And at almost the same instant the blast from Zuldi's voltage gun went crashing through the room.
Zurk saw the streak of the charge as it passed just above the fallen youth and felt the full, deadly shock of it strike squarely into his own huge chest of steel with a force that quaked the whole of his giant frame.
Then came deep silence. It seemed that all time had suddenly stopped.
Zuldi and the other creatures were standing there staring at him, their bulging eyes terror-stricken.
The vibration of Marene's sudden cry swept against his ears. "Zurk! You are free!"
He realized then what had happened. His steel frame had taken the full stock of Zuldi's voltage gun. And that shock had burned off the wire that had been shorting his energy at the back of his neck!
He was standing there on his own two feet! He was moving his head! He was free!
Withering blasts from a half dozen voltage guns tore suddenly into his steel body, rocking him on his feet. But he didn't care. He was free!
A savage cry came from his steel throat as he brushed aside the creatures and their guns. He went directly to the opening in the floor, put his heavy foot against the trap door and kicked it shut with a splintering crash that wedged it tightly home.
Then he turned slowly about to face Zuldi and the creatures. There was no escape for them now!