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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/18139-8.txt b/18139-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3a9c56c --- /dev/null +++ b/18139-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6855 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Rip Foster in Ride the Gray Planet, by Harold +Leland Goodwin + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Rip Foster in Ride the Gray Planet + + +Author: Harold Leland Goodwin + + + +Release Date: April 10, 2006 [eBook #18139] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RIP FOSTER IN RIDE THE GRAY +PLANET*** + + +E-text prepared by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan, and the Project Gutenberg +Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net/) + + + +A Golden Griffon Space Adventure + +RIP FOSTER IN RIDE THE GRAY PLANET + +by + +BLAKE SAVAGE + + + + + + + +Golden Press New York +Golden Griffon TM of Western Publishing Company, Inc. +Copyright 1952 by Western Publishing Company, Inc. +All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. +Published by Golden Press, New York, N.Y. +First Golden Griffon Printing, 1969 + + + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS + + CHAPTER ONE: Spacebound + + CHAPTER TWO: Rake That Radiation! + + CHAPTER THREE: Capture and Drive! + + CHAPTER FOUR: Find the Needle! + + CHAPTER FIVE: The Gray World + + CHAPTER SIX: Rip's Planet + + CHAPTER SEVEN: Earthbound! + + CHAPTER EIGHT: Duck--or Die! + + CHAPTER NINE: Repel Invaders! + + CHAPTER TEN: Get the Scorpion! + + CHAPTER ELEVEN: Hard Words + + CHAPTER TWELVE: Mercury Transit + + CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Peril! + + CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Between Two Fires + + CHAPTER FIFTEEN: The Rocketeers + + CHAPTER SIXTEEN: Ride the Planet! + + CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: Visitors! + + CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: Courtesy--With Claws + + CHAPTER NINETEEN: Spacefall + + CHAPTER TWENTY: On the Platform + + + + +CHAPTER ONE + +Spacebound + + +A thousand miles above Earth's surface the great space platform sped +from daylight into darkness. Once every two hours it circled the earth +completely, spinning along through space like a mighty wheel of steel and +plastic. + +Through a telescope on Earth the platform looked to be a lifeless, lonely +disk, but within it, hundreds of spacemen and Planeteers went about their +work. + +In a ready room at the outer edge of the platform, a Planeteer officer +faced a dozen slim, black-clad young men who wore the single golden +orbits of lieutenants. This was a graduating class, already commissioned, +having a final informal get-together. + +The officer, who wore the three-orbit insignia of a major, was lean and +trim. His short-cropped hair covered his head like a gray fur skull cap. +One cheek was marked with the crisp whiteness of an old radiation burn. + +"Stand easy," he ordered briskly. "The general instructions of the +Special Order Squadrons say that it's my duty as senior officer to make a +farewell speech. I intend to make a speech if it kills me--and you, too." + +The dozen new officers facing him broke into grins. Maj. Joe Barris had +been their friend, teacher, and senior officer during six long years of +training on the space platform. He could no more make a formal speech +than he could breathe high vacuum, and they all knew it. + +Lt. Richard Ingalls Peter Foster, whose initials had given him the +nickname "Rip," asked, "Why don't you sing for us instead, Joe?" + +Major Barris fixed Rip with a cold eye. "Foster, three orbital turns, +then front and center." + +Rip obediently spun around three times, then walked forward and stood at +attention, trying to conceal his grin. + +"Foster, what does SOS mean?" + +"Special Order Squadrons, sir." + +"Right. And what else does it mean?" + +"It means 'Help!' sir." + +"Right. And what else does it mean?" + +"Superman or simp, sir." + +This was a ceremony in which questions and answers never changed. It was +supposed to make Planeteer cadets and junior officers feel properly +humble, but it didn't work. By tradition, the Planeteers were the +cockiest gang that ever blasted through high vacuum. + +Major Barris shook his head sadly. "You admit you're a simp, Foster. The +rest of you are simps, too, but you don't believe it. You've finished six +years on the platform. You've made a few little trips out into space. +You've landed on the moon a couple of times. So now you think you're +seasoned space spooks. Well, you're not. You're simps!" + +Rip stopped grinning. He had heard this before. It was part of the +routine. But he sensed that this time Joe Barris wasn't kidding. + +The major absently rubbed the radiation scar on his cheek as he looked +them over. They were like twelve chicks out of the same nest. They were +about the same size, a compact five feet eleven inches, 175 pounds. They +wore belted, loose black tunics over full trousers which gathered into +white cruiser boots. The comfortable uniforms concealed any slight +differences in build. All twelve were lean of face, with hair cropped to +the regulation half inch. Rip was the only redhead among them. + +"Sit down," Barris commanded. "Here's my speech." + +The twelve seated themselves on plastic stools. Major Barris remained +standing. + +"Well," he began soberly, "you are now officers of the Special Order +Squadrons. You're Planeteers. You are lieutenants by order of the Space +Council, Federation of Free Governments. And--space protect you!--to +yourselves you're supermen. But never forget this: To ordinary spacemen, +you're just plain simps. You're trouble in a black tunic. They have about +as much use for you as they have for leaks in their air locks. Some of +the spacemen have been high-vacking for twenty years or more, and they're +tough. They're as nasty as a Callistan _teekal_. They like to eat +Planeteer junior officers for breakfast." + +Lt. Felipe "Flip" Villa asked, "With salt, Joe?" + +Major Barris sighed. "No use trying to tell you space chicks anything. +You're lieutenants now, and a lieutenant has the thickest skull of any +rank, no matter what service he belongs to." + +Rip realized that Barris had not been joking, no matter how flippant his +speech. "Go ahead," he urged. "Finish what you were going to say." + +"Okay. I'll make it short. Then you can catch the Terra rocket and take +your eight weeks' Earth leave. You won't really know what I'm talking +about until you've batted around space for a while. All I have to say +adds up to one thing. You won't like it, because it doesn't sound +scientific. That doesn't mean it isn't good science, because it is. Just +remember this: When you're in a jam, trust your hunch and not your head." + +The twelve stared at him, openmouthed. For six years they had been taught +to rely on scientific methods. Now their best instructor and senior +officer was telling them just the opposite! + +Rip started to object, but then he caught a glimmer of meaning. He stuck +out his hand. "Thanks, Joe. I hope we'll meet again." + +Barris grinned. "We will, Rip. I'll ask for you as a platoon commander +when they assign me to cleaning up the goopies on Ganymede." This was the +major's idea of the worst Planeteer job in the solar system. + +The group shook hands all around; then the young officers broke for the +door on the run. The Terra rocket was blasting off in five minutes, and +they were to be on it. + +Rip joined Flip Villa, and they jumped on the high-speed track that would +whisk them to Valve Two on the other side of the platform. Their gear was +already loaded. They had only to take seats on the rocket, and their six +years on the space platform would be at an end. + +"I wonder what it will be like to get back to high gravity," Rip mused. +The centrifugal force of the spinning platform acted as artificial +gravity, but it was considerably less than Earth's. + +"We probably won't be able to walk straight until we get our Earth legs +back," Flip answered. "I wish I could stay in Colorado with you instead +of going back to Mexico City, Rip. We could have a lot of fun in eight +weeks." + +Rip nodded. "Tough luck, Flip. But anyway, we have the same assignment." + +Both Planeteers had been assigned to Special Order Squadron Four, which +was attached to the cruiser _Bolide_. The cruiser was in high space, +beyond the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn, doing comet research. + +They got off the track at Valve Two and stepped through into the rocket's +interior. Two seats just ahead of the fins were vacant, and they slid +into them. Rip looked through the thick port beside him and saw the +distinctive blue glow of a nuclear drive cruiser sliding toward the +platform. + +"Wave your eye stalks at that job," Flip said admiringly. "Wonder what +it's doing here." + +The space platform was a refueling depot, where conventional chemical +fuel rockets topped off their tanks before flaming for space. The newer +nuclear drive cruisers had no need to stop. Their atomic piles needed new +neutron sources only once every few years, and they carried thousands of +tons of methane, compressed into solid form, for their reaction mass. + +The voice horn in the rocket cabin sounded. "The SCN _Scorpius_ is +passing Valve Two, landing at Valve Eight." + +"I thought that ship was with Squadron One on Mercury," Rip recalled. +"Wonder why they pulled it back here." + +Flip had no chance to reply, because the chief rocket officer took up his +station at the valve and began to call the roll. Rip answered to his +name. + +The rocket officer finished the roll, then announced: "Buttoning up in +twenty seconds. Blast off in forty-five. Don't bother with acceleration +harness. We'll fall free, with just enough flame going for control, after +ten seconds of retrothrust to de-orbit." + +The ten-second-warning bell sounded, and, before the bell had ceased, the +voice horn blasted. "Get it! Foster, R.I.P., Lieutenant. Report to the +platform commander. Show an exhaust!" + +Rip leaped to his feet. "Hold on, Flip. I'll see what the old man wants +and be right back." + +"Get flaming," the rocket officer called. "Show an exhaust, like the man +said. This bucket leaves on time, and we're sealing the port." + +Rip hesitated. The rocket would leave without him! + +Flip said urgently, "You better ram it, Rip." + +He knew he had no choice. "Tell my folks I'll make the next rocket," he +called, and ran. He leaped through the valve, jumped for the high-speed +track, and was whisked around the rim of the space platform. + +He ran a hand through his short red hair, a gesture of bewilderment. His +records had cleared. So far as he knew, all his papers were in order, and +he had his next assignment. He couldn't figure why the platform commander +would want to see him. But the horn had called, "Show an exhaust!" which +meant to get there in a hurry. + +He jumped off the track at the main crossrun and hurried toward the +center of the platform. In a moment he was at the commander's door, +waiting to be identified. + +The door swung open, and a junior officer in the blue tunic and trousers +of a spaceman motioned him to the inner room. "Go in, Lieutenant." + +"Thank you." He hurried into the commander's room and stood at attention. + +Commander Jennsen, the Norwegian spaceman who had commanded the platform +since before Rip's arrival as a raw cadet, was dictating into his command +relay circuit. As he spoke, printed copies were being received in the +platform personnel office, at Special Order Squadron headquarters on +Earth, aboard the cruiser _Bolide_ in high space, and aboard the newly +landed cruiser _Scorpius_. + +Rip listened, spellbound. + +"Foster, R.I.P., Lieutenant, SOS. Serial seven-nine-four-three. Assigned +SOS Four. Change orders, effective this date-time. Cancel Earth leave. +Subject officer will report to commander, SCN _Scorpius_, with detachment +of nine men. Senior noncommissioned officer and second in command, Koa, +A.P., Sergeant Major, SOS. Serial two-nine-four-one. Commander of +_Scorpius_ will transport detachment to coordinates given in basic +cruiser astro-course; deliver orders to detachment en route. Take +required steps for maximum security. This is Federation priority A, +Space Council security procedures." + +Rip swallowed hard. The highest possible priority, given by the +Federation itself, had canceled his leave. Not only that, but the cruiser +to which he was assigned was instructed to follow Space Council security +procedures, which meant that the job, whatever it was, was more urgent +than secret! + +Commander Jennsen looked up and saw Rip waiting. He snapped, "Did you get +all of that?" + +"Y-Yes, sir." + +"You'll get written copies on the cruiser. Now flame out of here. Collect +your men and get aboard. The _Scorpius_ leaves in five minutes." + +Rip ran. The realization hit him that the big nuclear cruiser had stopped +at the platform for the sole purpose of collecting him and nine enlisted +Planeteers. + +The low gravity helped him cover the hundred yards to the personnel +office in five leaps. He swung to a stop by grabbing the push bar of the +office door. He yelled at the enlisted spaceman on duty. "Where do I find +nine men?" + +The spaceman looked at him vacantly. "What for? You got a requisition, +Lieutenant?" + +"Never mind requisitions," Rip snapped. "I've got to find nine Planeteers +and get them on the _Scorpius_ before it flames off." + +The spaceman's face cleared. "Oh. You mean Koa's detachment. They left a +few minutes ago." + +"Where. Where did they go?" + +The spaceman shrugged. The doings of Planeteers were no concern of his. +His shrug said so. + +Rip realized there was no use talking further. He ran down the long +corridor toward the outer edge of the platform. The enlisted men's squad +rooms were near Valve Ten. So was the supply department. His gear had +departed on the Terra rocket, and he couldn't go into space with only +the tunic on his back. He swung to the high-speed track and braced +himself as he sped along the platform's rim. + +There was no moving track inward to the enlisted Planeteers' squad rooms. +He legged it down the corridor in long leaps, muttering apologies as +blue-clad spacemen and cadets moved to the wall to let him pass. + +The squad rooms were on two levels. He looked in the upper ones and found +them deserted. The squads were on duty somewhere. He ran for the ladder +to the lower level, took the wrong one, and ended up in a snapper-boat +port. He had trained in the deadly little fighting rockets, and they +never failed to interest him. But there wasn't time to admire them now. +He went back up the ladder with two strong heaves, found the right +ladder, and dropped down without touching. His knees flexed to take up +the shock. He came out of the crouch facing a black-clad Planeteer +sergeant who snapped to rigid attention. + +"Koa," Rip barked. "Where can I find him?" + +"He's not here, sir. He and eight men left fifteen minutes ago. I don't +know where they went, sir." + +Rip shot a worried glance at his wrist chronometer. He had two minutes +left before the cruiser departed. No more time now to search for his men. +He hoped the sergeant major had sense enough to be waiting at some +reasonable place. He went up the ladder hand over hand and sped down the +corridor to the supply room. The spaceman first class in charge of +supplies was turning an audio-mag through a hand viewer, chuckling at the +cartoons. At the sight of Rip's flushed, anxious face he dropped the +machine. "Yessir?" + +"I need a spack. Full gear, including bubble." + +"Yessir." The spaceman looked him over with a practiced eye. "One full +space pack. Medium-large, right, sir?" + +"Correct." Rip took the counter stylus and inscribed his name, serial +number, and signature on the blank plastic sheet. Gears whirred as the +data was recorded. + +The spaceman vanished into an inner room and reappeared in a moment +lugging a plastic case called a space pack, or "spack" for short. It +contained complete personal equipment for space travel. Rip grabbed it. +"Fast service. Thanks, Rocky." All spacemen were called "Rocky" if you +didn't know their names. It was an abbreviation for rocketeer, a title +all of them had once carried. + +Valve Eight was some distance away. Rip decided a cross ramp would be +faster than the moving track. He swung the spack to his shoulder and made +his legs go. Seconds were ticking off, and he had an idea that the SCN +_Scorpius_ would make space on time, whether or not he arrived. He +lengthened his stride and rounded a turn by going right up on the wall, +using a powerful leg thrust against a ventilator tube for momentum. + +He passed an observation port as he reached the platform rim, and caught +a glimpse of ruddy rocket exhaust flames outlined against the dark curve +of Earth. That would be the Terra rocket making its controlled fall to +home, with Flip aboard. Without slowing, he leaped across the high-speed +track, narrowly missing a senior space officer. He shouted his apologies, +and gained the entrance to Valve Eight just as the high buzz of the +radiation warning sounded, signaling a nuclear drive cruiser preparing +to take off. + +Nine faces of assorted colors and expressions turned to him. He had a +quick impression of black tunics and trousers. He had found his +detachment! Without slowing, he called, "Follow me!" + +The cruiser's safety officer had been keeping an eye on the clock, his +forehead creased in a frown as he saw that only a few seconds remained +to departure time. He walked to the valve opening and looked out. If his +passengers were not in sight, he would have to reset the clock. + +Rip went through the valve opening at top speed. He crashed head on into +the safety officer. + +The safety officer was driven across the deck, his arms pumping for +balance. He grabbed at the nearest thing, which happened to be the deputy +cruiser commander. + +The preset clock reached firing time. The valve slid shut and the takeoff +bell reverberated through the ship. + +And so it happened that the spacemen of the SCN _Scorpius_ turned their +valves, threw their controls and disengaged their boron control rods, and +the great cruiser flashed into space--while the deputy commander and the +safety officer were completely tangled with a very flustered and unhappy +new Planeteer lieutenant. + +Sergeant Major Koa and his men had made it before the valve closed. Koa, +a seven-foot Hawaiian, took in the situation and said crisply in a voice +all could hear, "I'll bust the bubble of any son of a space sausage who +laughs!" + + + + +CHAPTER TWO + +Rake That Radiation! + + +The deputy commander and the safety officer got untangled and hurried to +their post, with no more than black looks at Rip. He got to his feet, his +face crimson with embarrassment. A fine entrance for a Planeteer officer, +especially one on his first orders! + +Around him the spacemen were settling in their acceleration seats or +snapping belts to safety hooks. From the direction of the stern came a +rising roar as methane, heated to a liquid, dropped into the blast tubes, +flaming into pure carbon and hydrogen under the terrible heat of the +atomic drive. + +Rip had to lean against the acceleration. Fighting for balance, he picked +up his spack and made his way to the nine enlisted Planeteers. They had +braced against the ship's drive by sitting with backs against bulkheads +or by lying flat on the magnesium deck. Sergeant Major Koa was seated +against a vertical brace, his brown face wreathed in a grin. + +Rip looked him over carefully. There was a saying among the Planeteers +that an officer was only as good as his senior sergeant. Koa's looks were +reassuring. His face was good-humored, but he had a solid jaw and a mouth +that could get tough when necessary. Rip wondered a little at his size. +Big men usually didn't go to space; they were too subject to space +sickness. Koa must be a special case. + +Rip slid to the floor next to the sergeant major and stuck out his hand. +He sensed the strength in Koa's big fist as it closed over his. + +Koa said, "Sir, that was the best _fleedle_ I've ever seen an earthling +make. You been on Venus?" + +Rip eyed him suspiciously, wondering if the big Planeteer was laughing at +him. Koa was grinning, but it was a friendly grin. "What is a _fleedle_?" +Rip demanded. "I've never been on Venus." + +"It's the way the water hole people fight," Koa explained. "They're like +a bunch of rubber balls when they get to fighting. They ram each other +with their heads." + +Rip searched his memory for data on Venus. He couldn't recall any mention +of _fleedling_. Venusians, if his memory was right, had a sort of blowgun +as a main weapon. He told Koa so. + +The sergeant major nodded. "That's when they mean business, Lieutenant. +_Fleedling_ is more like us fighting with our fists. Sort of a sport. +Great Cosmos! The way they dive at each other is something to see." + +Rip grinned. "I didn't know I was going to _fleedle_ those officers. It +isn't the way I usually enter a cruiser." He hadn't entered many. He +added, "I suppose I ought to report to someone." + +Koa shook his head. "No use, sir. You can't walk around very well until +the ship reaches _Brennschluss_. Besides, you won't find any space +officers who'll talk to you." + +Rip stared. "Why not?" + +"Because we're Planeteers. They'll give us the treatment. They always do. +When the commander of this bucket gets good and ready, he'll send for +you. Until then, we might as well take it easy." He pulled a bar of +Venusian _chru_ from his pocket. "Have some. It'll make breathing +easier." + +The terrific acceleration made breathing a little uncomfortable, but it +was not too bad. The chief effect was to make Rip feel as though a ton +of invisible feathers were crushing him against the vertical brace. +He accepted a bite of the bittersweet vegetable candy and munched +thoughtfully. Koa seemed to take it for granted that the spacemen would +give them a rough time. + +He asked, "Aren't there any spacemen who get along with the Special Order +Squadrons?" + +"Never met one." Koa chewed chru. "And I was on the _Icarus_ when the +whole thing started." + +Rip looked at him in surprise. Koa didn't seem that old. The bad feeling +between spacemen and the Special Order Squadrons had started about +eighteen years ago, when the cruiser _Icarus_ had taken the first +Planeteers to Mercury. + +He reviewed the history of the expedition. The spacemen's job had been to +land the newly created Special Order Squadron on the hot planet. The job +of the squadron was to explore it. Somehow confusion developed, and the +spacemen, including the officers, later reported that the squadron had +instructed them to land on the sun side of Mercury, which would have +destroyed the spaceship and its crew, or so they believed at the time. + +The commanding officer of the squadron denied issuing such an order. He +said his instructions were to land as close as possible to the sun side, +but not on it. Whatever the truth--and Rip believed the SOS version, of +course--the crew of the _Icarus_ mutinied, or tried to. They made the +landing on Mercury with squadron guns pointed at their heads. Of course, +they found that a sun-side landing wouldn't have hurt the ship. The whole +affair was pretty well hushed up, but it produced bad feeling between the +Special Order Squadrons and the spacemen. "Trigger-happy space bums," the +spacemen called them, and much worse, besides. + +The men of the Special Order Squadrons, searching for a handy nickname, +had called themselves Planeteers, because most of their work was on the +planets. As Maj. Joe Barris had told the officers of Rip's class, "You +might say the spacemen own space, but we Planeteers own everything solid +that's found in it." + +The Planeteers were the specialists--in science, exploration, +colonization, and fighting. The spacemen carried them back and forth, +kept them supplied, and handled their message traffic. The Planeteers did +the hard work and the important work--or so they believed. + +To become a Planeteer, a recruit had to pass rigid intelligence, +physical, aptitude, and psychological tests. Fewer than fifteen out of +each one hundred who applied were chosen. Then there were two years of +hard training on the space platform and the moon before a recruit was +finally accepted as a Planeteer private. Out of each fifteen who started +training, an average of five fell by the wayside. + +For Planeteer officers, the requirements were even tougher. Only one out +of each five hundred applicants finally received a commission. Six years +of training made them proficient in the techniques of exploration, +fighting, rocketeering, and both navigation and astrogation. In addition, +each became a full-fledged specialist in one field of science. Rip's +specialty was astrophysics. + +Sergeant Major Koa continued, "That business on the _Icarus_ started the +war, but both sides have been feeding it ever since. I have to admit that +we Planeteers lord it over the spacemen like we were old man Cosmos +himself. So they get back at us with dirty little tricks while we're on +their ships. We command on the planets, but they command in space. And +they sure get a great big nuclear charge out of commanding us to do the +dirty work!" + +"We'll take whatever they hand us," Rip assured him, "and pretend we like +it fine." He gestured at the other Planeteers. "Tell me about the men, +Koa." + +"They're a fine bunch, sir. I handpicked them myself. The one with the +white hair is Corporal Nels Pederson, from Sweden. I served with him at +Marsport, and he's a real tough spacewalker in a fight. The other +corporal is Paulo Santos. He's from the Philippines, and the best +snapper-boat gunner you ever saw." + +He pointed out the six privates. Kemp and Dowst were Americans. Bradshaw +was an Englishman, Trudeau a Frenchman, Dominico an Italian, and Nunez a +Brazilian. + +Rip liked their looks. They were as relaxed as acceleration would allow, +but you got the impression that they would leap into action in a +microsecond if the word were given. He couldn't imagine what kind of +assignment was waiting, but he was satisfied with his Planeteers. They +looked capable of anything. + +He made himself as comfortable as possible and encouraged Koa to talk +about his service in the Special Order Squadrons. Koa had plenty to tell, +and he talked interestingly. Rip learned that the tall Hawaiian had been +to every planet in the system, had fought the Venusians on the central +desert, and had mined nuclite with SOS One on Mercury. He also found that +Koa was one of the seventeen pure-blooded Hawaiians left. During the +three hours that acceleration kept them from moving around the ship, Rip +got a new view of space and of service with the SOS--it was the view of a +Planeteer who had spent years around the Solar System. + +"I'm glad they assigned you to me," Rip told Koa frankly. "This is my +first job, and I'll be pretty green, no matter what it is. I'll depend +on you for a lot of things." + +To his surprise, Koa thrust out his hand. "Shake, Lieutenant." His grin +showed strong white teeth. "You're the first junior officer I ever met +who admitted he didn't know everything about everything. You can depend +on me, sir. I won't steer you into any meteor swarms." + +Koa had half turned to shake hands. Suddenly he spun on around, banging +his head against the deck. Rip felt a surge of relaxing muscles that had +been braced against acceleration. At the same time, silence flooded in on +them. Rip murmured "_Brennschluss_," and the murmur was like a trumpet +blast. + +The _Scorpius_ had reached velocity, and the nuclear drive had cut out. +From terrific acceleration, they had dropped to zero. The ship was making +high speed, but velocity cannot be felt. For the moment the men were +weightless. + +A nearby spaceman had heard Rip's comment. He spoke in an undertone to +the man nearest. His voice was pitched low enough that Rip couldn't +object officially, but loud and clear enough to be heard by everyone. + +"Get this, gang. The Planeteer officer knows what _Brennschluss_ is. He +doesn't look old enough to know which end his bubble goes on." + +Rip started to his feet, but Koa's hand on his arm restrained him. With a +violent kick, the big sergeant major shot through the air. His line of +flight took him past the spaceman, and somehow their arms got linked. The +spaceman was jerked from his post, and the two came to a stop against the +ceiling. + +Koa's voice echoed through the ship. "Sorry. I'm not used to no-weight. +Didn't mean to grab you. Here, I'll help you back to your post." + +He whirled the helpless spaceman like a bag of feathers and slung him +through the air. The force of the action only flattened Koa against the +ceiling, but the hapless spaceman shot forward head first and landed with +a clang against the bulkhead. He didn't hit hard enough to break any +bones, but he would carry a bump on his head for a day or two. + +Koa's voice floated after him. "Great Cosmos! I sure am sorry, spaceman. +I guess I don't know my own strength." He kicked away from the ceiling, +landing accurately at Rip's side. He added in a hard voice all could +hear, "They sure are a nice gang, these spacemen. They never say anything +about Planeteers." + +No spaceman answered, but Koa's meaning was clear. No spaceman had better +say anything about the Planeteers! Rip saw that the deputy commander and +the safety officer had appeared not to notice the incident. Technically, +there was no reason for an officer to take action. It had all been an +"accident." He smiled. There was a lot he had to learn about dealing with +spacemen, a lot Koa evidently knew very well indeed. + +Suddenly he began to feel weight. The ship was going into rotation. The +feeling increased until he felt normally heavy again. There was no other +sensation, even though the space cruiser was now spinning on its axis +through space at unaltered speed. The centrifugal force produced by the +spinning gave them an artificial gravity. + +Now that he thought about it, _Brennschluss_ had come pretty early. The +trip apparently was going to be a short one. _Brennschluss_--funny, he +thought, how words stay on in a language, even after their original +meaning is changed. _Brennschluss_ was German for "burn out." It was +rocket talk, and it meant the moment when all the fuel in a rocket burned +out. It had come into common use because the English "burn out" could +also mean that the engine itself had burned out. The German word meant +only the one thing. Now, in nuclear drive ships, the same word was used +for the moment when power was cut off. + +Words interested him. He started to mention it to Koa just as the +telescreen lit up. An officer's face appeared. "Send that Planeteer +officer to the commander," the face said. "Tell him to show an exhaust." + +Rip called instantly to the safety officer. "Where's his office?" + +The safety officer