Yes, Clarisse knew where they were. It was an obvious enough place anyhow, the empty cargo compartment, right aft, in which Grimes had intended to stow whatever fantastic artifacts could be plundered from the Outsiders' Ship. Sonya, taking with her the electronic master key that would allow her passage through the locked airtight doors, went to release them. She was accompanied by Irene and would pick up Trafford and Metzenther on the way. She assured Grimes that if she encountered any of Druthen's people she would shoot if she had to. Irene growled that she would shoot, period. But there was not much risk. Metzenther would be able to give them ample warning of what hostile action, if any, awaited them in any compartment that they were about to enter.
Grimes switched on the second Carlotti transceiver—luckily the ship was fitted with two of the sets—and raised Faraway Quest II without any difficulty. She was no longer ahead, relatively speaking. Adler had turned, and Quest II and Wanderer had turned with her, and all three ships were racing back toward The Outsider on a reciprocal of their original trajectory.
"So you've got your ship back, Commodore," commented the other Grimes, looking out from the little screen. "Your Commander Mayhew, and Trialanne aboard Wanderer, have been keeping us informed."
"There's a little mopping up yet, Commodore," said Grimes. "But it shouldn't take long. I suggest that you and Wanderer slow down to allow me to catch up."
"Wanderer can if she likes, Commodore, but I'm not going to. Adler's going like a bat out of hell, and has the heels of us. Mayhew tells me that she's using some experimental accelerator, for the first time. Unluckily he's a mechanical and mathematical moron, so he can't get anything but absolute gibberish from the mind of Adler's engineer officer. But I know that it's Blumenfeld's intention to race us to The Outsider and then to seize and to hold it against all comers, waiting for reinforcements."
"What about Vindictive? Captain Flandry's ship?"
"What, indeed?" echoed Flandry.
"We can't warn her," said Grimes II. "That stupid culture she comes from has never developed the Carlotti system, or used telepaths. . . ."
"I resent that," snarled Flandry.
Grimes II seemed to notice him for the first time. "Sorry, Captain. I didn't realize that you were listening. But can you warn your ship?"
"No, I can't. But my men have very itchy trigger fingers."
"They'll need 'em. But switch on your other set, Commodore. Mr. Smith in Wanderer would like a word with you."
"I can't. Commodore. Will you tell Mr. Smith that his Mrs. Trafford switched off my other set rather permanently? The same applies to the remote control panel of my Mannschenn Drive."
"Then switch over to Wanderer. I'll just stick beak."
Grimes made the necessary adjustments, found himself looking at Smith. Tallentire was well in the background.
"Commodore," said Smith, "you realize that neither we nor the other Commodore Grimes can afford to wait until you have effected repairs and adjusted trajectory. Adler must be stopped. I, as the charterer, have assumed effective command of Wanderer. I do not see either Captain Trafford or Mrs. Trafford in your control room. Could you ask them to speak with me?"
"They're not available at the moment," said Grimes.
"They bloody well are!" Irene contradicted him.
Suddenly the control room had become crowded with people: Sonya, Irene, Trafford, Metzenther, Billy Williams, Carnaby, Hendrikson, Major Dalzell and Daniels. Williams reported to Grimes, "Commander Davis and his juniors have gone straight to the engine room, Skipper. They'll let you know as soon as they can get her started up." He went to where Druthen and von Donderberg were lashed in their chairs. "An' what shall we do with these drongos?"
"Take 'em away and lock 'em up, as soon as we can get round to it."
"Captain Trafford; Mrs. Trafford," came Smith's insistent voice from the Carlotti speaker.
"Yes!" snapped Irene.
"You and Captain Trafford should be aboard this ship. But you're not. So I had no option but to order Mr. Tallentire to press the chase."
"You . . . ordered?"
"Yes. I ordered."
"He is the charterer," pointed out Trafford.
"All right. He's the bloody charterer. And so what?"
"Blumenfeld must be stopped," insisted the little captain. "Waldegren, in any continuum, cannot be allowed to get its hands on The Outsider's secrets."
"You'll never stop us now!" bragged von Donderberg.
"Shut up, you!" growled Billy Williams.
Irene turned back to the Carlotti transceiver "All right, Smith. Press the chase. But, as owner, I appoint Mr. Tallentire master—until Captain Trafford's return. Mr. Tallentire will act as he sees fit. Get it?"
"As you wish." Smith managed to convey the impression of being supremely unconcerned.
"I will talk with Mr. Tallentire now."
Tallentire's face replaced that of Smith in the screen. He looked far from happy. "Yes, ma'am?"
"You are acting captain. Put the interests of the ship before those of Mr. Smith. Press the chase. Make use of your weaponry as requisite. You will revert to your normal rank as soon as we are back on board. That's all."
Somehow a junior engineer had managed to insert himself into the crowded control room. He elbowed his way toward Grimes. "Sir, Commander Davis told me to tell you that you can start inertial and Mannschenn Drives as soon as you like. He's been trying to raise you on the intercom, but the line is dead."
"It's switched off," Grimes admitted. "But we'll get it working again to the engine room. . . ." Daniels had anticipated him, handed Grimes a microphone. "Commodore here, Commander Davis. The remote control panel of the Mannschenn Drive is . . . out of order. You'll just have to get your instructions by telephone. Good." He turned to Carnaby. "Get ready to put the ship on the reciprocal heading—straight for The Outsider. We may be a little late for the start of the party, but we should be there before it's over . . ."
Flandry, Irene and Trafford looked at him with some animosity. "It's all right for you," growled the ex-Empress. "You've got a ship now, and we haven't."
"Can you get us back to where we belong?" Flandry asked Clarisse, a little desperately.
"I . . . I don't know . . ." she admitted. "I've never tried sending anybody anywhere before."
"You'd better try now," Grimes told her." Or as soon as we have things sorted out." He didn't want Sonya and Flandry in the same ship.