Alan Barclay - The Single Ship

Then he was in among the big ships once more. He made no attempt to damage them, for he thought his ray would merely overheat part of their massive structure and cause only local damage. But there was plenty of game for the hunter. Jacko scouts, and other types of ship he had never seen before were wheeling about in every direction. He slid among them. Many paid no attention to him. At every opportunity he chopped one. Every couple of minutes there was the blinding flash of a detonation.

But at every pressure of the button he received another dose of radiation; every instant he became more dreadfully ill. When he tried to spit some of the foulness from his mouth, two of his teeth came out.

The Jackoes identified him at last. They managed to bring their forces into order. Their ships drew off so that for a short while he drifted alone among the big ships.

Jason, whose mind and intelligence was flickering and dying, was still conscious of his duty; he must not allow himself to collapse and die and leave his ship floating for the Jackoes to examine.

He raised his head from the cushions and looked around out of bleary eyes. The dark looming hulls of the big ships were around him. Beneath one he saw an open hatch with light streaming from it. The Jacko scouts had withdrawn, but soon they would be reorganized and ready to deal with him.

He set his ship on a slant, upwards towards the open hatch of the big ship. He pushed the power lever forward to maximum acceleration and placed his finger on a red button marked Detonate. Precisely as the nose of his ship passed inside the hatch, he pressed this button.