"Too many," Shane nodded. For a long moment he peered through the vision slot in silence, then backed away again. "A slaver is a slaver, Dylar. Some are small, and some are big. But this is too big for any slaver. The whole surface of this moon is covered with a rabbit-warren such as this, twelve levels deep. We find power converters by the million--more than a major planet could use, even in the days before the Federation began to broadcast free power to all." Another of the _Chonyas_ broke in now: "The Uranian says the Paulsini lies just beyond the next stop, _Gar_ Shane--and his fear runs too high for him to lie." Shane studied the great, hairy beast through narrowed eyes. "Is there a guard?" he clipped. The Uranian shook his head jerkily. "Get ready, then!" the Earthman rapped. Again his eyes sought out the Uranian, and after a moment he gestured towards him. "Shove him off first, and then land running." The guard-car slowed. Shane shaded his eyes and studied the dim spaces ahead through the vision port, the light-pistol ready in his hand. Then the car was swaying, grinding to a stop. Two of the _Chonyas_ pushed the Uranian towards the door. But before they reached it their prisoner suddenly sprang aside. He caught one of the crewmen and hurled him bodily through the doorway by brute strength. * * * * * Outside, the corridor was suddenly laced with lances of purple light. A scream of anguish choked off in the _Chonya's_ throat. "A trap!" the technician, Dylar, cried. He jerked back levers on the control panel, and the car lurched forward again. The Uranian lunged for him. But Shane was already pivoting. He fired as he moved, and the great beast slammed to the floor, its four mighty arms flailing in a death-spasm. "Stop the car!" Shane shouted. Dylar threw a switch. The vehicle's mechanism shuddered and went dead. "This way!" the Earthman snapped. He leaped to the corridor and ran back towards the Paulsini station. The _Chonyas_ followed, close on his heels. More of Reggar's men were there, clustered about the body of the fallen crewman. Then the sound of running feet reached them. They whirled. Not even breaking stride, Shane blasted at them. Hastily, they fell back into a doorway, the same doorway from which they had loosed their barrage at the guard-car. The Earthman moved in close to the left wall, out of their range of vision, and crept closer. Abruptly, a purple beam lanced past his head, so close he could feel the searing heat of it. He jerked back against the crewman behind him. "It's a stalemate till we can think of something," he clipped savagely. "They can't move, but neither can we." The _Chonya_ laughed. "Dylar will take care of that!" he chortled gleefully. Like an echo, the now distant guard-car roared to life again. The next instant it was racing towards them. Shane and the _Chonya_ pressed back against the wall.