Ray said nothing. He was wondering alertly just how this was going to affect the girl. He hoped she'd forgotten. Under onslaught of Lodar's driving energy human lives were nothing. Even now the captain's dark eyes blazed with excitement, a savage delight in the approaching danger.
The young navigator began to plot the other ship's course. It was curving in behind them on the left. The intent was obvious; to overtake from one side and drive the Vulcan into a sheering curve. It would take power to get away, lots of power!
Ray called McVane on the interphone, breathed a sigh of relief as the engineer promptly answered. "We're running into trouble. Get your teakettle going—fast," he ordered.
"Ay, ay," McVane mumbled.
"Keep awake!" Ray hissed savagely. "If we're caught now it'll mean life for us!"
"Take it easy, I'll give ye power. If need be," McVane added morosely, "enough to blow us all to hell!"
The captain was studying the magnaflux when Ray turned.
"They're cutting in." His thick finger traced a curve. The pursuer's tactics were obvious—to drive the Vulcan into an ever-tightening spiral aided by his greater speed.
"Why don't they radio?" Ray glanced at the silent receiver.
"At this speed?" Lodar grunted. "No chance! There'll only be a few seconds of contact."