At the D deck companionway, Retief stopped suddenly. "Listen." Chip cocked his head. "I don't hear nothin'," he whispered. "Sounds like a sentry posted on the lifeboat deck," Retief said softly. "Let's take him, Mister." "I'll go down. Stand by, Chip." Retief started down the narrow steps, half stair, half ladder. Halfway, he paused to listen. There was a sound of slow footsteps, then silence. Retief palmed the needler, went down the last steps quickly, emerged in the dim light of a low ceilinged room. The stern of a five-man lifeboat bulked before him. "Freeze, you!" a cold voice snapped. Retief dropped, rolled behind the shelter of the lifeboat as the whine of a power pistol echoed off metal walls. A lunge, and he was under the boat, on his feet. He jumped, caught the quick-access handle, hauled it down. The outer port cycled open. Feet scrambled at the bow of the boat. Retief whirled and fired. The guard rounded into sight and fell headlong. Above, an alarm bell jangled. Retief stepped on a stanchion, hauled himself into the open port. A yell rang, then the clatter of feet on the stair. "Don't shoot, Mister!" Chip shouted. "All clear, Chip," Retief called. "Hang on. I'm comin' with ya!" Retief reached down, lifted the chef bodily through the port, slammed the lever home. The outer door whooshed, clanged shut. "Take number two, tie in! I'll blast her off," Chip said. "Been through a hundred 'bandon ship drills...." Retief watched as the chef flipped levers, pressed a fat red button. The deck trembled under the lifeboat. "Blew the bay doors," Chip said, smiling happily. "That'll cool them jaspers down." He punched a green button. "Look out, Jorgensen's!" With an ear-splitting blast, the stern rockets fired, a sustained agony of pressure.... Abruptly, there was silence. Weightlessness. Contracting metal pinged loudly. Chip's breathing rasped in the stillness. "Pulled nine G's there for ten seconds," he gasped. "I gave her full emergency kick-off." "Any armament aboard our late host?" "A popgun. Time they get their wind, we'll be clear. Now all we got to do is set tight till we pick up a R and D from Svea Tower. Maybe four, five hours." "Chip, you're a wonder," Retief said. "This looks like a good time to catch that nap." "Me too," Chip said. "Mighty peaceful here, ain't it?" There was a moment's silence. "Durn!" Chip said softly. Retief opened one eye. "Sorry you came, Chip?" "Left my best carvin' knife jammed up 'tween Marbles' ribs," the chef said. "Comes o' doin' things in a hurry." V The blonde girl brushed her hair from her eyes and smiled at Retief. "I'm the only one on duty," she said. "I'm Anne-Marie." "It's important that I talk to someone in your government, Miss," Retief said. The girl looked at Retief. "The men you want to see are Tove and Bo Bergman. They will be at the lodge by night-fall."