They stared at him, all of them--Ungo, Ylana, the three hard-eyed crewmen. Then, suddenly, a _Chonya_ blurted, "You're mad, Jarl! What chance would we have against that projector?" "You can forget the projector." Jarl jerked his head in the direction of Ylana. "As long as she's aboard, they won't dare use it." "But across the void...." The raiders exchanged fearful glances. "Would you rather die on Venus?" Big Ungo shifted. "But Ceresta, Jarl--it's too far to go. There are other places nearer, safer." "And the raider fleet--?" In spite of himself, Jarl's voice was bitter. "The fleet--?" "How long do you think the Federation will wait to strike, now that they've got this new projector?" Jarl laughed, harsh and curt. "By now, the armorers will be fitting them into every ship. Tomorrow they'll be blasting down on Ceres." He could see new fear come alive in the others' eyes. It put iron in him. He lashed out: "Are your own necks all that you can think of? Does it mean nothing to you that good friends will die and, with them, all freedom?--That the outlaw worlds at last will be forced to bow their necks to the yoke of the Federation?" The others' eyes fell. The raiders looked away and shifted. Jarl said: "That's one of the reasons why we're going to Ceresta. With _rey_ Gundre's daughter there, the Federation fleet will hold off striking." Big Ungo looked up, still half-sullen. "You said that was one reason. What others are there?" A knot drew tight in Jarl Corvett's belly. "We came to Vesta to save _Ktar_ Wassreck. Now they claim he has betrayed us." "But what--?" "Sais is at Ceresta." The knot drew tighter. "If it's true, if Wassreck has gone over, then we'll need her for a hostage." Again the silence echoed. Then, suddenly, the _Chonya_ crewman cried, "To hell with that! You don't give a _filan_ for Ceresta!" His voice went raw with angry passion. "We know what you want! It's Sais you're after--not as a hostage, but a woman!" Face contorted, he clawed for his blaster. Jarl whipped up his ray-gun--twisting, firing. The _Chonya_ crashed back, dead. Hate seethed in Jarl Corvett, a boiling, red-hazed murder-fury. He shook in a spasm of unbridled passion. "You _chitzas_!" he shouted. "I'll kill you all--even you, Ungo--" The great Jovian's face twitched. But there was no fear in it. Bleakly, he lumbered forward, towering. His deep voice rasped: "Kill ahead, Jarl. Any time you want to." His massive shoulders seemed to draw together. "I'm with you now, Jarl. I've always been. But I'll speak my mind when I think I need to--to you, or the devil!" Jarl's tide of fury ebbed and died. The ray-gun dropped to his side, and of a sudden he was shaking. "Ungo...." "I know, Jarl. It doesn't matter." Ungo's taloned hand was like a steadying pillar. "Go ahead. Give your orders." Numb, sick, Jarl Corvett slowly straightened, and breathed deep. He said, "Our course is still Ceresta!" CHAPTER V