copter was in almost a direct line between the apartment building and
Long Island Spaceport. But if Brittain were actually heading there,
why should he leave such a broad and obvious trail?

He turned to the officer who was driving the 'copter.

"I've got a hunch. Swivel this thing around and head for Long Island.
I've got a funny feeling that Brittain will be there. He--"

The phone rang again, and Karnes grabbed it.

"Mr. Karnes, we've found that civilian's 'copter! It's at Long Island
Spaceport! Just a second, the stuff's still coming in." Pause. "Get
this: A man answering to Brittain's description bought a ticket for
the West Coast rocket.

"As you know, that's UN territory, and we have no jurisdiction. The
rocket is sealed for takeoff, but they're holding it for us until you
get there!"

"Right! I'm headed there now!" he answered quickly.

It was twelve minutes later that the police 'copter settled just
outside the rocket enclosure. Karnes had already notified the pilot to
be ready for him. He sprinted up the ramp and stood at the airlock of
the transcontinental rocket.

It sighed open, and Karnes stepped inside. He was met by a frightened
stewardess.

"Tell him to get in here and not to try any funny stuff!" snapped a
voice from the passenger cabin.

Brittain was standing at the forward end of the passenger compartment
with a levelled gun.

The rocket was tilted at forty-five degrees for the takeoff, and the
passenger's seats had swiveled with a section of the flooring to keep
them level, which gave the effect of a stairway which climbed toward
the pilot's cabin in the forward section of the ship. Brittain's
position was at the top of the stairway.

Karnes raised his hands and kept them carefully away from his hip
holster.

"All right," called Brittain, "Close that door and get this ship off
the ground."

The pilot could hear him through the intercom system. The airlock door
slid shut again.

"You and the stewardess get into a seat," the spy continued sharply.
"If you try anything funny, I start shooting the other passengers if
I can't hit you."

Karnes saw then what hold Brittain had on the pilot. The rocketeer
couldn't afford to risk the lives of his passengers.

He and the stewardess slid into the acceleration seats and strapped
themselves in. Brittain stepped down the tiered floor and took a rear
seat near a frightened-looking blonde girl.

"Anything funny, and Blondie here gets a bull