motioned to a spaceman. "Show him, Nelson." + +Rip followed the spaceman through a maze of passages, growing more +weightless with each step. The closer to the center of the ship they +went, the less he weighed. He was drawing himself along by plastic pull +cords when they finally reached the door marked COMMANDER. + +The spaceman left without a word or a salute. Rip pushed the lock bar and +pulled himself in by grabbing the door frame. He couldn't help thinking +it was a rather undignified way to make an entrance. + +Seated in an acceleration chair, a safety belt across his middle, +was Space Commander Kevin O'Brine, an Irishman out of Dublin. He was +short, as compact as a deto-rocket, and obviously unfriendly. He had a +mathematically square jaw, a lopsided nose, green eyes, and sandy hair. +He spoke with a pronounced Irish brogue. + +Rip started to announce his name, rank, and the fact that he was +reporting as ordered. Commander O'Brine brushed his words aside and +stated flatly, "You're a Planeteer. I don't like Planeteers." + +Rip didn't know what to say, so he kept still. But sharp anger was rising +inside of him. + +O'Brine went on. "Instructions say I'm to hand you your orders en route. +They don't say when. I'll decide that. Until I do decide, I have a job +for you and your men. Do you know anything about nuclear physics?" + +Rip's eyes narrowed. He said cautiously, "A little, sir." + +"I'll assume you know nothing. Foster, the designation SCN means Space +Cruiser, Nuclear. This ship is powered by a nuclear reactor--in other +words, an atomic pile. You've heard of one?" + +Rip controlled his voice, but his red hair stood on end with anger. +O'Brine was being deliberately insulting. This was stuff any Planeteer +recruit knew. "I've heard, sir." + +"Fine. It's more than I had expected. Well, Foster, a nuclear reactor +produces heat. Great heat. We use that heat to turn a chemical called +methane into its component parts. Methane is known as marsh gas, Foster. +I wouldn't expect a Planeteer to know that. It is composed of carbon and +hydrogen. When we pump it into the heat coils of the reactor, it breaks +down and creates a gas that burns and drives us through space. But that +isn't all it does." + +Rip had an idea what was coming, and he didn't like it. Nor did he like +Commander O'Brine. It was not until much later that he learned that +O'Brine had been on his way to Terra, to see his family for the first +time in four years, when the cruiser's orders were changed. To the +commander, whose assignments had been made necessary by the needs of the +Special Order Squadrons, it was too much. So he took his disappointment +out on the nearest Planeteer, who happened to be Rip. + +"The gases go through tubes," O'Brine went on. "A little nuclear material +also leaks into the tubes. The tubes get coated with carbon, Foster. +They also get coated with nuclear fuel. We use thorium. Thorium is +radioactive. I won't give you a lecture on radioactivity, Foster. But +thorium mostly gives off the kind of radiation known as alpha particles. +Alpha is not dangerous unless breathed or eaten. It won't go through +clothes or skin. But when mixed with fine carbon, thorium alpha +contamination makes a mess. It's a dirty mess, Foster--so dirty that +I don't want my spacemen to fool with it. + +"I want you to take care of it instead--you and your men. The deputy +commander will assign you to a squad room. Settle in, then draw equipment +from the supply room and get going. When I want to talk to you again, +I'll call for you. Now blast off, Lieutenant, and rake that radiation. +Rake it clean." + +Rip forced a bright and friendly smile. "Yes, sir," he said sweetly. +"We'll rake it so clean you can see your face in it, sir." He paused, +then added politely. "If you don't mind looking at your face, sir--to see +how clean the tubes are, I mean." + +Rip turned and got out of there. + +Koa was waiting in the passageway outside. Rip told him what had +happened, mimicking O'Brine's Irish accent. + +The sergeant major shook his head sadly. "This is what I meant, +Lieutenant. Cruisers don't clean their tubes more'n once in ten +accelerations. The commander is just thinking up dirty work for us +to do, like I said." + +"Never mind," Rip told him. "Let's find our squad room and get settled, +then draw some protective clothing and equipment. We'll clean his tubes +for him. Our turn will come later." + +He remembered the last thing Joe Barris had said, only a few hours +before. _Joe was right_, he thought. _To ourselves we're supermen, but to +the spacemen we're just simps._ Evidently O'Brine was the kind of space +officer who ate Planeteers for breakfast. + +Rip thought of the way the commander had turned red with rage at that +crack about his face, and he resolved, _He may eat me for breakfast, but +I'll be a very tough mouthful!_ + + + + +CHAPTER THREE + +Capture and Drive! + + +Commander O'Brine had not exaggerated. The residue of carbon and thorium +on the blast tube walls was stubborn, dirty, and penetrating. It was +caked on in a solid sheet, but when scraped, it broke up into fine +powder. + +The Planeteers wore coveralls, gloves, and face masks with respirators, +but that didn't prevent the stuff from sifting through onto their bodies. +Rip, who directed the work and kept track of the radiation with a +gamma-beta ion chamber and an alpha proportional counter, knew they would +have to undergo personal decontamination. + +He took a reading on the ion chamber. Only a few milliroentgens of beta +and gamma radiation. That was the dangerous kind, because both beta +particles and gamma rays could penetrate clothing and skin. But the +Planeteers wouldn't get enough of a dose to do any harm at all. The +alpha count was high, but so long as they didn't breathe any of the dust, +it was not dangerous. + +The _Scorpius_ had six tubes. Rip divided the Planeteers into two squads, +one under his direction and one under Koa's. Each tube took a couple of +hours' hard work. Several times during the cleaning, the men would leave +the tube and go into the main mixing chamber while the tube was blasted +with live steam to throw the stuff they had scraped off out into space. + +Each squad was on its last tube when a spaceman arrived. He saluted Rip. +"Sir, the safety officer says to secure the tubes." + +That could mean only one thing: deceleration. Rip rounded up his men. +"We're finished. The safety officer passed the word to secure the tubes, +which means we're going to decelerate." He smiled grimly. "You all know +they gave us this job just out of pure love for the Planeteers. So +remember it when you go through the control room to the decontamination +chamber." + +The Planeteers nodded enthusiastically. + +Rip led the way from the mixing chamber, through the heavy safety door, +and into the engine control room. His entrance was met with poorly +concealed grins by the spacemen. + +Halfway across the room, Rip turned suddenly and bumped into Sergeant +Major Koa. Koa fell to the deck, arms flailing for balance--but flailing +against his protective clothing. The other Planeteers rushed to pick him +up, and somehow all their hands beat against each other. + +The protective clothing was saturated with fine dust. It rose from them +in a choking cloud and was picked up and dispersed by the ventilating +system. It was contaminated dust. The automatic radiation safety +equipment filled the ship with an earsplitting buzz of warning. Spacemen +clapped emergency respirators to their faces and spoke unkindly of Rip's +Planeteers in the saltiest space language possible. + +Rip and his men picked up Koa and continued the march to the +decontamination room, grinning under their respirators at the +consternation around them. There was no danger to the spacemen, since +they had clapped on respirators the moment the warning sounded. But even +a little contamination meant the whole ship had to be gone over with +instruments, and the ventilating system would have to be cleaned. + +The deputy commander met Rip at the door of the radiation room. Above the +respirator, his face looked furious. + +"Lieutenant," he bellowed, "haven't you any more sense than to bring +contaminated clothing into the engine control room?" + +Rip was sorry the deputy commander couldn't see him grinning under his +respirator. He said innocently, "No, sir, I haven't any more sense than +that." + +The deputy grated, "I'll have you up before the Discipline Board for +this." + +Rip was enjoying himself thoroughly. "I don't think so, sir. The +regulations are very clear. They say, 'It is the responsibility of the +safety officer to insure compliance with all safety regulations by both +complete instructions to personnel and personal supervision.' Your safety +officer didn't instruct us, and he didn't supervise us. You'd better run +_him_ up before the Board." + +The deputy commander made harsh sounds into his respirator. Rip had him, +and he knew it. "He thought even a stupid Planeteer had sense enough to +obey radiation safety rules," he yelled. + +"He was wrong," Rip said gently. Then, just to make himself perfectly +clear, he added, "Commander O'Brine was within his rights when he made us +rake radiation. But he forgot one thing. Planeteers know the regulations, +too. Excuse me, sir. I have to get my men decontaminated." + +Inside the decontamination chamber, the Planeteers took off their masks +and faced Rip with admiring grins. For a moment he grinned back, feeling +pretty good. He had held his own with the spacemen, and he sensed that +his men liked him. + +"All right," he said briskly. "Strip down and get into the showers." + +In a few moments they were all standing under the chemically treated +water, washing off the contaminated dust. Rip paid special attention to +his hair, because that was where the dust was most likely to stick. He +had it well lathered when the water suddenly cut off. At the same moment, +the cruiser shuddered slightly as control blasts stopped its spinning and +left them all weightless. Rip saw instantly what had happened. He called, +"All right, men. Down on the floor." + +The Planeteers instantly slid to the shower deck. In a few seconds the +pressure of deceleration pushed at them. + +"I like spacemen," Rip said wryly. "They wait until just the right moment +before they cut the water and decelerate. Now we're stuck in our birthday +suits until we land--wherever that may be." + +Corporal Nels Pederson spoke up in a soft Stockholm accent. "Never mind, +sir. We'll get back at them. We always do!" + +While the _Scorpius_ decelerated and started maneuvering for a landing, +Rip did some rapid calculations. He knew the acceleration and +deceleration rates of cruisers of this class, measured in terms of time, +and part of his daily routine on the space platform had been to examine +the daily astroplot, which gave the positions of all planets and other +large bodies within the solar system. + +There was only one possible destination: Mars. + +Rip's pulse quickened. He had always wanted to visit the red planet. Of +course, he had seen all the films, audio-mags, and books concerning it, +and he had tried to see the weekly spacecast. He had a good idea of what +the planet was like, but reading or viewing was not like actually landing +and taking a look for himself. + +Of course, they would land at Marsport. It was the only landing area +equipped to handle nuclear drive cruisers. + +The cruiser landed and deceleration cut to zero. At the same moment the +water came on. + +Rip hurriedly finished cleaning up, dressed, then took his radiation +instruments and carefully monitored his men as they came from the +shower. Private Dowst had to go back for another try at getting his hair +clean, but the rest were all right. Rip handed his instruments to Koa. +"You monitor Dowst when he finishes. I want to see what's happening." + +He hurried from the chamber and made his way down the corridors toward +the engine control room. There was a good possibility he might get a call +from O'Brine, with instructions to take his men off the ship. He might +finally learn what he was assigned to do! + +As he reached the engine control room, Commander O'Brine was giving +instructions to his spacemen on the stowage of equipment that evidently +was expected aboard. Rip felt a twinge of disappointment. If the +_Scorpius_ had landed to take on supplies of some kind, his assignment +was probably not on Mars. + +He started to approach the commander with a question about his orders, +then thought better of it. He stood quietly near the control panel and +watched. + +The air lock hissed, then slid open. A Martian stood in the entryway, a +case on his shoulder. Rip watched him with interest. He had seen Martians +before, on the space platform, but he had never gotten used to them. They +were human, still.... + +He tried to figure out, as he had before, what it was that made them +strange. It wasn't the blue-whiteness of their skins nor the very large, +expressionless eyes. It was something about their bodies. He studied the +Martian's figure carefully. He was slightly taller and more slender than +the average earthman, but his chest measurements would be about the same. +Nor were his legs very much longer. + +Suddenly Rip thought he had it. The Martian's legs and arms joined his +torso at a slightly different angle, giving him an angular look. That was +what made him look like a caricature of a human, although he was human, +of course--as human as any of them. + +Rip saw that other Martians were in the air lock, all carrying cases of +various sizes and shapes. They came through into the control room and put +them down, then turned without a word and hurried back into the lock. +They were all breathing heavily, Rip noticed. Of course! The artificial +atmosphere inside the spaceship must seem very heavy and moist to them, +after the thin, dry air of Mars. + +The lock worked, and the Martians were replaced by others. They, too, +deposited their cases. But these cases were bigger and heavier. It took +four Martians to carry one, which meant they weighed close to half a ton +each. The Martians could carry more than double an earthman's capacity. + +When the lock worked next time, a Planeteer captain came in. He breathed +the heavy air appreciatively, fingering the oxygen mask he had to wear +outside. He saluted Commander O'Brine and reported, "This is all, sir. We +filled the order exactly as Terra sent it. Is there anything else you +need?" + +O'Brine turned to his deputy. "Find out," he ordered. "This is our last +chance. We have plenty of basic supplies, but we may be short of +audio-mags and other things for the men." He turned his back on the +Planeteer captain and walked away. + +The captain grinned at O'Brine's retreating back, then walked over to +Rip. They shook hands. + +"I'm Southwick, SOS Two. Canadian." + +Rip introduced himself and said he was an American. He added, "And aside +from my men, you're the first human being I've seen since we made space." + +Southwick chuckled. "Trouble with the spacemen? Well, you're not the +first." + +Talking about assignments wasn't considered good practice, but Rip was +burning with curiosity. "You don't by chance know what my assignment +is, do you?" + +The captain's eyebrows went up. "Don't you?" + +Rip shook his head. "O'Brine hasn't told me." + +"I don't know a thing," Southwick said. "We got instructions to pack up a +pretty strange assortment of supplies for the _Scorpius_, and that's all +I know. The order was in special cipher, though, so we're all wondering +about it." + +The deputy commander returned, reported to O'Brine, then walked up to Rip +and Southwick. "Nothing else needed," he said curtly. "We'll get off at +once." + +Southwick nodded, shook hands with Rip, and said in a voice the deputy +could hear, "Don't let these spacemen bother you. Trouble with them is +they all wanted to be Planeteers and couldn't pass the intelligence +tests." He winked, then hurried to the air lock. + +Spacemen worked quickly to clear the deck of the new supplies, stowing +them in a nearby workroom. Within five minutes the engine control room +was clear. The safety officer signaled, and the radiation warning +sounded. Taking off! + +Rip hurried to the squad room and climbed into an acceleration chair. The +other Planeteers were already in the room, most of them in their bunks. +Koa slid into the chair beside him. "Find out anything, sir?" + +"Nothing useful. A bunch of equipment came aboard, but it was in plain +crates. I couldn't tell what it was." + +Acceleration pressed them against the chairs. Rip sighed, picked up an +audio-circuit set, and put it over his ears. Might as well listen to what +the circuit had to offer. There was nothing else to do. Music was +playing, and it was the kind he liked. He settled back to relax and +listen. + +_Brennschluss_ came some time later. It woke Rip up from a sound sleep. +He blinked, glancing at his chronometer. Great Cosmos! With that length +of acceleration they must be high-vacking for Jupiter! He waited until +the ship went into the gravity spin, then got out of his chair and +stretched. He was hungry. Koa was still sleeping. He decided not to wake +him. The sergeant major would see that the men ate when they wanted to. + +In the messroom only one table was occupied--by Commander O'Brine. + +Rip gave him a civil hello and started to sit alone at another table. To +his surprise, O'Brine beckoned to him. + +"Sit down," the spaceman invited gruffly. + +Rip did and wondered what was coming next. + +"We'll start to decelerate in about ten minutes," O'Brine said. "Eat +while you can." He signaled, and a spaceman brought Rip the day's ration +in an individual plastic carton with thermo-lining. The Planeteer opened +it and found a block of mixed vegetables, a slab of space meat, and two +units of biscuit. He wrinkled his nose. Space meat he didn't mind. It was +chewy but tasty. The mixed vegetable ration was chosen for its food value +and not for taste. A good mouthful of Earth grass would be a lot more +palatable. He sliced off pieces of the warm stuff and chewed +thoughtfully, watching O'Brine's face for a clue as to why the commander +had invited him to sit down. + +It wasn't long in coming. "Your orders are the strangest things I've ever +read," O'Brine stated. "Do you know where we're going?" + +Rip figured quickly. They had accelerated for six and a half hours. Now, +ten minutes after _Brennschluss_, they were going to start deceleration. +That meant they had really high-vacked it to get somewhere in a hurry. He +calculated swiftly. + +"I don't know exactly," he admitted. "But from the ship's actions, I'd +say we were aiming for the far side of the asteroid belt. Anyway, we'll +fall short of Jupiter." + +There was a glimmer of respect in O'Brine's glance. "That's right. Know +anything about asteroids, Foster?" + +Rip considered. He knew what he had been taught in astronomy and +astrogation. Between Mars and Jupiter lay a broad belt in which the +asteroids swung. They ranged from Ceres, a tiny world only 480 miles in +diameter, down to chunks of rock the size of a house. No accurate count +of asteroids--or minor planets, as they were called--had been made, but +the observatory on Mars had charted the orbits of thousands. A few were +more than a mile in diameter, but most were great boulders of irregular +shape, from a few feet to several hundred feet at their greatest +dimension. + +"I know the usual stuff about them," he told O'Brine. "I haven't any +special knowledge." + +O'Brine blinked. "Then why did they assign you? What's your specialty?" + +"Astrophysics." + +"That might explain it. Second specialty?" + +"Astrogation." He couldn't resist adding, "That's more advanced than the +simple space navigation you use, Commander." + +O'Brine started to retort, then apparently thought better of it. "I hope +you'll be able to carry out your orders, Lieutenant," he said stiffly. +"I hope, but not much. I don't think you can." + +Rip asked, "What are my orders, sir?" + +O'Brine waved in the general direction of the wall. "Out there somewhere +in the asteroid belt, Foster, there is a little chunk of matter about one +thousand yards in diameter. A very minor planet. We know its approximate +coordinates as of two days ago, but we don't know much else. It happens +to be a very important minor planet." + +Rip waited, intent on the commander's words. + +"It's important," O'Brine continued, "because it happens to be pure +thorium." + +Rip gasped. Thorium! The rare, radioactive element just below uranium in +the periodic table of the elements, the element used to power this very +ship! "What a find!" he said in a hushed voice. No wonder the job was +Federation priority A, with Space Council security! "What do I do about +it?" he asked. + +O'Brine grinned. "Ride it," he said. "Your orders say you're to capture +this asteroid, blast it out of its orbit, and drive it back to Earth!" + + + + +CHAPTER FOUR + +Find the Needle! + + +Rip walked into the squad room with a copy of the orders in his hand. +After one look at his face, the Planeteers clustered around him. Santos +woke those who were sleeping, while Rip waited. + +"We have our orders, men," he announced. Suddenly he laughed. He couldn't +help it. At first he had been completely overcome by the responsibility +and the magnitude of the job, but now he was getting used to the idea, +and he could see the adventure in it. Ten wild Planeteers riding an +asteroid! Sunny space, what a great big thermonuclear stunt! + +Koa remarked, "It must be good. The lieutenant is getting a real atomic +charge out of it." + +"Sit down," Rip ordered. "You'd better, because you might fall over when +you hear this. Listen, men. Two days ago the freighter _Altair_ passed +through the asteroid belt on a run from Jupiter to Mars." He sat down, +too, because deceleration was starting. As his men looked at each other +in surprise at the quickness of it, he continued, "The old bucket found +something we need--an asteroid of pure thorium." + +The enlisted Planeteers knew as well as he what that meant. There were +whistles of astonishment. Koa slapped his thigh. "By Gemini! What do we +do about it, sir?" + +"We capture it," Rip said. "We blast it loose from its orbit and ride it +back to Earth." + +He sat back and watched their reactions. At first they were stunned. +Trudeau, the Frenchman, muttered to himself in French. Dominico, the +Italian, held up his hands and exclaimed, "Santa Maria!" + +Kemp, one of the American privates, asked, "How do we do it, sir?" + +Rip grinned. "That's a good question. I don't know." + +That stopped them. They stared at him. He added quickly, "Supplies came +aboard at Marsport. We'll get the clue when we open them. Headquarters +must have known the method when they assigned us and ordered the +equipment they thought we'd need." + +Koa stood up. He was the only one who could have moved upright against +the terrific deceleration. He walked to a rack at one side of the squad +room and took down a copy of _The Space Navigator_. Then, resuming his +seat, he looked questioningly at Rip. "Anything else, sir? I thought I'd +read what there is about asteroids." + +"Go ahead," Rip agreed. He sat back as Koa began to recite what data +there was, but he didn't listen. His mind was going ten astro-units +a second. He thought he knew why he had been chosen for the job. Word of +the priceless asteroid must have reached headquarters only a short time +before he was scheduled to leave the space platform. He could imagine the +speed with which the specialists at Terra base had acted. They had sent +orders instantly to the fastest cruiser in the area, the _Scorpius_, to +stand by for further instructions. Then their personnel machines must +have whirred rapidly, electronic brains searching for the nearest +available Planeteer officer with an astrophysics specialty and +astrogation training. + +He could imagine the reaction when the machine turned up the name of a +brand-new lieutenant. But the choice was logical enough. He knew that +most, if not all, of the Planeteer astrophysicists were in either high +or low space on special work. Chances were there was no astrophysicist +nearer than Ganymede. So the choice had fallen to him. + +He had a mental image of the Terra base scientists feeding data into the +electronic brain, taking the results, and writing fast orders for the men +and supplies needed. Work at the Planeteer base had probably been +finished within an hour of the time word was received. + +When they opened the cases brought aboard by the Martians, he would see +that the method of blasting the asteroid into a course for Earth was all +figured out for him. + +Rip was anxious to get at those cases. Not until he saw the method of +operation could he begin to figure his course. But there was no +possibility of getting at the stuff until _Brennschluss_. He put the +problem out of his mind and concentrated on what his men were saying. + +"... and he slugged into that asteroid going close to seven AU's," Santos +was saying. The corporal shrugged expressively. + +Rip recognized the story. It was about a supply ship, a chemical drive +rocket job, that had blasted into an asteroid a few years before. + +Private Dowst shrugged, too. "Too bad. High vack was waiting for him. +Nothing you can do when Old Man Nothing wants you. Not a thing in space!" + +Rip listened, interested. This was the talk of old space hands, who +had given the high vacuum of empty space a personality, calling it +"high vack," or "Old Man Nothing." With understandable fatalism, they +believed--or said they believed--that when high vacuum really wanted +you, there was nothing you could do. + +Rip had come across an interesting bit of word knowledge. Spacemen and +Planeteers alike had a way of using the phrase "by Gemini!" Gemini, of +course, was the constellation of the Twins, Castor and Pollux. Both were +useful stars for astrogation. The Roman horse soldiers of ancient history +had sworn "by Gemini," or "by the Twins." The Romans believed the stars +were the famous Greek warriors Castor and Pollux, placed in the heavens +after their deaths. In later years, the phrase degenerated to the simple +"by jiminy," and its meaning had been lost. Now, although few spacemen +knew the history of the phrase, they were using it again, correctly. + +Other space talk grew out of space itself, not out of history. For +instance, the worst thing that could happen to a man was to have his +helmet broken. Let the transparent globe be shattered, and the results +were both quick and final. Hence the oft heard threat, "I'll bust your +bubble." + +Speaking of bubbles ... Rip realized suddenly that he and his men would +have to live in bubbles and space suits while on the asteroid. None of +the minor planets were big enough to have an atmosphere or much gravity. + +If only he could get a look into those cases! But the ship was still +decelerating, and he would have to wait. He put his head against the +chair rest and settled down to wait as patiently as he could. + +_Brennschluss_ was a long time coming. When the deceleration finally +stopped, Rip didn't wait for gravity. He hauled himself out of the chair +and the squad room and went down the corridor hand over hand. He headed +straight for where the supplies were stacked, his Planeteers close behind +him. + +Commander O'Brine arrived at the same time. "We're starting to scan for +the asteroid," he greeted Rip. "May be some time before we find it." + +"Where are we, sir?" Rip asked. + +"Just above the asteroid belt near the outer edge. We're beyond the +position where the asteroid was sighted, moving along what the _Altair_ +figured as its orbit. I'm not stretching space, Foster, when I tell you +we're hunting for a needle in a junk pile. This part of space is filled +with more objects than you would imagine, and they all register on the +rad screens." + +"We'll find it," Rip said confidently. + +O'Brine nodded. "Yes. But it probably will take some hunting. Meanwhile, +let's get at those cases. The supply clerk is on his way." + +The supply clerk arrived, issued tools to the Planeteers, then opened a +plastic case attached to one of the boxes and produced lists. As the +Planeteers opened and unpacked the crates, Rip and O'Brine inspected, and +the clerk checked off the items. + +The first case produced a complete chemical cutting unit, with an +assortment of cutting tips and adapters. Rip looked around for the gas +cylinders and saw none. "Something's wrong," he objected. "Where's the +fuel supply for the torch?" + +The supply clerk inspected the lists, shuffled papers, and found the +answer. + +"The following," he read, "are to be supplied from the _Scorpius_ +complement. One landing boat, large, model twenty-eight. Eight each, +oxygen cutting unit gas bottles. Four each, chemical cutting unit fuel +tanks." + +"That's that," Rip said, relieved. Apparently he was supposed to do a lot +of cutting on the asteroid, probably of the thorium itself. The hot flame +of the torch could melt any known substance. The torch itself could melt +in unskilled hands. + +The next case yielded a set of astrogation instruments, carefully cradled +in a soft, rubbery plastic. Rip left them in the case and put them to one +side. As he did so, Sergeant Major Koa let out a whistle of surprise. + +"Lieutenant, look at this!" + +Corporal Santos exclaimed, "Well, stonker me for a stupid space squid! Do +they expect us to find any people on this asteroid?" + +The object was a portable rocket launcher designed to fire light attack +rockets. It was a standard item of fighting equipment for Planeteers. + +"I recognize the shape of those cases over there, now," Koa said. "Ten +racks of rockets for the launcher, one rack to a case." + +Rip scratched his head. He was as puzzled as Santos. Why supply fighting +equipment for a crew on an asteroid that couldn't possibly have any +living thing on it? + +He left the puzzle for the future and called for more cases. The next +two yielded projectile-type handguns for ten men, with ammunition, and +standard Planeteer space knives. The space knives had hidden blades, +which were driven forth violently when the operator pushed a thumb lever, +releasing the gas in a cartridge contained in the handle. The blades +snapped forth with enough force to break a bubble or to cut through a +space suit. They were designed for the sole purpose of space hand-to-hand +combat. + +The Planeteers looked at each other. What were they up against, that such +equipment was needed on a barren asteroid? + +Private Dowst opened a box that contained a complete tool kit, the tools +designed to be handled by men in space suits. Yards of wire, for several +purposes, were wound on reels. Two hand-driven dynamos capable of +developing great power were included. + +Corporal Pederson found a small case which contained books, the latest +astronomical data sheets, and a space computer and scratch board. These +were obviously for Rip's personal use. He examined them. There were all +the references he would need for computing orbit, speed, and just about +anything else that might be required. He had to admire the thoroughness +of whoever had written the order. The unknown Planeteer had assumed that +the space cruiser would not have all the astrophysics references +necessary and had included a copy of each. + +Several large cases remained. Koa ripped the side from one and let out an +exclamation. Rip hurried over and looked in. His stomach did a quick +orbital reverse. Great Cosmos! The thing was an atomic bomb! + +Commander O'Brine leaned over his shoulder and peered at the lettering on +the cylinder: EQUIVALENT TEN KT. + +In other words, the explosion the harmless-looking cylinder could produce +was equivalent to ten thousand tons of TNT, a chemical explosive no +longer in actual use but still used for comparison. + +Rip asked huskily, "Any more of those things?" The importance of the job +was becoming increasingly clear to him. Nuclear explosives were not used +without good reason. The fissionable material was too valuable for other +purposes. + +The sides came off the remaining cases. Some of them held fat tubes of +conventional rocket fuel in solid form, the igniters carefully packed +separately. + +There were three other atomic bombs, making four in all. There were two +bombs each of five KT and ten KT. + +Commander O'Brine looked at the amazing assortment of stuff. "Does that +check, clerk?" + +The spaceman nodded. "Yes, sir. I found another notation that says food +supplies and personal equipment to be supplied by the _Scorpius_." + +"Well, vack me for a Venusian rabbit!" O'Brine muttered. He tugged at his +ear. "You could dump me on that asteroid with this assortment of junk, +and I'd spend the rest of my life there. I don't see how you can use this +stuff to move an asteroid!" + +"Maybe that's why the Federation sent Planeteers," Rip said--and was +sorry the moment the words were out. + +O'Brine's jaw muscles bulged, but he held his temper. "I'm going to +pretend I didn't hear that, Foster. We have to get along until the +asteroid is safely in an orbit around Earth. After that, I'm going to +take a great deal of pleasure in feeding you to the space fish, piece +by piece." + +It was Rip's turn to get red. "I'm sorry, Commander. Accept my +apologies." He certainly had a lot to learn about space etiquette. There +was a time for spacemen and Planeteers to fight each other and a time for +them to cooperate. + +"I'm sure you'll be able to figure out what to do with this stuff," +O'Brine said. "If you need help, let me know." + +And Rip knew his apology was accepted. + +The deputy commander arrived, drew O'Brine aside, and whispered in his +ear. The commander let out an exclamation and started out of the room. At +the door he turned. "Better come along, Foster." + +Rip followed as the commander led the way to his own quarters. At the +door two space officers were waiting, their faces grave. + +O'Brine motioned them to chairs. "All right, let's have it." + +The senior space officer held out a sheet of flimsy. It was pale blue, +the color used for highly confidential documents. "Sir, this came in +Space Council special cipher." + +"Read it aloud," O'Brine ordered. + +"Yes, sir. It's addressed to you, this ship. From Planeteer Intelligence, +Marsport. 