CHAPTER 14Where do you jump after you jump from the frying pan into the fire? Bruce couldn’t name it, but he went through it.
After Bruce had been taken aboard Black Ace’s flagship, removing his spacesuit, the pirate chief immediately swung his hairy paw and backhanded Bruce across the face. The gaudy jeweled rings the pirate wore gouged furrows across the skin, from which blood began to drip.
In fury, Bruce tried to lash back but two crewmen instantly leaped and grabbed his arms.
“You liked that love pat?” said Black Ace, grinning ghoulishly. “Then have another.” And again his sharp-edged ring-gems hash-marked across Bruce’s face, almost bringing a scream from his lips.
“Swab off his face,” commanded the chief, and another man dumped a bucket of cold water over Bruce’s head. Bruce sto
