Her words were broken off by sudden activity on the ship. Mike glanced
out and noted the landscape had changed to one of broad cultivation.
The rough jungle country had completely vanished. Obviously the ship
had been moving at great speed, its effect on the passengers lessened
by the huge glass shield in front of the ship's prow. Looking ahead,
he could see the spires of a city in the distance.
But this was not the object of the patrol's concern. Their eyes were
riveted to another ship--a strange shining craft that was moving in
from the left at great speed.
Mike heard shouts of both consternation and anger in the odd tongue of
these people as they appeared to be girding for battle.
The approaching ship was of radically different design than the one on
which they were trapped. It was completely of metal and had no golden
or jeweled decorations. It was long and slim and completely enclosed
and had the appearance of a true fighting ship. None of its passengers
were visible.
Nicko had been talking to the feathered warrior. The latter had sat
silent during the brush with McKee and Talbott and Mike had almost
forgotten his presence.
* * * * *
Nicko turned in excitement. "He says that's a Baserite raider! He says
it's very seldom they come in so close but that one's planning to
raise general hell with this scow. This isn't one of the Ptomenite's
fighter fleet and we'll have a pretty rough time."
The golden craft was following a two-pronged plan. The Ptomenites were
spraying the sky with their deadly crystal ray and at the same time
kiting for home as fast as the ship would go. Out beyond, the slim
ship did a remarkable roll to avoid the ray and screamed in for the
kill.
The wind was howling around the Ptomenite ship now, and her timbers
groaned under the pressure. Then the Baserite craft attempted a
strike. It appeared to be trying for only a close arc but at the last
moment it nosed down in a breathtaking maneuver and streaked straight
for the exposed deck.
* * * * *
Frantically, the Ptomenites brought their ray gun around to bear on
the death-laden juggernaut. They were partially successful, spitting
forth a deadly barrage just as the prow of the attacker crashed into
the deck.
Had the blow been uncontested, the Baserite ship would have roared on
through and gone its way in triumph. But the crystalline force-field
crashed out with a viciousness of its own. It had no seeming effect
upon the hull of the Baserite raider, but it hurled the craft back
from its position and far out into the sky.
Great damage had already been done, however. A gaping hole left the
bejeweled deck almost split in two. But by lucky chance, the overhead
globes had not been damaged and the speed of the Ptomenite ship did
not diminish.
It was streaking toward the city, now seen clearly from the deck and
as the Baserite ship righted itself, Mike saw similar ships--sleek
metal fighters, rising from a port near the city.
The commander of the Baserite ship seemed to be making a decision as
his craft hung in space. To attack or flee? Could he reach and
demolish the crippled barge before the Ptomenite fighters reached the
scene?
Both Mike and Nicko hung upon this indecision. Nicko said, "I hope
that stupid codger doesn't commit suicide. If he does, we go down
too."
"Maybe it's just as well," Mike said grimly.
"I've always subscribed to staying alive as long as possible," Nicko
retorted.
The commander made his decision. The ship streaked in, dancing like a
zephyr to avoid the crystalline ray. But there was no longer any great
danger from this because the tilt of the deck made accurate aiming
impossible for the Ptomenites.
Straight in for the kill now, came the Baserite ship; straight in
toward the crippled deck awash with the blood of smashed and maimed
soldiers; alive with the screams of the agonized and the dying.
Doree covered her face with her hands and came into Mike's arms. So
she did not see that the Ptomenites had one maneuver left; a perilous
one, but nonetheless a maneuver.
The craft was now over the level ground on the near outskirts of the
city. It hung motionless, allowing the Baserite craft to take deadly
aim.
But as the sleek ship rocketed in, the commander of the Ptomenite
craft waited until the last moment and then released whatever force
held the ship in the air. The split deck dropped like a stone, but too
late for the other ship to change course.
* * * * *
The Baserites had gambled and lost. As the ship arced again skyward, a
dozen similar fighters closed in from two directions. They emitted the
deadly crystalline fire. For a few moments, the Baserite ship seemed
unharmed. Then it's hull began to glow; a faint pink, a cherry red, a
bright crimson. Then a brilliant explosion lighted a sky made hazy by
the descending sun. And there was nothing.
Even as the Ptomenite ship plummetted downward, Mike marveled at the
effectiveness of the crystalline ray. Nothing remotely resembling it
existed in the universe he knew. Then his attention was concentrated
solely upon perils of the moment The Ptomenite commander was not able
to stop the rapid descent. He could only lessen it slightly and Mike
held Doree tight in his arms when the crash came.
He noted, fleetingly, that neither McKee nor Talbott had been injured
by the thrust of the Baserite ship. The door to the after cabin was
open and he saw them crouching inside, terror written across their
faces. Standing above them, proud and erect in the face of death,
stood the Princess Katal'halee and Mike felt a touch of admiration.
Then the craft hit the ground....
Mike realized he was not unconscious. He realized also that the ship
had braked slightly against the rocketing drop at just the last
moment.
It had blunted the force of the impact but little, however, and chaos
reigned upon the shattered deck. Mike found that both Nicko and Doree
were unconscious but that the H'Lorkan tribesman was shaking his head
groggily.
* * * * *
Mike looked swiftly about. The dust cleared slightly nearby and he saw
that the prow of the deck had buckled as it hit, leaving a dark
opening beneath. There was room for a man in there. Mike glanced
around. In the confusion, no one was paying any attention to the
prisoners. Help was coming from the city but the rescuers were still
quite a distance away.
Mike motioned to the H'Lorkan, gesturing frantically. The other
quickly understood. Mike picked Doree up and put her inside the dark
opening. He followed her and moved her further inside away from the
small opening.
Then he looked out to find that the H'Lorkan had had difficulty with
Nicko, but had found a way of grasping him so as not to get cut by the
sharp scales. He pushed the little Martian's body in to Mike and
followed quickly.
Mike turned immediately to Doree and began examining her for injury.
There was a small gash on her forehead and a bruise on her shoulder.
She moaned and opened her eyes.