There was a message from Rorla that morning telling of Mr. Barron’s continued slow improvement. Mrs. Barron and Anne sent along greetings which Engon relayed. This was more than Ron expected. He hoped it might be an indication the adviser was thawing in his attitude toward the Earthmen.
Receipt of the message was the only thing to break their constant watch of the small green spot on the screen, which had become momentarily the center of their Universe. The ship’s automatic computers and piloting equipment made a constant check on the fleeing ship, matching its acceleration against their own in order to try to overtake it before reaching Benares Planet.
By the halfway mark Captain Marsun admitted defeat. The combination of speeds and acceleration involved were impossible.
“We’ll have to
