Sandra screamed as she saw a thousand-foot wave of flesh roll across the rocky planet toward her father.
Karns already was nosing his craft down in a dive.
There were two courses open. He might leave Adstrom to his fate and try to flee, in which case Limio most certainly would bring him down with a blow from the tentacle. Or, Karns might try to land, hoping to fool Limio into thinking he had damaged both craft. Limio might not attack Karns in belief that Karns was a lame duck.
Karns chose the second course, not only as the safest, but as a means of bringing Limio under control. Adstrom did not deserve to be rescued, perhaps, but after all he was Sandra's father.
Besides, it was a battle between a monster and man, and Adstrom was on Karns' side.
The space ship tumbled to the foot of the rocky cliff. As it fell, Karns gave the tubes just enough fuel to keep the landing bump from being too severe. As the ship crashed, he opened the cockpit of the tanks containing the fluid he intended to use upon Limio.
"Follow me, Sandra!" he called, running toward the locks.
They leaped from the craft into an atmosphere surprisingly pleasant and sweet. It was only slightly frosty, but the terrestrials were well clad.
They began scrambling up the sides of the cliff. Below they heard the rumbling of the monster's body.