'Consops cruiser departed general direction your area. Agents +report crew _Altair_ may have leaked data re asteroid. Take appropriate +action.' It's signed 'Williams, SOS, Commanding.'" + +Rip saw the meaning of the message instantly. The Consolidation of +People's Governments, of Earth, traditional enemies and rivals of the +Federation of Free Governments, needed radioactive minerals as badly as, +or worse than, the Federation. In space it was first come, first take. +They had to find the asteroid quickly. It was to prevent Consops from +knowing of the asteroid that security measures had been taken. They +hadn't worked, because of loose space chatter at Marsport. + +O'Brine issued quick orders. "Now, get this. We have to work fast. +Accelerate fifty percent, same course. I want two men on each screen. +If anything of the right size shows up, decelerate until we can get mass +and albedo measurements. Snap to it." + +The space officers started out, but O'Brine stopped them. "Use one +long-range screen for scanning high space toward Mars. Let me know +the minute you get a blip, because it probably will be that Consops +cruiser. Have the missile ports cleared for action." + +Rip's eyes opened. Clear the missile ports? That meant getting the +cruiser in fighting shape, ready for instant action. "You wouldn't fire +on that Consops cruiser, would you, sir?" + +O'Brine gave him a grim smile. "Certainly not, Foster. It's against +orders to start anything with Consops cruisers. You know why. The +situation is so tense that a fight between two spaceships might plunge +Earth into war." His smile got even grimmer. "But you never know. The +Consops ship might fire first. Or an accident might happen." + +The commander leaned forward. "We'll find that asteroid for you, Mr. +Planeteer. We'll put you on it and see you on your way. Then we'll ride +space along with you, and if any Consops thieves try to take over and +collect that thorium for themselves, they'll find Kevin O'Brine waiting. +That's a promise." + +Rip felt a lot better. He sat back in his chair and regarded the +commander with mixed respect and something else. Against his will, he +was beginning to like the man. No doubt of it, the _Scorpius_ was well +named. And the sting in the scorpion's tail was O'Brine himself. + + + + +CHAPTER FIVE + +The Gray World + + +Rip rejoined his Planeteers in the supply room and motioned for them +to gather around him. "I know why Terra base sent us the fighting +equipment," he announced. "They were afraid word of this thorium asteroid +would leak out to Consops--and it has. A Connie cruiser blasted off from +Marsport and it's headed this way." + +He watched the faces of his men carefully, to see how they would take the +news. They merely looked at each other and shrugged. Conflict with +Consops was nothing new to them. + +"The freighter that found the asteroid landed at Marsport, didn't it?" +Koa asked. Getting a nod from Rip, he went on, "Then I know what probably +happened. The two things spacemen can't do are breathe high vack and keep +their mouths shut. Some of the crew blabbed about the asteroid, probably +at the Space Club. That's where they hang out. The Connies hang out +there, too. Result, we get a Connie cruiser after the asteroid." + +"You hit it," Rip acknowledged. + +Corporal Santos shrugged. "If the Connies try to take the asteroid away, +they'll have a real warm time. We have ten racks of rockets, twenty-four +to a rack. That's a lot of snapper-boats we can pick off if they try to +make a landing." + +The Planeteers stopped talking as the voice horn sounded. "Get it! We are +going into no-weight. Prepare to stay in no-weight indefinitely. Rotation +stops in two minutes." + +Rip realized why the order was given. The _Scorpius_ could not maneuver +while in a gravity spin, and O'Brine wanted to be free to take action if +necessary. + +The voice horn came on again. "Now get it again. The ship may maneuver +suddenly. Prepare for acceleration or deceleration without warning. One +minute to no-weight." + +Rip gave quick orders. "Get lines around the equipment and prepare to +haul it. I'll get landing boats assigned, and we can load. Then prepare +space packs. Lay out suits and bubbles. We want to be ready to go the +moment we get the word." + +Lines were taken from a locker and secured to the equipment. As the +Planeteers worked, the ship's spinning slowed and stopped. They were +in no-weight. Rip grabbed for a hand cord that hung from the wall and +hauled himself out into the engine control room. The deputy commander was +at his post, waiting tensely for orders. Rip thrust against a bulkhead +with one foot and floated to his side. "I need two landing boats, sir," +he requested. "One stays on the asteroid with us." + +"Take numbers five and six. I'll assign a pilot to bring number five back +to the ship after you've landed." + +"Thank you." Rip would have been surprised at the deputy's quick assent +if Commander O'Brine hadn't shown him that the spacemen were ready to do +anything possible to aid the Planeteers. He went back to the supply room +and told Koa which boats were to be used, instructed him to get the +supplies aboard, then made his way to Commander O'Brine's office. + +O'Brine was not in. Rip searched and found him in the astroplot room, +watching a 'scope. Green streaks called "blips" marked the panel, each +one indicating an asteroid. + +"All too small," O'Brine said. "We've only seen two large ones, and they +were too large." + +"Space is certainly full of junk," Rip commented. "At least this corner +of it is pretty full." + +A junior space officer overheard him. "This is nothing. We're on the edge +of the asteroid belt. Closer to the middle, there's so much stuff a ship +has to crawl through it." + +Rip wandered over to the main control desk. A senior space officer was +seated before a simple panel on which there were only a dozen small +levers, a visiphone, and a radar screen. The screen was circular, with +numbers around the rim like those on an Earth clock. In the center of the +screen was a tiny circle. The central circle represented the _Scorpius_. +The rest of the screen was the area dead ahead. Rip watched and saw +several blips on it that indicated asteroids. They were all small. He +watched, interested, as the _Scorpius_ overtook them. Once, according to +the screen, the cruiser passed under an asteroid, with a clearance of +only a few hundred feet. + +"You didn't miss that one by much," Rip told the space officer. + +"Don't have to miss by much," he retorted. "A few feet are as good as a +mile in space. Our blast might kick them around a little, and maybe +there's a little mutual mass attraction, but we don't worry about it." + +He pointed to a blip that was just swimming into view, a sharp green +point against the screen. "We do have to worry about that one." He +selected a lever and pulled it toward him. + +Rip felt sudden weight against his feet. The green point on the screen +moved downward, below center. The feeling of weight ceased. He knew what +had happened, of course. Around the hull of the ship, set in evenly +spaced lines, were a series of blast holes through which steam was fired. +The steam was produced instantly by running water through the heat coils +of the nuclear engine. By using groups or combinations of steam tubes, +the control officer could move the ship in any direction, set it rolling, +spin it end over end, or whirl it in an eccentric pattern. + +"How do you decide which tubes to use?" Rip asked. + +"Depends on what's happening. If we were ducking missiles from an enemy, +I'd get orders from the commander. But to duck asteroids, there's no +problem. I go over them by firing the steam tubes along the bottom of the +ship. That way, you feel the acceleration on your feet. If I fired the +top tubes, the ship would drop out from under those who were standing. +They'd all end up on the overhead." + +Rip watched for a while longer, then wandered back to Commander O'Brine. +He was getting anxious. At first the task of capturing an asteroid and +moving it back to Earth had been rather unreal, like some of the problems +he had worked out while training on the space platform. Now he was no +longer calm about it. He had faith in the Terra base Planeteer +specialists, but they couldn't figure out everything for him. Most of the +problems of getting the asteroid back to Earth would have to be solved by +Lt. Richard Ingalls Peter Foster. + +A junior space officer suddenly called, "Sir, I have a reading at +two-seventy degrees, twenty-three degrees eight minutes high." + +Commander O'Brine jumped up so fast that the action shot him to the +ceiling. He kicked down again and leaned over the officer's 'scope. +Rip got there by pulling himself right across the top of the chart table. + +The green point of light on the 'scope was bigger than any other he had +seen. + +"It's about the right size," O'Brine said. There was excitement in his +voice. "Correct course. Let's take a look at it." + +All hands gripped something with which to steady themselves as the +cruiser spun swiftly onto the new course. The control officer called, +"I have it centered, sir. We'll reach it in about an hour at this speed." + +"Jack it up," O'Brine ordered. "Heave some neutrons into it. Double +speed, then decelerate to reach it in thirty minutes." + +The control officer issued orders to the engine control room. In a moment +acceleration plucked at them. O'Brine motioned to Rip. "Come on, Foster. +Let's see what Analysis makes of this rock." + +Rip followed the commander to the deck below, where the technical +analysts were located. His heart was pounding a little faster than usual, +and not from acceleration, either. He found himself wetting his lips +frequently and thought, _Get hold of it, boy. You've got nothing to worry +about but high vacuum._ + +He didn't really believe it. There would be plenty to worry about. Like +detonating nuclear bombs and trying to figure their blast reaction. Like +figuring out the course that would take them closest to the sun without +pulling them into it. Like a thousand things--all of them up to him. + +The chief analyst greeted them. "We got the orders to change course, +Commander. That gave us the location of the asteroid. We're already +working on it." + +"Anything yet?" + +"No, sir. We'll have the albedo measurement in a few minutes. It'll take +longer to figure the mass." + +The asteroid's efficiency in reflecting sunlight was its albedo. The +efficiency depended on the material of which it was made. The albedo of +pure metallic thorium was known. If the asteroid's albedo matched it, +that would be one piece of evidence. + +In the same way, the mass of thorium was known. The measurements of the +asteroid were being taken. They would be compared with a chunk of thorium +of the same size. If it worked out, that would be evidence enough. + +Commander O'Brine motioned to chairs. "Might as well sit down while we're +waiting, Foster." He took one of the chairs and looked closely at Rip. +Suddenly he grinned. "I thought Planeteers never got nervous." + +"Who's nervous?" Rip retorted, then answered his own question truthfully. +"I am. You're right, sir. The closer we get, the more scared I get." + +"That's a good sign," O'Brine replied. "It means you'll be careful. Got +any real doubts about the job?" + +Rip thought it over and didn't think so. "Not any real ones. I think we +can do it. But I'm nervous just the same. Great Cosmos, Commander! This +is my first assignment, and they give me a whole world to myself and tell +me to bring it home. Maybe it isn't a very big world, but that doesn't +change things much." + +O'Brine chuckled. "I never expected to get an admission like that from a +Planeteer." + +"And I," Rip retorted, "never expected to make one like that to a +spaceman." + +The chief analyst returned, a sheet of computations in his hand. "Report, +sir. The albedo measurement is correct. This may be it." + +"How long before we get the measurements and comparisons?" + +"Ten minutes, perhaps." + +Rip spoke up. "Sir, there's some data I'll need." + +"What, Lieutenant?" The analyst got out a notebook. + +"I'll need all possible data on the asteroid's speed, orbit, and physical +measurements. I will have to figure a new orbit and what it will take to +blast the mass into it." + +"We'll get those. The orbit will not be exact, of course. We have only +two reference points. But I think we'll come pretty close." + +O'Brine nodded. "Do what you can, Chief. And when Foster gets down to +doing his calculations, have your men run them through the electronic +computer for him." + +Rip thanked them both, then stood up. "Sir, I'm going back to my men. I +want to be sure everything is ready. If there's a Connie cruiser headed +this way, we don't want to lose any time." + +"Good idea. I think we'll dump you on the asteroid, Foster, and then +blast off. Not too far, of course. Just enough to lead the Connie away +from you if its screen picks us up." + +That sounded good to Rip. "We'll be ready when you are, sir." + +The chief analyst took less than the estimated ten minutes for his next +set of figures. Commander O'Brine called personally while Rip was still +searching for the right landing-boat ports. The voice horn bellowed, "Get +it, Lieutenant Foster! The mass measurements are correct. This is your +asteroid. Estimated twelve minutes before we reach it. Your data will be +ready by the time you get back here. Show an exhaust!" + +Rip found Koa and the men and asked the sergeant major for a report. + +"We're ready, sir," Koa told him. "We can get out in three minutes. It +will take us that long to get into space gear. Your stuff is laid out, +sir." + +"Get me the books and charts from the supplies," Rip directed. "Have +Santos take them to the chief analyst. I'm going back and figure our +course. No use doing it the hard way on the asteroid, when I can do it in +a few minutes here with the ship's computer." + +He turned and hurried back, hauling himself along by handholds. The ship +had stopped acceleration and was at no-weight again. As he neared the +analysis section, it went into deceleration, but the pressure was not too +bad. He made his way against it easily. + +The chief analyst was waiting for him. "We have everything you need, +Lieutenant, except the orbital stuff. We'll do the best we can on that +and have an estimate in a few minutes. Meanwhile you can mark up your +figures. Incidentally, what power are you going to use to move the +asteroid?" + +"Nuclear explosions," Rip said, and saw the chief's eyes pop. He added, +"With conventional chemical fuel for corrections." + +He felt rising excitement. The whole ship seemed to have come to life. +There was excited tension in the computer room when he went in with the +chief. Spacemen, all mathematicians, were waiting for him. As the chief +led him to a table, they gathered around him. + +Rip took command. "Here's what we're after. I need to plot an orbit that +will get us out of the asteroid belt without collisions, take us as close +to the sun as possible without having it capture us, and land us in space +about ten thousand miles from Earth. From then on I'll throw the asteroid +into a braking ellipse around the earth, and I'll be able to make any +small corrections necessary." + +He spread out a solar system chart and marked in the positions of the +planets as of that moment, using the daily almanac. Then he put down the +position of the asteroid, taking it from the paper the chief analyst +handed him. + +"Will you make assignments, Chief?" + +The chief shook his head. "Make them yourself, Lieutenant. We're at your +service." + +Rip felt a little ashamed of some of the unkind things he had said about +spacemen. "Thank you." He pointed to a spaceman. "Will you calculate the +inertia of the asteroid, please?" The spaceman hurried off. "First thing +to do is plot the orbit as though there were no other bodies in the +system," Rip said. "Where's Santos?" + +"Here, sir." The corporal had come in unnoticed with Rip's reference +books. + +Rip had plotted orbits before, but never one for actual use. His palms +were wet as he laid it out, using prepared tables. When he had finished +he pointed to a spaceman. "That's it. Will you translate it into analogue +figures for the computer, please?" He assigned to others the task of +figuring out the effect Mercury, the sun, and Earth would have on the +orbit, using an assumed speed for the asteroid. + +To the chief analyst he gave the job of putting all the data together in +proper form for feeding to the electronic brain. + +It would have taken all spacemen present about ten days to complete the +job by regular methods, but the electronic computer produced the answer +in three minutes. + +"Thanks a million, Chief," Rip said. "I'll be calling on you again before +this is over." He tucked the sheets into his pocket. + +"Anytime, Lieutenant. We'll keep rechecking the figures as we go along. +If there are any corrections, we'll send them to you. That will give +you a check on your own figures." + +"Don't worry," Rip assured him, "we're going to have plenty of +corrections before we're through." + +Deceleration had been dropping steadily. It ceased altogether, leaving +them weightless. O'Brine's voice came over the speaker. "Get it! Valve +crews take stations at landing boats five and six. The Planeteers will +depart in five minutes. Lieutenant Foster will report to central control +if he cannot be ready in that time." + +Santos grinned at Rip. "Here we go, Lieutenant." + +Rip's heart would have dropped into his shoes if there had been any +gravity. Only a little excitement showed on his face, though. He waved +his thanks at the analysts and grinned back at Santos. + +"Show an exhaust, Corporal. High vack is waiting!" + + + + +CHAPTER SIX + +Rip's Planet + + +Rip rechecked his space suit before putting on his helmet. The air seal +was intact, and his heating and ventilating units worked. He slapped his +knee pouches to make sure the space knife was handy to his left hand, the +pistol to his right. + +Koa was already fully dressed. He handed Rip the shoulder case that +contained the plotting board. Santos had taken charge of Rip's +astrogation instruments. + +A spaceman was waiting with Rip's bubble. At a nod, the spaceman slipped +it on his head. Rip reached up and gave it a quarter turn. The locking +mechanism clamped into place. He turned his belt ventilator control on +full, and the space suit puffed out. When it was fully inflated, he +watched the pressure gauge. It was steady. No leaks in suit or helmet. +He let the pressure go down to normal. + +Koa's voice buzzed in his ears. "Hear me, sir?" + +Rip adjusted the volume of his communicator and replied, "I hear you. Am +I clear?" + +"Yessir. All men dressed and ready." + +Rip made a final check. He counted his men, then personally inspected +their suits. The boats were next. They were typical landing craft, +shaped like rectangular boxes. There was no need for streamlining in the +vacuum of space. They were not pressurized. Only men in space suits rode +in the ungainly boxes. + +He checked all blast tubes to make sure they were clear. There were small +single tubes on each side of the craft. A clogged one could explode and +blow the boat up. + +Koa, he knew, had checked everything, but the final responsibility was +his. In space, no officer took anyone's word for anything that might mean +lives. Each checked every detail personally. + +Rip looked around and saw the Planeteers watching him. There was approval +on the faces behind the clear helmets, and he knew they were satisfied +with his thoroughness. + +At last, certain that everything was in good order, he said quietly, +"Pilots, man your boats." + +Dowst got into one and a spaceman into the other. Dowst's boat would stay +with them on the asteroid. The spaceman would bring the other back to the +ship. + +Commander O'Brine stepped through the valve into the boat lock. A +spaceman handed him a hand communicator. He spoke into it. Rip couldn't +have heard him through the helmet otherwise. "All set, Foster?" + +"Ready, sir." + +"Good. The long-range screen picked up a blip a few minutes ago. It's +probably that Connie cruiser." + +Rip swallowed. The Planeteers froze, waiting for the commander's next +words. + +"Our screens are a little better than theirs, so there's a slim chance +they haven't picked us up yet. We'll drop you and get out of here. But +don't worry. We have your orbit fixed, and we'll find you when the +screens are clear." + +"Suppose they find us while you're gone?" Rip said. + +"It's a chance," O'Brine admitted. "You'll have to take spaceman's +luck on that one. But we won't be far away. We'll duck behind Vesta, +or another of the big asteroids, and hide so their screens won't pick +up our motion. Every now and then we'll sneak out for a look, if the +screen seems clear. If those high-vack vermin do find you, get on the +landing-boat radio and yell for help. We'll come blasting." + +He waved a hand, thumb and forefinger held together in the ancient symbol +for "everything right," then ordered, "Get flaming." He stepped through +the valve. + +"Clear the lock," Rip ordered. "Open outer valve when ready." + +He took a quick, final look around. The pilots were in the boats. His +Planeteers were standing by, safety lines already attached to the boats +and their belts. He moved into position and snapped his own line to a +ring on Dowst's boat. The spacemen vanished through the valve, and the +massive door slid closed. The overhead lights flicked out. Rip now +snapped on his belt light, and the others followed suit. + +In front of the boxlike landing boats a great door slid open, and air +from the lock rushed out. Rip knew it was only imagination, but he felt +as though all the heat from his suit was radiating into space, chilling +him to near absolute zero. Beyond the lights from their belts, he saw +stars and recognized the constellation for which the space cruiser was +named. A superstitious spaceman would have taken that as a good sign. +Rip admitted that it was nice to see. + +"Float 'em," he ordered. + +The Planeteers gripped handholds at the entrance with one hand and +launching rails on the boats with the other, then heaved. The boats +slid into space. As the safety lines tightened, the Planeteers were +pulled after the boat. + +Rip left his feet with a little spring and shot through the door. +Directly below him, the asteroid gleamed darkly in the light of the tiny +sun. His first reaction was "Great Cosmos! What a little chunk of rock!" +But that was because he was used to looking from the space platform at +the great curve of Terra or at the big ball of the moon. Actually the +asteroid was fair-sized, when compared with most of its kind. + +The Planeteers hauled themselves into the boats by their safety lines. +Rip waited until all were in, then pulled himself along his own line +to the black square of the door. Koa was waiting to give him a hand into +the craft. + +The Planeteers were standing, except for Dowst. Rip had never seen an +old-type railroad, or he might have likened the landing boat to a +railroad boxcar. It was about the same size and shape, but had huge +"windows" on both sides and in front of the pilot--windows that were +not enclosed. The space-suited men needed no protection. + +"Blast," Rip ordered. + +A pulse of fire spurted from the top of each boat, driving them bottom +first toward the asteroid. + +"Land at will," Rip said. + +The asteroid loomed large as he looked through an opening. It was rocky, +but there were plenty of smooth places. + +Dowst picked one. He was an expert pilot, and Rip watched him with +pleasure. The exhaust from the top lessened, and fire spurted soundlessly +from the bottom. Dowst balanced the opposite thrusts of the top and +bottom blasts with the delicacy of a woman threading a needle. In a few +moments the boat was hovering a foot above the asteroid. Dowst cut the +exhausts, and Rip stepped out onto the tiny planet. + +The Planeteers knew what to do. Corporal Pederson produced hardened steel +spikes with ring tops. Private Trudeau had a sledge. Driving the first +spike would be the hardest, because the action of swinging the hammer +would propel the Planeteer like a rocket exhaust. In space, the law that +every action has an equal and opposite reaction had to be remembered +every moment. + +Rip watched, interested in how his man would tackle the problem. He +didn't know the answer himself, because he had never driven a spike +on an airless world with almost no gravity, and no one had ever mentioned +it to him. + +Pederson searched the gray metal with his torch and found a slender spur +of thorium, perhaps two feet high, a short distance from the boat. +"Here's a hold," he said. "Come on, Frenchy. You too, Bradshaw." + +Trudeau, carrying the sledge, walked up to the spur of rock and stood +with his heels against it. Pederson sat down on the ground with his legs +on either side of the spur. He stretched, hooking his heels around +Trudeau's ankles, anchoring him. With his gloves, he grabbed the seat of +the Frenchman's space suit. + +Bradshaw took a spike and held it against the gray metal ground. The +Frenchman swung, his hammer noiseless as it drove the tough spike. A +few inches into the metal was enough. Bradshaw took a wrench from his +belt, put it on the head of the spike, and turned it. Below the surface, +teeth on the spike bit into the metal. It would hold. + +The rest was easy. The spike was used to anchor Trudeau while he drove +another, at his longest reach. Then the second spike became his anchor, +and so on, until enough spikes had been set to lace the boat down against +any sudden shock. + +The boat piloted by the spaceman was tied to the one that would remain, +and the Planeteers floated its supplies through a window. It took only a +few moments, with Planeteers forming a chain from inside the boat to a +spot a little distance away. The crates weighed almost nothing, but still +retained their mass. Once their inertia was overcome, they moved from one +man to the next like ungainly balloons. + +"All clear, sir," Koa called. + +Rip stepped inside and made a quick inspection. The box was empty except +for the spaceman pilot. He put a hand on the pilot's shoulder. "On your +way, Rocky. Thanks." + +"You're welcome, sir." The pilot added, "Watch out for high vack." + +Rip and Koa stepped out and walked a little distance away. Santos and +Pederson cast the landing boat adrift and shoved it away from the +anchored boat. In a moment fire spurted from the bottom tube, spreading +over the dull metal and licking at the feet of the Planeteers. + +Rip watched the boat rise upward to the great, sleek, dark bulk of the +_Scorpius_. The landing boat maneuvered into the air lock with brief +flares from its exhausts. In a few moments the sparkling blast of +auxiliary rocket tubes moved the spaceship away. O'Brine was putting a +little distance between his ship and the asteroid before turning on the +nuclear drive. The ship decreased in size until Rip saw it only as a +dark, oval silhouette against the Milky Way. Then the exhaust of the +nuclear drive grew into a mighty column of glowing blue, and the ship +flamed into space. + +For a moment Rip had a wild impulse to yell for the ship to come back. +He had been in vacuum before, but only as a cadet, with an officer in +charge. Now, suddenly, he was the one responsible. The job was his. He +stiffened. Planeteer officers didn't worry about things like that. +He forced his mind to the job at hand. + +The next step was to establish a base. The base would have to be on the +dark side of the asteroid, once it was in its new orbit. That meant a +temporary base now and a better one later, when they had blasted the +little planet