"So this is the famous _Corsair_," he said, "--and your hideout. You
must be sure of your ability to win me as an ally or to kill me."
"I am--sure of both. But I need you more as an ally. Shall we go in?"
The needle-like hull housed a long, spiral catway that led to the
cabins and control room. Halfway to the nose Firebird showed Nathan a
tiny cabin which he could use.
"You'll find a supply of clothing," she said. "I find it necessary to
prepare for occasional guests who forget to bring luggage."
Guests taken from space liners in the midst of interplanetary space,
Nathan thought. He wondered what had become of the many that the
Firebird had kidnapped that way.
"And now the control room," she said. "I want you to become familiar
with the operation of the ship."
All the ships that Nathan had ever known seemed like clumsy scows
beside this splendid vessel. Every device known to space navigation
and combat was in the equipment. And many instruments he failed to
recognize.
"Who designed this ship?"
"My father."
"Father--" Somehow Nathan found himself unable to associate the
Firebird with any of the normalcies of life. "Who was your father?"