 What was the monstrosity that Moran cut apart with his torch?
I. Moran cut apart the yard-long monstrosity with a slash of flame. From the viewpoint of the Nadine's ship's company, it was simply necessary to get rid of Moran. Now it lay astern, and Moran could see the planet that had been chosen for his marooning. Moran observed these things from the control-room of the Nadine , then approaching the world on planetary drive. Moran, at least, would be picked out as a fugitive from Coryus Three. Blaster in hand, he'd made the Nadine take off from Coryus III with a trip-tape picked at random for guidance. It could have travelled at almost any speed in practically any direction for a length of time that was at least indefinite. Only people accustomed to desperate actions would have remained so calm when Moran had used desperate measures against them. Moran wondered, momentarily, what sort of world they came from and why they had revolted, and what sort of set-back to the revolt had sent the five off in what they considered a strategic retreat but their government would think defeat. His victim would not be mourned by anybody, and somebody formerly in very great danger would now be safe, which was the reason for what Moran had done. But the dead man had been very important, and the fact that Moran had forced him to fight and killed him in fair combat made no difference. But Moran had waylaid the messenger carrying the Nadine's fuel-block back to that space-yacht.
 A worm that had grown out of control.
 A worm that had grown out of control.  A roach that had grown out of control.  A mosquito that had grown out of control.  A beetle that had grown out of control.