O'Day's face turned brick red. His lean jowls mottled with rage. In stifled tones he choked, "Surrender! That slimy rat! All right, Skipper. We know where we stand now. Let's unhinge the guns and give them—"
"They are a dozen," reminded MacDonald nervously, "to our one."
"All right! So what?" blazed O'Day. "Our weapons will more than match theirs. And we're protected by Dr. Kang's force-shield. Come on!"
He took three quick strides toward the nearest gun embrazure, and was in the act of whipping the tarpaulin from the rotor port when Borisu's voice sheered through again.
"That was the reformed corsair's voice I heard, was it not? Well, Captain O'Day—" He stressed the title with gentle irony—"I suggest you think twice before opening hostilities. Having shared your comradeship I am well aware as to the power of your weapon and the strength of the learned Dr. Kang's force-shield. However, the weapons mounted on our craft are not the destructive type averted by electrical barriers. Our guns are ultrawave cannon."
"Ultrawave!" repeated Dr. Kang, and stayed Lark O'Day's hand swiftly. "Stop, Lark! If he's telling the truth, our shield is useless."
"What? But I thought it would stop anything."
"Anything of material or radiant nature—except cosmic rays. They will penetrate all matter; even our force-shield. One blast of their guns can loose upon us the dwindling destruction which they have been using to destroy our universe."
"Well spoken, Dr. Kang," came the taunting voice from afar. "You grasp essential truths with admirable swiftness. And now—your surrender, Captain? You will drop your force-shield, permitting a boarding party to enter your ship."