into its new course. He estimated roughly the approximate +positions where he would place his charges, using the sun and the star +Canopus as visual guides. + +"This will do for a temporary base," he announced. "Rig the boat +compartment. While two of you are doing that, you others break out the +rocket launcher and rocket racks and assemble the cutting torch. Koa will +make assignments." + +While the sergeant major translated Rip's general instructions into +specific orders for each man, the young lieutenant walked to the edge +of the sun belt. There was no atmosphere, so the edge was a sharp line +between dark and light. There wasn't much light, either. They were too +far from the sun for that. But as they neared the sun, the darkness would +be their protection. They would get so close to Sol that the metal on the +sun side would get soft as butter. + +He bent close to the uneven surface. It was clean metal, not oxidized +at all. The thorium had never been exposed to oxygen. Here and there, +pyramids of metal thrust up from the asteroid, sometimes singly, +sometimes in clusters. They were metal crystal formations. He guessed +that once, long ages ago, the asteroid had been a part of something much +bigger, perhaps a planet. One theory said the asteroids were formed when +a planet exploded. This asteroid might have been a pocket of pure thorium +in the planet. + +There would be plenty to do in a short while, but meanwhile he enjoyed +the sensation of being on a tiny world in space with only a handful of +Planeteers for company. He smiled. "King Foster," he said to himself. +"Monarch of a thorium space speck." It was a rather nice feeling, even +though he laughed at himself for thinking it. Since he was in command of +the detachment, he could in all truth say that this was his own personal +planet. It would be a good bit of space humor to spring on the folks back +on Terra. + +"Yep, once I was boss of a whole world. Made myself king. Emperor of all +the metal molecules and king of the thorium spurs. And my subjects obeyed +my every command." He added, "Thanks to Planeteer discipline. The +detachment commander is boss." + +He reminded himself that he had better stop gathering space dust and +start acting like a detachment commander. He walked back to the landing +boat, stepping with care. With such low gravity, a false step could send +him high above the asteroid. Of course, that would not be dangerous, +since space suits were equipped with six small compressed-air bottles for +emergency propulsion. But it would be embarrassing. + +Inside the boat, Dowst and Nunez were setting up the compartment. +Sections of the rear wall swung out and locked into place against +airtight seals, forming a box at the rear end of the boat. Equipment +sealed in the stern, next to the rocket tube, supplied light, heat, and +air. It was a simple but necessary arrangement. Without it, the +Planeteers could not have eaten. + +There was no air lock for the compartment. The half of the detachment not +on duty would walk in, seal it up, turn on the equipment, wait until the +gauges registered sufficient air and heat, and then remove their space +suits. When it was time to leave, they would don suits, open the door, +and walk out, and the next shift would enter and repeat the process. +Earlier models had permanent compartments, but they took up too much room +in craft designed for carrying as many men and as much equipment as +possible. They were strictly work boats, and hard experience had dictated +the best design. + +The rocket launcher was already set up near the boat. It was a simple +affair, with three adjustable legs bolted to ground spikes. The legs +held a movable cradle in which the rocket racks were placed. High-geared +hand controls enabled the gunner to swing the cradle at high speed in +any direction except straight down. A simple, illuminated optical sight +was all the gunner needed. Since there were neither gravity nor +atmosphere in space, the missiles flashed out in a straight line, +continuing on into infinity if they missed their targets. Proximity fuses +made this a remote possibility. If the rocket got anywhere near the +target, the shell would explode. + +Rip found his astrogation instruments set carefully to one side. He +removed the data sheets from his case and examined them. Now came the +work of finding the spots in which to place his atomic charges. Since the +computer aboard ship had done all the mathematics necessary, he needed +only to take sights to determine the precise positions. + +He took a transit-like instrument from the case, pulled out the legs of +its self-contained tripod, then carried it to a spot near where he had +estimated the first charge would be placed. The instrument was equipped +with three movable rings to be set for the celestial equator, for the +zero meridian, and for the right ascension of any convenient star. Using +a regular level would have been much simpler. The instrument had one, but +with so little gravity to activate it, the thing was useless. + +The sights were specially designed for use in space, and his bubble was +no obstacle in taking observations. He merely put the clear plastic +against the curved sight and looked into it much as he would have looked +through a telescope on Earth. + +As he did so, a hint of pale pink light caught the corner of his eye. He +backed away from the instrument and turned his head quickly, looking at +the colorimeter-type radiation detector at the side of his helmet. It was +glowing. + +An icy chill sent a shiver through him. Great, gorgeous galaxies! He had +forgotten ... had Koa and the others? He turned so fast that he lost his +balance and floated above the surface like a captive balloon. Santos, who +had been standing nearby to help if requested, hooked a toe on the ground +spike, caught him, and set him upright on the ground again. + +"Get me the radiation detection instruments," he ordered. + +Koa sensed the urgency in his voice and got the instruments himself. Rip +switched them on and read the illuminated dial on the alpha counter. +Plenty high, as was natural. But no danger there--alpha particles +couldn't penetrate the space suits. Then, his hand clammy inside the +space glove, he switched on the other meter. The gamma count was far +below the alpha, but there were too many of the rays around for comfort. +Inside the helmet his face turned pale. + +There was no immediate danger. It would take many days to build up a dose +of gamma that could hurt them. But gamma was not the only radiation. They +were in space, fully exposed to equally dangerous cosmic radiation. + +The Planeteers had gathered while he read the instruments. Now they stood +watching him. + +They knew the significance of what he had found. + +"I ought to be busted to recruit," he told them. "I knew this asteroid +was thorium and that thorium is radioactive. If I had used my head, I +would have added nuclite shielding to the list of supplies the _Scorpius_ +provided. We could have had enough of it to protect us while around our +base, even if we couldn't be protected while working on the charges. That +would at least have kept our dosage down enough for safety." + +"No one else thought of it, either, sir," Koa reminded him. + +"It was my job to think of it, and I didn't. So I've put us in a time +squeeze. If the _Scorpius_ gets back soon, we can get the shielding +before our radiation dosage has built up very high. If the ship doesn't +come back, the dosage will mount." + +He looked at them grimly. "It won't kill us, and it won't even make us +very sick. I'll have the ship take us off before we build up that much +dosage." + +Santos started. "But, sir! That means--" + +"I know what it means," Rip stated bitterly. "It means the ship has got +to return in time to give us some nuclite shielding, or we'll be the +laughingstock of the Special Order Squadrons--the detachment that started +a job the spacemen had to finish!" + + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN + +Earthbound! + + +There was something else that Rip didn't add, although he knew the +Planeteers would realize it in a few minutes. Probably some of them +already had thought of it. + +To move the asteroid into a new orbit, they were going to fire nuclear +bombs. Most of the highly radioactive fission products would be blown +into space, but some would be drawn back by the asteroid's slight +gravity. The craters would be highly radioactive, and some radioactive +debris was certain to be scattered around, too. Every particle would add +to the problem. + +"Is there anything we can do, sir?" Koa asked. + +Rip shook his head inside the transparent bubble. "If you have a good +luck charm in your pocket, you might talk to it. That's about all." + +Nuclear physics had been part of his training. He read the gamma meter +again and did some quick calculations. They would be exposed for the +entire trip, at a daily dosage of-- + +Koa interrupted his train of thought. Evidently the sergeant major had +been doing some calculations of his own. "How long will we be on this +rock, sir? You've never told us just how long the trip will take." + +Rip said quietly, "With luck, it will take us a little more than three +weeks." + +He could see their faces faintly in the dim sunlight. They were shocked. +Spaceships blasted through space between the inner planets in a matter +of hours. The nuclear drive cruisers, which could approach almost half +the speed of light, had brought even distant Pluto within easy reach. +The inner planets could be covered in a matter of minutes on a straight +speed run, although to take off from one and land on the other meant +considerable time used in acceleration and deceleration. + +The Planeteers were used to such speed. Hearing that it would take over +three weeks to reach Earth had jarred them. + +"This piece of metal isn't a spaceship," Rip reminded them. "At the +moment, our speed around the sun is just slightly more than ten miles a +second. If we just shifted orbits and kept the same speed, it would take +us months to reach Terra. But we'll use one bomb for retrothrust, then +fire two to increase speed. The estimate is that we'll push up to about +forty miles a second." + +Koa spoke up. "That's not bad when you think that Mercury is the fastest +planet, and it only makes about thirty miles a second." + +"Right," Rip agreed. "After the asteroid is kicked out of orbit, it will +fall toward the sun. At our closest approach to the sun, we'll have +enough velocity to carry us past safely. Then we'll lose speed constantly +until we come into Earth's gravitational field and have to brake." + +It was just space luck that Terra was on the other side of the sun from +the asteroid's present position. By the time they approached, it would +be in a good place, just far enough from the line to the sun to avoid +changing course. Of course, Rip's planned orbit was not aiming the +asteroid at Earth, but at where Earth would be at the end of the trip. + +"That means more than three weeks of radiation, then," Corporal Santos +observed. "Can we take it, sir?" + +Rip shrugged, but the gesture couldn't be seen inside his space suit. "At +the rate we're getting radiation now, plus what I estimate we'll get from +the nuclear explosions, we'll get the maximum safety limit in just three +weeks. That leaves us no margin, even if we risk getting radiation +sickness. So we have to get shielding pretty soon. If we do, we can last +the trip." + +Private Dominico saluted and moved forward. "Sir, may I ask a question?" + +Rip turned to face the Planeteer, still worrying over the problem. He +nodded and said, "What is it, Dominico?" + +"Sir, I think we can't worry too much about this radiation, eh? You will +think of some way to take care of it. What I want to ask, sir, is when do +we let go the bombs? I do not know much about radiation, but I can set +those bombs like you want them." + +Rip was touched by the Planeteer's faith in his ability to solve the +radiation problem. That was why being an officer in the Special Order +Squadrons was so challenging. The men knew the kind of training their +officers had, and they expected them to come up with technical solutions +as the situation required. + +"You'll have a chance to set the bombs in just a short while," he said +crisply. "Let's get busy. Koa, load all bombs but one ten KT on the +landing boat. Stake the rest of the equipment down. While you're doing +that, I'll find the spots where we plant the charges. I'll need two men +now and more later." + +He went back to his instrument, putting the radiation problem out of his +mind--a rather hard thing to do with the colorimeter glowing pink next to +his shoulder. Koa detailed men to load the nuclear bombs into the landing +craft, left Pederson to supervise, and then brought Santos with him to +help Rip. + +"The bombs are being put on the boat, sir," Koa reported. + +"Fine. There isn't too much chance of the blasts setting them off, but +we'll take no chances at all. Koa, I'm going to shoot a line straight out +toward Alpha Centauri. You walk that way and turn on your belt light. +I'll tell you which way to move." + +He adjusted his sighting rings while the sergeant major glided away. +Moving around on a no-weight world was more like skating than walking. A +regular walk would have lifted Koa into space with every step. Of course, +the asteroid had some gravity, but so little that it hardly mattered. + +Rip centered the top of the instrument's vertical hairline on Alpha +Centauri, then waited until Koa was almost out of sight over the +asteroid's horizon, which was only a few hundred yards away. + +He turned up the volume on his helmet communicator. "Koa, move about ten +feet to your left." + +Koa did so. Rip sighted past the vertical hairline at the belt light. +"That's a little too far. Take a small step to the right. That's +good ... just a few inches more ... hold it. You're right in position. +Stand where you are." + +"Yessir." + +Rip turned to Santos. "Stand here, Corporal. Take a sight at Koa to get +your bearings, then hold position." + +Santos did so. Now the two lights gave Rip one of the lines he needed. He +called for two more men, and Trudeau and Nunez joined him. "Follow me," +he directed. + +Rip picked up the instrument and carried it to a point ninety degrees +from the line represented by Koa and Santos. He put the instrument down +and zeroed it on Messier 44, the Beehive star cluster in the +constellation Cancer. For the second sighting star he chose Beta Pyxis +as being closest to the line he wanted, made the slight adjustments +necessary to set the line of sight, since Pyxis wasn't exactly on it, +then directed Trudeau into position as he had Koa. Nunez took position +behind the instrument, and Rip had his cross fix. + +He called for Dowst, then carried the instrument to the center of the +cross formed by the four men. Using the instrument, he rechecked the +lines from the center out. They were within a hair or two of being +exactly on, and a slight error wouldn't hurt, anyway. He knew he would +have to correct with rocket blasts once the asteroid was in the new +orbit. + +"X marks the spot," he told Dowst. He put his toe on the place where the +crosslines met. + +Dowst used a spike to make an X in the metal ground. + +"All set," Rip announced. "You four men can move now. Let's have the +cutting equipment over here, Koa." + +The Planeteers were all waiting for instructions now. In a few moments +the equipment was ready, fuel and oxygen bottles attached. + +"Who's the champion torchman?" Rip asked. + +Koa replied, "Kemp is, sir." + +Kemp, one of the two American privates, took the torch and waited for +orders. "We need a hole six feet across and twenty feet deep," Rip told +him. "Go to it." + +"How about direction, sir?" Kemp asked. + +"Straight down. We'll take a bearing on an overhead star when you're in a +few feet." + +Dowst inscribed a circle around the X he had made and stood back. Kemp +pushed the striker button and the torch flared. "Watch your eyes," he +warned. The Planeteers reached for belt controls and turned the rheostats +that darkened the clear bubbles electronically. Kemp adjusted his flame +until it was blue-white, a knife of fire brighter by far than the light +of the sun at this distance. + +Koa stepped behind Kemp and leaned against his back, because the flame of +the torch was like an exhaust, driving Kemp backward. Kemp bent down, and +the torch sliced into the metal of the asteroid like a hot knife into +ice. The metal splintered a little as the heat raised it instantly from +almost absolute zero to many thousands of degrees. + +When the circle was completed, Kemp adjusted his torch again, and the +flame lengthened. He moved inside the circle and cut at an angle toward +the perimeter. His control was quick and certain. In a moment he stood +aside, and Koa lifted out a perfect ring of thorium. It varied from a +knife edge on the inner side to eighteen inches on the outer side. + +In the middle of the circle there was now a cone of metal. Kemp cut +around it, the torch angling toward the center. A piece shaped like +two cones set base to base came free. Since the metal cooled in the +bitter chill of space almost as fast as Kemp could cut it, there was no +heat to worry about. + +Alternately cutting from the outside and the center of the hole, Kemp +worked his way downward until his head was below ground level. Rip +called a halt. Kemp gave a little jump and floated straight upward. Koa +caught him and swung him to one side. Rip stepped into the hole, and +Santos gave him a slight push to send him to the bottom. Rip knelt and +sighted upward. Kemp had done a good job. The star Rip had chosen as a +guide was straight overhead. + +He bounced out of the hole, and, as Koa caught him, he told Kemp to go +ahead. "Dominico, here's your chance. Get tools and wire. Find a timer +and connect up the ten-kiloton bomb. Nunez, bring it here while Dominico +gets what he needs." + +Kemp was burning his way into the asteroid at a good rate. Every few +moments he pushed another circle or spindle of thorium out of the hole. +Rip directed some of the men to carry them away, to the other side of the +asteroid. He didn't want chunks of thorium flying around from the blast. + +The sergeant major had a sudden thought. He cut off his communicator, +motioned to Rip to do the same, then put his helmet against Rip's for +direct communication. He didn't want the others to hear what he had to +say. His voice came like a roar from the bottom of a well. "Lieutenant, +do you suppose there's any chance the blast might break up the asteroid? +Maybe split it in two?" + +The same thought had occurred to Rip on the _Scorpius_. His calculations +had showed that the metal would do little more than compress, except +where it melted from the terrific heat of the bomb. That would be only +in and around the shaft. He was sure the men at Terra base had figured +it out before they decided that A-bombs would be necessary to throw the +asteroid into a new orbit. He wasn't worried. Cracks in the asteroid +would be dangerous, but he hadn't seen any. + +"This rock will take more nuclear blasts than we have," he assured Koa. +He turned his communicator back on and went to the edge of the hole for +a look at Kemp's progress. He was far down now. Pederson was holding one +end of a measuring tape. The other end was fastened to Kemp's shoulder +strap. + +The Swedish corporal showed Rip that he had only about eight feet of tape +left. Kemp was almost down. Rip called, "Kemp, when you reach bottom, cut +toward the center. Leave an inverted cone." + +"Got it, sir. Be up in two more cuts." + +Dominico had connected cable to the bomb terminals and was attaching a +timer to the other end. Without the wooden case, the bomb was like a fat, +oversized can. It had been shipped without a combat casing. + +"Koa, make a final check. You can untie the landing boat, except for one +line. We'll be taking off in a few minutes." + +"Right, sir." Koa glided toward the landing boat, which was moored out of +sight beyond the horizon. + +It was nearly time. Rip had a moment's misgiving. Had his figures or his +sightings been off? His scalp prickled at the thought. But the ship's +computer had done the work, and it was not capable of making a mistake. + +Kemp tossed up the last section of thorium and then came out of the hole +himself, carrying his torch. + +Rip inspected the hole, saw with satisfaction that it was in almost +perfect alignment, and ordered the bomb placed. He bent over the edge +of the hole and watched Trudeau pay out wire while Dominico pushed the +bomb to the bottom. The Italian made a last-minute check, then called +to Rip. "Ready, sir." + +Rip dropped into the hole and inspected the connections himself, then +personally pulled the safety lever. The bomb was armed. When the timer +acted, it would go off. + +Back at ground level, he turned up his communicator. "Koa, is everything +ready at the boat?" + +"Ready, sir." + +The Planeteers had already carried away the torch and its fuel and oxygen +supplies. The area was clear of pieces of thorium. + +Rip announced, "We're setting the explosion for ten minutes." He leaned +over the timer, which rested near the lip of the hole, took the dial +control in his glove, and turned it to position ten. He held it long +enough to glance at his chronometer and say, "Starting now!" Then he +let it go. + +Wasting no time, but not hurrying, he and Dominico returned to the +landing boat. The Planeteers were already aboard, except for Koa, who +stood by to cast off the remaining tie line. Rip stepped inside and +counted the men. All present. He ordered, "Cast off." As Koa did so +and stepped aboard, Rip added, "Pilot, take off. Straight up." + +The landing boat rose from the asteroid. Rip counted the men again, just +to be sure. The boat seemed a little crowded, but that was because the +rear compartment took up quite a bit of room. + +Rip watched his chronometer. They had plenty of time. When the boat +reached a point about ten miles above the asteroid, he ordered, "Stern +tube." The boat moved at an angle. He let it go until a sight at the +stars showed they were in about the right position, ninety degrees from +the line of blast and where they would be behind the asteroid as it moved +toward the new course. + +He looked at his chronometer again. "Two minutes. Line up at the side if +you want to watch, but darken your helmets to full protection. This thing +will light up like nothing you've ever seen before." + +It was a good thing space cruisers depended on their radar and not on +sight, he thought. Usually spacemen opened up visual ports only when +landing or taking a star sight for an astroplot. The clear plastic of the +domes had to be shielded from chance meteors. Besides, radar screens were +more dependable than eyes, even though they could pick up only solid +objects. If the Consops cruiser happened to be searching visually, it +would see this blast. But the chance had to be taken. It wasn't really +much of a chance. + +"One minute," he said. He faced the asteroid, then darkened his helmet, +counting to himself. + +The minute ticked off rapidly, though his count was a little slow. When +he reached five, brilliant, incandescent light lit up the interior of the +boat. Rip saw it even though his helmet was dark. The light faded slowly, +and as it did, he gradually put his helmet back on full transparent. + +A mighty column of fire now reached out from the asteroid into space. Rip +held his breath until he saw that the little planet was sheering off its +course under the great blast. Then he sighed with relief. All was well so +far. + +Someone muttered, "By Gemini! I'm glad we're out here instead of down +there!" + +The column of fire lengthened, thinned out, grew fainter, until there was +only a glow behind the asteroid. Rip took his astrogation instruments and +made a number of sights. They looked good. The first blast had worked +about as predicted, although he wouldn't be able to tell how much +correction was needed until he had taken star sights over a period of +five or six days. + +"Let's go home," he ordered. + +Back on the asteroid, a pit that glowed with radioactivity marked the +site of the first blast. Rip ordered the men to stay as far from it as +possible, to avoid increasing their radiation doses. He plotted the lines +for the second blast, found the spot, and put Kemp back to work on a new +hole. + +Two hours later the second blast threw fire into space. In another three +hours, with the asteroid now speeding on its new course, Rip set off the +explosion that blasted straight back and gave extra speed. + +Three radioactive craters marked the asteroid. Rip checked the radiation +level and didn't like it a bit. He decided to set up the landing boat and +their supplies as far away from the craters as possible, which was on the +sun side. They could move to the dark side as they approached the orbit +of Earth. By then the radioactivity from the blasts would have died down +considerably. + +He was selecting the location for a base when Dowst suddenly called, +"Lieutenant Foster!" + +There was urgency in the Planeteer's voice. "What is it, Dowst?" + +"Sir, take a look, about two degrees south of Rigel!" + +Rip found the constellation Orion and looked at bright Rigel. For a +moment he saw nothing; then, south of the star, he saw a thin, orange +line. + +Nuclear drive cruisers didn't have exhausts of that color, and there was +only one rocket-drive ship around, so far as they knew. + +Rip said softly, "Let's get our house in order, gang. Looks as if we're +going to get a visit from the Connies!" + + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT + +Duck--or Die! + + +Sergeant Major Koa's great frame loomed in front of Rip. "Think they've +spotted us, sir?" + +Rip hated to say it. "Probably. Koa, can you estimate from the exhaust +how far away they are?" + +"Not very well, Lieutenant. From the position of the streak, I'd say +they're decelerating." + +The Planeteers looked at Rip. He was in command, and they expected him to +do something about the situation. Rip didn't know what to do. The rocket +launcher, their only weapon, wasn't designed for fighting spaceships. It +was useful against snapper-boats and people, but firing at a cruiser +would be like sending mosquitoes to fight elephants. + +He sized up their position. For one thing, they were right out in the +open, exposed to anything the Connie cruiser might throw at them. If they +could get under cover, there might be a chance. At least it would take +the Connies a while to find them. + +For a moment he thought of hurrying into the landing boat and sending out +a call for help to the _Scorpius_, but he thought better of it. They +weren't certain that Connie had spotted them. He would wait until there +was no doubt. Meanwhile, they had to find cover. + +His searching eyes fell on the cutting torch. If they could use that to +cut themselves right into the asteroid.... Suddenly he knew how it could +be done. On the sun side he remembered a series of high-piled, giant +crystals of thorium. They could cut into the side of one of those. And +with Kemp's skill, they might be able to do it in time. + +He called, "Kemp, Koa, bring the torch and fuel and follow me." + +In his haste he took a misstep and flew headlong a few feet above the +metal surface. Koa, gliding along behind him, turned him upright again. +He saw that the sergeant major was grinning. Rip grinned back. It was the +second time he had lost his footing. + +They reached the peaks of thorium, and Rip looked them over. The tallest +was perhaps forty feet high. It was roughly pyramidal, with a base about +sixty feet thick. It would do. + +"Kemp." The private hurried to his side. "Take the torch and make us a +cave. Make it big enough for the entire crew and the equipment." + +Kemp was a good Planeteer. He didn't stop to ask questions. He said, +"I'll make a small entrance and open the cave out inside." He picked up +the torch and got busy. + +Rip smiled. The Planeteer was right. He should have thought of it +himself, but it was good to see increasing proof that his men were smart +as well as tough and disciplined. + +"Bring up all supplies," he told Koa. "Move the boat over here, too. We +won't be able to bury that, but we want it close by." He had an idea for +their boat. It was able to maneuver infinitely faster than the big +cruiser. They could put the supplies in the cave, then take to the boat, +depending on its ability to turn quickly and on Dowst's skill at piloting +to play hide and seek. Dowst certainly could keep the asteroid between +them and the cruiser. + +The plan would fail when the cruiser sent a landing party. They would +certainly come in snapper-boats, and those deadly little fighting craft +could blast rings around the landing boat. The snapper-boats had gotten +their name because fast acceleration and quick changes of position could +snap a man right out of his seat if he forgot to buckle his harness +tightly. + +The solution would be to keep the landing boat close to the asteroid. At +the first sign of a landing party, they would take to the cave, using the +rocket launcher as a defense. + +The supplies began to arrive. The Planeteers towed them two crates at a +time in a steady line of hurrying men. + +Kemp's torch sent an incandescent knife three feet into the metal at each +cut. He was rapidly slicing out a cave. He cut the metal out in great +triangular bars, angling the torch from first one side, then the other. + +Koa came and stood beside Rip. "I haven't seen the Connie's exhaust for a +while, sir. They've probably stopped decelerating. We can't see them at +all." + +"Meaning what?" Rip asked. He thought he knew, but he wanted Koa's +opinion. + +"They're in free fall now, sir. That could mean they're just hunting in +the area. Or it could mean that they've stopped somewhere close by. They +could be looking us over right now, for all we know." + +Rip surveyed the stars. "If that's so, they're not too close, Koa. +Otherwise they'd block out a patch of stars." + +"Well, sir--" Koa hesitated. "I mean, if you were looking over this +asteroid, and you weren't sure whether the enemy had it or not, how close +would you get?" + +"Probably about one AU," Rip said jokingly. That was one astronomical +unit, equal to about ninety-three million miles, the distance from Earth +to the sun. + +"That's a safe distance, sir," Koa agreed with a grin. + +"But let's suppose the Connie isn't as timid as I am," Rip went on. "He +might be only a few miles out. The question is, would he wait to get +closer before launching his snapper-boats?" + +The tall officer answered frankly, "I've never been in a space grab like +this. I don't know the answer." + +"We'll soon know," Rip replied grimly. A thought had just struck him. The +_Scorpius_ had trouble finding the asteroid because it was just one of +many sailing along through the belt. But now the asteroid was the only +one traveling _across_ the belt. It would make an outstanding blip on any +radarscope. It wasn't possible that the Connie cruiser had missed the +blip and its significance. + +"The Connie may be looking us over," Rip added, "but I'll tell you one +thing. He knows we've taken the asteroid." + +Koa looked wistfully at the atomic bomb which remained. "If we had a way +to throw that thing at them...." + +"But we haven't. And the thing wouldn't explode, anyway. We don't have +the outside casing with an exploder mechanism, so it has to be turned on +electrically." Rip could see no way to use the atomic bomb against the +Connies. It was too big for use against a landing party. Besides, it +would put the Planeteers themselves in danger. + +"Ever have trouble with the Connies before?" he asked Koa. + +"More'n once, sir. Sometimes it seems like I'll never get a job where +I don't have to fight Connies." + +Rip was trained in science and Planeteer techniques, and he didn't +pretend to know the ins and outs of interplanetary politics. Just the +same, he couldn't help wondering about the strange relationship between +the Consolidation of People's Governments and the Federation of Free +Nations. + +Connies and Feds, mostly Planeteers but sometimes spacemen, were +constantly skirmishing. They fought over property, over control of +ports on distant planets and moons, and over space salvage. Often there +was bloodshed. Sometimes there were pitched battles between groups of +platoon size. + +But at that point the struggle ended. The law of the Federation said that +no spaceship could fire on a Connie spaceship or on Connie land bases, +except with special permission of the Space Council. The theory was that +brief struggles between men, or even between small fighting craft like +the snapper-boats, was not war. But firing on a spaceship was considered +an act of war, and the first such act could mean the beginning of a war +throughout the entire solar system. + +It made a sort of sense to Rip when he thought about it. Little fights +here and there were better than a full war among the planets. + +Koa suddenly gripped his arm. "Sir! Look up!" + +The short hairs on the back of Rip's neck prickled. Far above, blackness +in the shape of a spaceship blotted out stars. The Connie had arrived! + +Rip ordered urgently, "Kemp! Stop cutting! The rest of you get the stuff +under cover. Ram it!" He hurried to lend a hand himself, hustling crates +into the cave. + +Kemp had made astonishing progress. There was room for the crates, if +stacked properly, and for the men, besides. Rip supervised the stacking +and then the placement of the rocket launcher at the entrance. + +"All hands inside the boat," he ordered. "Dowst, be ready to take off at +a moment's notice. You'll have to buck this box around as never before." +He explained to the pilot his plan to dodge, keeping the asteroid between +the boat and the cruiser. + +"We'll make it, sir," Dowst said. + +"I'm not worried," Rip replied--and wished it were true. He looked up at +the Connie again. It was getting larger. The cruiser was within a few +miles of the asteroid. + +As Rip watched, fire spurted from the cruiser, and it moved with +gathering speed toward the asteroid's horizon. He watched the exhaust +trail, wondering why the Connie had blasted off. + +"He has something up his sleeve," Koa muttered. "Wish we knew what." + +"Let's take no chances," Rip stated. "Come on." + +The men were already in the boat. He and Koa joined them. They stood at a +window, watching the Connie's trail. + +The trail dwindled. Koa said, "Something's up!" Suddenly new fire shot +from one side of the cruiser, and it spun. Balancing fire came from the +other side, and for an instant the three exhausts formed a cross, with +the darkness of the Connie's hull in the center. Then they could see only +the exhausts from the sides. The stern flame was out of sight. "He's made +a full turn to come back this way," Rip stated tensely. "Dowst, get +ready." + +The Connie was perhaps twenty miles away. It grew larger, and the side +jets winked out. A few seconds later, fire spurted from the nose. + +Rip figured rapidly. The cruiser had gone far enough away to make a turn. +It had straightened out, heading right for them. Now the nose tube was +blasting, slowing the cruiser down. + +He sighted, holding out one glove, and gauging the Connie's distance +above the horizon, and his heart speeded. The Connie was right on the +horizon! + +"Ram it!" Rip called. "Around the asteroid. Quick!" + +Acceleration jammed him back against his men as Dowst blasted. No sooner +had he recovered than acceleration in a different direction shoved him up +to the ceiling so hard that his bubble rang. He clawed his way to the +window as the Connie cruiser flashed by, bathing the asteroid in glowing +flame. + +There was a chorus of gasps from the men as they saw the thing Rip had +realized a moment before. The Consops cruiser was playing it safe, using +its rocket exhaust as a great blowtorch to burn the surface of the +asteroid clean of any possible life! + +The sheer inhumanity of the thing made Rip's stomach tighten into a knot. +No asking for surrender, no taking of prisoners, not even a clean fight. +The Connie was doing its arguing with fire, knowing that the exhaust +would char every man on the asteroid's surface. + +The Planeteers watched as the Connie sped away, blasted with side jets, +and turned to come back. Dowst tensed over the controls, trying to +anticipate the next move. He delicately touched the firing levers, +letting out just enough flame to maneuver. He slid the craft across the +asteroid's surface to the side away from the Connie, going slowly enough +that they could watch the enemy's every move. + +"Here he comes," Rip snapped, and braced for acceleration. The landing +craft shot to safety as the cruiser's nose jet flamed. Dowst was just in +time. Tiny sparks from the edge of the fiery column brushed past the +boat. + +Rip realized that the Connie couldn't know the Federation men were in a +boat, dodging. The cruiser would make about two more runs, just enough to +allow for hitting every bit of the asteroid. Then it would assume that +anything on it was finished and send a landing party. + +"He'll be back," he stated. "About twice more. Three at most." He +suddenly remembered the landing boat's radio. "Dowst, where is the radio +connection?" + +The pilot handed him a wire with a jack plug on the end of it. Rip +plugged it into his belt. Now his voice would be heard on the _Scorpius_. + +"Calling _Scorpius_! Calling _Scorpius_! Foster reporting. We are under +attack. Repeat, we are under attack. Over to you." + +The answer rang in his helmet. "_Scorpius_ to Foster. Hold 'em, +Planeteers. We're on our way!" + +"Here comes the Connie," Koa yelled. + +Rip braced. The landing boat shot forward, then piled the Planeteers in a +heap on the bottom as Dowst accelerated upward. + +There was a sudden wrenching crash that sent the Planeteers in a jumbled +mass into the front of the boat. It whirled crazily, then stopped. + +Rip was not hurt. He shoved at someone whose bubble was in his stomach +and cleared the way. "Turn on belt lights," he called. "Quick!" + +Lights flared on. He searched quickly, swinging his light. The Planeteers +were getting to their feet. His light focused on Private Bradshaw, and he +gasped. + +Bradshaw's face was scarlet, and his skin was flecked with drops of +blood. His eyes were closed and bulging horribly. + +Rip jumped forward, but Koa was even faster. The Hawaiian jerked a repair +strip from a belt pouch and slapped it on the crack in Bradshaw's bubble. +Rip wasted no time, either. By the time Koa had the strip in place he had +pulled the connection from his belt light. He ran the tips of the wires +over the edges of the strip. The current sealed the patch in place +instantly. + +Koa grabbed the atmosphere control on Bradshaw's belt and turned it. The +suit puffed up. Rip watched the repair anxiously in the light from Koa's +belt. It held. + +Rip reconnected his light as he asked swiftly, "Anyone else hurt? Answer +by name." + +There were quick replies. No one else had been injured. + +"Run for the cave," Rip commanded. "Follow Koa. Santos and Pederson, drag +Bradshaw." + +The Englishman's voice sounded bubbly. "I can make it." + +"Good for you!" Rip exclaimed. "Call if you need help." + +Koa was already out of the craft and leading the way. Rip went out +through a window and saw the cause of the trouble. Dowst had been a +hair too close to the asteroid. A particularly high crystal of thorium +had snagged the landing craft. + +Rip looked for the Connie and saw it make another turn. They had only a +moment or two before the next run. "Show an exhaust!" he called. The +Connie must have blasted the opposite side of the asteroid while they +were hung up. + +The cave was a quarter of the asteroid away. Rip stayed in the rear, +watching for stragglers, but even Bradshaw was moving rapidly. Koa +reached the cave well ahead of the rest, reached for a rack of rockets, +and slapped it into the launcher. + +Rip urged the men on. The Connie was squared off for another run. + +They catapulted to safety as the cruiser flamed past, the exhaust +splashing over the metal and sending sparks into the cave. + +Rip looked out. That, if he had guessed right, was the last run. He +watched the Connie's stern jet cut off, saw the nose exhaust as the +cruiser decelerated to a fast stop. + +"Check your weapons," he ordered. + +He pulled his pistol from his knee pocket and checked it carefully. There +was a clip in the magazine. Other clips were in his pocket. The clips +were loaded with high velocity shells that exploded on contact. One slug +could stop a Venusian _krel_, a mammoth beast that had been described as +a cross between a sea lion and a cactus plant. + +His knife was in place in the other knee pocket. + +The Connie cruiser decelerated, went into reverse, and came to a full +stop about a mile from the asteroid. The Planeteers saw fire in two +places along the hull, marking the exhausts of two small craft. + +"Snapper-boats," Koa said tonelessly. "Five men in each, if those are the +regular Connie kind." + +Rip made a quick decision. With only one launcher they couldn't guard the +whole asteroid. "We'll stay under cover, except for Santos and Pederson. +You two sneak out. Take advantage of every bit of cover you can find. I +don't want you spotted. When a boat lands, report its position. The +Connies operate on different communicator frequencies, so they won't +overhear. We'll let them think they've burned the asteroid clean." + +He paused. "They'll search for a while. Then, when they're pretty well +satisfied that all is quiet, we'll show up." Rip grinned at his +Planeteers. "We can have a real, old-fashioned surprise party." + +Koa slid the safety catch from his pistol. "With fireworks," he added. + + + + +CHAPTER NINE + +Repel Invaders! + + +The snapper-boats came out of the darkness of space, leaving a glowing +trail of fire. They were not graceful. Rip could see no beauty in their +lines, but to his professional eye there was plenty of deadly efficiency. + +The Connie fighting craft looked like three globes strung evenly on +a steel tube. The middle globe was larger than the end ones, and it +was transparent. From it projected the barrels of two kinds of +weapons--explosive and ultrasonic. Five men usually rode in the middle +ball. One piloted. The other four were gunners. + +The end globes were pierced by five large holes. They were blast tubes +for the rocket exhaust. Unlike the landing boats, each tube did not have +its own fuel supply. One fuel tank served each globe. The pilot could +direct the exhaust through any tube or combination of tubes he wished, by +operating valves that either sealed or opened the vents. The system gave +high maneuverability to the boats. By playing on the controls with the +skill of an organist, the pilot could shift direction with dazzling +speed. + +Snapper-boats used by the Federation operated on the same principle, but +they were of American design, and they showed the Americans' love of +clean lines. Federation fighter craft were slim and streamlined, even +though the streamlining was of no use whatever in space. With blast holes +at each end, they looked like double-ended needles. The pilot's canopy in +the center controlled guns that fired through the front only. Rear guns +were handled by a gunner, who sat with back to the pilot. + +Where Connie snapper-boats carried five men, the Federation boats carried +two. The Connies could fire in any direction. The Federation pilots aimed +by pointing the snapper-boat itself, as fighter pilots of conventional +aircraft had once aimed their guns. + +Rip watched the boats approach. He was ready to duck inside if they +decided to look the asteroid over before landing. He hoped they wouldn't +catch sight of his two scouts. He also hoped his nervousness would vanish +when the fight started. He knew what to do, at least in theory. He had +gone through combat problems on the moon during training. But this was +different. This was real. The lives of his men depended on his being +right, and he was afraid of making a wrong decision. + +Sergeant Major Koa, an experienced Planeteer with true understanding, +came and stood beside him. He said, "Guess I'll never get over being +jittery while waiting for the fight to start. I'm sweating so hard my +dehumidifier is humming like a Callistan honey lizard. But it doesn't +last long once the shooting begins. I get so busy I forget to be +jittery." + +Before Rip could reply, the snapper-boats flashed over the cave, circled +the asteroid once, and landed on the dark side, close to the bomb +craters. + +The first scout reported. "Santos, sir. I'm fifty yards beyond the stakes +where we had the first base. The snapper-boats landed between the first +two craters. Men coming out of one boat. I count six. Now they're coming +out of the other boat, but I can't see very well." + +The other scout picked up the report, his voice thick with excitement. "I +can see them, sir! By Cosmos! There are seven in this boat on my side. I +am behind a rock forty yards to sunward of the second crater." + +Rip turned up the volume of his communicator. "How are they armed? +Santos, report." + +"One has a chatter gun. The rest have nothing." + +"Pederson, report." + +"No weapons I can see, sir." + +Koa looked at Rip. "They must think the asteroid is clean. Otherwise +they'd have more than a chatter gun in sight. You can bet they have +knives and pistols, too." + +Rip had been playing with an idea. He tried it on his men. "These Connies +would be useful to us alive, if we could capture them." + +Dowst caught his meaning first. "As hostages, sir?" + +"That's it. If we could capture them, the Connie cruiser would be +helpless. We could use the snapper-boat radios to warn the ship that any +false move would mean harm to their men." + +Koa shook his head doubtfully. "I'm not sure the Connies worry about +their men, but it's worth the try. We can capture some of them if they +split up to search the asteroid. But we won't be able to sneak up on them +all." + +"We have an advantage," Rip reminded them. "We've been on the asteroid +longer. We know our way around, and we're used to space walking. They've +just come out of deceleration, and they won't have their space legs yet." + +Santos reported. "They're breaking up into groups of two. Three are +guarding the snapper-boats. One is the man with the chatter gun." + +"Are their belt lights on?" + +"Yes." + +"Then keep out of the beams. Don't let them walk into you. Keep low, and +keep moving. Stay on the dark side." + +"We'd better get to the dark side ourselves," Koa warned. He was right, +Rip knew. The Connies didn't have far to search before reaching the sun +side. "Koa, you take Trudeau and Kemp. I'll take Dowst and Dominico. +Nunez and Bradshaw stay here to guard the cave. If they arrive in twos, +let them get into the cave before you jump them. Bradshaw, how do you +feel?" + +"I'm all right, Lieutenant." + +Rip admired the Planeteer's nerve. He knew Bradshaw was in pain, +because bleeding into high vacuum was always painful. The crack in +the Englishman's helmet had let most of the air out, and his own blood +pressure had done the rest. He would carry the marks for days. A few more +moments, and all air and all heat would have been gone, with fatal +results. Fortunately, bubbles didn't shatter easily when cracked. To +destroy them took a good blow. + +"All right. Let's travel. Koa, go right. I'll go the other way, and we'll +work around the asteroid until we meet." + +Rip led the way, gliding as rapidly as he could toward the edge of +darkness. He called, "Santos. Anyone coming in the direction of the +cave?" + +"Two pairs. About fifty yards apart. They will be out of my sight in a +few seconds." + +That meant they would be within sight of Rip and the others. He knew Koa +had heard the message, too. Both groups put on more speed and reached the +safety of darkness. "Get down," Rip ordered. They could still be seen, if +silhouetted against the edge of sunlight. + +Starlight gave a little light, but it was too faint to help much. Rip's +plan was that the Connies would supply the light needed for an attack. + +In a few seconds, as Santos had predicted, belt light beams cut sharp +paths through the darkness. Rip sized up the possibilities. There were +two teams of two men each, and they were getting farther apart with each +step. One team was coming almost directly toward them. The other two men +slanted away from them and would soon be out of sight behind the thorium +crystals in which the cave was located. Fortunately, the Connies were +going away from the cave. + +A Connie from the nearby team swung his beam back and forth, and it cut +space over their heads. Rip saw a few low pyramids of thorium a few rods +away. Quickly he ordered, "Dowst, hang on to my boots. Dominico, hang on +to Dowst's boots." + +He lay face down on the metal ground until he felt hands grip his boots, +then he asked, "All set?" + +Two voices answered, "Ready." + +Rip put his gloves on the ground, then heaved forward and slightly upward +to overcome his inertia and that of his men. The trio moved slowly, +almost parallel with the surface. Once or twice Rip reached down to a +convenient crystal and put his strength into changing course and +altitude. Those were the only times when he felt the tug of his men. + +He reached the first pyramid of thorium and directed, "Get behind these +rocks and stay down. Feel your way. Use me for a guide. I'll hold on +until you're under cover." He gripped a crystal. "Come on." + +Dominico pulled himself along Dowst's prone form and then along Rip's. +When Dominico had reached the shelter of the crystals, Dowst crawled +along, with Rip's body for his guide, passed over him, and reached cover. +Rip followed. + +The belt lights of the two Connies were almost abreast of them. Far to +their left, Rip saw another pair of lights. That was a pair he hadn't +seen before. + +"We'll wait until they pass," he told his men. "Then we'll get up and +rush them from behind. They can't hear us coming. Dowst, you take the +near one. I'll take the far one. Dominico, you help as needed, but +concentrate on cutting off their equipment. The first thing we must do is +cut their communicators; otherwise they'll warn the rest. Then turn off +their air supplies and collapse their suits." + +One thing was in their favor. The space suits worn by the Connies were +almost the same as theirs. The controls were of the same kind. The only +way to know a Connie was by his bubble, which was a little more tubular +than the round bubbles of the Federation. + +Rip suddenly realized that he wasn't nervous anymore. He grinned. After +all, this was what he was trained for. + +The Connies came abreast and passed. "Let's go," Rip said, and as he rose +he heard Koa's voice. + +The sergeant major said, "Kemp, kneel on their right side. Trudeau and +I will hit them from the left and tumble them over you. Get their +communicators first." + +Koa had his own methods and they sounded good. + +Rip started slowly. He wanted to get directly behind the Connies. He +stayed down low until he was sure they couldn't see him unless they +turned. + +Dowst and Dominico were right with him. "Come on," he said, and started +gliding after the helmeted figures. He kept his eyes on the one he had +selected, and he called on all the myriad stars of space to give him +luck. If the men turned, his plan for quick victory would fail. + +He sensed his Planeteers beside him as the figures loomed ahead. He gave +a final spring that sent him through space with knees bent and outthrust, +his hands reaching. + +His knees connected solidly with the Connie's thighs, and his hands +groped around the bulky space suit. He felt a rheostat control and +twisted savagely, then groped for the distinctive star-shaped button +of the air supply. + +The Connie wrenched violently and threw them both upward. Rip felt the +star shape and twisted. If he could only deflate the Connie's suit! But +the man was writhing from his grip, clawing for a weapon. + +Then Rip stopped reaching for the deflation valve. He grabbed his knife, +jerked it free, and thrust it against the middle of the Connie's back. +Then he clanged his bubble against the man's helmet for direct +communication and shouted, "Grab some space, or I'll let vack into +you!" + +The Connie understood English. Most earthlings did. But even better was +his understanding of the pressure on his back. He stopped struggling; his +arms shot starward. + +Rip breathed freely for the first time since he had leaped, and +exultation grew in him. He had his first man! His first hand-to-hand +fight had ended in victory so easily that he could hardly believe it. + +He took time to look around him and saw that he was a good five feet +above the asteroid. + +Below him, a Connie belt light sent its shaft parallel with the ground, +and he knew the second man was down. + +The question was, had either of them shouted before their communicators +were cut off? + +"Dowst," he called urgently. "All okay?" + +"No," Dowst said grimly. "We got the Connie, but he got Dominico. Cut his +leg with a space knife. I'm putting a patch on it. You okay?" + +"Yes. When you can, pull me down." + +"Right you are." + +Dominico spoke up. "Don't worry about me, sir. Nothing bad. I don't lose +much air." + +"Fine, Dominico. Glad it wasn't worse." + +But Rip knew it wasn't good, either. A cut with a space knife let air out +of the suit and created at least a partial vacuum. If it also cut flesh, +the vacuum let the blood pressure force out blood and tissue to turn a +minor wound into an ugly one. + +They would have to bring this space flap with the Connies to a quick end, +Rip thought. He had to get his men into air somehow, to take a look at +their wounds. Bradshaw needed attention immediately, and now so did +Dominico. + +Dowst reached up, took Rip's ankle, and pulled him down. Rip held on to +his captive. Then the private bound the Connie's hands, jerked his +communicator control completely off, and turned his air back on. Since +Rip had been unable to collapse the suit, the Connie was comfortable +enough. The reason for collapsing the suit was to deprive the enemy of +air instantly, so that he could be tied up while helpless from lack of +oxygen. There was enough air in the suit for only a few breaths once the +supply was cut off. + +The Connie on the ground was neatly trussed. Rip's prisoner joined him. +Dowst switched off his belt light. "Now what, sir?" + +Dominico was standing patiently nearby. He said nothing. Rip knew that no +more could be done for the Italian at present. "Go back to the cave, +Dominico," he ordered. + +"I can stay with you, sir." + +"No, Dominico. Thanks for the offer, but we'll get along. Go back to the +cave." + +"Yes, sir." + +Rip was a little worried. He had heard nothing from Koa since that first +exchange. He told Dowst as much. But Koa himself heard and answered. + +"Lieutenant, we're all right. Got two Connies, and I don't think they had +a chance to yell. But I'm sorry about one, sir. Kemp had to swing at him +and busted his bubble." + +"Fatal?" + +"No, we patched it in time. But worse than Bradshaw." + +"Tough." Rip couldn't feel too sympathetic. + +After all, it was the Connie cruiser's fault Bradshaw had felt high vack. +"All right. We have four. That leaves nine." + +Santos came on the circuit. "Sir, this is Santos. Only three men are at +the snapper-boats. If you could get here without being seen, maybe we +could knock them off. The rest wouldn't be much good if we had their +boats." + +"You're right, Santos," Rip replied instantly. Why hadn't he seen that +for himself? He knew how he and Dowst could approach the craters without +being spotted, now that they had removed two teams of Connies. "We're on +our way. Koa, make it if you can." + +"Yes, sir." + +Dominico was already making his way back to the cave. Rip and Dowst +started for the horizon at a good walk, not afraid now to use their +lights, at least for a few yards. If any of the remaining Connie search +teams saw the lights, they would think they were their own men's. + +Rip remembered the lay of the ground and Santos' description of the +snapper-boats' position. He circled almost to the horizon, then told +Dowst to cut his light. He cut his own. In a moment they topped the +horizon and, standing with only helmets visible from the snapper-boats, +looked the situation over. + +The three Connies were standing between them and the boats. To the left +of the boats was the second crater. Rip studied the ground as best he +could in the Connie belt lights and decided on a plan of action. Calling +to Dowst, he circled again. Presently they were approaching the crater. +The Connies were just about twenty-five yards from the crater's opposite +rim. + +Rip said, "I hate to do this, Dowst, but I can't see any way out. We have +to go into the crater." + +Dowst merely said, "Yes, sir." + +The extra radiation might put both of them well over the safety limits +long before Earth was reached, and they both knew it. He reached the +crater's edge and walked right down into it. + +They were out of sight of the Connies now. Rip walked up the other side +of the crater until his bubble was just below ground level. The chunks of +thorium he had ordered thrown in to block some of the radiation made +walking a little difficult. + +"Santos," he said, "we're in the second crater." + +"Sir, I'm beyond the first, between two crystals. Pederson is near you +somewhere." + +"Good. When I give the word, turn up your helmet light until they can see +a pretty good glow. Keep watching them." The bubbles were equipped with +lights, but they were seldom used. He outlined his plan swiftly. Both +Santos and Dowst acknowledged. + +Koa reported in. "We're after two more Connies near the wreck of the +landing boat, sir." + +"Be careful. Pederson, go help Koa. Nunez, how are things at the cave?" + +"Nunez reporting, sir. Two Connies in sight, but they haven't seen us +yet." + +"Let me know when they spot the cave." + +"Yes, sir." + +"Santos, go ahead." + +For long moments there was silence. Rip felt for a solid foothold, found +one, and flexed his knees. He kept his back straight and his eyes on the +crater rim. His hands were occupied with two air bottles taken from his +belt, and his thumbs were on their valve releases. He waited patiently +for word from Santos that his helmet glow had been seen. + +Santos yelled, "Now!" + +Rip's legs straightened with a mighty thrust. He flashed into space +headfirst, at an angle that took him over the crater's rim and fifty feet +above the ground. He caught a glimpse of Santos' helmet, glowing like a +pink balloon, and of the three Connies facing it. + +Rip's arms flashed above his head. His thumbs compressed. Air spurted +from the two bottles, driving him downward feetfirst, directly at the +heads of the Connies! + + + + +CHAPTER TEN + +Get the Scorpion! + + +From the corner of his eye, Rip saw Dowst's heavy space boots and knew +the private was right with him. As they drove down, one of the Connies +stepped a little distance away from the others, probably to get a better +look at Santos. The Connie sensed something and turned, just as Rip and +Dowst flashed downward on his two mates. + +Rip's boots caught one Connie where his bubble joined his suit, and the +impact drove the man downward to the unyielding surface of the asteroid +with a soundless smash. Rip threw up his arms to cushion his helmet as he +struck the ground beyond his enemy. He threw the air bottles away. He +fought to keep his feet under him and almost succeeded, but his knees hit +the ground, and pistol and knife bit into them painfully. + +Two figures came into his view, locked tightly together, arms flailing. +It was Dowst and the second Connie. He got to his feet and was moving to +the Planeteer's aid when Santos' voice shrilled in his helmet. "Sir! Look +left!" + +Rip whirled. The Connie who had stepped aside was advancing, pistol in +hand. His light caught Rip full in the face. + +The young officer thought quickly. The Connie hadn't fired. Why? Suddenly +he had it. The man hadn't fired for fear of hitting his friend, who was +battling with Dowst. Rip was in front of them. Quickly he dropped to one +knee, reaching for his own pistol. The Connie wouldn't dare fire now. The +high-velocity slug would go right through him, to explode in one of the +struggling figures behind--and the wrong one might get it. + +The Connie saw Rip's action and tossed his pistol aside. He, too, knew he +couldn't fire. He reached into a knee pouch and drew out his space knife. +He leaped for the Planeteer. + +Rip pulled frantically at his pistol. It was stuck fast, probably caught +in the fabric by his knee landing. The space knife wouldn't be caught. It +was smooth, with no projections to catch. He shifted knees and jerked it +out. + +The Connie's flying body hit him, and a powerful arm circled his waist. +Rip thrust upward with his knees, one hand reaching for the Connie's +suit valve. But the Connie had one arm free, too. He drove his glove up +under Rip's heart. Rip let go of the valve and used his elbow to lever +away, just as the Connie pressed his knife's release valve. The blade +slammed outward and drove into the inside of Rip's right arm, just above +the elbow. + +Pain lanced through him, and he felt the blood rush to the wound as air +poured through the gap in his suit. He gritted his teeth and smashed at +the Connie with his own knife. It rammed home, and he squeezed the +release. The blade connected solidly. He was suddenly free. + +He pressed the wounded arm to his side, stopping the outpouring of +air. The cut hurt like all the devils of space. With his other hand he +increased the air in his suit, then looked swiftly around. The Connie was +on his knees, both gloves pressed tightly to his side. + +Dowst was just finishing a knot in the safety line that bound a second +enemy's hands. The Connie Rip had rocketed down on was still lying where +he had fallen. And