where we want to go--our way out is open. And once out, this battle is
giving us our best possible chance to get away from them. There's so
much emission out there already that they probably couldn't detect the
driving rays of the lifeboat, and they'll be too busy to chase us,
anyway."

"Once out, then what?" asked Bradley, eagerly.

"We'll have to decide that before we start, of course. I'd say make a
break back for our own Solarian system. We know the direction, from our
own observation, and we'll have plenty of power."

"But good Heavens, Conway, it's so far!" exclaimed Clio. "How about
food, water, and air--would we ever get there?"

"You know as much about that as I do. I think so, but of course anything
might happen. This ship is none too big, is considerable slower than the
big space-ship, and we're a long ways from home. Another bad thing is
the food question. The boat is well stocked according to Nevian ideas,
but it's pretty foul stuff for us to eat. However, it's nourishing, and
we'll have to eat it, since we can't carry enough of our own supplies to
the boat to last long. Even so, we may have to go on short rations, but
I think that we'll be able to make it. On the other hand, what happens
if we stay here? We will certainly strike trouble sooner or later, and
we don't know any too much about these ultra-weapons. We are
land-dwellers, and there is mighty little land on this planet. Then,
too, we don't know where to look for what little land there is, and,
even if we could find it, we know that it is all over-run with
amphibians already. There's a lot of things that might be better, but
they might be a lot worse, too. How about it? Do we try it or do we stay
here?"

"We try it!" exclaimed Clio and Bradley as one.

"All right. I'd better not waste any more time talking--let's go!"

Stepping up to the locked and shielded door, he took out a peculiarly
built torch and pointed it briefly at the Nevian lock. There was no
light, no noise, but the massive portal swung smoothly open. They
stepped out and Costigan relocked and reshielded the entrance.

"How ... what ...?" Clio demanded, almost stuttering in her surprise.

"I've been going to school for the last few weeks," Costigan grinned,
"and I've picked up quite a few things here and there--literally as well
as figuratively speaking. Snap it up, guys! Our armor is stored away
with the pieces of the pirates' lifeboat, and I'll feel a lot better
when we'v