Reign of the telepuppets

by Daniel F. Galouye

Randall hesitated. "No, but we won't take any chances, although it's doubtful that loss of contact has obscured their basic inhibition."

"Of course it hasn't. Nothing like that's ever happened."

"In that case, you won't mind accompanying us outside."

Mortimer stabbed his chest with a pudgy thumb. "Me?"

"Right."

McAllister, Stewart noticed, was frowning in front of the screen as he watched the Flora C&A munching away at the subspace drive coil. "That thing can't do any damage, can it?"

"Not as long as the current's off," Stewart assured.

Mortimer paled as he lunged for the subspace drive switch.

But just then there was a thunderous concussion and the Photon II lurched and swayed on its hydraulic fins.

Randall shrugged. "Well, there goes our subspace drive."