I leaned closer, studying the corpses. “Come here, Kramer,” I called. “I want to show you something.”
“I’ve seen all there is to see in there,” Kramer said. “We don’t want to waste time; we want to change course now, right away.”
I walked back to the door, and as Kramer stepped back to let me precede him out the door, I hit him in the mouth with all my strength. His head snapped back against the frosted wall. Then he fell out into the passage.
I stepped over him. “Pick this up and put it in the brig,” I said. The men in the corridor fell back, muttering. As they hauled Kramer upright I stepped through them and kept going, not running but wasting no time, toward the bridge. One wrong move on my part now and all their misery and fear would break loose in a riot the first act of which would be to tear me limb from limb.
I travelled ahead of the shock. Kramer had provided the diversion I had needed. Now I heard the sound of gathering violence growing behind me.
I was none too quick. A needler flashed at the end of the corridor just as the lift door closed. I heard the tiny projectile ricochet off the lift shaft.
I rode up, stepped onto the bridge and locked the lift. I keyed for Bourdon, and to my relief got a quick response. The panic hadn’t penetrated to Missile Section yet.
“Bourdon, arm all batteries and lock onto that Mancji ship,” I ordered. “On the triple.”
I turned to Clay. “I’ll take over, Clay,” I said. “Alter course to intercept our late companion at two and one-half gee’s.”