GLADNEY UNEXPECTEDLY exploded. He had been awake for a long time, watching Rat at the board. Wrenching loose a chest strap he attempted to sit up.
“Rat! Damn you Rat, listen to me! When’re you going to start braking, Rat?”
“I hear you.” He turned on Gladney with dulled eyes. “Lie down. You sick.”
“I’ll be damned if I’m going to lie here and let you drive us to Orion! We must be near the half-way line! When are you going to start braking?”
“Not brake,” Rat answered sullenly. “No, not brake.”
“Not brake?” Gladney screamed and sat bolt upright. Nurse Gray jumped for him. “Are you crazy, you skinny rat?” Gray secured a hold on his shoulders and forced him down. “You gotta brake! Don’t you understand that? You have to, you vacuum-skull!” Gray was pleading with him to shut-up like a good fe
