"Don't worry," said Channing, "I don't think anybody is big enough to really damage us. Someone is playing fast and loose, making a killing. When this is over, we'll still be in business."
"I know, Don, but whose business will it be? Ours, or theirs?"
"Is it that bad?"
"I'm afraid so. One more flurry like today, and they'll be able to tow Venus Equilateral out and make Mars Equilateral out of it, and we won't be able to say a word."
"Hm-m-m. You aren't beaten?"
"Not until the last drop. I'm not bragging when I say that I'm as good an operator as the next. My trouble today was not being a mind reader. I'd been doing all right, so far. I've been letting them ride it up and down with little opposition, and taking off a few here and there as I rode along. Guessing their purpose, I could count on their next move. But this banging the market sky-high has me stumped, or had me stumped for just long enough for me to throw our shirt into the ring. They took that quick—our shirt, I mean."
"That's too bad. What are you leading up to?"
"There are a lot of unstable stocks that a guy could really play hob with; therefore their only reason for picking on I. C. is to gain control!"
"Pirates?"
"Something like that."