VIII + 

The cell was small, dark, and damp. There were stitches across my back, under tape, and a traction splint and bandages on my shoulder. Let’s forget pain. Pain.⁠ ⁠… Let’s forget it! Forget it! + 

I lay on my belly. I’d been on my belly for most of a week. And for most of a week, I’d thought of how it would be to dig my fingernails into my side, rip loose the phony skin over my ribs, and fire that one shot into Thorsten’s guts. + 

All I needed was a chance. Here in the cell, in a corridor somewhere, alone with him, surrounded by his men, chance of life or no⁠—that wasn’t what counted. I wasn’t sane myself, anymore. There were two people in the Universe⁠—Thorsten and me⁠—and room for one! + 

A chance. Lord God, a chance! + 

But all I had was dampness and darkness. + 

I was fed twice a day⁠—or something like it. It was almost time for my next meal, but that wasn’t the important time. It was the helpless week behind me, the week in which Thorsten’s kidnaped technicians had had time to assemble the ship’s engines. The test flight was due, and after that the production of engines for the other ships in Thorsten’s fleet. If I was going to do anything, I had to do it now. + 

I dragged myself up the side of the cell, leaving meat from my fingers on the rough stone. I staggered over to the wall beside the door and waited. + 

Time went by⁠—hours or minutes⁠—and a sound of feet came down the tunnel leading to my cell. + 

I couldn’t use my back muscles, but I tensed them now, feeling stitches give way. + 

Tumblers clicked, and the door was opened. + 

I kicked it shut and sprang, wrapping my hands around a dimly seen throat, a thin and soft neck. + 

“Ash!” Pat’s voice was half-choked under my grip. + 

“Pat!” I opened my hands, and she stumbled free. But not for long, because an instant later she was pressed against me again, her mouth over mine. + 

We stood together in the darkness and in hunger. Finally, she moved her lips away. + 

“Ash, Ash, you can stand!” She was sobbing with relief. + 

“Yeah⁠—I’m on my feet.” + 

“Can you fight?” + 

“Nothing bigger than you,” I said. “What’s going on?” + 

“He’s crazy, Ash. That plan of his⁠—I’d never heard it before. All he told me was that he was going to take humanity out to the stars⁠—he said he didn’t trust Earth government to do it.” + 

“Yeah. I know. For that dream, I would have done what you did, too.” + 

“I didn’t love him, Ash. He⁠—I don’t know, he was his dream, somehow, and in spite of it all, he was a better, stronger man than anyone I ever knew. Except you, Ash.” + 

That was good enough. That was good enough to give her everything I had or could get. And that made my spot even worse. It wasn’t just she that was going to get hurt⁠—but she was the most important one of them all. + 

I couldn’t even stay with her, here in the cell. + 

But she knew that too, and there was more to her coming here than that. + 

“Ash⁠—they’ve finished assembling the drive in your ship. They’ve finished repairs on her bow, too. They’re going to run the tests in a few hours. Everybody’s sleeping, except for the maintenance crew, and they’re scattered through the base. Ash⁠—I think we can get out of here. If we don’t run into any guards, we can make it to the airlock. There’ll be a few suits in a locker there. We can make a run for the ship.” Her voice was urgent, and full of hope, and bitterness for the desertion of a dream⁠—a sick, tainted dream, but her dream for so many years at Thorsten’s side. + 

And I knew, for the first time in weeks, that Earth had a chance. I knew, too, that Pat and I.⁠ ⁠… + 

I could have kissed her then. But I had to be a damned fool. I didn’t. + 

The tunnels and corridors were empty. The machine shops and storage rooms were dark, and the doors to the bunkrooms were closed. We reached the airlock. + 

All I had to do now was to get into a spacesuit and open the lock. The ship lay beyond it. + 

Then I heard Harry’s laugh! + 

He stood behind us, holding a slim handgun. + 

“Running out, people?” he asked. “Bribing that orderly wasn’t bright, Pat. He not only gets to keep his money, but he gets a promotion from me. That’s the way I operate⁠—that’s my justice.” + 

Pat and I had turned halfway around, watching him carefully. + 

“Justice!” Pat flared. “Worry some more about Earth. Worry about the Universe. Teach them your justice!” + 

Again the laughter. “I will, Pat.” + 

But the laughter broke. + 

“Pat⁠—you’re my wife. You know my dream⁠—you shared it. Why did you do it?” + 

“Yes, she knows your sick dream, Harry,” I said. + 

“Shut up, Ash;” he said quietly. “Don’t die with your mouth open.” + 

He fired, but I was on the floor of the tunnel. + 

“Ash!” That was Pat’s voice, but I was rolling, and tearing at my side. + 

“Get back, Pat!” Thorsten shouted. I was up on my knees, the singleshot gun in my hand. I charged forward. + 

He brought up his gun. The noise had awakened everybody in hearing distance. Doors were opening, men were running. + 

I pointed the slim tube at his belly and jammed my thumb down on the firing stud. + 

He screamed, cupping his hand over the smoking hole I had punched in his stomach. His knees bent, and he sank backwards, toppling, finally, as he lost his balance. He opened his mouth, choking, and blood welled over his chin. + 

One last shred of laughter bubbled up through his throat. + 

And someone, down at the other end of the tunnel, fired at us. He missed me as I crouched over Thorsten’s body. + 

“Ash⁠—” + 

I had Thorsten’s gun in my hand, but I didn’t fire back. I spun around, and looked at Pat, crushed back against the tunnel wall. + 

“Pat!” + 

She slid down the wall, and huddled on the floor. + 

“Pat!” I bent down beside her. It was bad. + 

Her voice was thick. “How long have I got?” + 

“Five minutes⁠—maybe ten.” I knew I was lying. It was less. + 

“Ash⁠ ⁠… you heard what he said. I was in a Wasp unit. Space was my dream, too. Always.” + 

I wanted to tell her I knew, now⁠—knew a lot of things. But there was no use in holding a dying woman, kissing her, and caressing her tumbled hair for one last time. No use at all, when a world depended on not taking time for those things. + 

I put Thorsten’s gun in her hand. “Can you still shoot, Pat?” + 

Her fingers tightened on the butt, and her eyes met mine just once more before she turned her head. + 

She was a beauty to watch. Sprawled on the tunnel floor, not looking at anything but targets over the notch of her sights, calm and skilled while she covered my retreat as her heartbeats slowed. She cauterized the tunnel, weaving a fan of death that marched down the corridor, encompassing and moving beyond huddled and broken men. + 

I clamped on my suit helmet and spun the airlock controls. I snapped one quick look back at her. Then the airlock hatch thudded shut behind me. In a moment, I was on the surface of the Asteroid and running for the ship. + 