I sprayed the field with a hail of dumdum slugs from the supermachine guns; then, when I'd picked off everyone in sight, I turned to the atomic heat throwers. I couldn't use the explosive shells and rockets because of what the concussion and fragmentation might do to the space station itself, so I trained the heaters on the top third of each rocket in turn, and simply melted it into thick silvery goo. The lower portions I avoided, for fear of setting off the stored fuel. The three-stage rockets, naturally, carried no weapons. They couldn't fight back. It was wholesale murder, but I kept at it. It was their deaths, or that of mankind. At last I leaned back. "That's it," I said. "All but for Cuff and Skagarach, that's it." _And the thousands of Old Companions hidden all over the world_, I thought; but that was a problem for the future, and for better men than I. Nessa said, "I want to speak to Ray. Alone. Please." "Be careful," I said to Howard, as he and the three scientists moved out of the armory chamber. Then I was standing to face my wife. "Ray," she said quietly, "I know why you told them about Odo. I didn't know at the time because I was confused by your wild talk. I just thought you'd become one of _them_. I know now you did it to save me from torture." She put her slim hands on my shoulders. "I don't have to ask this, I don't need reassurance on it--but I want to hear you tell me. It's true, isn't it?" "Yes, Nessa. I banked on beating them, but I didn't honestly have an idea that I could. Still I knew that I couldn't see them touch you." "You stacked the human race against me, and picked me. I suppose that's quite terrible," she said, and she was crying and laughing all at once, "but if you think I'll ever reproach you for it, you're insane. I think it must be the finest compliment a girl ever received. If I could love you any more than I did before today, Ray, I would." Then she was in my arms.... When she had finally freed herself, she said, "Is it true what Cuff said, that you're related to him and to those monstrosities?" I nodded. I couldn't very well lie to her when the facts were there. "It is true." "And our baby will be--" "Yes. But the story of the 'dark blood' has to be proven to us before we start worrying," I lied. That was bravado and she recognized it, but she looked happier. "I don't care if you're half sabretooth tiger, I love you." I reached for her again. Then I caught a flicker of something in the edge of my eye and whirled. Bill Cuff was baring his teeth at me not two yards away. CHAPTER XIII My right index finger tightened on the trigger of a gun that wasn't in my hand. I'd left it lying beside the controls of the outside armament. Skagarach's yellow mop showed behind Cuff. Like a tin soldier, mindless but destined to fight with or without weapons, I stepped toward Cuff. I saw that he had no gun either. But Skagarach held a big .45.