"Damn you, Bob, can't you hear? Kick this ship around. We're loaded with death, I tell you."
"You crossed the line," Mallory said, accusingly.
It was going wild within Knight, but it wasn't hurting so very much. The pain wasn't so strong that it completely occupied Kent Knight's mind.
Great gods of space, Knight thought in exasperation. This dumb Mallory can't understand that Earth's destiny lies in his hands. He's got to turn the ship. I can't. The Thing is just strong enough to stop me. Something had to be done to shock Mallory out of his lethargy.
"Damn it, Mallory," Kent grated. "You stole my girl! The least you can do for me is to swing this ship around. By my Faith, it means everything."
Mallory jerked. His green eyes suddenly came alive. "I stole your girl, huh? By your Faith? Your Faith?" Mallory spun to the control board, snapped switches and barked alert orders.
The ship shuddered as the bow rockets kicked up a cross power that swung the bow, spinning the two Earthmen in the pilot room off their feet.
Mallory came to his feet, both fists swinging, his green eyes glinting, his red head bobbing. But Knight was quick on his feet, too, and he was dodging the light-moving Mallory.
"I'll keep It," he said, side-stepping Mallory. It was weakening within Kent Knight's mind. Knight knew that the minute he had ducked Mallory's first darting punch. Just so long you can hold sway, his mind jibed at the Thing, then you succumb. This is just the start. We'll smash you one by one.
"You haven't done it alone," It protested weakly. "You had a weapon, a terrible weapon, but you still don't know the weapon."