“If you really wish to see your sister live——. Well to be just a little slangy, you will draw in your horns. Kill me and you also kill her and the crew.”
“And you will leave my brother and his companions in there without air to breathe?” Joan demanded heatedly.
“My dear young lady, really, we have no air to spare.” Toplinsky lifted the palms of his hands outward, and shook his head. “We manufacture our air with chemicals, and the supply is limited. In making my preparations to visit the moon I did not anticipate the presence of guests in a compartment where no air is needed. Our air is confined entirely to the living-parts of the ship. Yours is the last compartment supplied with air. There is no sense in wasting air and running machinery for fun.”
Again he opened his hands expansively, and showed his horse teeth apologetically.
“And—and——”
“So there you are,” he finished.
Epworth lowered his gun.
“Toplinsky, you win. I cannot endanger the lives of all the people aboard this airship.”
The giant grinned good humoredly. He had been very close to death, and he realized that his escape had been narrow.
“Don’t kill them that way,” Joan moaned. “I shall not give you any trouble. I——”