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It is a great test of skill and agility not only to throw accurately but also to dodge the 〃bullets〃 of the other players。
One of those balls can travel anything from seventy to a hundred and twenty…five miles an hour。 They can crush ribs； break arms or smash skulls。 And one can't anticipate their real paths。 A really good player can throw them so they curve suddenly in flight when only five feet away and instead of dodging out of the way； one can accidentally move straight into them。 An expert can also make a ball 〃break〃 down or up in flight at the last split second or even make them screw through the air； utterly unpredictable。
Dodging is an art in itself…trying to look like you'll be in one place while being in quite another when the bullet actually arrives requires foot and body work that would make a leap…dancer look like a cow。 A player can have several bullets ing at him all at once from five different directions！ Every one of them totally lethal。
In the Fleet version； adding two more players； six instead of four； it can get pretty fast！ And the Fleet players don't just try to get their opponents to step out of the ring： they send them flying！ I never cared for bullet ball myself； even if they ever would have let me play。
The sight we saw before us must have been the last of a series of sets。 Several vanquished players were on the sidelines； below the massed and cheering crowd。 One player was being put on a stretcher。
On the floor was a nearly finished final game。 There were only three players left unmarked and on their feet。 The two furthest from us were evidently bining against the one nearest us who had just expertly reached out and caught both bullets in his hands； left and right。 If you can do that； you of course have more ammunition but Lords help your stinging hands！ That was what had made the crowd cheer。
The player nearest to us still held the two balls。 He was sort of dancing on his toes； weaving to left and right。
Another player threw and as far away as we were and despite the crowd sounds； the sizzle…whip of the ball was loud。 Real velocity！
I was still a bit light…blinded and I didn't quite see how it happened。 But the crowd sure did！ The nearest player； in that split second； had thrown his right…hand ball and almost in the same motion had caught the ining sizzler。
Then the crowd really went wild！ The bullet of the nearest player had hit an opponent in the chest and knocked him backwards eight feet and clean out of his ring！
I gasped。 I had now and then seen a player throw and catch in the same play but I had never seen one throw； catch and hit！
I was distracted by the rumbling whisper of Lombar beside me。 He had the bogus orderly by the neck and was showing him the nearest player。 〃That's Jettero Heller。 Do exactly as I told you。 No slips！〃 He gave him an envelope and the man from Knife Section slid inside。
So that was Jettero Heller。 I felt not just nervous but a little sick。 Listening to that crowd of females and junior ranks； this fellow was not just a little popular。 And popular people get missed when you kidnap them。 I glanced at Lombar。
It gave me another shock。 I was used to Lombar's look of displeasure with all about him。 But there was something else here now： a bitter hatred was lifting his lip from his teeth。
I looked back at Heller。 He was a tall； very good…looking fellow； extremely well built。 Everything about him was bright； full of life。 He was dancing back and forth on his toes； laughing at the dilemma of his remaining opponent who now had very few bullets left and was ducking and dodging even though nothing was being thrown at him。
〃Want to give up？〃 shouted Jettero。 〃We can just toss in our bags and call it a draw。〃 The other's response was a fast； wicked； curving throw that sizzled within an inch of Heller's head。 The crowd gasped。 If it had connected it would have smashed his skull in。 But Heller only laughed and began to wind up with his left hand。 He was reducing the odds for the other officer。
I glanced again at Lombar。 Hate was making his brow twitch。 And then I got it。 There was more to this than just an Apparatus operation。 Lombar had been dragged up from the slums of Port City； he had clawed and beaten and blackmailed his way to his present high post。 He was ugly； treated with contempt and then fear by females。 And Heller was everything Lombar had never been and never could be。 Listen to that crowd！
Jettero Heller obviously didn't want anything to do with such an unequal contest。 He started tossing balls slowly； one after the other； easy to catch。 All Heller's opponent had to do was grab them and restock his depleted bag。 At first the rival took it very badly and refused to touch the ining missiles； letting them bounce by。 Then in a fury of action； one after the other； he threw his last five bullets as hard as he could。 Heller didn't move his feet。 He swung his body this way and that； quicker than an eye could easily follow； and every ball went by harmlessly。
The opponent would clearly be defeated。 He had no bullets left and Heller had a nearly full bag。 So the rival simply walked to the forward edge of his ring； dropped his arms and stood there with his chest fully exposed； his eyes closed。
Heller walked sideways in his circle。 The crowd was hushed； watching； not knowing what he was going to do。
Jettero Heller deliberately put one foot outside his ring。
The crowd went crazy。
The opponent； startled； opened his eyes； saw he was still in one piece and then began to laugh。
He and Heller trotted toward each other and embraced in the center of the arena。
The crowd really did go crazy！ They were rushing from their seats； shouting and cheering； swarming around Heller。
And this was the guy we were going to kidnap！
I looked nervously at Lombar。 I have never seen such bitterness on anyone's face。 Yes； this was the fellow we were going to kidnap。 And for more reasons than one。
Chapter 5
The bogus orderly came out of the exit door。
About three paces behind him came Jettero Heller。 The bat engineer was smiling； he had thrown a sweater across his naked back and was using one of the sleeves to wipe some of the sweat off his face； in his other hand he held the forged summons。
The moment Heller was clear of the door； Lombar slid over to close it and to block the window we had used so that no one else could exit or see what was happening outside。
I suddenly held my breath； wondering if Heller would notice： the 〃orderly〃 was walking like no spaceman ever walks； he was not sliding along with the easy float that stamps the people of the Fleet。 And then something else： that confounded criminal from the Knife Section was wearing his duty belt upside down！ The rings from which crew hang equipment and to which they snap safety lines were at the top of the wide red belt； not the bottom。 I also caught a flicker of movement from the guards hidden in the dark shrubs and the faintest click of a weapon bolt。 My eyes riveted on Heller's back。 Had he noticed？
Heller gave no advance warning。 He didn't stop and stare or look down at the envelope he held。 He gave no intake of breath to alert anyone that he was