Bells and klaxons shrieked their warnings.
Ato watched and waited. Just as the three growing lights filled the screen he touched a lever. The Nebula danced away. Breathless, Jack Odin altered the screens and watched the three globes of flame hurtle past them.
Far away now, they slowed like living things, puzzled at having lost their prey.
Slowed they merged together—
And turned back upon their quarry!
CHAPTER 9
THE three sunlets of flame merged together and dripped yellow blobs of light into the darkness. They grew into a great soap bubble that turned to topaz.
Like something moving in a dream it gained upon The Nebula, until it was pacing beside them—a little larger now and still growing—dwarfing them and filling half the screen.