e bigger they've got, the rougher they've played. You know
their record, Scott. Murder, claim-jumping. What they can't steal with a
blaster, they take by law."

Glancing through the open port behind the Captain's head, out into the
star-dappled dark of space, Scott asked: "Is there any way we can set up
a permanent claim here on this asteroid without going back to Earth?"

"You know better than that." Elderburg's eyes turned full on Scott.
"Unless we bring a full cargo of reasonably purified ore to Earth, we
can't lay claim to these mines, or to any other mineral rights here."

His hands closed neatly, one inside the other. "And we've got to get a
cargo back. This is our last chance. A strike as rich as this one will
keep us going for a long time. But if we lose this claim to IPM, the
days of the independent miner are over. Done with. We might as well sell
the _Bertha_ and get out."

"We'll be out of here in two days," Scott said eagerly. "If we...."

"If," said Elderburg very plainly. His eyes turned away from Scott and
his hands went all loose at once and spread out flat on the table.

"If we cannot load in two days, Mister Jerill. If your cats that you so
foolishly brought on board the _Bertha_ delay us so much that the
_Kastil_ locates us. And beats us home with a load of ore. If that
happens, Mister Jerill, I will see that you are black-listed from the
rolls of every space flight unit now operating. You will be completely
responsible for the failure of this cruise."

Slumping back in his seat, he grinned maliciously at Scott. "I realize
that our company was offering you a captain's position at the end of the
expedition...."

Scott stood up. Anger hammered powerfully at his temples. "All right. I
admit I made a mistake. And I take full responsibility for my actions."

"You must admit, Mister Jerill, that only a fool would bring an unknown
space beast into a ship."

"Only a fool would deny that the cats are as valuable as uranium in
their own way."

"Now, Mister Jerill. Be very careful." There was no mistaking the venom
in Elderburg's speech. In his passionless black eyes, viciousness lay
coiled. "Your cats have stopped purification of the crude ore for two
days. Two days, Mister Scott. We might have been Earth-bound by this
time."

Scott leaned over the desk. In a voice quivering with anger, he said:
"Listen to me. If you...."

There was a shocking blast of light. Stunning volumes of white light
pour