Blaine's eyes flashed. “You've brought the radite? But some of my generators have been damaged!"
The little physicist sprang forward, bending with wild anxiety over the fused generators that had been wrecked by Trask and his men in those last moments.
"Can you repair them in time?” Thorn asked with feverish tensity.
"I can try,” Blaine rasped. “I have spare generators in my supply cavern, but it will take time to install them."
"For God's sake, hurry!” Thorn begged. “Gunner, take some men and bring in the radite from the Venture!"
Pirates under Thorn's direction hastened to carry in the spare generators from the supply cavern adjoining. Blaine began the task of installing them, the little physicist working alone, none of the hundreds of others in the cavern able to assist him.
Thorn looked up haggardly through the great window in the ceiling, at the blazing sun. Somewhere there in the burning reaches of space near the flaming orb, the combined navies of Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars were seeking to elude the League armada bent on their destruction.
Sual Av came running up to where Thorn stood rigidly with Lana.
"John, I got a flash from Blaine's audio just now!” the Venusian panted. “The League fleet has divided into two forces and is boxing our navies five million miles off Mercury!"
"Can't you hurry, Blaine?” Thorn begged the little scientist desperately.