"Webster, you'll get thrown out for this. Come back here. And for God's sake don't slow down like that. You're a sitting duck for them." Webster cut in his forward rockets to slow himself even more. He turned on the magnetic shield and then spoke to Admiral Cantwell. "That's the idea, Admiral. All the ships that have been knocked down have been travelling at full speed. And that's what's done it." He kept his eye on the Uranian ship. It was almost within range. He went on. "We knew the Uranians were trying to increase the velocity of the Kant pellets. Well, I figure they've done it." "But they still can't get them through the magnetic shield," said the Admiral, his tone growing less stern. It was almost time. Webster's speed was down to five thousand miles an hour. "They don't have to get them through the shield," answered Webster. "I figure the pellets now move at close to the speed of light. So when one of them passes close by our ships going the opposite direction under full power it sets up--" The gig gave a slight lurch. That was all, just a slight lurch. "See?" shouted Webster. "They can't knock me down when I'm going slow. The relative velocity isn't great enough." The Admiral's voice took on a new note. "I think I see what you're driving at. Mass goes up with velocity." "Right." The gig gave another small lurch. Webster laughed and went on. "The relative velocity between the ship and the pellet is probably only a few octillionths short of the velocity of light. So somewhere in the pellet-ship system a huge mass momentarily appears. It's enough to tear the ship apart. And our own high velocity has been what made it possible. They don't even try to hit us; they just try to come within some minimum distance." Silence from the _Sirius_. Then. "Well done, Webster. Well done. Go on in. We'll follow. You've got about a twenty-minute start on us so we'll meet you in Central City." He stopped, then went on: "I owe you something for that runabout incident I guess, so I'll overlook this disobedience. Besides, if you're ever going to get beyond Third somebody is going to have to overlook something. This'll do it. Good luck, man." Just before Webster clicked off the radio he overheard the Admiral say to the Second: "The Uranians have one thing to be thankful for. They don't have any teeth." Webster grinned and happily pulled on his space suit. The jinx was broken. Second Officer Webster coming up. There was nothing but Uranians ahead of him. And just wait till he got his hands on _them_.