Corporal Santos, the enemy's pneumatic chatter gun at +the ready, was standing guard. + +Rip turned up the volume in his communicator. He tried to sound calm, +but the shakiness of triumph and excitement was in his voice. "All +Planeteers. We have the Connie snapper-boats. Koa, bring your men here." + +He felt someone working on his arm and turned to see Corporal Pederson, +his face one vast grin in the glare from Dowst's belt light. "Koa didn't +need me," he said. + +Rip grinned back. "Nunez," he called, "how are things at the cave?" + +"Sir, this is Nunez. Two Connies were prowling around, but they didn't +see the entrance. Then, a minute ago, they hurried away." + +Rip considered. "Koa, how many Connies have you?" + +"Four, sir." + +With the five he and Dowst had taken, that meant four sill at large, and +from Nunex's report, some Connie yelling had been going on. The four +certainly knew by this time that there were Federal men on the asteroid. +Unless something were done quickly the four Connies would be shooting at +them from the darkness. He ordered, "All Planeteers, kill your belt +lights." + +The lights on the Connies they had just taken still glowed. Dowst was +putting a patch on the Connie Rip had stabbed. He waited until the +private had finished, then said, "Turn out the Connies' lights, too." + +If he could get in touch with the Connies, he could tell them they were +finished. But using the snapper-boat radios was out, because the enemy +cruiser would hear. The cruiser couldn't hear the helmet communications, +though, because they carried only a short distance. The cruiser was close +enough so that a helmet communicator turned on full volume might barely +be heard, although it was unlikely. + +He couldn't stick his head in a Connie helmet, but he could talk to a +Connie by direct communication and have him give instructions. + +There was complete darkness with all belt lights out, but he groped his +way to the Connie Dowst had been patching, felt for his helmet, and put +his own against it. He yelled, "Do you hear me?" + +"Yes." Then he asked, "Why did you patch me?" + +It was a perfect opening. "Because we don't want to kill you. Listen. We +have all but four of you. Understand?" + +"Yes. What will you do with us?" + +"Treat you as prisoners--if you behave. Get on your communicator and tell +those four men to surrender. Tell them to come to the boats, with lights +on. Tell them we'll give them five minutes. If they don't come, we'll +hunt them with rockets. Make that clear." + +"They will come," the Connie said. "They don't want to die. I will do +it." + +Rip kept his helmet against the Connie's, but the man spoke in another +language, which Rip identified as the main Consops tongue. When he had +finished, Rip told his Planeteers to have weapons ready and to keep +lights off. Time enough for light when the Connies were all disarmed. + +It didn't take five minutes. The Connie teams came quickly and willingly, +and they seemed almost glad to give up their pistols and knives. This was +not unusual. Rip had seen many Planeteer reports that spoke of the same +thing. Many Connies, it seemed, were glad to get away from the iron +Consops rule, even if it meant becoming Federation prisoners. + +Inside one of the snapper-boats a light glowed. Rip put his helmet +against that of the man who had given the surrender order and demanded, +"What's that light?" + +"The cruiser wants us." + +Rip considered demanding that the Connie answer, then thought better of +it. He would do it himself. After all, they had hostages. The cruiser +wouldn't take any further action. He climbed into the snapper-boat and +hunted for the plug-in terminal. It fitted his own belt jack. He plugged +in and said, "Go ahead." + +There was an instant of silence, then an accented voice demanded, "Why +are you speaking English?" + +Rip replied formally, "This is Lieutenant Foster, Federation Special +Order Squadrons, in charge on the asteroid. Your landing party is in +our hands, as prisoners, two wounded, none dead. If you agree to +withdraw, we will send the wounded men back to you in one boat. The rest +will remain here as hostages for your good behavior." + +"Stand by," the voice said. There was silence for several moments, then a +new voice said, "This is the cruiser commander. We make a counteroffer. +If you release our men and surrender to them, we will spare the lives of +you and your men." + +Rip listened incredulously. The commanding officer didn't understand. He, +Rip, held the whip hand, because the lives of the Connie prisoners were +in his hands. He repeated his offer. + +"And I repeat," the commander retorted. "Surrender or die. Choose now." + +"I refuse," Rip stated flatly. "Try anything, and your men will suffer, +not us." + +"You are mistaken," the harsh voice said. "We will sweep the asteroid +clean with our exhaust, but this time we will be more thorough. When +we have finished, we will hammer you with guided missiles. Then we will +send snapper-boats with rockets to hunt down any who remain. We intend to +have that thorium. You had better surrender." + +Rip couldn't believe it. The cruiser commander had no hesitation in +sacrificing his own men! And it was not a bluff. He knew instinctively +that the Connie commander meant it. Instantly he unplugged the radio +connection from his belt and spoke urgently. "Koa, get everyone under +cover in the cave. Hurry! Collect all the Connies and take them with +you." + +Then he plugged in again. "Commander, I must have time to think this +over." + +"You have one minute." + +He watched his chronometer, planning the next move. When the minute +ended, he asked, "Commander, how do we know you will spare our lives if +we surrender?" Through the transparent shell of the snapper-boat he saw +lights moving toward the horizon and knew Koa was following orders. + +"You don't know," the cruiser answered. "You must take our word for it. +But if you surrender, we have no reason to wish you harm." + +Rip remained silent. The seconds ticked past until the commander snapped, +"Quickly! You have no more time." + +"Sir," Rip said plaintively, "two of my men do not wish to surrender." + +"Shoot them, fool! Are you in command or not?" + +Rip grinned. He made his voice whine. "But, sir, it is against the law of +the Federation to shoot men without a trial." + +The commander lapsed into his own language, caught himself, then barked, +"You are no longer under Federation law. You are under the Consolidation +of People's Governments. Do you surrender or not? Answer at once, or we +take action anyway. Quick!" + +Rip knew he could stall no longer. He said coolly, "If you had brains +in your head instead of high vacuum, you'd know that Planeteers never +surrender. Blast away, you filthy space pirate!" + +He jerked the plug loose, hesitated for a second over whether or not to +take the snapper-boat, and decided against it. He wasn't familiar with +Connie controls, and there wasn't time to experiment. He headed for the +cave. + +The Connie cruiser lost no time. Its stern tubes flamed, then its +steering tubes. It was going to drive directly at the asteroid without +making a long run! Rip estimated quickly and realized that the Connie +would get to the asteroid at the same time that he reached the cave--if +he made it. + +He speeded up as fast as he dared. With little gravity on the asteroid, +he couldn't fall, but a false step could lift him into space and make +him lose time while he got out an air bottle to propel him down again. +The thought gave him an idea. Without slowing he took two bottles from +his belt, turned them so the openings pointed backward, squeezed the +release valves. + +The Connie was gaining speed, blasting straight toward him. Rip sped +forward and crossed to the sun side, intent on the cave entrance but no +longer sure he would make it. The Connie's nose tube shot a cylinder of +flame forward, reaching for the asteroid. He saw the fire lick downward +and sweep toward him with appalling speed as he put everything he had +into a frantic dive for the cave entrance. The flaming rocket exhaust +seemed to snatch at him as a dozen hands pulled him to safety, then beat +the sparks from his suit. + +He was safe. He leaned against Koa, his heart thumping wildly. For a +moment or two he couldn't speak; then he managed, "Thanks." + +Koa spoke for the Planeteers. "We're the ones to say thanks, sir. If you +hadn't thought of stalling the cruiser, and if you hadn't stayed behind +to give us time, we'd have some casualties, and so would the Connies we +captured." + +"There wasn't anything else I could do," Rip replied. "Come on, Koa. +Let's see what the cruiser is doing." + +They stepped outside. The metal was already cold again. Things didn't +stay hot in the vacuum of space. + +They didn't see the Connie until the fire of its exhaust suddenly blasted +above the horizon, and then they ducked for cover. The cruiser had taken +a swing at the other side of the asteroid. They peered out again and saw +it turning. + +"He won't get us," Rip said confidently. "Our tough time will come when +he sends a fleet of snapper-boats." + +"We'll get a few," Koa replied grimly. "Wait! What's he doing?" + +The cruiser had started for the asteroid. Suddenly jets flamed from every +quarter of the ship. He was using all steering jets at once! Rip watched, +bewildered, as the great ship spun slowly, advanced, then settled to a +stop just at the horizon. + +"He can't be launching boats already," he said worriedly. "What's he up +to?" + +They ran forward a short distance until they could see below the cave's +horizon level. The cruiser released exhausts from both sides of the ship, +the outer ones the slightest bit stronger. Rip exclaimed, "Great Cosmos, +he's cuddling right up to the asteroid! Why?" + +"Hiding," Koa said. "By Gemini! Come on, sir!" + +Rip saw his meaning instantly, and they raced to the side of the asteroid +away from the ship. As they crossed into the dark half, Rip looked back. +He couldn't see the cruiser from here. But he looked out into space, +across the horizon, and knew that Koa's guess had been right. The +distinctive glow of a nuclear drive cruiser was clear among the stars. + +The _Scorpius_ had returned! + +"The Connie saw it," Rip said worriedly, "but didn't blast away. That +means he's intending to ambush the _Scorpius_. Koa, if he does, that +means war." + +The tall officer shook his head. "Sir, the Connie has guided missiles +with atomic warheads, just as our ship has. If he can launch one from +ambush and hit our ship, that's the end of it. The _Scorpius_ will be +nothing but space junk. Commander O'Brine will never have time to get +off a message, because he'll be dead before he knows there is danger." + +The logic of it sent a chill down Rip's spine. The Connie could get the +_Scorpius_ with one nuclear blast and then clean up the asteroid at +leisure. The Federation would suspect, but it would be unable to prove +anything, because there would be no witnesses. If the Connie took time to +tow the remains of the _Scorpius_ deep into the asteroid belt, it likely +would never be found, no matter how the Federation searched. + +They had to warn the ship. But how? Their helmet communicators wouldn't +reach it until it was right at the asteroid, and that would be too late. +They had no other radio. If only the radios in the snapper-boats were on +a Federation frequency.... Hey! They could take one of the boats and +intercept the cruiser! + +He was hurrying toward them before Koa understood what he was saying. He +tried to make his legs go faster, but they were unsteady. He knew he was +losing blood. He had lost plenty. He gritted his teeth and kept going. + +The snapper-boats seemed miles away to Rip, but he plugged ahead until +his belt light picked them up. He took a long look, then turned away, +heartsick. The Connie's exhaust had charred them into wreckage. + +"Now what?" he asked. + +"I don't know, sir," Koa answered somberly. + +They went back to the cave, not hurrying because Rip no longer had the +strength to hurry. Weakness and a deep desire to sleep almost overcame +him, and he knew that he was finished, anyway. His wound must be too deep +to clot, which meant it would bleed until he bled to death. Whether he +warned the _Scorpius_ or not, his end was the same. + +Back in the cave, he leaned against the wall and asked tiredly. "How is +Dominico?" + +"I am fine, sir. My wound stopped bleeding." + +"How is the Connie I got?" + +"Unconscious, sir," Santos replied. "He must be bleeding badly, but we +can't tell. The one you landed on is all right now, but he may have a +broken rib or two." + +Because his voice was weak, Rip had to turn up the volume on his +communicator to tell the Planeteers about the _Scorpius_. They were +silent when he finished. Then Dowst spoke up. + +"Looks like they have us, sir. But we'll take plenty of them with us +before we're finished." + +"That's the spirit," Rip told them. "I won't last much longer. When I get +too weak, Koa will take over. Meanwhile, I want to get outside. Bring the +rocket launcher outside, too. Who's the gunner? Santos? Stand by, then. +We'll need you, in case the Connie decides to send a few snappers before +it goes after the Scorpius." + +The cruiser's glow was plain above the horizon now. It was so close that +they could make out its form against the background of stars. O'Brine was +decelerating, and Rip was certain he was watching his screens for a sign +of the enemy. He would see nothing, because the enemy was in the shadow +of the asteroid. He would think the coast was clear and would come to a +stop nearby while he asked why Rip had called for help. Failing to get a +reply, since the landing boat was wrecked, he would send a landing party, +and the Connie would attack while he was launching boats, off guard. + +Rip watched the prediction come true. The nuclear cruiser slowed +gradually, its great bulk nearing the asteroid. O'Brine was operating as +expected. + +Rip was having trouble keeping his vision from blurring. He leaned +against the rocket launcher, and his glove caressed one of the sharp +noses in the rack. + +He heard his own voice before the idea had even taken full form. "Santos! +Do you hear me? Santos! Get the _Scorpius_! Fire before it comes to a +stop. And don't miss!" + +Santos started to protest, but Koa bellowed, "Do it! The lieutenant's +right. It's the only chance we've got to warn the ship. Get the scorpion, +Santos. Dead amidships!" + +The young corporal swung into action. His space gloves flew as he cranked +the launcher around, turned on the illuminated sight, and bent low over +it. Rip stood behind the corporal. He saw the cruiser's shape stand out +in the glow of the sight, saw the sighting rings move as Santos corrected +for its speed. + +The corporal fired. Fire flared back past his shoulder. The rocket +flashed away, its trail dwindling as it sped toward the great bulk +above. It reached _Brennschluss_, and there was darkness. Rip held his +breath for long seconds, then gave a weak cry of victory. + +A blossom of orange fire marked a perfect hit. + + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN + +Hard Words + + +The _Scorpius_ could have taken direct hits with little or no major +damage from a hundred rockets of the kind Rip had used, but Commander +O'Brine took no chances. When the alarm bell signaled that the outer hull +had been hit, the commander acted instantly with a bellowed order. + +The Planeteers on the asteroid blinked at the speed of the cruiser's +getaway. Fire flamed from the stern tubes for an instant, and then there +was nothing but a fading glow where the _Scorpius_ had been. + +Rip had a mental image of everything movable in the ship crashing against +bulkheads with the terrific acceleration. + +And in the same moment, the Consops cruiser reacted. The Connie commander +was ready to fire guided missiles, when his target suddenly, +mysteriously, blasted into space at optimum acceleration. There was only +one reason the Connie could imagine: His cruiser had been spotted. The +ambush had failed. It was one thing for the Connie to lie in ambush for +a single, deadly surprise blast at the Federation cruiser. It was quite +another to face the nuclear drive ship with its missile ports cleared for +action. The Connie knew he had lost. + +Rip and the Planeteers saw the Consops ship suddenly flame away, then +turn and dive for low space below the asteroid belt, in a direction +opposite to the one the _Scorpius_ had taken. The Planeteers' helmet +communicators rang with their cheers. + +The young officer clapped Santos on the shoulder and exclaimed weakly, +"Good shooting!" + +The corporal turned anxiously to Koa. "The lieutenant's pretty weak. +Can't we do something?" + +"Forget it," Rip said. There was nothing anyone could do. He was trapped +inside his space suit. There was nothing anyone could do for his wound +until he got into air. + +Koa untied his safety line and moved to Rip's side. "Sir, this is +dangerous, but there's just as much danger without it. I'm going to tie +off that arm." + +Rip knew what Koa meant. He stood quietly as the big sergeant major put +the line around his arm above the wound, then put his massive strength +into the task of pulling the line tight. + +The heavy fabric of the suit was stiff, and the air pressure gave further +resistance that had to be overcome. Rip let most of the air out of the +suit, then fought for breath until the pain in his arm told him that Koa +had succeeded. He inflated the suit again and thanked the sergeant major +weakly. + +The tight line stopped the bleeding, but it also cut off the air +circulation. Without the air, the heating system couldn't operate +efficiently. It was only a matter of time before the arm froze. + +"Stand easy," Rip told his men. "Nothing to do now but wait. The +_Scorpius_ will be back." He set an example by leaning against the +thorium crystal in which the cave was located. It was a natural but +rather meaningless gesture. With virtually no gravity pulling at them, +they could remain standing almost indefinitely, sleeping upright. + +Rip closed his eyes and relaxed. The pain in his arm was less now, and he +knew the cold was setting in. He was getting lightheaded, and, most of +all, he wanted to sleep. Well, why not? He slumped a little inside the +suit. + +He awoke with Koa shaking him violently. Rip stood upright and shook his +head to clear his vision. "What is it?" + +"Sir, the _Scorpius_ has returned." + +Rip blinked as he stared out into space to where Koa was pointing. He had +trouble focusing his eyes at first, and then he saw the glow of the +cruiser. + +"Good," he said. "They'll send a landing boat first thing." + +"I hope so," Koa replied. + +Rip wanted to ask why the big Planeteer was dubious, but he was too tired +to phrase the question. He contented himself with watching the cruiser. + +In a short time the _Scorpius_ was balanced, with nose tubes +counteracting the thrust of stern tubes, ready to flash into space again +at a second's notice. + +Rip watched, puzzled. The cruiser was miles away. Why didn't it come any +closer? Then suddenly it erupted a dozen fiery streaks. + +"Snapper-boats!" someone gasped. + +Rip jerked fully awake. In the ruddy glow of the fighting rockets' tubes, +he had seen that the cruiser's missile ports were yawning wide, ready to +spew forth their deadly nuclear charges in an instant. + +The snapper-boats flashed toward the asteroid in a group, sheered off, +and broke formation. They came back in pairs, streaking space with the +sparks of their exhausts. + +"Into the cave," Koa shouted. + +The Planeteers obeyed instantly. Koa took Rip's arm to lead him inside, +but the young officer shook him off. "No, Koa. I'll take my chances out +here. I want to see what they're up to." + +"Great Cosmos, sir! They'll go over this rock like Martian beetles. +You'll get it, for sure." + +"Get inside," Rip ordered. He gathered strength enough to make his voice +firm. "I'm staying here until I figure out some way to call them off. We +can't just stand here and let them blast us. They're our own men." + +"Then I'm staying, too," Koa stated. + +A pair of snapper-boats flashed overhead and vanished below the horizon. +Two more swept past from another direction. + +Rip watched, curious. What were they up to? Another pair quartered past +them at high speed, then two more. The boats seemed to be crisscrossing +the asteroid in a definite pattern. + +A pair streaked past, and something sped downward from one of them, +trailing yellow flame. It exploded in a ball of molten fire that licked +across the asteroid in waves. Rip tensed, then saw that the chemical +would burn out before it reached them. + +"Fire bomb," Koa muttered. + +Rip nodded. He had recognized it. The Planeteers were trained in the use +of fire bombs, tanks of chemicals that burned even in an airless world. +They were equipped with simple jets for use in space. + +The snapper-boats drew off, back toward the _Scorpius_. Rip watched, +searching for some reason for their actions. Then one of the boats +pulled away from the others. It returned to the asteroid, with stern jet +burning fitfully. + +"Is he landing?" Koa asked. + +Rip didn't know. The snapper-boat was moving slowly enough to make a +landing. + +Directly above the asteroid it changed direction, circled, and returned +over their heads. Rip could almost have picked it off with a pistol shot. +Santos could have blasted it into space dust with one rocket. + +The snapper-boat changed direction, and for a fraction of a second stern +and side tubes "fought" each other, making the boat yaw wildly. Then it +straightened out on a new course. + +Koa exclaimed, "That's a drone!" + +Rip got it then. A pilotless snapper-boat! That's why its actions were a +little uneven. Only one thing could explain its deliberate slowness. It +was bait. The _Scorpius_ had sent piloted snapper-boats over the asteroid +at high speed, crisscrossing in order to cover the thorium world +completely, expecting to have the unknown rocketeer fire at them. Then a +fire bomb had been dropped as a further means of getting the asteroid to +fire. But no rockets had been fired from the asteroid, so the pilot in +control of the drone had sent it at low speed, a perfect target. + +That meant O'Brine wasn't sure of what was going on. He must have seen +the blip on his screen as the Connie cruiser flamed off, Kip reasoned. +But the commander probably suspected that the Connies had overcome +the Planeteers and were in control of the asteroid. He had sent the +snapper-boats to try to draw fire, in an attempt to find out more surely +whether Planeteers or Connies had the thorium rock. + +"The _Scorpius_ doesn't know what's going on," Rip told his Planeteers. +"O'Brine didn't know the cruiser was waiting to ambush him, so the rocket +we fired made him think the Connies had taken us over." + +He put himself in O'Brine's place. What would his next step be? The +snapper-boats hadn't drawn fire, even when a drone was sent over at low +speed. The next thing would be to send a piloted boat over slowly enough +to take a look. + +Rip hoped O'Brine would hurry. There was no longer any feeling in his arm +below Koa's safety line. That meant the arm had frozen. He had to get +medical attention from the _Scorpius_ pretty soon. + +He gritted his teeth. At least he was no longer losing blood. He wasn't +getting any weaker. But every now and then his vision fogged, and he had +to shake his head to clear it. + +The pilotless snapper-boat made another slow run, then put on speed +and flashed back to the group of boats near the cruiser. Another boat +detached itself from the squadron and moved toward the asteroid. + +Rip wished for a communicator powerful enough to reach the _Scorpius_, +but he knew it was useless to try with his helmet circuit. The carrier +waves of the snapper-boats were on the same frequency, and they would +smother the faint signal from his bubble. + +But the boats might be able to hear if they got close enough! He had a +swift memory of the communications circuits. The pilots were plugged into +their boat communicators. If a boat got near enough, he could turn up his +bubble to full volume and yell. Not only would the boat pilot hear him, +but also his voice would go through the pilot's circuit and be heard in +the ship! + +Rip grabbed Koa's arm. "Let's move away from the cave a little farther." + +The two of them stepped away from the cave and stood in full view as the +snapper-boat moved cautiously down toward the asteroid. Rip planned what +he would say. "Commander O'Brine, this is Foster!" + +No, that wouldn't do. Connies would know that Kevin O'Brine commanded the +_Scorpius_, and if they had taken over the Planeteers on the asteroid, +they would also have learned Rip's name. He had to say something that +would immediately identify him beyond the shadow of a doubt. + +The snapper-boat was closing in slowly. Rip knew the pilot and gunner +must be tense, frightened, ready to blast with their guns at the first +wrong move on the asteroid. He groped with his good arm and turned up his +helmet communicator to full volume. + +The fighting rocket drew closer, cut in its nose tube, and hovered only a +few hundred feet above the Planeteers. + +Rip summoned enough strength to make his voice sharp and clear. His words +sped through space into the bubble of the pilot, echoed in the helmet, +were picked up by the pilot's microphone, and then were hurled through +the snapper-boat circuit and through space to the cruiser's control room. + +O'Brine stiffened as the speaker threw Rip's voice at him, amplified and +hollow-sounding from reverberations in the snapper-boat pilot's helmet. + +"_O'Brine is so ugly he won't look at his face in a clean blast tube! +That no-good Irishman wouldn't know what to do with an asteroid if he had +one!_" + +The commander turned purple with rage. He bellowed, "Foster!" + +A junior space officer hid a grin and murmured, "Looks like the +Planeteers still have the asteroid." + +O'Brine bent over the communicator and yelled, "Deputy commander! Launch +landing boats. Get those Planeteers and bring them here under armed +guard. Ram it!" + +The snapper-boat pilot through whose circuit Rip had yelled turned to +look wide-eyed at his gunner. "Did you hear that? Throw a light down on +the asteroid. It must have come from there." + +The gunner threw a switch, and a searchlight port opened in the boat's +belly. Its beam searched downward, swept past, then steadied on two +space-suited figures. + +"It worked," Rip said tiredly. He closed his eyes to guard them against +the brilliant glare, then waved his good arm. + +Santos called from the cave entrance. "Sir, landing boats are being +launched!" + +"Bring out the prisoners," Rip ordered. "Line them up. Planeteers fall in +behind them." + +The landing boats, with snapper-boats in watchful attendance, blasted +down to the surface of the asteroid. Spacemen jumped out, awkward at +first on the no-weight surface. An officer glided to meet Rip, and he had +a pistol in his hand. + +"It's all right," Rip told him. "The Connies are our prisoners. You won't +need guns." + +The spaceman snapped, "You're under arrest." + +Rip stared incredulously. "What for?" + +"The commander's orders. Don't give me any arguments. Just get aboard." + +"I can't argue with a loaded gun," Rip said wearily. He called to his +men. "We're under arrest. I don't know why. Don't try to resist. Do as +the spacemen order." + +Rip got aboard the nearest landing boat, his head spinning. O'Brine had +made a mistake of some kind. + +The landing boats, loaded with Planeteers and Connies, lifted from the +asteroid to the cruiser. They slid smoothly into the air locks and +settled. The massive lock doors slid closed and lights flickered on. Rip +waited, trying to keep consciousness from slipping away. + +The lock gauges registered normal air, and the inner valves slid open. +Commander O'Brine stepped through, his square jaw outthrust and his face +flushed with anger. He bellowed, "Where's Foster?" + +His voice was so loud that Rip heard him even through the bubble. He +stepped out of the boat and faced the irate commander. + +O'Brine ordered, "Get him out of that suit." + +Two spacemen jumped forward. One twisted Rip's bubble free and lifted it +off. The heavy air of the ship hit him with physical force. + +O'Brine grated, "You're under arrest, Foster, for firing on the +_Scorpius_, for insubordination, and for conduct unbecoming an officer. +Get out of that suit and get flaming. It's the space pot for you." + +Rip had to grin. He couldn't help it. He started to reply, but the heavy +air of the cruiser, so much richer and denser than that of the suits, was +too much. He fell, unconscious. + +There was no gravity to pull him to the floor, but the action of his +relaxing muscles swung him slowly until he lay facedown in the air a +few feet above the floor. + +Commander O'Brine stared for a moment, then took the unconscious +Planeteer and swung him upright. His quick eyes took in the patch +on the arm, the safety line tied tightly. He roared, "Quick! Get him +to the wound ward!" + + * * * * * + +Rip came back to consciousness on the operating table. The wound in his +arm had been neatly repaired, and below the wound, where his arm had +frozen, a plastic temperature bag was slowly bringing the cold flesh back +to normal. On his other side, a pulsing pressure pump forced new blood +from the ship's supplies into his veins. + +A senior space officer, with the golden lancet of the medical service on +his tunic, bent over him. "How do you feel?" + +Rip's voice surprised him. It was as full and strong as ever. "I feel +wonderful. Can I get up?" + +"When we get enough blood into you, and your arm is fully restored." + +Commander O'Brine appeared in the door frame. "Can he talk?" + +"Yes. He's fine, sir." + +O'Brine glared down at Rip. "Can you give me a good reason why I +shouldn't have you treated for space madness and then toss you in the +space pot until we reach Earth?" + +"Best reason in the galaxy," Rip said cheerfully. "But before we talk +about it, I want to know how my men are. One got cut, and another had his +bubble cracked. Also, one of the Connies got badly cut, another had some +broken bones, and a third one bled into high vack when Koa cracked his +bubble." + +The doctor answered Rip's question. "Your men are all right. We put the +one with the cracked bubble into high compression for a while, just to +relieve his pain a little. The other one didn't bleed much. He's back in +the squad room right now. Two of the prisoners are patched up, but the +third one is in the other operating room. I don't know whether we can +save him or not. We're trying." + +O'Brine nodded. "Thanks, Doctor. Now, Foster, start talking. You fired +on this ship, scored a hit, and broke the air seal. No casualties, +fortunately. But by forcing us to accelerate at optimum speed, you caused +so much breakage of ship's stores that we'll have to put into Marsport +for new stocks. And on top of all