At that moment a voice spoke from the doorway.
"No, gentlemen," said the mysterious Mr. Thaxton, "that is just what you will not do! You will continue on to Venus, that your perfidy may be properly punished!"
It's funny how the mind works. There at that moment when I should have been taking a swandive into the chilly waters of despair, do you know what I found myself thinking?
I was thinking, "Gosh, what swell alliteration! I'd like to hear him say: 'Peter Piper picked a peck of—'"
Then Cap Hanson risked apoplexy with a roar that lifted furniture.
"What! What, sir, do you mean by issuing commands to me in my own spaceship? By what authority—"
The diminutive esper glanced meaningly at the pierce-gun in his right hand.
"This is my authority, Captain. It will suffice until you and your crew can be turned over to the soldiery of the Venusian government. And—
"Ah, Mr. Biggs! You're just in time to join our little party. No—if you please! Don't make it necessary for me to—er—take drastic measures. Be kind enough to raise your hands and walk across the room—so!"