"My lords! Your attention quickly! Something has gone wrong with the force barrier!"
"Wrong?" echoed Borisu, turning swiftly to the man. "But nothing can go wrong. What do you mean?"
"It's weakening ... failing.... Come, see for yourself."
The technician pointed with trembling fingers at an alarm signal high upon the control banks; a light now pulsating in fitful ruby flares. Borisu spat a stream of angry curses, turned and waddled hastily across the amphitheatre to the engineer's side.
"Where is the fault?" he demanded wildly. "Hurry, man! Bestir yourself! Don't stand there like a stricken schoolgirl. Do something!"
And:
"Very well, Borisu!" cried the engineer, his voice changing suddenly. "I will do something!"
His hand leaped out and tore the pistol from the kraedar's grasp, in one split second completely changing the situation.
"Down on your face, and keep your arms outstretched above your head! Tell your men to throw their weapons away."