The shining tower-tube loomed directly ahead. Jaws aching, teeth
clenched, Vanning held steady on his course. The ship thundered down
with wind screaming madly in its wake.
The tube loomed larger--larger still. It blotted out the city. One
glimpse Vanning had of the metal surface rising like a wall before him--
And the ship struck!
Rending, ripping, tearing, the space-boat crashed through the tube,
bringing it down in thundering ruin. Briefly the visi-plate was a
maelstrom of whirling shards. Then the glare of an elf-light raced up
to meet the ship.
It exploded in flaming suns within Vanning's brain. He never knew when
the ship struck.
V
He looked up into Zeeth's eyes. Blood smeared the Venusian's fat face,
but he was smiling wanly.
"Hello," Vanning said, sitting up.