"I can't hit him," I gasped.
Should I try the flash signal to Earth? Did we dare linger here? I
stood another few seconds at the window. I saw Potan down in the
confusion of the deck, training a telescope. He had shouted up
violently at his duty man here not to fire again.
And now he let out a roar. "I can see them! It's Miko! By the
Almighty--his giant stature--Brotow, look! That's not an Earth man!"
He flung aside his telescope finder. "Disconnect that projector! It's
Miko down there! This Haljan is a trickster! Where is he?
Braile--Braile, you accursed fool! Are Haljan and the girl up there
with you?"
But the duty man lay in his blood at our feet.
I had dropped back from the window. Anita and I crouched for an
instant in confusion, fumbling with our helmets.
The ship rang with the alarm. And amid the turmoil we could hear the
shouts of the infuriated brigands swarming up the tower ladder after
us!