Why indeed—so long as for this one moment he had a course to follow!
Such a course as erasing the grin from Pfaff's thick lips, for example.
And after that—well, he'd play the other moments as they came along, without regard for past or future.
Savagely, then, he lunged up from the cot, straight at the still-laughing Pfaff.
For the barest instant the Security rep stood frozen, eyes blank with startlement. Then, with surprising agility for his heavy-bodied bulk, the man tried to twist aside, out of the way of Dane's rush.
His hip hit the doloid table. He stumbled.
Before he could recover, Dane smashed a fist home to the blubbery lips; felt them spurt blood as they crushed against Pfaff's teeth.
The Security rep reeled. Heart surging with fierce elation, Dane followed up, hammering home a rain of blows to head and body alike.
For an instant the other fell back—head down, hairy arms hugged close to protect the bulging belly.
But only for an instant. Then, with a harsh roar, the bullet-head came up again. A fist like a maul swept out in a wide arc, bruising Dane's rib-cage. Another blow caught his shoulders; rocked him back on his heels.