ly for Novak,
nor was he overly concerned by what might happen to him. But this gave
him an excuse, an opening.

He hooked his thick fingers in the collar of Kulan's jacket and twisted
until the big Martian loosed Novak and whirled around. Then Luke drove a
hard fist to his jaw--a pulled punch so as not to betray his real
strength. Nevertheless it set the guard back on his heels and split the
taut skin where it landed.

* * * * *

Pandemonium broke loose in the mess hall. Gannett, the senior guard,
came bellowing down the aisle, and the squad guards were on their feet
in an instant, neutro-tubes and dart guns ready. The uproar of the
prisoners died down.

Kulan shook his shaggy head and crouched low as he circled the Earthman.
Murder was in his heart, and the urge to break this tough guy Fenton
with his bare hands. But Gannett was between them.

"Hell's bells!" he yelped. "What goes on here?"

Then he saw Novak--and heard him. Novak was writhing on the ground,
begging for death. And the chief guard's dart gun twanged as its
needlelike missile sped forth and drove into the sick man's breast where
it sang its shrill song of vibratory dissolution.

In the twinkling of an eye where Novak had lain was only the dust of
complete disintegration and a few scintillating, dancing light flecks
that swiftly snuffed out. A speedy and merciful end.

In the silence that followed, Gannett turned on Kulan. "Why didn't you
send for me?" he demanded.

The guard, white with rage, indicated Luke.

"So--the tough guy Fenton again. Can't you handle him?"

Kulan's yellow eyes flashed fire. "Sure I can; I will. But I want your
permission, sir. With my hands."

"No,"--flatly. And then Gannett whirled to look over the mess tables,
whence a few scattered hisses had arisen.

His gaze was solemn when he returned it to Kulan. Swiftly his black eyes
measured the Martian's giant body, and then they swung to Luke. The
comparison evidently pleased him, for he changed his mind.

"On second thought, yes," he said to Kulan. "It'll be good for
discipline. Only don't disable him; he's too valuable a worker."

Luke concealed his unholy glee; stood glowering savagely. "In fair
fight?" he put in.

"In fair fight," sneered Gannett. He took personal charge of Kulan's
weapons. "All right, you," he yelled then to the mess, "you can watch
this. But if there's a sound or a move from any one of you there'll be