“I didn’t want to say anything in front of the girls, sir,” he began, “but I’ve been checking boats to make sure we can make a quick getaway.  Our meteor-security’s gone out.  The detectors are deader then the Fourth Dynasty, and the blasters won’t synchronize....  Did you hear a big thump, about a half an hour ago, Colonel?”

“Yes, I thought the ship’s labor-crew was shifting heavy equipment in the hold aft of us.  What was it, a meteor-hit?”

“It was.  Just aft of Number Ten bulkhead.  A meteor about the size of the nose of that rocket-boat.”

Kalvar Dard whistled softly.  “Great Gods of Power!  The detectors must be dead, to pass up anything like that....  Why wasn’t a boat-stations call sent out?”

“Captain Vlazil was unwilling to risk starting a panic, sir,” the Air Force officer replied.  “Really, I’m exceeding my orders in mentioning it to you, but I thought you should know....”

Kalvar Dard swore.  “It’s a blasted pity Captain Vlazil didn’t try thinking!  Gold-braided quarter-wit!  Maybe his crew might panic, but my people wouldn’t....  I’m going to call the control-room and have it out with him.  By the Ten Gods...!”

* * * * *

He ran through the airlock and back into the hold, starting toward the intercom-phone beside the desk.  Before he could reach it, there was another heavy jar, rocking the entire ship.  He, and Seldar Glav, who had followed him out of the boat-bay, and the six girls, who had risen on hearing their commander’s angry voice, were all tumbled into a heap.  Dard surged to his feet, dragging Kyna up along with him; together, they helped the others to rise.  The ship was suddenly filled with jangling bells, and the red danger-lights on the ceiling were flashing on and off.

“Attention!  Attention!” the voice of some officer in the control-room blared out of the intercom-speaker.  “The ship has just been hit by a large meteor!  All compartments between bulkheads Twelve and Thirteen are sealed off.  All persons between bulkheads Twelve and Thirteen, put on oxygen helmets and plug in at the nearest phone connection.  Your air is leaking, and you can’t get out, but if you put on oxygen equipment immediately, you’ll be all right.  We’ll get you out as soon as we can, and in any case, we are only a few hours out of Tareeshan atmosphere.  All persons in Compartment Twelve, put on....”

Kalvar Dard was swearing evilly.  “That does it!  That does it for good!...  Anybody else in this compartment, below the living quarter level?”

“No, we’re the only ones,” Analea told him.

“The people above have their own boats; they can look after themselves.  You girls, get in that boat, in there.  Glav, you and I’ll try to warn the people above....”

There was another jar, heavier than the one which had preceded it, throwing them all down again.  As they rose, a new voice was shouting over the public-address system: