The hairy behemoth jerked up his two free hands to ward it off. But a tangle of falling covers got in the way. The cot's weight and impact rocked him. Shane blazed through the cot. Sagging, the Uranian lurched back against the car. The acrid stench of his burning flesh billowed up in choking waves. Only then, instead of falling, he lunged forward. Barely in time, Shane leaped aside, lancing in beam after beam. Blindly, the Uranian charged past him, with no attempt to turn. Straight ahead the creature lunged--on, towards the guard-post's rear wall ... the vocodor and the row of communication control switches below it. "The alarm--!" Talu cried shrilly. She darted forward. Shane caught her wrist and threw her bodily out of the way. * * * * * The Uranian crashed against the wall. One great hand swept the whole row of switches down. An alarm bell jangled deafeningly. The Uranian half-turned, as if to taunt them. Then his muscles, his joints, seemed to give way. He toppled forward ... struck the floor with an echoing thud. Shane spun about. His eyes sought Talu. She stood pressed flat to the guard-post's wall now, dark face aglow with an excitement that was mingled with something close akin to panic. "The bell--" "Forget it! Come on!" Together, they raced for the glittering metal guard-car. Shane sprang aboard. "Hurry!" He caught the slave girl's hand and helped her to clamber in after him. Here, inside, a control panel studded with switches and dials and push-buttons was set chest-high in one wall. Above it, a narrow, slot-like vision port of transparent silicon extended nearly to the top of the car. A series of charts, displayed beneath sheets of clear plastic cross-hatched with grid lines, flanked the port on either side. Shane slammed shut the door. He pushed Talu to the instrument board. "Quick! The controls--how do they work?" The very clipped steadiness of his voice rang with urgency. "It is simple--" A red spark glinted in the vision port. Shane froze to the slot. "Another car--coming this way, fast!" Talu threw a switch. Her fingers flashed over the buttons. Vibration shook the car. Talu threw another switch. With a rumble and roar, the vehicle began to move. Lights streaked past the vision ports, faster and faster. Shane let out breath. "They're falling back!" The dark girl pressed more buttons. The car jerked and changed direction, till it had veered from its former course three times. The lights of their pursuer disappeared. The car moved out onto a straightaway once more and picked up speed. Talu turned. "Where now, _Sha_ Shane?" The Earthman laughed--harshly, without mirth. "The top is always the place to start, _Malyalara_. If you want to kill a snake, cut off its head." The woman looked at him with a sort of wondering awe. "You mean ... Reggar?"