She shook her head. "She wasn't a patrol spacer. She didn't identify herself. We dodged. Then she cut loose at us with atom shells. The third shot did the damage. I don't know how serious yet, but half the crew are laid up. Captain Cabot cut the jets, which allowed us to fall back into the cloud bank as if we'd been knocked out." That was quick shrewd thinking, Gavin realized. The bridge televisor whistled shrilly. "Bridge calling," came Cabot's voice. "Engine room." "Starboard jets. Half blast." "Check." Gavin pulled the lever on the control board. "Starboard jets!" he yelled above the sudden roar to the half-naked jetman. The Nova began to nose upward in a slow arc. "Prime all tubes," came Cabot's crisp voice through the audio. "We'll be above the clouds any moment." "Check," said Gavin. A mounting tension gripped them all as the seconds dragged past. Then the televisor whistled again. "Cut starboard rockets. Half blast ahead." There was another pause and Cabot added with a faint smile, "We're through the cloud bank. No sign of the spacer." Nadia heaved a sigh of relief and leaned weakly against the ladder. "Guess we lost her half around the planet," surmised Gavin. "Course 37.22 x 5," came Cabot's voice once more. "Proceed at one G until we ascertain damage. That is all." "Check," said Gavin. He snapped off the televisor. "You can put that dart-gun away," he advised Nadia dryly. The girl snapped erect. She whipped the dart-gun in line with Gavin's chest again. "I haven't been relieved!" She began in a queer voice. The gun trembled. Her knees sagged. She swayed, sat down suddenly on the first rung of the ladder. "What's the matter?" She gave a short, half-hysterical laugh. "Matter! I've had the pants scared off me, and you ask what's the matter!" She clenched her teeth, dropped her head in her hands. Her black hair fell like a veil over her face. Gavin snapped on the televisor. "Engine room calling." "Bridge," came Cabot's precise voice. "Murdock speaking, sir. Advise Miss Petrovna be relieved. She's suffering from shock." Cabot looked startled. He hesitated. "Tell Miss Petrovna she's relieved. Carry on, Mr. Murdock." "Check." Gavin turned to the girl. "You heard the Captain." She nodded weakly. There was a large greenish bruise on the gleaming flesh of her shoulder which Gavin hadn't noticed before. He said, "You'd better go to your cabin. Patch yourself up." He raised a sandy eyebrow. "That costume could stand a repair job, too." Nadia glanced at herself, at the missing breast plate, the ripped skirt, and wailed, "Oh, dear. It's ruined." "You're lucky that you're not, too," drawled Gavin dryly. "Ruined? Me?" She shot him a glance from her long black eyes. "Why Mr. Murdock, I didn't know you were so impetuous," and fled up the ladder. Gavin stared after her. He made an uncomplimentary but expressive remark under his breath.