"This restricted space was created for the _Orionad_ to return through. The nature of the restriction is such that anyone of official nature will be warned, and no civil traffic will be cleared through here. I am here because I didn't think the _Orionad_ was due to return yet, and you came because you probably left without clearance. Right?" "Right." "Well, the _Orionad_ believes that anybody who is in the restricted space is an enemy; spying upon their course. The consequences are clear." "I hope they hold that screen," said Kane. "But what about Jimmy? My pilot?" Maynard groaned. "He's several thousand miles behind, and any attempts to save him would fail. The _Orionad_ will recognize no incoming signals. Nothing we can do will save him!" Maynard groaned, and then he brightened briefly. "Stan!" he called. "What's the chances of the _Orionad_ missing the _Loki_?" "Not too bad," said the technician. "They'll be running with their finder at cruising range, and they'll just touch us. _Loki_ is sliding sidewise and may be out of range." "We hope. Well, keep it going, fellows. This may be dangerous." Time passed slowly and ponderously, and the _Orionad_ caught up and passed the _Loki_ without seeing or detecting the publisher's ship. Of this, Maynard was certain, since the celestial globe would have flared briefly had any action been taken against the _Loki_. Then as the _Orionad_ passed the _Asterite_, Maynard said: "Chalk us up a win, Kane. Your crate is safe." "You're certain?" "I am. _Loki_ is now beyond range of our detector, which was souped up and is running at overload range. _Orionad_'s detectors would be running at cruising range, which I happen to know is one quarter meg--two hundred and fifty thousand miles, to you." "I see. _Loki_ is on the far side of us from the _Orionad_, and their distance is such that their cruising range on the detector is less than the distance to _Loki_?" "Right. And give us another ten minutes, and _Orionad_ will go beyond detection range from us. Cruising range, that is." "Mark yourself up a credit for this one, too," smiled Kane. "If you were an enemy, you could surely score one on the super ship itself." "Sure could," agreed Guy enthusiastically. Stan Norman said: "Technician to Executive: May I enter this encounter in the log?" "Go ahead," said Guy. "They'll never believe us, though." "Wouldn't a definite statement of their course and velocity be evidence?" "Nope. I happen to know it. It was part of the maneuver secret that I was kidnaped for, remember." "They'd just accuse you of telling tall tales that couldn't be substantiated," agreed Kane. "The crew and myself would be considered biased witnesses. I'd sure like to cinch the argument, though." "So would I," said Guy thoughtfully. "Do you trust this dingbat of yours? The barrier, I mean." "Naturally." "Then couldn't we really do something about it?"