"We get something else." "What?--Bordoni had the only squirm aboard. I know. I shook the ship down--there isn't a thing one tenth as--" "Enemy has matched components," the talker said. "Down two shades," Fiske ordered. "We can dodge for awhile," he said absently as the ship dropped into a deeper red monochrome, "but he'll get us eventually." "Sir, the engine room broke in. The converters aren't going to take much more of this--we're on twenty percent overload right now!" "They'll have to take it," Fiske snapped. "If we want to stay alive!" "I'll try to keep 'em going, boss," Sandoval's voice broke in. "Thanks Sandy." Fiske cut off. "Now about the noise business--" "Well," Pedersen said--"You might try doing it yourself. Seems that I remember you howling like a wounded wolf a few days ago, just before we clobbered that Eglan base. If it's noise you want, why don't you give out with a few warwhoops. You damn near lifted the lid off this can." Fiske's eyes widened. "You have something there," he admitted. He flipped the selector to communications. "George," he said, "can you rig a continuous tape playback into that broadcaster? Bordoni's aborted,--smashed his records." "Sure. Give me ten minutes." "Make it five and send one of your boys up here. I have a package for him." Fiske switched off and turned to Pedersen. "Have someone go to my quarters and get that roll of sound tape out of my locker. It's in the upper left compartment. Give it to George's man when he shows up." He looked at Pedersen's puzzled expression and grinned. "We're not licked yet, Oley." "Enemy has matched component," the talker said. "Down two shades--and keep changing our course. Don't follow one line for more than ten seconds," Fiske ordered. "That gives us about four more drops before we breakout," the pilot's voice said over the speaker. "And we can't dodge too long. He can outmaneuver us, and ride us right out of Cth." "How long?" "Maybe five minutes--maybe less." "Well--get on with it--we can't stay here"--Fiske looked glumly at the control board. There was nothing he could do at the moment. "Aye sir." The red monochrome deepened a trifle as the "Dauntless" dropped closer to breakout. "Damn--they're quick!" Fiske muttered. "We're not going to be here long at this rate," Pedersen observed. "We do what we can. Unless we get that broadcast rigged we've got no chance at all." Fiske lapsed into silence. * * * * * A minute passed as the "Dauntless" dodged frantically and the Eglan maneuvered for position. "Enemy has matched component," the talker said. Instantly the "Dauntless" was surrounded by a reddish-black gloom. "Infra band coming," Pedersen remarked. "Our spotting isn't too good there. He can be on top of us before we know it." "Let's hope theirs isn't either," Fiske answered absently. "Enemy has matched component," the talker said.