"Naw, not me!" Barrows said, disgustedly. A chorus of rejections went up at once. It wasn't loyalty to their Captain, just a mutual hatred for the S.P. The second cook, however, walked toward Brace. "I'll take my papers, Captain," he said quickly. The Chief Cook took one step. No one actually saw the fist land, but they watched the second cook slide across the deck and come to rest in a limp heap. Then the Chief Cook grinned at Brace, revealing two missing teeth. "The second cook has changed his mind, Captain," he said. The men laughed. "All right, men," Brace said, sobering quickly. "We've got about an hour and a half to wait. That gives us enough time to eat, and then we'll see if we can get into space." "First watch on duty!" Barrows shouted. Several men left and the others straggled out after them. The Chief Cook disappeared into the galley, dragging his assistant after him. When the men had gone, Barrows turned to Brace. "Goin' a chuck her out in space?" Brace rubbed his chin. "I don't know. I'll figure it out after we blast off." The port buzzer rang hollowly through the ship. Tensing, Barrows looked at the Captain, then his hand slid inside his jacket and he pulled out a large atoblast and hefted it. "Put away the toy," Brace grunted. "I'll bluff 'em. If I can't, you get 'em from the companionway and we'll blast off." Barrows nodded and followed Brace into the companionway. The big mate stopped at the corner, waiting just out of sight with his gun held level. * * * * * Brace waddled down the short companionway and stepped into the port. A moment later, the other port opened and Brace exhaled sharply when he saw the thin-faced man he'd met in the bar standing before him. His feet shifted uneasily in the sand under the Captain's unflinching gaze. "Well!" Brace bellowed. "I want to talk to you, Captain Brace." In answer, Brace jabbed the closing button. "Or shall I talk to the S.P.?" the thin-faced man shouted through the closing crack. Brace jabbed the opener and stood impassively as the portal swung wide. "That's better," the man on the ground said, smiling. Brace's paw reached down and jerked him into the portal by the front of his tunic. They stood there as the portal closed, face to face, Brace's eyes burning into the livid terror of the other man. "You aren't going to talk to anybody," Brace muttered, throwing him into the companionway. "I got friends who are watching!" the little man yelped. He slithered away. "It won't do any good to kill me!" Barrows came around the corner. He took one look at the cringing figure and disgustedly tucked the atoblast back into his tunic. Then he reached for the thin-faced man. "Wait!" Brace snapped.