Cursing, Gramp laid down a blast of flame against the ship as the bandit swung in the outer lock.
'Dang it,' shrieked Gramp, 'he got away.'
Dejectedly the two old veterans stood and stared at the ship.
'I guess this ends it for us,' said Jurg Tec.
'Not by a dang sight,' declared Gramp. 'We'll make it back to Satellite City easy.'
But he didn't believe it. He knew they wouldn't.
He heard the sound of footsteps coming down the hill and turned. The senator was hurrying toward them.
'What happened to you?' demanded Jurg Tec.
'I fell and twisted my ankle,' the senator explained.
'Sure,' said Gramp, 'it's plumb easy for a feller to sprain his ankle. Especially at a time like this.'