As they became aware once more of their immediate surroundings, one vision screen was completely covered by the width of one huge tentacle wrapped around their ship, while the other showed several more tentacles drawing near to enfold their lifeboat. The upper part of the hull, the roof of their cabin, bulged inwards, while the hull groaned and creaked as though every plate and bar was about to collapse. "Quick, Ronaro, the heat cannon," snapped the Captain as he dove for the controls. The motors hummed vainly as Ekrado sought to free the craft from the monster's grip. At the same time, Ronaro brought his sights to bear on the approaching tentacles. The tight beam sliced through them as fast as he could bring it to bear; one, two, three, four.... But not fast enough, for one more tentacle closed around the lifeboat. By chance, the monster had blotted out their vision screen with the second tentacle. Now Ronaro was fighting blind. He set the angle of fire in such a way that the cannon would fire close to the lifeboat's hull. He fired again and again, as fast as the weapon built up potential for another discharge, systematically combing the waters around them. The pressure on the hull relaxed almost visibly as the tentacles that held the ship were sliced in two at last by the heat ray. But since Ronaro could not set the weapon to actually graze the hull, the end of the severed tentacle remained wrapped around them to obscure the vision ports. The monster was not defeated yet. Even with six tentacles gone, it had four left, and Ronaro was still fighting blind. His rays bombarded the water blindly in the hope of striking the body of the giant. At the same time, the lifeboat got slowly under way, rising sternwards toward the surface. As it gathered momentum, Ekrado spun it over, to travel bowfirst. The turn dislodged the severed tentacles and once again the two Alarians could see into the dark water as far as their light beams could illuminate it. There was no sign of the monster. Whether they had outrun it or outfought it, they did not know, but in any case they were safe. "That idea did not turn out any too well, did it?" commented Ekrado wryly. Ronaro did not reply, for the statement hardly called for an answer. The two Alarians floated in silence while the lifeboat climbed back toward the lighter surface waters once more. * * * * * High above them a United States destroyer was cutting through the ocean swells, part of a great convoy that spread over many miles of water. In the center of the convoy were the troop ships, surrounded by a screen of other destroyers.