"Certainly, like this. No one asked them to butt in here." * * * * * I didn't say anything else for a while. I could feel myself sweating under the helmet, and momentarily, at least, I had run out of things to say. Someone else came to my rescue. For the first time, one of the other party attempted direct intercom communication. "Hey you out there," a voice said. "This is Reardon, in charge of this outfit." He sounded afraid. "Lay off or we'll blast these two prisoners I got...." "You're telling me to lay off?" I demanded, trying to think of something to say. "You're telling me to lay off? That's rich." "What do you mean?" The voice was still frightened, and I began to feel a little better. They had fallen for this so far all the way. "What do I care what you do to those two? They're a couple of homesteaders who happened to barge in here, an old man and a girl. Go ahead, kill 'em. What's the difference, you'll follow in a couple of minutes." That got him. "Wait," he said. "Hold it, please." I yawned, loud enough for the intercom to pick it up. I hoped I wasn't overdoing it. "Mike," I drawled, "set that thing up so we can finish the job and get out of here, eh? Now, be careful. Connect that dampening rig like that, that's it. Careful. Just make sure the pole fits into that hole real snug. There you are. You did it...." "You _sure_ you wanta use this thing on them, chief?" I had Mike say. "Why in hell not? Come on. Now!" The voice over the intercom was almost a shriek. "Stop! For the love of heaven please stop! Cut it out, please. Don't roast us. We give up! We--" I said, "Who cares if you give up or not? I just want to try out my weapon. No one asked you to poke your nose in here like this. You hear him, Mike? He gives up. That's funny." Mike said, "It ain't so funny. If they give up, I say let 'em go. Hell, they won't give you any more trouble, chief." The frightened voice was pleading now. "Listen to him, friend. Go ahead, listen. We give up, see? We're harmless. We'll go away. Anything. The weapon's all yours...." "Well--" "Go ahead, chief," Mike said. "Umm-m. Well, okay. Hey you guys! All of you get into one dome, fast, and throw every gun you have outside. Your spacesuits, too. You'd better, because I don't exactly trust you. I'm going to give you five minutes and then I'm going to turn this thing on. Anyone has an ounce of iron or steel on him, he'll be broiled." * * * * * I waited, atop my pinnacle. I saw three figures running from the direction of our original dome, heading for the other one. In a moment, they disappeared over the close, jagged horizon. I said: "That's about enough time, Mike. Turn it on."