10:21
But the _ Scorpion _ , slowing down for her rendezvous , had attracted no attention and had passed undisturbed . Now she hung motionless -- that is , motionless with respect to the sun . Only the whisper of the air-renewing machinery disturbed the tension in her control cabin where the three men stood waiting , glancing back and forth from the visi-screen to the Earth clock and its calendar attachment . The date the clock showed was 24 January , the time , 10:21 P. M. Dr. Ku Sui was one minute late . Sako , the captive , was sullen and restless , and made furtive glances at the Hawk , who stood detached , arms hanging carelessly at his sides , gray eyes half closed , giving in his attitude no hint of the strain the others were feeling . But his attitude of being relaxed and off his guard was deceptive -- as Sako found out . Suddenly his left hand seemed to disappear ; there was a hiss , an arrowing streak of spitting orange light ; and Sako was gaping foolishly at the arm he had stealthily raised to one of the radio switches .