that, you insulted me within the +hearing of every man on the ship. I don't mind being insulted by +Planeteers. I'm used to it. But when it's done over the communications +system, it's bad for discipline." + +Rip tried to keep a straight face. He said mildly, "Sir, I'm surprised +you even give me a chance to explain." + +"I wouldn't have," O'Brine said frankly. "I would have shot off a special +message to Earth, relieving you of command and asking for Discipline +Board action. But when I saw those Connie prisoners, I knew there was +more to this than just a young space pup going vack-wacky." + +"There was, Commander." Rip recited the events of the past few hours +while the Irishman listened with growing amazement. "I had to convince +you in a hurry that we still held the asteroid, so I used some insulting +phrases that would let you know, without any doubt, who was talking. And +you did know, didn't you, sir?" + +O'Brine flushed. For a long moment his glance locked with Rip's, then he +roared with laughter. + +Rip grinned his relief. "My apologies, sir." + +"Accepted," O'Brine chuckled. "I'm rather sorry I don't have an excuse +for dumping you in the space pot, though, Foster. Your explanation is +acceptable, but I have a suspicion that you enjoyed calling me names." + +"I might have," Rip admitted, "but I wasn't in very good shape. The only +thing I could think of was getting into air so I could have my arm +treated. Commander, we've moved the asteroid. Now we have to correct +course. And we have to get some new equipment, including nuclite +shielding. Also, sir, I'd appreciate it if you'd let my men clean up and +eat. They haven't been in air since we left the cruiser." + +For answer, O'Brine strode to the operating-room communicator. "Get it," +he called. "The deputy commander will prepare landing boat one and issue +new space suits and helmets for all Planeteers with damaged equipment. +Put in two rolls of nuclite. Sergeant Major Koa will see that all +Planeteers have an opportunity to clean up and eat. They will return to +the asteroid in one hour." + +Rip asked, "Will I be able to go into space by then?" + +The doctor replied, "Your arm will be normal in about twenty minutes. It +will ache some, but you'll have full use of it. We'll bring you back to +the ship in about twenty-four hours for another look at it, just to be +sure." + +Sixty minutes later, clean, fed, and contented, the Planeteers were again +on the thorium planet, while the _Scorpius_, riding the same orbit, stood +by a few miles out in space. + +The asteroid and the great cruiser arched high above the belt of tiny +worlds in the orbit Rip had set, traveling together toward distant Mars. + + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE + +Mercury Transit + + +The long hours passed, and only Rip's chronometer told him when the end +of a day was reached. The Planeteers alternately worked on the surface +and rested in the air of the landing boat compartment, while the asteroid +sped steadily on its way. + +When a series of sightings over several days gave Rip enough exact data +to work on, he recalculated the orbit, found the amount that the course +had to be corrected, and supervised the cutting of new holes in the +metal. + +Tubes of ordinary rocket fuel were placed in these and fired, and the +thrust moved the asteroid slightly, just enough to make the corrections +Rip needed. It was not necessary to take to the landing boat for these +blasts. The Planeteers retired to their cave, which was now lined with +nuclite as a protection against radiation. + +Rip watched his dosimeter climb steadily as the radiation dosage mounted. +Then he took the landing boat to the Scorpius, talked the problem over +with the ship's medical department, and arranged for his men to take +injections that would keep them from getting radiation sickness. + +They left the asteroid belt far behind and passed within ten thousand +miles of Mars. The _Scorpius_ sent its entire complement of snapper-boats +to the asteroid for protection, in case Consops made another try, then +flamed off to Marsport to put in new supplies to replace those damaged +when Rip had forced sudden and disastrous acceleration. + +The asteroid had reached Earth's solar orbit before the cruiser returned, +though Earth itself was on the other side of the sun. Rip ordered a +survey and found the best place on the dark side to make a new base. The +Planeteers cut out a cave with the torch, lined it with nuclite, and +moved in the supplies. It would be their base to the end of the trip. + +The sun was very hot now. On the sunny side of the asteroid the +temperature had soared far past the boiling point of water. But on the +dark side, Rip measured temperatures close to absolute zero. + +When the _Scorpius_ returned, he arranged with Commander O'Brine for the +Planeteers to take turns going to the cruiser for showers and decent +meals. + +The asteroid approached the orbit of Venus, but the bright planet was +some distance away, at its greatest elongation to the east of the sun. +Mercury, however, loomed larger and larger. They would pass close to the +hot planet. + +O'Brine recalled Rip to the _Scorpius_ and handed him a message. + + Asteroid now within protection reach of Mercury and Terra bases. Your + escort no longer required. Proceed immediately Titan, take on cargo and + personnel. + +The commander sighed. "Looks like I'll never get to Earth long enough to +see my family." + +Rip sympathized. "Tough, sir. Perhaps the cargo from Titan will be +scheduled for Terra." + +"That's what I hope," O'Brine agreed. "Well, here's where we part. Is +there anything you need?" + +Rip made a mental check on supplies. He had more than enough. "The only +thing we need is a long-range communicator, sir. We'll need one to +contact the planet bases." + +"I'll see that you get one." The Irishman thrust out his hand. "Stay +out of high vack, Foster. Too bad you didn't join us instead of the +Planeteers. I might have made a decent officer out of you." + +Rip grinned. "That's a real compliment, sir. I might return it by saying +that you have the makings of a Planeteer officer yourself." + +O'Brine chuckled. "All right. Let's declare a truce, Planeteer. We'll +meet again. Space isn't very big." + +A short time later Rip stood in front of his asteroid base and watched +the great cruiser drive into space. A short distance away a snapper-boat +was lashed to the landing boat. O'Brine had left it, with a word of +warning. + +"These Connies are plenty smart. I don't like leaving you unprotected, +even within reach of Mercury and Terra, but orders are orders. Keep the +snapper-boat, and you'll at least be able to put up a fight if you bump +into trouble." + +The asteroid sped on its lonely way for two days, and then a cruiser came +out of space, its nuclear drive glowing. The Planeteers manned the rocket +launcher, and Rip and Santos stood by the snapper-boat, just in case, but +the cruiser was the _Sagittarius_, out of Mercury. + +Capt. Go Sian-tek, a Chinese Planeteer officer, arrived in one of the +cruiser's boats with three enlisted men. + +Captain Go greeted Rip and his men, then handed over a plastic stylus +plate ordering Rip to deliver six cubic meters of thorium for use on +Mercury. While Koa supervised the cutting of the block, Rip and the +captain chatted. + +The Mercurian Planeteer base was in the twilight zone, but the Planeteers +always worked on the sun side, wearing special alloy suits to mine the +precious nuclite that only the hot planet provided. + +At some time during its first years, Mercury had been so close to the +sun that its temperature was driven high enough to permit a subatomic +thermonuclear reaction. The reaction had shorn some elements of their +electrons and left a thin coating of material composed almost entirely +of neutrons. The nuclite was incredibly dense. It could be handled only +in low gravity because of its weight. But nothing else provided the +shielding against radiation and meteors half so well, and it was in great +demand. + +"Things aren't so bad," Go told Rip. "The base is comfortable, and we +only work a two-hour shift out of each ten. We've had a plague of silly +dillies recently. They got into one man's suit while we were working, but +mostly they're just a nuisance." + +Rip had heard of the creatures. They were like Earth armadillos, except +that they were silicon animals and not carbon like those of Earth. They +were drawn to oxygen like iron to a magnet, and their diamond-hard +tongues, used for drilling rock in order to get the minerals on which +they lived, could drive right through a space suit. Or, if these animals +worked undetected for a while, they could drill through the shell of a +space station. + +_Scralabus primus_ was the scientific name of the creature, but the fact +that it looked like a silicon armadillo had given it the popular name of +"silly dilly." Apart from its desire for oxygen, it was harmless. + +Koa reported, "Sir, the block of thorium is ready. We've hung it on a +line behind the landing-boat. The blast won't hurt it, and it's too big +to get inside the boat." + +"Fine, Koa. Well, Captain, that does it." + +The Mercurian Planeteers got into their craft and blasted off, trailing +the block of thorium in their exhaust. Rip watched the cruiser take the +craft and thorium aboard, then drive toward Mercury, brilliant sunlight +reflecting from its sleek sides. The planet was only a short distance +away by spaceship. It was the largest thing in space, except for the sun, +as seen from the asteroid. + +Past the orbit of Mercury, the sun side of the asteroid grew dangerously +hot for men in space suits. Rip and the Planeteers stayed in the bitter +cold of the dark side, which ceased to be entirely dark. The temperature +rose somewhat. They were close enough to the sun that the prominences, +great flaming tongues of hydrogen that sped many thousands of miles into +space, gave them light and enough heat to register on Rip's instruments. + +Mercury was left far behind, and Earth could not be seen because of the +sun. There was nothing to do now but ride out the rest of the trip as +comfortably as possible, until it was time to throw the asteroid into +a series of ever-tightening elliptical orbits around Earth, known as +braking ellipses. The method would use Earth's gravity to slow them down +to the proper speed. A single atomic bomb and a half dozen tubes of +rocket fuel remained. + +Then, as Rip was enjoying the comfort of air during his off-watch hour in +the boat compartment, Koa beat an alarm on the door. + +Rip and the Planeteers got into suits and opened up. + +"It's Terra base calling on the communicator, sir," Koa reported. "Urgent +message, they said, and they want to talk to you personally." + +Rip hurried to the cave. The communicator indicator light was glowing +bright red. He plugged in his helmet circuit and said, "This is +Lieutenant Foster. Go ahead." + +A voice crackled across space from Earth. "This is Terra base. Foster, +a Consops cruiser has apparently been hiding behind the sun waiting for +you. Our screens just picked it up, heading your way. We've sent orders +to the _Sagittarius_ on Mercury to give you cover, and the _Aquila_ has +taken off from here. But get this, Foster. The Consops cruiser will reach +you first. You have about one hour. Do you understand?" + +Rip understood all right. He understood too well. "Got you," he said +shortly. "Now what?" + +The communicator buzzed. "Take any appropriate action. You're on your +own. Sorry. Sending the cruisers is all we can do. We'll stand by for +word from you. If you think of any way we can help, let us know." + +Rip asked, "How long before the cruisers arrive?" + +"You're too close to us for them to move fast. They'll have to use time +accelerating and decelerating. The _Sagittarius_ should arrive in +something less than two hours and the _Aquila_ a few minutes later." + +The communicator paused, then continued. "One thing more, Foster. The +Connies know how badly we want that asteroid, but they also know we don't +want it enough to start a war. Got that?" + +"Got it," Rip stated wryly. "I got it good. Thanks for the warning, Terra +base. Foster off." + +"Terra base off. Stay out of high vack." + +Fine advice, if it could be taken. Rip stared up at the brilliant stars, +thinking fast. The Connie would have almost an hour's lead on the +space-patrol cruisers. In that hour, if the Connie were willing to pay +the price in blasted snapper-boats, Consops would have the asteroid. And +Terra base had made it clear that the space patrol would not try to blast +the Connie cruiser, because that would mean war. + +Added together, the facts said just one thing: They had one hour in which +to think of some way to hold off the Connies for an additional hour. + +The Planeteers were clustered around him. Rip asked grimly, "Any of you +ever study the ancient art of magic?" + +The Planeteers remained silent and tense. + +"Magic is what we need," Rip told them. "We have to make the whole +asteroid disappear, or else we have to conjure up a space cruiser out +of the thorium. Otherwise, we have barely an hour till we're either +prisoners or dead!" + + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN + +Peril! + + +Sergeant major Koa asked thoughtfully, "Sir, would it do the Connie much +good to launch boats this close to the sun? They'd have to use too much +fuel just keeping position." + +"You could be right," Rip said slowly. Koa had a point! To counter +gravitational attraction took velocity, which meant consumption of fuel. +Maneuvering boats meant rapid velocity changes. Against the sun's +terrific gravity at this distance, it also meant maximum thrust and +maximum fuel flow most of the time. The asteroid, in a planned orbit with +the correct velocity, was safe enough, and the Connie cruiser would +simply match the asteroid's orbit. But boats, which had to maneuver, were +another matter. + +Rip figured quickly. In accordance with Newton's Law, gravitational +attraction increased rapidly on approaching a body. If he could put the +asteroid even closer to the sun, the boat problem would become worse, +until even a small velocity change in the wrong direction could leave +a boat in the terrible position of not having enough thrust for a long +enough time to keep from being drawn into the sun. + +But to change the asteroid's orbit was dangerous! It meant losing just +enough velocity to be drawn closer to the sun, and then picking up a much +higher velocity to get free again! + +Rip got his instruments and pulled out a special slide rule designed for +use in space. He had Koa stand by with stylus and computation board and +take down his figures. + +He recalculated the safety factor he had used when deciding how close +to the sun to put the asteroid, then took quick star sights to determine +their exact position. They were within a few miles of perihelion, the +point at which they would be closest to Sol. + +Rip tapped gloved fingers on his helmet absently. If they could blast out +of the orbit and drive into the sun.... He estimated the result. A few +miles per second of less speed would let them be pulled so far within the +sun's field of gravity that, within an hour or so, small boats would +venture into space only at their peril. + +He reviewed the equipment. They had tubes of rocket fuel, but the tubes +wouldn't give the powerful thrust needed for this job. They had one +atomic bomb. One wasn't enough. Not only must they drive toward the sun, +but also they must keep reserve power to blast free again. If only they +had a pair of nuclear charges! + +He called his Planeteers together and outlined the problem. Perhaps +one of them would have an idea. But no useful suggestions were +forth-coming--until Dominico spoke up. "Sir, why don't we make two +bombs from one?" + +"I wish we could," Rip said. "Do you know how?" + +"No, Lieutenant. If we had parts, I could put bombs together. I can take +them apart, but I don't know how to make two out of one." The Italian +Planeteer looked accusingly at Rip. "I thought maybe you knew, sir." + +Rip grunted. If they had parts, he could assemble nuclear bombs, too. +Part of his physics training had been concerned with fission and its +various applications. But no one had taught him how to make two bombs +out of one. + +The theory behind this particular bomb design was simple. Two or more +correctly sized pieces of plutonium or uranium isotope, when brought +together, formed what was known as a critical mass, which would fission. +The fissioning released energy and produced the explosion. + +But there was a wide gap between theory and practice. A nuclear bomb was +actually pretty complicated. It had to be complicated to keep the pieces +of the fissionable material apart until a chemical explosion drove them +together fast and hard enough to create a fission explosion. If the +pieces weren't brought together rapidly enough, the mass would fission +in a slow chain reaction with no explosion. + +Rip was trained in scientific analysis. He tackled the problem logically, +considering the design of a nuclear bomb and the reasons for it. + +Atomic bombs had to be carried. That meant an outer casing was necessary. +The casing had a lot to do with the design. Suppose no casing were +required? What would be needed? + +He took the stylus and computation board from Koa and jotted down the +parts required. First, two or more pieces of plutonium large enough to +form a critical mass. Second, a neutron source--the type of radioactivity +that produced neutrons--to accelerate the reaction. Third, some kind of +neutron reflector. And fourth, explosive to drive the pieces together. + +Did they have all those items? He checked them off. Their single five KT +bomb contained at least enough plutonium for two critical masses, if +brought together inside a good neutron reflector. Each mass should give +about a two kiloton explosion. And they did have a good neutron +reflector--nuclite. There wasn't anything better. + +"What have we got for a neutron source?" he asked aloud. He was really +asking himself, but he got a quick answer from Koa. + +"Sir, some of the stuff left in the craters from the other explosions +gives off neutrons." + +"You're right," Rip agreed instantly. A small piece from one of the +craters, when combined with half of the neutron source in the bomb, +should be enough. As for the explosive, they had exploding heads on their +attack rockets. + +In other words, he had what he needed--except for a method of putting all +the pieces together to create a bomb. + +If only they had a tube of some sort that would withstand the chemical +explosion--the one that brought the critical mass together! + +He told the Planeteers what he had been thinking, then asked, "Any ideas +for a tube?" + +"How about a tube from the snapper-boat?" Santos suggested. + +Rip shook his head. "Not strong enough. They're designed to withstand the +slow push of rocket fuel, not the fast rap of an explosion. When I say +slow, I mean slow-burning when compared with explosive. Any more ideas?" + +Kemp, the expert torchman, said, "Sir, I can burn you a tube into the +asteroid." + +Rip grabbed the Planeteer so hard they both floated upward. "Kemp, that's +wonderful! That's it!" The details took form in his mind even as he +called orders. "Dominico, tear down that bomb. Santos, remove two heads +from your rockets and wire them to explode on electrical impulse. Kemp, +we'll want the tube just a fraction of an inch wider than a rocket head. +Get your torch ready." + +He took the stylus and began calculating. He talked as he worked, telling +the Planeteers exactly what they were up against. "I'm figuring out where +to put the charge so it will do the most good, but my data isn't +complete. If our homemade bomb goes off, I don't know exactly how much +power it will give. If it gives too much, we'll be driven so close to the +sun we'll never get free of its gravity." + +Bradshaw, the English Planeteer, said mildly, "Don't worry, Lieutenant. +If it isn't the solar frying pan, it's Connie fire." + +A chorus of agreement came from the other Planeteers. "What a crew!" Rip +thought. "What a great gang of space pirates!" + +He finished his calculations and found the exact place where Kemp would +cut. A few feet away from the spot was a thick pyramid of thorium. That +would do, and they could cut into it horizontally instead of drilling +straight down. He pointed to it. "Let's have a hole straight in for six +feet. And keep it straight, Kemp. Allow enough room for a lining of +nuclite. Koa, cut a sheet of nuclite to size." + +Kemp's torch already was slicing into the metal. Rip asked, "Can you weld +with that thing, Kemp?" + +"Just show me what you want, sir." + +"Good." Rip motioned to Trudeau. "Frenchy, we'll need a strong rod at +least eight feet long." + +The French Planeteer hurried off. Rip consulted his chronometer. Less +than ten minutes had passed since the call from Terra base. + +He went over his plan again. It had to work! If it didn't, asteroid and +Planeteers would end up as subatomic particles in the sun's photosphere, +because he had calculated his blast to drive the asteroid past the limit +of safety. It was the only way he could be sure of putting them beyond +danger from Connie landing boats or snapper-boats. The Connie would have +only one chance--to bring his cruiser down. + +If he tried that, Rip thought grimly, he would get a surprise. The second +nuclear charge would be set, ready to be fired. The Connie cruiser was +so big that no matter how it pulled up to the asteroid, some part of it +would be close enough to the charge to be blown into space dust. No +cruiser could survive an atomic explosion within five hundred yards, and +the Connie would have to get closer to the nuclear charge than that. + +Dominico reported that the bomb had been dismantled. Rip went to it and +examined the raw plutonium, being careful to keep the pieces widely +separated. + +This particular bomb design used five pieces of plutonium which were +driven together to form a ball. Rip made a quick estimate. Two were +enough to form a critical mass. He would use two to blast into the sun +and three to blast out again. He would need the extra kick. + +There was only one trouble. The pieces were wedge shaped. They would have +to be mounted in thorium in order to keep them rigid. Only Kemp could do +that. They had no cutting tool but the torch. + +Santos appeared, carrying a rocket head under each arm. They had wires +wound around them, ready to be attached to an electrical source. + +Rip hurried back to where Kemp was at work. The private was using a +cutting nozzle that threw an almost invisible flame five feet long. +In air, the nozzle wouldn't have worked effectively beyond two feet, but +in space it cut right down to the end of the flame. Kemp had his arm +inside the hole and was peering past it as he finished the cut. + +"Done, sir," he said, and adjusted the flame to a spout of red fire. He +thrust the torch into the hole and quickly withdrew it as pieces of +thorium flew out. A stream of water hosed into the tube would have worked +the same way. + +Rip took a block of plutonium from Dominico and handed it to Kemp. "Cut +a plug and fit this into it. Then cut a second plug for the other piece. +They have to match perfectly, and you can't put them together to try out +the fit. If you do, we'll have fission right here in the open." + +Kemp searched and found a piece he had cut in making the tube. It was +perfectly round, ideal for the purpose. He sliced off the inner side +where it tapered to a cone, then, working only by eye estimate, cut out a +hole in which the wedge of fission material would fit. He wasn't off by a +thirty-second of an inch. Skillful application of the torch melted the +thorium around the wedge and sealed it tightly. + +Koa was ready with a sheet of nuclite. Trudeau arrived with a pole made +by lashing two crate sticks together. + +Rip gave directions as they formed a cylinder of nuclite. Kemp +spot-welded it, and they pushed it into the hole. + +Nunez found a small piece of material in one of the earlier craters. It +would provide some neutrons to start the chain reaction. Rip added it to +the front of the plutonium wedge, along with a piece of beryllium from +the bomb, and Kemp welded it in place. + +They put the thorium block which contained the plutonium into the hole, +the plutonium facing outward. Trudeau rammed it to the bottom with his +pole. The neutron source, the neutron reflector, and one piece of +fissionable material were in place. + +Kemp sliced another round block of thorium out of a nearby crystal and +fitted the second wedge of plutonium into it. At first Rip had worried +about the two pieces of plutonium making a good enough contact, but +Kemp's skillful hand and precision eye removed that worry. + +The torchman finished fitting the plutonium and carried the block to the +tube opening. He tried it, removed a slight irregularity with his torch, +then said quietly, "Finished, sir." + +Rip took over. He slid the thorium-plutonium block into the tube, took a +rocket head from Santos, and used it to push the block in farther. When +the rocket head was about four inches inside the tube, its wires trailing +out, Rip called Kemp. At his direction, the torchman sliced a thin slot +up the face of the crystal. Rip fitted the wires into it and held them in +place with a small wedge of thorium. + +Kemp cut a plug, fitted it into the hole, and welded the seams closed. +The tube was sealed. When electric current fired the rocket head, the +thorium carrying the plutonium wedge would be driven forward to meet the +wedge in the back. And, unless Rip had miscalculated the mass of the two +pieces, they would have their nuclear blast. Rip surveyed the crystal +with some anxiety. It looked right. + +Dominico already had rigged the timer from the atomic bomb. He connected +the wires. "Do I set it, sir?" + +"Load the communicator, the extra bomb parts, the rocket launcher and +rockets, the cutting equipment, my instruments, and the tubes of fuel," +Rip ordered. "Leave everything else in the cave." + +The Planeteers ran to obey. Rip waited until the landing boat was nearly +loaded, then told Dominico to set the timer for five minutes. He wondered +how they would explode the second charge, since they had only the one +timer left, then forgot about it. Time enough to worry when faced with +the problem. + +"I'll take the snapper-boat," he stated. "Santos in the gunner's seat. +Koa in charge in the landing boat. Dowst pilot. Let's show an exhaust." + +He fitted himself into the tight pilot seat of the snapper-boat while +Santos climbed in behind. Then, handling the controls with the skill +of long practice, he lifted the tiny fighting rocket above the asteroid +and waited for the landing boat. When it joined up, Rip led the way to +safety. As he cut his exhaust to wait for the explosion, he sighted past +the snapper-boat's nose to the asteroid. + +Even though both boats had been careful to match velocity with the +asteroid as closely as possible, the slight difference remaining caused +them to drift sunward. Rip cut his jets in to compensate, and saw Dowst +do the same. + +Another few miles toward the sun, and the landing boat wouldn't have the +power to get away from Sol's gravity. A few miles beyond that, even the +powerful little snapper-boat would be caught. + +Below, the timer reached zero. A mighty fan of fire shot into space. The +asteroid shuddered from the blast, then swerved gradually, picking up +speed as well as new direction. + +Rip swallowed hard. Now they were committed. They would reach a new +perihelion far beyond the limits of safety. _P_ for perihelion and _P_ for +peril. In this case, they were the same thing! + + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN + +Between Two Fires + + +Back on the asteroid, the Planeteers started laying the second atomic +charge. Rip selected the spot, found a nearby crystal that would serve to +house the bomb, and Kemp started cutting. + +The Planeteers knew what to do now, and the work went rapidly. Rip kept +an eye on his chronometer. According to the message from Terra base, he +had about fifteen minutes before the Consops cruiser arrived. + +"We have one advantage we didn't have back in the asteroid belt," he +remarked to Koa. "Back there they could have landed anywhere on the +rock. Now they have to stick to the dark side. Snapper-boats could last +on the sun side, but men in ordinary space suits couldn't." + +"That's good," Koa agreed. "We have only one side to defend. Why don't we +put the rocket launcher right in the middle of the dark side?" + +"Go ahead. And have all men check their pistols and knives. We don't know +what's likely to happen when that Connie flames in." + +Rip walked over to the communicator and plugged his suit into the +circuit. "This is the asteroid calling Terra base. Over." + +"This is Terra base. Go ahead, Foster. How are you doing?" + +"If you need anything cooked, send it to us," Rip replied. "We have heat +enough to cook anything, including tungsten alloy." He explained briefly +what action they had taken. + +A new voice came on the communicator. "Foster, this is Colonel Stevens." + +Rip responded swiftly, "Yes, sir!" Stevens was the top Planeteer, +commanding officer of all the Special Order Squadrons. + +"We've piped this circuit into every channel in the system," the colonel +said. "Every Planeteer in the Squadrons is listening and rooting for you. +Is there anything we can do?" + +"Yes, sir," Rip replied. "Do you know if Terra base has been plotting our +course this far?" + +There was a brief silence, then the colonel answered, "Yes, Foster. We +have a complete track from the time you started showing on the Terra +screens, about halfway between the orbits of Mars and Earth." + +"Did you just get our change of direction?" + +"Yes. We're following you on the screens." + +"Then, sir, I'd appreciate it if you'd put the calculators to work and +make a time-distance plot for the next few hours. The blast we're saving +to push to escape velocity is about three kilotons. Let us know the last +moment when we can fire." + +"You will have it within fifteen minutes. Anything else, Foster?" + +"Nothing else I can think of, sir." + +"Then, good luck. We'll be standing by." + +"Yes, sir. Foster off." + +Rip disconnected and turned up his helmet communicator, repeating the +conversation to his men. Koa came and stood beside him. "Lieutenant, +how do we set off this next charge?" + +There was only one way. When the time came to blast, they would be too +close to the sun to take to the boats. The blast had to be set off +from the asteroid. + +"We'll get underground as far away from the bomb as we can," Rip said. He +surveyed the dark side, which was rapidly growing less dark. "I think the +second crater will do. Kemp can square it off on the side toward the +blast to give us a vertical wall to hide behind." + +Koa looked doubtful. "Plenty of radiation left in those holes, sir." + +Rip grinned