The undersecretary's voice went on: "Within the hour, Miss Norma
Hannon, onetime associate of Howard Clevis, undercover agent attached
to this office on free duty, has presented irrevocable evidence to
show that the love-lotus operations have been part and parcel of
an unsuspected plot against humanity by denizens of an extra-solar
culture. Since Farradyne's spacecraft contains the only known device
enabling matter to exceed the velocity of light, its delivery to the
Arsenal is deemed Top Priority. All persons are charged--"
Farradyne shrugged himself out of the grip of the truckmen. "Get the
hell aloft and grab that bastard running the ship!" he snarled at them.
* * * * *
The other enemy rushed forward. Roberts caught a hard fist on the jaw
and reeled back. Farradyne chopped in a wide swing with the edge of
his hand and sent the enemy back against the little bar in the salon.
Morgan looked stunned, but he turned and started for the stairway at a
dead run.
"So I couldn't get through?" asked Farradyne bitterly. "So I'm licked?"
Carolyn looked at him, but said nothing. The stillness outside was
so marked that her silence was almost painful after the noise of the
bombardment.