The four soldiers clustering around the major seemed ominous. "Our doctor will be here in a moment. Immediate aid can be given the girl." George's hands trembled with rage and maddening anxiety. "I am going to takeoff immediately. Explanations can come later when the girl has been treated. I will hold you personally responsible for any further delay." He went toward the control room. The major started to follow. The Oligarch whirled to face him. "You will be responsible for her death. I am going to leave. If necessary, I will take all of you with me. You will have to use force to stop me." The major stood with his hands clenched into fists at his sides. There was silence. The fists slowly unclenched. "I would advise you to get off the ship at once," George said. He turned once more. This time he did not look back. A thrill of uncertainty grew within the major. He swallowed stiffly and then snapped angrily to the waiting soldiers, "All right, get the lead out! Let's go! Let's go, let's go!" He seemed to want to push them physically toward the exit. * * * * * The Oligarch was in the control room by the time they dropped off the ladder to the ground. A flick of the switch, and the ladder retreated. The ship trembled. A savage jab, and the ship became airborne. It was too late now for them to stop him. He had made a successful escape. He was weak with reaction. A few moments more.... He studied the dials. Earth fell away. He could hurry. He only need save enough fuel for a tie in. He waited impatiently for altitude. Earth shrank. The features of her surface blurred. A cloud occluded her face completely. The air resistance lessened. Gravity weakened. He was able to pour the fuel into the space jets. He fired the first and second banks. Fuel gauges descended. Acceleration pressed against him like a hand. More jets. He was in a hurry. His mission was accomplished. Within two hours he would be out of the danger area of the Earth explosion. But he was not overly worried about that. He did not expect it until an hour or so after sunrise over Washington. He locked the ship on automatic. Time enough later to finish computing the trajectory. He was now free to dispose of Herb and Norma. The sense of elation increased as he left the control room. He fingered his hand weapon and smiled to himself. Less than a minute later, he stepped into the doorway of the room containing the two people, his gun raised. CHAPTER XIII Herb had regained consciousness. Herb shot, and flame leaped toward the Oligarch. The room roared with the explosion. George jerked back, and in mid-motion, something caught him low in his chest, on the left side of his body and slapped him savagely off his feet. Incredibly, he had been hit! He shook his head and got one knee under him. His left side was numb. He looked down and saw blood start to color his shirt.