"It's but a matter of time," said Walt. "My bet is as soon as he can get here with that batch of fresh rats he's collected."
Walt's bet would have collected. Two days later, Hellion Murdoch flashed a signal into Venus Equilateral and asked for Channing.
"Hello, Hellion," answered Channing. "Haven't you learned to keep out of our way?"
"Not at all," answered Murdoch. "You won't try that betatron on me again. This ship is coated with four-tenths of an inch of lithium metal, which according to the books will produce the maximum quantity of electrons under secondary emission. If not the absolute maximum, it is high enough to prevent your action."
"No," agreed Channing. "We won't try the betatron again. But, Murdoch, there are other things."
"Can they withstand these," asked Murdoch. The turret swiveled until the triple-mount of tubes looked at Venus Equilateral.
"Might try," said Channing.
"Any particular place?" countered Murdoch.
"Hit the south end. We can best afford to lose that," answered Channing.