"
Koa spoke for the Planeteers. "We're the ones to say thanks, sir. If you
hadn't thought of stalling the cruiser, and if you hadn't stayed behind
to give us time, we'd have some casualties, and so would the Connies we
captured."
"There wasn't anything else I could do," Rip replied. "Come on, Koa.
Let's see what the cruiser is doing."
They stepped outside. The metal was already cold again. Things didn't
stay hot in the vacuum of space.
They didn't see the Connie until the fire of its exhaust suddenly blasted
above the horizon, and then they ducked for cover. The cruiser had taken
a swing at the other side of the asteroid. They peered out again and saw
it turning.
"He won't get us," Rip said confidently. "Our tough time will come when
he sends a fleet of snapper-boats."
"We'll get a few," Koa replied grimly. "Wait! What's he doing?"
The cruiser had started for the asteroid. Suddenly jets flamed from every
quarter of the ship. He was using all steering jets at once! Rip watched,
bewildered, as the great ship spun slowly, advanced, then settled to a
stop just at the horizon.
"He can't be launching boats already," he said worriedly. "What's he up
to?"
They ran forward a short distance until they could see below the cave's
horizon level.
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