"That is all I want to say. You kill my men, and my sister says I must not hurt you. I am not a child to be ruled by a woman!" He held his huge fist before my face. "With these fingers I will twist your neck! Do you believe it?" "Yes." I did indeed. He swung on his heel. "If Moa wants to try and put sense into your head--I hope she does. Bring him to the lounge when you are finished, Moa. Come, Prince--Hahn will need us." He chuckled grimly. "Hahn seems to fear we will plunge into this asteroid like a wild comet gone suddenly tangent!" Anita moved aside to let him through the door. I caught a glimpse of her set white face as she followed him down the deck. Then Moa's bulk blocked the doorway. She faced me. "Sit where you are, Gregg." She turned and closed the door upon us. "I am not afraid of you. Should I be?" "No," I said. She came and sat down beside me. "If you should attempt to leave this room, the stern look-out has orders to bore you through." "I have no intention of leaving the room," I retorted. "I do not want to commit suicide." "I thought you did. You seem minded in such a fashion. Gregg, why are you so foolish?" * * * * * I remained silent. "Why?" she demanded. I said carefully, "This treasure--you are many who will divide it. You have all these men on the _Planetara_. And in Ferrok-Shahn, others, no doubt." I paused. Would she tell me? Could I make her talk of that other brigand ship which Miko had said was waiting on Mars? I wondered if he had been able to signal it. The distance from here to Mars was great; yet upon other voyages Snap's signals had gotten through. My heart sank at the thought. Our situation here was desperate enough. The passengers soon would be cast upon the asteroid: there would be left only Snap, Anita and myself. We might recapture the ship, but I doubted it now. My thoughts were turning to our arrival upon the Moon. We three might, perhaps, be able to thwart the attack upon Grantline, hold the brigands off until help from the Earth might come. But with another brigand ship, fully manned and armed, coming from Mars, the condition would be immeasurably worse. Grantline had some twenty men, and his camp, I knew, would be reasonably fortified. I knew, too, that Johnny Grantline would fight to his last man. Moa was saying, "I would like to tell you our plans, Gregg." Her gaze was on my face. Keen eyes, but they were luminous now--an emotion in them sweeping her. But outwardly she was calm, stern-lipped. "Well, why don't you tell me?" I said. "If I am to help you...." "Gregg, I want you with us. Don't you understand? We are not many. My brother and I are guiding this affair. With your help, I would feel differently." "The ship at Ferrok-Shahn--" * * * * * My fears were realized. She said, "I think our signals reached it. Dean tried, and Coniston was checking him." "You think the ship is coming?" "Yes."