"See? Simple!" Burrage bared stained yellow fangs in an anthropoid grin. "This way, we'll just surprise him." He shoved the door open; gestured. "Stay ahead of me from here on, you two. It's like I say: I really trust you." Wordless, Ross passed through the doorway, Veta close on his heels. Sanford Hall's unit was on the second level. Again, Burrage pushed Ross ahead, then drew his blaster and turned its dial from penetrosion to the impact level. "I'll hit the bolt," he grunted. "The second it shatters, you dive in." A muffled crash, like that of a gigantic hammer striking. The door burst open. Ross lunged in. The room was empty. Now Burrage and Veta joined him. The girl's face was a study in blank disbelief as she stared this way and that. For his part, Burrage walked in ever-widening circles like a caged animal--head thrust forward, long arms dangling. Ross' lips twisted wryly. He leaned back against the wall. Abruptly, Burrage halted; turned on Veta. "All right, where is he?" he slashed savagely. "Me, I risk my neck with Cheng an' the FedGov too to come here--an' now your stinkin' brother's not even here--" He broke off. His brows drew together a fraction, and he sniffed. "This place stinks, even!" he announced vehemently. Now, Ross, too, was sniffing, straightening. His eyes flicked over the empty room, then fixed on the door of an old-fashioned closet of the pre-sealer period over in one corner. Crossing to it with quick strides, he jerked the door open. A stench rolled out into the room. Hastily, Ross shoved the portal almost closed again. "Burrage! Come here!" The other was beside him in one ape-like bound. Ungently, Ross shoved him a step to one side. "Get over that way a little. I don't want to open this any farther than I have to." And then. "Ready?" The other's bullet head bobbed. "Here goes, then--" Burrage leaned forward. Ross jerked the door open once more, swinging it with savage, driving violence. The edge smashed at Burrage's forehead like a poleaxe. Simultaneously, Ross leaped sidewise, kicking for the back of the other's knees. The kicked leg went out from under Burrage. Before the man could hit the floor, Ross kicked again--to the temple, this time, short and brutal. Yet still the man caught Ross' foot ... held it ... jerked him down. Ross kicked with the other foot--a heel-smash to the teeth. A guttural, animalistic sound burst from Burrage's throat. Letting go Ross' foot, he clawed forward, grappling. Rolling across him, Ross clutched for the fallen blaster. In the same instant, Burrage seized Ross by the hips in a bear-hug. The muscles along his back and shoulders writhed as he drew the grip tighter and tighter. Ross sucked in air in an anguished gasp. Fumbling, he stabbed at his antagonist with the blaster. But always the quarters were too close, the danger of killing them both too great. Burrage tightened his grip. A sound of bone scraping bone came dimly.