"Stop!" Scott leaped forward, no longer conscious of the weapons swinging on him. He dropped his hand upon the box.
"This is mine," he said. "I forbid you to touch it."
"Have you ever seen a man die of a blaster bolt?" Randell asked. "Step back."
The men of the Bertha fell back. Their shoulders touched the toothed rim of stone about the pit.
Randell chuckled. "Perhaps it's just as well we didn't blast off when we were loaded. There was always a chance you'd found something else of value here."
He flicked the muzzle of the blaster about. "If you don't mind, we'll inspect this crate in a better light. Back at the Kastil."
Triumph leaped through Scott. "This is piracy," he said, and sounded sincere.
"Piracy is what is proven," Randell laughed. "Do you really think you have a case in our courts?" He sighed softly. "Now, thank you for this unexpected pleasure. And good-bye. We'll see each other again on Earth, perhaps."
Then they were gone and immediately afterward, the Kastil, balancing on a white line of flame, leaped away from the asteroid and flashed out past the stars.
Scott stared after it, a faint smile touching his lips. About him rang the triumphant laughter of the crew.