbing at the rifle. The quickness of his lunge caught Roger off guard and he was thrown back against the bulkhead, but he held onto the rifle as Loring tried to twist it out of his grasp.
“What th—” cried Mason from the ladder leading to the radar bridge. When he saw Roger and Loring struggling, he grabbed for the paralo-ray gun at his side. Just at that moment Shinny stepped through the hatch and fired his rifle. Mason was frozen into a rigid statue, unable to move.
“All right, Loring,” yelled Shinny, “step back or I’ll blast you like I did Mason!”
Roger wrenched the rifle out of Loring’s grasp and stepped back. “Good work, Mr. Shinny!” he said to the little spaceman. “You sure figured it right!”
“Attention! Attention! This is Connel on the Polaris. Come in, Loring…”
Shinny looked over at Roger and winked. “Better answer him, while I get this joker locked up.” He motioned to Loring who stood backed up against the bulkhead, his hands high over his head.
“You dirty double-crossing space rat!” he snarled at Shinny.
“Now, now, none