But
the man was writhing from his grip, clawing for a weapon.

Rip stopped reaching for the deflation valve. He grabbed for his knife,
jerked it free, and thrust it against the middle of the Connie's back.
Then he clanged his bubble against the man's helmet for direct
communication and shouted, "Grab some space, or I'll let vack into you!"

The Connie understood English. Most earthlings did. But even better was
his understanding of the pressure on his back. He stopped struggling and
his arms shot starward.

Rip breathed freely for the first time since he had leaped, and exultation
grew in him. He had his first man! His first hand-to-hand fight had ended
in victory so easy that he could hardly believe it.

He took time to look around him and saw that he was a good five feet above
the asteroid. Below him, a Connie belt light sent its shaft parallel with
the ground, and he knew the second man was down.

The question was, had either of them shouted before their communicators
were cut off?

"Dowst," he called urgently. "All okay?"

"No," Dowst said grimly. "We got the Connie, but he got Dominico. Cut his
leg with a space knife. I'm putting a patch on it. You okay?"

"Yes. When you can, pull me down."

"Right."

Dominico spoke up. "Don't worry about me, sir. Nothing bad. I don't lose
much air."

"Fine, Dominico. Glad it wasn't worse."

But Rip knew it wasn't good, either. A cut with a space knife let air out
of the suit and created at least a partial vacuum. If it also cut flesh,
the vacuum let the blood pressure force out blood and tissue to turn a
minor wound into an ugly one.

They would have to bring this spaceflap with the Connies to a quick end,
Rip thought. He had to get his men into air, somehow, to take a look at
their wounds. Bradshaw needed attention, and now so did Dominico.

Dowst reached up, took Rip's ankle, and pulled him down. Rip held onto his
captive. Then the private bound the Connie's hands, jerked his
communicator control completely off, and turned his air back on. Since Rip
had been unable to collapse the suit, the Connie was comfortable enough.
The reason for collapsing the suit was to deprive the enemy of air
instantly, so that he could be tied up while helpless from lack of oxygen.
There was enough air in the suit to last for a few minutes.

The Connie on the ground was neatly trussed. Rip's prisoner joined him.
Dowst switched off his belt light. "Now what, sir?"

Dominico was st