"Rendezvous cancelled. Emergency. Proceed to us at once prepared to divide fuel."
"Yes, sir." The man went out, closing the door softly behind him.
IX
Gavin's heart sank. Of course the ship that brought Y would be hidden in the neighborhood. It would be simple enough for them to refuel the Nova.
Y had taken time to release the slaves and dispose of the bodies of the crew. That, Gavin surmised, was what had delayed the Nova's take-off long enough for him to slip aboard. Now should the Nova be apprehended in space, the Interplanetary patrol would be forced to release her for lack of evidence.
Villanowski glanced up. "We're licked, lad. We may as well toss in the towel."
Gavin looked at the chief engineer blankly.
"You mean," asked Y of Villanowski, "that you and Murdock are working for the same organization?"
The chief engineer laughed bitterly. "We're not working for anyone, but ourselves. You forget, Mr. Y, that the four-dimensional drive isn't the only contribution I've made to interplanetary travel. General Atomic stole the others. We had hoped—" he jerked his head at Gavin "—to keep this one for ourselves!"