Crane knew, in one swift flash of insight, that he had been wrong. Kin Nilga was not the killer! The real murderer was this squat, shadowy shape who had just slain Kin Nilga!
Crane rasped, "Stand where you are or I'll kill you!"
The shadowy killer turned, started across the dark room toward him with quick, heavy steps"
"Stop or I'll fire!" Crane warned. And when the shadow did not pause, the TSS man pulled the trigger of his beam gun.
The thin white beam from his pistol knifed the darkness of the cabin and struck the shadowy, indistinct form of his opponent squarely.
Yet the killer came on! Though Crane fired his deadly beam again straight into the advancing slayer, the shadow did not even falter as he lunged through the gloom at Crane!
CHAPTER III
VOICE OF THE BRAIN
Crane was so stupefied by the failure of his beams — which should have killed any living thing at this close range — to halt the killer, that he nearly lost his life. Before he turned to escape the remorseless figure had reached him.
Hands grabbed Crane in the most powerful grip he had ever felt, bruising his flesh to the bone by the tremendous strength of their grasp. He cried out hoarsely, struggling in the dark against that terrible clutch.