You'll do, I'm
sure." The old man paced the deck impatiently, while a pair of armed guards
maintained a watchful silence by the door. The old man turned, scanning their faces critically. "I am in charge of
a peculiar project," he announced abruptly. Seeing, apparently,
that they would not relax, he continued. Now he paused, as if mildly
astonished at what he was about to say. Incidentally, I am Anthony Varret, Undersecretary for
Security in the Council." Varret shrugged. "Well, then," he said dryly, "I
might as well call the roll. I have been supplied with accurate
records." Detention record
unsatisfactory. Detention record fair, psychological report
poor." Detention record satisfactory." Detention record
satisfactory." "There we have it," he said. he demanded harshly. "I have shocked you, I see," sneered Varret. Varret frowned at him. asked Phillips. "Isolation. It is all we _can_ do, until our medical men can make some
progress. That was where we slipped." They are past
reasoning with." Neither do I. They are as good as dead. Finally, there was a small sound
of cloth rubbing on metal as Brecken stirred. he
rasped from his seat on the deck. "I know what you are," replied Varret sharply. "I know what you all are. You
have broken our laws, and this is your punishment. "Why not?" asked Phillips. "It amounts to that. On several other ships, there
were passive mutinies. One was destroyed; how, we do not know." sneered
Brecken. Varret sighed. "It was far from simple cowardice. Varret paused. He nodded, and the newcomer
retired. "I have only a few minutes," said the old man, facing them again. "In a few minutes, my men and I will transfer to an escort ship. "Yes," said Phillips. A guard shrugged contemptuously. "I suppose it is part of
the character we now think is needed for such an expedition." Brecken added defiantly. said Varret. He rubbed his chin uneasily. He turned abruptly and left the control room. He leaned out to peer
down the corridor. She turned to the instrument panels; and after a
moment, Phillips joined her. he asked. "No," murmured Donna. Nice job,
though. Fast as a racer, I imagine." Instead, he wandered about, inspecting the instruments. Shouldering Truesdale aside, he strode into the control room. "Well," he
announced, "the old fool hopped off like he said. "I have it on now," called Donna from the instrument desk. "There he
goes." "We _are_ where he
said," she admitted. She looked at Phillips, who merely shrugged. she insisted. "Pretty much as he said, probably," answered the engineer. "He's heading
for Deimos, I suppose. "In there someplace," she said. demanded Brecken. Phillips stared at him. Oh, hell, no! They were dumb to
set us loose with a fast ship. "That's right," agreed Truesdale eagerly. "Slip into a curve for Mars," said Brecken. They'll never
know if we got out, an' we'll be on our own." "How about you?" she asked. complained Truesdale. "Aw, kill your jets!" Brecken broke in. pleaded Donna. "How about it?" demanded Brecken. "Sure," answered Phillips confidently. "Mostly automatic anyway." "I suppose so. Phillips stepped past him
and considered the cross passages near the midpoint of the corridor. Normal. "Make a little room," he said, looking down to Brecken. The big, ruddy face retreated a few rungs. asked Brecken. "Oh, no. "I've seen enough," announced Truesdale. "I'm hungry." At that, they all decided to return to the main deck. he panted. demanded Brecken, red-faced. "Let's see you go," invited the girl coolly. Brecken's jaw dropped. he sputtered. "Why not?" asked Donna. "Not for long," said Brecken in an ugly tone. "Get hot on those
controls. You, Phillips! "You try it," suggested the engineer quietly. She turned to the banks of buttons and switches. With a snarl, he grabbed the girl
by the nape of the neck and shook her roughly. "Now, dammit!" he grated. It was the girl who broke the tense silence. Donna
stumbled, and collapsed to the deck. Phillips scrambled up hastily, but his opponent lay
still. Truesdale had retreated to
the forward end of the control room, his features blanched by
apprehension. He beckoned brusquely. "Give me a hand with him," he ordered. Truesdale approached
warily, and with his aid Phillips lifted the unconscious man. There, they slung him into a bunk. "He needs attention," said Truesdale. "He won't get it from me," snapped Phillips. she asked. "I suppose we'd better do it," he admitted. she snapped. "Oh, sure. She looked at him levelly in the eye, but her shoulders drooped a trifle
with the resignation of one who has often been disbelieved. "Oh," said Phillips. But I was a nurse before I was married. The children ... imagine
that, will you?" Phillips stared at the range indicator. "Ummh," Phillips grunted. Finally, the
bored Truesdale broke in upon his study. "We can try," said Phillips coldly. breathed Phillips. asked Phillips, peering inside. You never touched one before." "I guess I can finish checking," he said. Truesdale clambered hastily down the ladder. Phillips shook his head. He at least ... oh, well!" It was not as if there were any hope for these people. "I'll find out pretty soon," he reflected. He crowded close to look over their shoulders. he asked. "Yes," answered Donna. asked Phillips. "About a hundred and fifty miles. Truesdale broke in accusingly. "He has a
nasty lump on the head, but he might sleep it off." "I guess you can handle it here, Donna," he said. He turned on Donna, wiping perspiration from his
forehead. he shrilled. he boasted in a low-pitched but tense voice. "But how about you, Phillips? snapped Phillips. shouted the other hysterically. he shouted over his shoulder to Donna, and turned on all
jets. The other was
swarming upward. Phillips sprang to follow. That shocked him
to his senses. Phillips sucked in a deep, luxurious breath while he glanced about. This
turret, he saw, was a duplicate of the other. was her relieved inquiry. "The only thing," he concluded,
"is to try it from here." He turned away, leaving the intercom on. he muttered, trying to steady his hand on the controls. Instantly, he launched the missiles. He corrected his courses
accordingly. This one was right on the curve. Then the
view went dark. called Donna. From one side, he
heard a screech of grating metal. he shouted hoarsely. "I don't dare," she gasped over the intercom. repeated Phillips. Phillips stood before the screen, clenching his fists. There was, after
all, nothing for him to do but watch. Details of construction, hitherto invisible, leaped out
at him. "Oh, Phillips," she said, recovering, "we did it. He looked at Donna, and found her regarding him soberly. she asked. She looked exhausted. He extended an arm, and she leaned against him. "You heard what Varret said," he told her. Phillips nodded. "I guess you and I are the only ones who will understand one another
from now on," he shrugged. It was Varret, looking pale and strained. They were beyond reasoning with, and a deadly
menace." "We have already decided," he
said boldly. The old man nodded, surprised.