Retief watched as the chef flipped levers, pressed a fat red button. The deck trembled under the lifeboat.
"Blew the bay doors," Chip said, smiling happily. "That'll cool them jaspers down." He punched a green button.
"Look out, Jorgensen's!" With an ear-splitting blast, the stern rockets fired, a sustained agony of pressure....
Abruptly, there was silence. Weightlessness. Contracting metal pinged loudly. Chip's breathing rasped in the stillness.
"Pulled nine G's there for ten seconds," he gasped. "I gave her full emergency kick-off."
"Any armament aboard our late host?"
"A popgun. Time they get their wind, we'll be clear. Now all we got to do is set tight till we pick up a R and D from Svea Tower. Maybe four, five hours."
"Chip, you're a wonder," Retief said. "This looks like a good time to catch that nap."
"Me too," Chip said. "Mighty peaceful here, ain't it?"
There was a moment's silence.