"You chitza—!"
The Pervod stopped short.
"Take your knife with you!" Jarl shouted. He drew back the blade.
Face contorted, the Venusian clawed for his ray-gun.
Like lightning, Jarl hurled the dagger. It sank to the hilt in the Pervod's throat. Threshing in his death-throes, the creature spilled forward.
Jarl gripped a stanchion. "To your stations!" he shouted. "We're blasting for Womar!"
Order came from the chaos. Sub-chiefs bellowed commands. Crewmen boiled out of the doorways.
Sais ran to Jarl's side. Her white cheeks were tear-smudged, but she smiled through her tears.
There was a ringing of bells, a clanging of hatches. A fala cried, "All's ready!"