on."

"We're moving mighty fast," commented Oberfield. "It should have passed
us already if it were a meteor. Instead, it seems to be maintaining the
same distance--neither growing larger nor smaller. Acts very odd for a
natural body."

"Uh, uh," said Lockhart. "This calls for caution." He quickly went back
to the controls, pressed the general alarm button, then called into the
intercom. "All hands to emergency stations. Haines and party, please
prepare defensive positions."

"This means me," gulped Burl, and scooted down the central hatch, almost
colliding with Caton and Shea on their way to the engine room. He met
Haines, and, with neat dispatch, all four slipped into space suits. Then
out through the cargo hold to posts by escape hatches.

Burl and Haines, at the main entry port, unlimbered the long rocket
launcher that had been set up in the passageway. Haines placed three
shells of differing strength in position.

They heard through their helmet phones that the mysterious dot was
drawing closer. Haines set up one of the launching racks, which was
equipped with a telescopic sighter, and peered through the eyepiece.
Apparently he caught it, for he grunted, then motioned to Burl to take a
look.

It was no natural object. It was the shape of a dumbbell--two spheres
joined together by a short middle bar. One sphere was a deep, golden
color, the other a bluish-silver, the connecting rod a coppery metal.

"The pattern of spheres certainly suggests the Sun-tappers to me," said
Burl. Haines murmured his agreement.

Lockhart's voice came on the phones. "We've decided it's one of the
Sun-tapper ships. We're not going to wait to make sure. Before we left
Earth, I can now inform you, I received a directive from the President
to regard the builders of these Sun-tap stations as active enemies. My
orders are that we are not to attempt to undertake peaceful contact, but
are to treat them on sight as armed foes in the field. To do otherwise
is to risk Earth's last active defense--this ship.

"I think I don't have to argue this further, considering our recent
experiences." His voice hesitated, then rang out firmly, "Haines, you
can commence firing at will!"

Haines clicked his tongue and reached for one of the shells. "Okay,
Burl, aim at her direct. This one's got a proximity nose that'll beam at
her and drive itself where ever she ducks."

He slid the rocket shell into the launcher, Burl sighted, and then
Haines presse