The pirates backed away, their vessel disappeared, and its passengers rushed for their staterooms.
Then: "Doctor Cloud—Chief Pilot calling Doctor Cloud," the speaker announced.
"Cloud speaking."
"Report to the control room, please."
"Oh, excuse me—I didn't know that you were wounded," the officer apologized as he saw the Blaster's bandaged stump. "You had better go to bed."
"Doing nothing would only make it worse. Can I be of any help?"
"Do you know anything about communicators?"
"A little."
"Good. All our communications officers were killed and the sets—even those in the lifeboats—blasted. You can't do much with your left hand, of course, but you may be able to boss the job of rigging up a spare."
"I can do more than you think," Cloud grinned wryly. "It so happens that I'm left-handed. Give me a couple of technicians and we'll see what we can do."