Then Mike screamed and I came out of my chair like a shot.
"Take it off! Take it off!" he shouted. "The Martians are after me!" He shook his head but the helmet stayed on, held by the chin strap.
I cut the main switch and the tubes went dark.
"It's all right, Mike!" I yelled across his screaming. "It's off now!"
"No! No! No!" he gibbered. "They're coming through the helmet! Take it away! Take it away!"
I knew I had to get that helmet off, much as I didn't like getting near him. I reached for the buckle, but he kept whipping his head about so I had trouble catching it and had to bend over him.
Suddenly a long arm snaked around my neck and jerked me off balance. Then a ham-sized fist clipped my chin before I could even get my guard up.
When I came to I was in the cushions with the air turned on full. The release valve wasn't in my hand where it should have been.
"Mike!" I yelled.