Part 18 (1/2)

He couldn't see the cruiser from here. But he looked out into s.p.a.ce, across the horizon, and knew that Koa's guess had been right. The distinctive glow of a nuclear drive cruiser was clear among the stars.

The _Scorpius_ had returned!

”The Connie saw it,” Rip said worriedly, ”but didn't blast away. That means he's intending to ambush the _Scorpius_. Koa, if he does, that means war.”

The big Hawaiian shook his head. ”Sir, the Connie has guided missiles with atomic warheads just like our s.h.i.+p does. If he can launch one from ambush and hit our s.h.i.+p, that's the end of it. The _Scorpius_ will be nothing but s.p.a.ce junk. Commander O'Brine will never have time to get off a message, because he'll be dead before he knows there is danger.”

The logic of it sent chill fear down Rip's spine. The Connie could get the _Scorpius_ with one nuclear blast and then clean up the asteroid at leisure. The Federation would suspect, but it would be unable to prove anything, because there would be no witnesses. If the Connie took time to tow the remains of the _Scorpius_ deep into the asteroid belt, it likely would never be found, no matter how the Federation searched.

They had to warn the s.h.i.+p. But how? Their helmet communicators wouldn't reach it until it was right at the asteroid, and that would be too late.

They had no other radio. If only the radios in the snapper-boats were on a Federation frequency ... hey! They could take one of the boats and intercept the cruiser!

He was hurrying toward them before Koa understood what he was saying. He tried to make his legs go faster, but they were unsteady. He knew he was losing blood. He had lost plenty. He gritted his teeth and kept going.

The snapper-boats seemed miles away to Rip, but he plugged ahead until his belt light picked them up. He took a long look, then turned away, heartsick. The Connie's exhaust had charred them into wreckage.

”Now what?” he asked.

”I don't know, sir,” Koa answered somberly.

They went back to the cave, not hurrying because Rip no longer had the strength to hurry. Weakness and a deep desire to sleep almost overcame him, and he knew that he was finished anyway. His wound must be too deep to clot, which meant it would bleed until he bled to death. Whether he warned the _Scorpius_ or not, his end was the same.

Back in the cave, he leaned against the wall and asked tiredly, ”How is Dominico?”

”I am fine, sir. My wound stopped bleeding.”

”How is the Connie I got?”

”Unconscious, sir,” Santos replied. ”He must be bleeding badly, but we can't tell. The one you landed on is all right now, but he may have a broken rib or two.”

Because his voice was weak, Rip had to turn up the volume on his communicator to tell the Planeteers about the _Scorpius_. They were silent when he finished, then Dowst spoke up.

”Looks like they have us, sir. But we'll take plenty of them with us before we're finished.”

”That's the spirit,” Rip approved. He told them, ”I won't last much longer. When I get too weak, Koa will take over. Meanwhile, I want to get outside. Bring the rocket launcher outside, too. Who's the gunner? Santos?

Stand by, then. We'll need you in case the Connie decides to send a few snappers before it goes after the _Scorpius_.”

The cruiser's glow was plain above the horizon, now. It was so close they could make out its form against the background of stars. O'Brine was decelerating and Rip was certain he was watching his screens for a sign of the enemy. He would see nothing, because the enemy was in the shadow of the asteroid. He would think the coast was clear, and come to a stop near by while he asked why Rip had called for help. Failing to get a reply, since the landing boat was wrecked, he would send a landing party, and the Connie would attack while he was launching boats, off guard.

Rip watched the prediction come true. The nuclear cruiser slowed gradually, its great bulk nearing the asteroid. O'Brine was operating as expected.

Rip was having trouble keeping his vision from blurring. He leaned against the rocket launcher and his glove caressed one of the sharp noses in the rack.

He heard his own voice before the idea had even taken full form. ”Santos!

Do you hear me? Santos! Get the _Scorpius_! Fire before it comes to a stop. And don't miss!”

Santos started to protest, but Koa bellowed, ”Do it. The lieutenant's right. It's the only chance we've got to warn the s.h.i.+p. Get that scorpion, Santos. Dead amids.h.i.+ps!”