"They must know it's too weak to make any difference. If it were really powerful, they'd expect us to have used it before."
"No," said Jan. "They probably realize that we use it for just one purpose—to protect ourselves. We mustn't subject it to excess strain. But suppose we're desperate, and decide we're finished anyway. Suppose we make up our minds to take one of our enemies with us. Suppose we try to commit suicide on a really heroic scale."
Karin stared at him, her lips whitening. "If you really want to, Jan."
"I don't want to. But I want them to get that impression. Suppose I aim the ship at the yellow star, start all the motors, and turn on the radiation shield system to the limits of its capacity. Remember the state of uncertainty they're in anyway. What do you think they'll do?"
"I don't know."
"They'll have to do something. They just won't let us plunge into them."
"But what—?"
"That," said Jan grimly, "we'll find out. Whatever happens, it'll be better than waiting."
"You said that before when you took a chance passing between the two stars. Don't be in a hurry, Jan."
But Jan was already maneuvering the ship around. The radiation shield was on, and the motors were blasting more and more rapidly. They picked up speed.