* * * * *

Encouraged greatly, I met an advance of pressing, jostling bodies by a
return to my original technique of stabbing. I stabbed every time a hand
reached out to hold me, and if I did not take a life with each stab, I
at least drew a spout of greenish-colored blood.

It was not a nice business, any of it, especially as the Orconites were
as fearless before our onslaught as they were powerless. But it had to
be done. We were fighting for far more than our own lives.

The blue-lighted corridor with its rippling sounds of static and its
gigantic ammeters became worse than a shambles. We walked upon, stumbled
over, wallowed amongst the piled corpses of the slain, whose master,
knowing more of the science of destructive warfare than any other being
in the Universe, had nevertheless forgotten that it was still possible
for mankind to fight with their hands.

Such a fight could have only one ending.

When the end came I saw that Virginia Crane was splashed with the ugly
blood of the Orconites from her smooth forehead to the soles of her
flying boots, but she was unhurt. The rest of us were likewise
blood-stained and uninjured. We were all too excited to feel tired. The
moment the pressure about us began to relax, she surged toward the
waiting cruiser at the end of the tunnel, and I shouted to Koto and
LeConte.

"Go and help her, you two! I'll do the work on our ship!"

They did not question my order, but obeyed.

There were only ten or a dozen of the winged ones left now, and when the
two men leaped after the woman, it was easy for me to fight a jabbing,
slashing battle which not only protected the retreat, but enabled me to
work my way slowly toward our own ship and its kotomite.

* * * * *

With Leider's cruiser already headed toward the tunnel which led out
from the underground hangar, I knew that it could be taken into space
with a minimum loss of time. I believed that I could get an atomic gun
going in our hold quickly, too. My hopes rose high as I darted a glance
over my shoulder and saw Captain Crane and Koto taking, three at a time,
the gangway steps which led to the deck and control room, with LeConte
directly behind them. Now there were only seven guards left instead of a
dozen, and those were at last showing signs of being cowed. I cut down
two, and gave a great bound which carried me away from the others in the
direction of