It was true. On any course, the two ships would flash past each other with scant time for talk. If the Vulcan was an innocent trader it would haul to, if not it would travel, or surrender. There was no chance of surrender.
Lodar had too much at stake. He was carrying a fortune back to Earth. His last chance at a decent life. As for the crew, most of them were wanted by the police in half the cities of Earth. Their safety lay in the outer planets or in space.
"We'll take a chance." Ray glanced at Lodar for confirmation, then tapped the magnaflux. "They've got more power, more guns, and they'll outrun us. We've got to cut out."
"Go ahead!" Lodar nodded tensely, like a leashed hound scenting trouble. "Campora's got the gun crews ready."
Ray hadn't figured on blasting at the Company ship. He had hoped for a swift getaway. Still, this was no time for fine distinctions. After all, he had joined the Vulcan of his own free will. He couldn't change his mind now. But, if he ever got out of this....
He turned to the controls, concentrating on his job.
The Benson Plates on the outer hull shifted gratingly, turning to alter the drive. The moan of the ether whorls pitched higher as the Vulcan creaked to swing ponderously on a new course. It made a huge figure S curve, designed to pull it out of the threatened spiral.
In seconds the proximity alarms shrilled. As the ship cut closer to its pursuer Ray tightened the turn till the Vulcan swung sharply to right. There was a rattle of sound as loose objects spilled over the decks.
The other ship was on the ordinary visiscreen now, a black streak that danced to one side of the Vulcan. Under his feet, Ray could feel the jarring thrust of McVane's converters, he could sense the leap of the Vulcan as he closed in the last dregs of power.
But still the other ship crept closer.