cosmic debris in its endless journey around the Sun. The other section is driven outward into space, back toward Orion.

And the Starsong hunts down the Betelgeuse, flagship of Solleremos' fleet.

Kirk says, If we can get her, I think the rest will all go home. Fire One—

Fire Two.

The Betelgeuse answers, and space is drowned in a flaming cloud. The Starsong staggers and men are thrown down on the reeling iron deck. A red light flares on the telltale board. Somewhere deep in the ship's vitals the bulkhead doors slam shut, sealing off. The Starsong has a hole in her and some men have died, but she's still alive, still strong to move and strike.

Fire Three.

The Betelgeuse dives clear and her own tubes spout hellfire, a double flowering of death and destruction. The Starsong wrenches away, desperate, shaken, and once more the ports are filled with fire and a red light glimmers on the board.

Fire Four.

The Betelgeuse quivers strangely. With a dreamlike slowness two pieces of her appear out of the brilliance and the flame, bow and stern at odds with each other, going different ways. Then there is a white blinding flash, and she is gone.

And the Orion fleet, leaderless, surprised, mauled and clawed and wounded, is pulling out. One by one, in pairs, in little groups, they turn tail and streak for open space, and are gone.

The Fifth Lyra and the ships of Earth follow them, but not far. Space is empty, and in the ships there is a great silence, while the men breathe softly and look at nothing and feel that they are still alive. There is no light now but the light of the Sun and the distant stars. The Belt wheels on its way, and bits of riven metal that once were ships fall slowly toward it.

After a time, on the bridge of the Starsong, Garstang turned to Kirk. His face was sweating and wild, and his eyes had a dazed look. He said, "What now?"

"We wait and see what," said Kirk. "Maybe nothing."

"Nothing?"

"Solleremos has missed his spring. I've an idea he may prefer to make like it all never happened, if we don't give any official news of this fight. I think Charteris will see it that way."

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