He had a sudden sense of awe, a picture.... At any given instant Dzing
was a blur. A spot of light. A movement so rapid that, even as the gaze
lighted on him, he was gone to the other end of the ship--and back.
Yet Lesbee knew it took time to traverse the great ship from end to
end. Twenty, even twenty-five minutes, was normal walking time for a
human being going along the corridor known as Center A.
It would take the Karn a full six seconds there and back. In its way
that was a significant span of time, but after Lesbee had considered it
for a moment he felt appalled.
What could they do against a creature who had so great a time
differential in his favor?
From behind him, Browne said, "Why don't you use against him that
remote landing control system that you set up with my permission?"
Lesbee confessed: "I did that, as soon as the acceleration ceased. But
he must have been--back--in the faster time by then."
"That wouldn't make any difference," said Browne.
"Eh!" Lesbee was startled.
Browne parted his lips evidently intending to explain, and then he
closed them again. Finally he said, "Make sure the intercom is off."
Lesbee did so. But he was realizing that Browne was up to something
again. He said, and there was rage in his tone, "I don't get it, and
you do. Is that right."
"Yes," said Browne. He spoke deliberately, but he was visibly
suppressing excitement. "I know how to defeat this creature. That puts
me in a bargaining position."
Lesbee's eyes were narrowed to slits. "Damn you, no bargain. Tell me,
or else!"
Browne said, "I'm not really trying to be difficult. You either have to
kill me, or come to some agreement. I want to know what that agreement
is, because of course I'll do it."