e spun around to the others. "We either put up the force screen or
get out now," he said. "Unless, that is, there's some heavy artillery
around the house. Nothing else will stop a Darzent Robot. And even the
screen probably won't last long. That ship looks as though it has
enough high powered stuff to breach any screen we can put up."

Astrid looked up at him. "We do have the jet, Roger. It's armed, but
it will take time to get it ready for take-off."

"Let's get the force screen up now, then."

Pyuf snapped switches. The whine of power at emergency levels began.
The Darzent force had screen detectors, because they stopped at once
and turned back to their ship. Short, sharp rocket blasts shot out
from the bow tubes of the ship, as it turned on its axis to attack the
force screen.

"Let's get going," Thane said.

"We all can't go," Pyuf pointed out. "Our jet is only two-place, and
anyway, someone will have to cut off the screen to let the jet out."

"You and I can do it," Astrid said to Thane. "I can handle the engines
and the defensive screens while you fly it and man the gun."

Thane considered quickly. If they succeeded in knocking out the
Darzent forces they'd be able to get the others out without
difficulty. If not, it would be wise to separate Astrid and her
father. With one of them, the plan that was shaping up might succeed,
but if both were lost there'd be no chance.

"All right," Thane said. "Let's go."

Just then the first attack on the screen came. There was vibration
through the room and the needles of the indicators all jumped up over
the red lines. The whine of power momentarily became a shriek and then
died down.

"That was close," Thane said. "The sooner we stop them the better." He
turned to Pyuf. "Drop the screen for two seconds when I signal, to let
us out."

The bitterly cold wind cut into Astrid and Thane as they hurried
outside. Astrid was ahead, leaning against the wind, running towards
the outbuilding which housed the jet. They were in full view of the
Darzent attackers who renewed their thrust at the screen when they saw
the running figures.

"We won't take time to ease it out," Thane shouted above the wind.
"Full power at the start. It'll knock over this shack but that's a
small loss at the moment."

Thane climbed into the nose position of the little jet while Astrid
slid in behind him. They ran a fast check while the engines warmed.
Thane waited for the next attack on the forc