"When a man can't do his own work here, we don't want him. Keep your
hands off Mauger's tasks."
Brander said respectfully: "I helped him without thinking, sir. Thought
the thing was to do the work, no matter who...."
Noll Wing stepped toward him; and his eyes were blazing, not so much
with anger as with sheer exuberance of strength. He roared: "Don't talk
back to me, you...."
And struck.
Now Noll Wing was proud of his fists, and proud of his eye; and for
fifteen years he had not failed to down his man with a single blow. But
when he struck at Brander, a curious thing happened....
Brander's head moved a little to one side, his shoulders shifted.... And
Noll's big fist shot over Brander's right shoulder. The captain's weight
threw him forward; Brander stepped under Noll's arm. The two men met,
face to face, their eyes not six inches apart. Noll's were blazing
ferociously; but in Brander's a blue light flickered and played....
The men waited, not breathing; the officers stepped a little nearer.
Dan'l Tobey licked his lips. This would be the end of Brander.... It was
not etiquette to dodge the Old Man's blows....
But, amazingly, after seconds of silence, Noll Wing's grim face relaxed;
he chuckled.... He laughed aloud, and clapped Brander on the shoulder.
"Good man.... Good man!"