By the sixth day, Gavin Murdock was no nearer the solution of the
little death than he had been at the start.
It was Villanowski's watch below. Gavin sat on the observation deck,
watching the three streaks in the void which betrayed their pursuers.
They had closed the gap until they were almost on top of them. If the
_Nova_ possessed a unique spacedrive, Gavin reflected, she'd better be
unlimbering it. The three ships were almost in atomic shell range.
His thoughts wrestled for the hundredth time with the little death.
Villanowski had become suspicious and clammed up. The officers frankly
didn't like to discuss it. They evaded his questions, insisting he must
first experience it.
Suddenly, Gavin started to his feet, his eyes searching the void. In
toward the sun he had glimpsed the hair line of a rocket ship's jets.
He thought he could distinguish five separate streaks of light, but
they were so faint and far away that they blended into one streak. Five
trails! That could only mean a flight of patrol spacers blasting after
the three pursuers of the _Nova_.
Gavin heard a step behind him and twisted sideways, his hand rising to
his shoulder holster.
Nadia Petrovna came out on the observation deck. She caught sight of
Gavin and started to withdraw. Then an expression of determination took
possession of her features. She flushed and said, "Let's call off the
war."
"Sure." Gavin's voice was without mockery, but his hand still hovered
close to his chest.
The girl came across the deck, her expression flooded with relief. "I'm
glad now I didn't kill you. I--I was frightened. You believe that?"
"Sure."
"I've never dared tell anybody what I was forced to tell you. I've
lived for two years in absolute terror. I was desperate."
"Sure."
"You don't believe me?"
"Not altogether," he admitted. His hand didn't leave his chest. "Why
should I?"
Nadia bit her lip. Then she slipped her hand in the breast of her
coveralls, brought out her diminutive dart-gun. She brought it out very
slow and holding it by the barrel because Gavin was covering her with
his own automatic.
"Drop it," he commanded. "Push it to me with your foot."
"Now," she said, "can we talk without suspicion? I'm unarmed."
"Are you?"
Her black eyes widened in surprise.
"Yes. Of course. I wouldn't...."
"Wouldn't you?" asked Gavin stonily.