"That's some flying," he said as soon as he could speak.
Crystal looked at him in surprise. "That's nothing. We Venusians fly almost as soon as we can walk."
"Oh—I see," Brian said weakly and a few moments later he really did see. Two big, fast, green ships, carrying the insignia of the Venus Consolidated police, cruised suddenly out from a mountain air station.
An aërial torpedo exploded in front of the rebel ship. Crystal's face set in grim lines as she pulled the ship up in a screaming climb. Brian got up off the floor.
"You don't have to get excited like that," he complained. "They weren't trying to hit us."
"That's what you think," Crystal muttered. "Those children don't play for peanuts."
"But, girl, they're just Venus Consolidated police. They haven't got any authority to shoot anyone."
"Authority doesn't make much difference to them," Crystal snapped bitterly. "They've been killing people all over the planet. What do you think this revolution is about?"
"You must be mistak—" He slumped to the floor as Crystal threw the ship into a mad, rolling spin. A tremendous crash thundered close astern.
"I guess that was a mistake!" Crystal yelled as she fought the controls.