mirthlessly. "Radiation is the least of our problems. I'd +rather get an overdose of gamma then get blasted into space." + +A yell rang in his helmet. "Here comes the Connie!" + +Rip looked up, startled. The Consops cruiser passed directly overhead, +about ten miles away. It was decelerating rapidly. Rip wondered why they +hadn't spotted it earlier, then realized the Connie had come from the +direction of the hot side. + +The enemy cruiser was probably the same one that had attacked them +before. He must have lain in wait for days, keeping between the sun +and Terra. That way, the screens wouldn't pick him up, since very few +observatories scanned the sun with regularity. To the observatories, +the cruiser would have been only a tiny speck, too small to be noticed. +Or, if they had noticed it, the astronomers probably decided it was just +a very tiny sunspot. + +The Planeteers worked with increased speed. Kemp welded the final plug +into place, then hurried to the crater from which they would set off +the charge. Dominico and Dowst connected wires from the rocket head to +a reel of wire and rolled it toward the crater. Nunez got a hand-driven +dynamo from the supplies and tested it for use in setting off the charge. +Santos stood by the rocket launcher, with Pederson ready to put another +rack of rockets into the device when necessary. + +Rip and Koa watched the Connie cruiser. It decelerated to a stop for a +brief second, then started moving again, with no jets showing. + +"That's the sun pulling," Rip said exultantly. + +"They'll have to keep blasting to maintain position." + +The Consops commander didn't wait to trim ship against the sun's drag. +His air locks opened, clearly visible to Rip and Koa because that side of +the cruiser was brilliant with sunlight. Ten snapper-boats sped forth. +Rip was certain now that this was the enemy cruiser they had fought off +back in the asteroid belt. Two Connie snapper-boats had been destroyed in +that clash, which explained why the commander was sending out only ten +boats instead of a full quota of twelve. + +The squadron instantly formed a V, like a strange space letter made up of +globes. The sun's gravity pulled at them, dragging them off course. Rip +watched as flames poured from their stern tubes. They were firing full +speed ahead, but the drag of the sun distorted their line of flight into +a great arc. + +Rip saw the strategy instantly. The Connie commander knew the situation +exactly, and he was staking everything on one great gamble, sending his +snapper-boats to land on the asteroid--to crash-land if necessary. + +The asteroid was so close to the sun that even the powerful fighting +rockets would use most of their fuel in simply combating its gravity. + +"All hands stand by to repel Connies," Rip shouted, and he drew his +pistol. He looked into the magazine, saw that the clip was full, and +then charged the weapon. + +Santos was crouched over the rocket launcher, his space gloves working +rapidly as he kept the rockets pointed at the enemy. + +Rip called, "Santos, fire at will." + +The Planeteers formed a skirmish line which pivoted on the launcher. Only +Kemp remained at work. His torch flared, slicing through the thorium as +he prepared their firing position. + +The atomic charge was ready. The wires had been laid up to the rim of the +crater in which Kemp worked, and the dynamo was attached. + +Rip was everywhere, checking on the launcher, on Kemp, on the pistols of +his men. And Santos, hunched over his illuminated sight, watched the +Connie snapper-boats draw near. + +"Here we go," the corporal muttered. He pressed the trigger. + +The first rocket sped outward in a sweeping curve, and for a moment Rip +opened his mouth to yell at Santos. The sun's gravity affected the attack +rockets, too! Then he saw that the corporal had allowed for the sun's +pull. + +The rocket curved into the squadron of on-coming boats, and they all +tried to dodge at once. Two of them met in a sideways crash, then a third +staggered as its stern globe flared and exploded. Santos had scored a +hit! + +Rip called, "Good shooting!" + +The corporal's reply was rueful. "Sir, that wasn't the one I aimed at. +The sun's pull is worse than I figured." + +The damaged snapper-boat instantly blasted from its nose tubes, +decelerated, and went into reverse, flipping through space crabwise as it +tried to regain the safety of the cruiser. The two boats that had crashed +while trying to dodge were blasting in great spurts of flame, following +the example of their damaged companion. + +"Seven left," Rip called, and another rocket flashed on its way. He +followed its trail as it curved away from the asteroid and into the +squadron. Its proximity fuse detonated in the exhaust of a Connie boat, +blowing the tube out of position. The boat yawed wildly, cut its stern +tubes, and blasted to a stop from the bow tube. Then it, too, started +backward toward the cruiser. Six left! + +Flame blossomed a few yards from Rip. He was picked up bodily and flung +into space, whirling end over end. Koa's voice rang in his helmet. + +"Watch it! They're firing back!" + +Rip tugged frantically at an air bottle in his belt. He pulled it out and +used it to whirl him upright again; then its air blast drove him back to +the surface of the asteroid. Sweat poured from his forehead, and the suit +ventilator whined as it picked up the extra moisture. Great Cosmos! That +was close! + +Santos fired again, twice, in rapid succession. The Connie snapper-boats +scattered as the proximity fuses produced flowers of fire among them. Two +near misses, but they threw the enemy off course. Rip watched tensely as +the boats fought to regain their course. He knew asteroid, cruiser, and +boats were speeding toward the sun at close to fifty miles a second, +and the drag was getting terrific. The Connies knew it, too. + +There was an exultant yell from the Planeteers as two of the boats gave +up and turned back, using full power to regain the safety of the mother +ship. Four left! + +Santos scored a direct hit on the nose of the nearest one, but +its momentum drove it to within a few yards of the asteroid. Five +space-suited figures erupted from it, holding hand propulsion units, +tubes of rocket fuel used for hand combat in empty space. + +The Connies lit their propulsion tubes and drove feet first for the +asteroid. The Planeteers estimated where the enemy would land, and +they were there waiting, with aimed handguns. The Connies had their hands +over their heads, holding the propulsion tubes. They took one look at the +gleaming Planeteer guns, and their hands stayed upright. + +The Planeteers lashed the Connies' hands behind them with their own +safety lines and, at Rip's orders, dumped all but one of them into the +crater where Kemp was just finishing his cutting. + +Three snapper-boats remained. Rip watched, holding tightly to the arm of +the Connie he had kept at his side. The man wore the insignia of an +officer. + +The remaining snapper-boats were going to make it. Santos threw rockets +among them and scored hits, but the boats kept coming. The Connies were +too far away from the cruiser to return, and they knew it. Getting to the +asteroid was their only chance. + +Rip called, "Santos! Cease fire. Set the launcher for ground level. Let +them land, but don't fire until I give the word." + +He put his helmet against his prisoner's for direct communication. "You +speak English?" + +The man shouted back, "Yes." + +"Good. We're going to let your friends land. As soon as they do, I want +you to yell to them. Say we have assault rockets trained on them. Tell +them to surrender, or they'll be killed in their tracks. Got that?" + +The Connie replied, "Suppose I refuse?" + +Rip put his space knife against the man's stomach. "Then we'll get them +with rockets. But you won't care, because you won't know it." + +The truth was that Santos couldn't hope to get them all with his rockets. +They might overcome the Connies in hand-to-hand fighting, but there would +be a cost to pay in Planeteer casualties. Rip hoped the Connie wouldn't +call his bluff, because that's all it was. He couldn't use a space knife +on an unarmed prisoner. + +The Connie didn't know that. In Rip's place he would have no compunctions +about using the knife, so instead of calling Rip's bluff, he agreed. + +The snapper-boats blew their front tubes, decelerating, and squashed down +to the asteroid in a roar of exhaust flames, sending the Planeteers +running out of the way. Rip thrust harder with his space knife and +yelled, "Tell them!" + +The Connie officer nodded. "Turn up my communicator." + +Rip turned it on full, and the Connie barked quick instructions. The +exhausts died, and five men filed out of each boat, with hands held high. +Rip blew a drop of perspiration from the tip of his nose. Empty space! +It was a good thing Connie morale was bad. The enemy's willingness to +surrender had saved them a costly fight. + +The Planeteers rounded up the prisoners and secured them, while Rip took +an anxious look at the communicator. It was about time he heard from +Terra base. + +The light was glowing. For all he knew, it might have been glowing for +many minutes. He plugged into the circuit. + +"This is Foster on the asteroid." + +"Terra base to Foster. Listen. You will reach optimum position on the +time-distance curve at twenty-three-oh-six." + +"Got it. We will reach optimum position at twenty-three-oh-six." He +looked at his chronometer, and his pulse stopped. It was 22:58! They +had just eight minutes before the sun caught them forever, atomic blast +or no! + +And the Connie cruiser was still overhead, with no friendly cruisers in +sight. He looked up, white-faced. Not only was the Connie still there, +but its main air lock was sliding open to disclose a new danger. + +In the opening, ready to launch, an assault boat waited. The assault +boats were something only the Connies used. They were about four times +the size of a snapper-boat, less maneuverable but more powerful. They +carried twenty men and a pair of guided missiles with atomic warheads! + + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN + +The Rocketeers + + +Rip ran for the snapper-boat, feet moving as rapidly as lack of gravity +would permit. He called instructions. "Santos! Turn the launcher over to +Pederson and come with me. Koa, take over. Start throwing rockets at that +boat, and don't stop until you run out of ammunition." + +He reached the snapper-boat and squeezed in, Santos close behind him. As +he strapped himself into the seat he called, "Koa! Get this, and get it +straight. At twenty-three-oh-five, fire the bomb. Fire it whether I'm +back or not." + +Koa replied, "Got it, sir." + +That would give the Planeteers a minute's leeway. Not much of a safety +margin, especially when he wasn't sure how much power the atomic charge +would produce. + +He plugged into the snapper-boat's communicator and called, "Ready, +Santos?" + +"Ready, Lieutenant." + +He braced himself against acceleration and flipped the speed control to +full power. The fighting rocket rammed out from the asteroid, snapping +him back against the seat. He made a quick check. Gunsight on, fuel tanks +almost full, propulsion tubes racked handy to his hand. + +They drove toward the enemy cruiser at top speed, swerving in a great arc +as the sun pulled at them. The enemy's big boat was out of the ship, its +jets firing. + +Rip leaned over his illuminated gunsight. The boat showed up clearly, the +rings of the sight framing it. He estimated distance and the pull of the +sun, then squeezed the trigger on the speed control handle. The cannon up +in the nose spat fire. He watched tensely and saw the charge explode on +the hull of the Connie cruiser. He had underestimated the sun's drag. He +compensated and tried again. + +He missed. Now that he was closer and the charge had less distance to +travel, he had overestimated the sun's effect. He gritted his teeth. +The next shot would be at close range. + +The fighting rocket closed space, and the landing boat loomed large in +the sight. He fired again, and the shot blew metal loose from the top of +the boat's hull. A hit, but not good enough. He leaned over the sight to +fire again, but before he had sighted, an explosion blew the assault boat +completely around. + +Koa and Pederson had scored a hit from the asteroid! + +The big boat fired its side jets and spun around on course again. Flame +bloomed from its side as Connie gunners tried to get the range on the +snapper-boat. + +Rip was within reach now. He fired at point-blank range and flashed over +the boat as its front end exploded. Santos, firing from the rear, hit it +again. + +Rip threw the rocket into a turn that rammed him against the top of his +harness. He steadied on a line with the crippled Connie craft. It was +hard hit. The bow jets flickered fitfully, and the stern tubes were dead. +He sighted, fired. A charge hit the boat aft and blew its stern tubes off +completely. + +And at the same moment, a Connie gunner got a perfect bead on the +snapper-boat. + +Space blew up in Rip's face. The snapper-boat slewed wildly as the Connie +shot took effect. Rip worked his controls frantically, trying to +straighten the rocket out more by instinct than anything else. + +His eyes recovered from the blinding flash, and he gulped as he saw the +raw, twisted metal where the boat's nose had been. He managed to correct +the boat's twisting by using the stern tubes, but he lost full control of +the ship. + +For a moment panic gripped him. Without full control he couldn't get back +to the asteroid! Then he forced himself to calm down. He sized up the +situation. They were still underway, the stern tubes pushing, but their +trajectory would take them right under the crippled Connie boat. + +There was nothing he could do but pass close to the Connie. The enemy +gunners would fire, but he had to take his chances. He looked down at the +asteroid and saw an orange trail as Koa launched another rocket. + +The shot from the asteroid ticked the bottom of the Connie boat and +exploded. The Connie rolled violently. Tubes flared as the pilot fought +to correct the roll. He slowed the spinning as Rip and Santos passed, +just long enough for a Connie gunner to get in a final shot. + +The shell struck directly under Rip. He felt himself pushed violently +upward, and, at the same moment, he reacted--by hunch and not by reason. +He rammed the controls full ahead, and the dying rocket cut space, +curving slowly as flaming fuel spurted from the ruptured tanks. + +Rip yelled, "Santos! You all right?" + +"I think so. Lieutenant, we're on fire!" + +"I know it. Get ready to abandon ship." + +When the main mass of fuel caught, the rocket would become an inferno. +Rip smashed at the escape hatch above his head, grabbed propulsion tubes +from the rack, and called, "Now!" + +He pulled the release on his harness, stood up on the seat, and thrust +with all his leg power. He catapulted out of the burning snapper-boat +into space. + +Santos followed a second later, and the crippled rocket twisted wildly +under the two Planeteers. + +"Don't use the propulsion tubes," Rip called. "Slow down with your air +bottles." He thrust the tubes into his belt, found his air bottles, and +pointed two of them in the direction they had been traveling. He wanted +to come to a stop, to let the wild snapper-boat get away from them. + +The compressed-air bottles did the trick. He and Santos slowed down as +the little jets overcame the inertia that was taking them along with the +burning boat. The boat was spiraling now, burning freely. It moved away +from them, its stern jets still firing weakly. + +Rip took a look toward the enemy cruiser. The assault boat was no longer +showing an exhaust. Instead, it was being dragged rapidly away from the +Connie cruiser by the pull of the sun. At least it was hit in time to +prevent launching of the atomic guided missiles. Or, he thought, perhaps +the enemy had never intended using them. The principal effect, besides +killing the Planeteers, would have been to drive the asteroid into the +sun at an even faster rate. + +The enemy assault boat was no longer a menace. Its occupants would be +lucky if they succeeded in saving their own lives. + +Rip wondered what the Connie cruiser commander would try now. Only one +thing remained, and that was to set the cruiser down on the asteroid. +If the Connie tried, he would arrive at just about the time set for +releasing the nuclear charge. And that would be the end of the +cruiser--and probably of the Planeteers as well. + +Santos asked coolly, "Lieutenant, wouldn't you say we're in a sort of bad +spot?" + +Rip had been so busy sizing up the situation that he hadn't thought about +his own predicament. Now he looked down and suddenly realized that he was +floating free in space, a considerable distance above the asteroid, and +with only small propulsion tubes for power. + +He gasped, "Great space! We're in a mess, Santos." + +The corporal asked, still in a calm voice, "How long will it be before +we're dragged into the sun, sir?" + +Rip stared. Santos had used the same tone he might have used in asking +for a piece of Venusian _chru_. An officer couldn't be less calm, so +Rip replied in a voice he hoped was casual, "I wouldn't worry, Santos. We +won't know it. The heat will get through our suits long before then." + +In fact, the heat should be overloading their ventilating systems +right now. In a few minutes the cooling elements would break down, and +that would be the end. He listened for the accelerated whine as the +ventilating systems struggled under the increased heat load but heard +nothing. + +Funny. Had it overloaded and given out already? No, that was impossible. +He would be feeling the heat on his body if that were the case. + +He looked for an explanation and realized for the first time that they +weren't in the sunlight at all. They were in darkness. His searching +glance told him they were in the cone of shadow stretching out from +behind the asteroid. The thorium rock was between them and the sun! + +His lips moved soundlessly. Maj. Joe Barris had been right. _In a jam, +trust your hunch._ He had acted instinctively, not even thinking as he +used the last full power of the stern tubes to throw them into the shadow +cone. + +And he knew in the same moment that it could save their lives. The sun's +pull would only accelerate their fall toward the asteroid. He said +exultantly, "We're staying out of high vac, Santos. Light off a +propulsion tube. Let's get back to the asteroid." + +He pulled a tube from his belt, held it above his head, and thumbed the +striker mechanism. The tube flared, pushing downward on his hand. + +He held steady and plummeted feet first toward the rock. + +Santos was only a few seconds behind him. Rip saw the corporal's tube +flare and knew that everything was all right, at least for the moment, +even though the asteroid was still a long way down. + +He looked upward at the Connie cruiser and saw that it was moving. Its +exhaust increased in length and deepened slightly in color as Rip +watched. + +Then he saw side jets flare out from the projecting control tubes and +knew the ship was maneuvering. Rip realized suddenly that the cruiser was +going to pick up the crippled assault boat. + +He hadn't expected such a humane move, after his first meeting with the +Connie cruiser when the commander had been willing to sacrifice his own +men. This time, however, there was a difference, he saw. The commander +would lose nothing by picking up the assault boat, and he would save a +few men. Rip supposed that manpower meant something, even to Consops. + +His propulsion tube reached _Brennschluss_, and for a few moments he +watched, checking his speed and direction. Then, before he lit off +another tube, he checked his chronometer. The illuminated dial registered +23:01. They had just four minutes to get to the asteroid! + +He spoke swiftly. "Waste no time in lighting off, Santos. That nuclear +charge goes in four minutes!" + +Rip pulled a tube from his belt, held it overhead, and triggered it. His +flight through space speeded up, but he wasn't at all sure they would +make it. He turned up his helmet communicator to full power and called, +"Koa, can you hear me?" + +The sergeant major's reply was faint in his helmet. "I hear you weakly. +Do you hear me?" + +"Same way," Rip replied. "Get this, Koa. Don't fail to explode that +charge at twenty-three-oh-five. Can you see us?" + +The reply was very slightly stronger. "I will explode the charge as +ordered, Lieutenant. We can see a pair of rocket exhausts, but no boats. +Is that you?" + +"Yes. We're coming in on propulsion tubes." + +Koa waited for a long moment, then asked, "Sir, what if you're not with +us by twenty-three-oh-five?" + +"You know the answer," Rip retorted crisply. + +Of course Koa knew. The nuclear blast would send Rip and Santos spinning +into outer space, perhaps crippled, burned, or completely irradiated. +But the lives of two men couldn't delay the blast that would save the +lives of eight others, not counting prisoners. + +Rip estimated his speed and course and the distance to the asteroid. He +was increasingly sure that they wouldn't make it, and the knowledge was +like the cold of space in his stomach. It would be close but not close +enough. A minute would make all the difference. + +For a few heartbeats he almost called Koa and told him to wait that extra +minute, to explode the nuclear charge at 23:06, at the very last second. +But even Planeteer chronometers could be off by a few seconds, and he +couldn't risk it. His men had to be given some leeway. + +He surveyed the asteroid. The nuclear charge was on his left side, pretty +close to the sun line. At least he and Santos could angle to the right, +to get as far away as possible. + +The edge of the asteroid's shadow was barely visible. That it was visible +at all was due to the minute particles of matter and gas that surrounded +the sun, even millions of miles out into space. He reduced helmet power +and told Santos, "Angle to the right. Get as close to the edge of shadow +as you can without being cooked." + +As an afterthought, he asked, "How many tubes do you have?" + +"One after this, sir. I had three." + +"Save the one you have left." + +Rip didn't know yet what use they would be, but it was always a good idea +to have some kind of reserve. + +The Connie cruiser was sliding up to the crippled assault boat. Rip took +a quick look, then shifted his hands and angled toward the edge of +shadow. When he was within a few feet, he reversed the direction of the +tube to keep from shooting out into the sunlight. A second or two later +the tube burned out. + +Santos was several yards away and slightly above him. Rip saw that the +Planeteer was all right and turned his attention back to the cruiser. It +was close enough to the assault boat to haul it in with grappling hooks. +The hooks emerged and engaged the torn metal of the boat, then drew it +into the waiting port. The massive air door slid closed. + +The question was, would the Connie try to set his ship down on the +asteroid? Rip grinned without mirth. Now would be a fine time. His +chronometer showed a minute and a half to blast time. + +He took another look at his own situation. He and Santos were getting +close to the asteroid, but there was still over a half mile of Earth +distance to go. They would cover perhaps three-fourths of that distance +before Koa fired the charge. + +He had a daring idea. How long could he and Santos last in direct +sunlight? The effect of the sun in the open was powerful enough to +make lead run like water. Their suits could absorb some heat, and the +ventilating system could take care of quite a lot. They might last +as much as three minutes, with luck. + +They had to take a risk with the full knowledge that the odds were +against them. But if they didn't take the risk, the blast would push +them outward from the asteroid--into full sunlight. The end result would +be the same. + +"We're not going to make it, Santos," he began. + +"I know it, sir," Santos replied. + +Rip thought anyone with that much coolness and sheer nerve rated some +kind of special treatment. And the young corporal had shown his ability +time and time again. He said, "I should have known you knew, _Sergeant_ +Santos. We still have a slight chance. When I give the word, use an air +bottle to push yourself into the sunlight. When I give the word again, +light off your remaining tube." + +"Yessir," Santos replied. "Thank you for the promotion. I hope I live to +collect the extra rating." + +"Same here," Rip agreed fervently. His eyes were on his chronometer, and +with his free hand he took another air bottle. When the chronometer +registered exactly one minute before blast time, he called, "Now!" He +triggered the bottle and moved from shadow into glaring sunlight. A +slight motion of the bottle turned him so his back was to the sun; then +he used the remaining compressed air to push himself downward along the +edge of shadow. The sun's gravity tugged at him. + +He pulled the last tube from his belt and held it ready while he watched +his chronometer creep around. With five seconds to go, he called to +Santos and fired it. Acceleration pushed at him. + +In the same moment, the nuclear charge exploded. + + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN + +Ride the Planet! + + +A mighty hand reached out and shoved Rip, sweeping him through space like +a dust mote. He clutched his propulsion tube with both hands and fought +to hold it steady. He swiveled his head quickly, searching for Santos, +and saw the corporal a dozen rods away. + +From the far horizon of the asteroid the incandescent fire of the nuclear +blast stretched into space, turning from silver to orange to red as it +cooled. + +Rip knew they had escaped the heat and blast of the explosion, but now +there was a question of how much prompt radiation they had absorbed. +During the first few seconds, a nuclear blast sprayed gamma radiation and +neutrons in all directions. He and Santos certainly had gotten plenty. +But how much? His lower-level colorimeter had long since reached maximum +red, and his high-level dosimeter could be read only on a measuring +device. + +Meanwhile, he had other worries. Radiation had no immediate effect. At +worst, it would be a few hours before he felt any symptoms. + +As he sized up his position and that of the asteroid, he let out a yell +of triumph. His gamble would succeed! He had estimated that going into +the direct gravity pull of the sun at the proper moment and lighting off +their last tubes would put them into a landing position. The asteroid was +moving rapidly, into a new orbit that would intersect the course he and +Santos were on. He had planned on the asteroid's change of orbit. In a +minute at most they would be back on the rock. + +His propulsion tube flared out, and he released it. It would travel along +with him, but his hands would be free. + +Then he saw something else. The blast had started the asteroid turning! + +He reacted instantly. Turning up his communicator he yelled, "Koa! The +rock is spinning! Cut the prisoners loose, grab the equipment, and run +for it! You'll have to keep running to stay in the shadow. If sunlight +hits those fuel tanks or the rocket tubes, they'll explode!" + +Koa replied tersely, "Got it. We're moving." + +At least the Connie cruiser couldn't harm them now, Rip thought grimly. +He looked for the cruiser and failed to find it for several seconds. It +had moved. He finally saw its exhausts some distance away. + +He forgot his own predicament and grinned. The Connie cruiser had moved, +but not because its commander had wanted to. It had been right in the +path of the nuclear blast and had been literally shoved away. + +Then Rip forgot the cruiser. His suit ventilator was whining in the +terrific heat, and his whole body was now bathed in perspiration. The sun +was getting them. It would be only a short time until the ventilator +overloaded and burned out. They had to reach the asteroid before then. +The trouble was that there was nothing further he could do about it. He +had only air bottles left, and their blast was so weak that the effect +wouldn't speed him up much. Nevertheless, he called to Santos and +directed him to use his bottles. + +Santos spoke up. "Sir, we're going to make it." + +In the same instant, Rip saw that they would land on the dark side. The +asteroid was turning over and over. For a second he had the impression +that he was looking at a turning globe of the earth, the kind used in +elementary school back home. But this gray planet was scarcely bigger +than the giant globe at the Space Council building on Terra. + +He knew he was going to hit hard. The way to keep from being hurt was to +turn the vertical energy of his arrival into motion in another direction. +As he swept down to the metal surface he started running, his legs +pumping wildly in space. He hit with a bone-jarring thud, lost his +footing and fell sideways, both hands cradling his helmet. He got to his +feet instantly and looked for Santos. + +"You all right, sir?" Santos called anxiously. "I think the others are +over there." He pointed. + +"We'll find them," Rip said. His hip hurt like fury from smashing against +the unyielding metal, and the worst part was that he couldn't rub it. The +blow had been strong enough to hurt through the heavy fabric and air +pressure, but his hand wasn't strong enough to compress the suit. Just +the same, he tried. + +And while he was trying, he found himself in direct sunlight! + +He had forgotten to run. Standing still on the asteroid meant turning +with it, from darkness into sunlight and back again. He yelled at Santos +and legged it out of there, moving in long, gliding steps. He regained +the shadow and kept going. + +The first order of business was to stop the rock from turning. Otherwise +they couldn't live on it. + +Rip knew that they had only one means of stopping the spin. That was to +use the tubes of rocket fuel left over from correcting the course. They +had three tubes left, but he didn't know if that was enough to do the +job. + +Moving rapidly, he and Santos caught up to Koa and the Planeteers. + +The Connie prisoners were pretty well bunched up, gliding along like a +herd of fantastic sheep. Their shepherds were Pederson, Nunez, and Dowst. +The three Planeteers had a pistol in each hand. The spares were probably +those taken from prisoners. + +The Planeteers were loaded down with equipment. A few Connie prisoners +carried equipment, too. + +Trudeau had the rocket launcher and the remaining rockets. Kemp had his +torch and two tanks of oxygen. Bradshaw had tied his safety line to the +squat containers of chemical fuel for the torch and was towing them +behind like strange balloons. The only trouble with that system, Rip +thought, was that Bradshaw could stop, but the fuel would have a tendency +to keep going. Unless the Englishman was skillful, his burden would drag +him off his feet. + +Dominico had a tube of rocket fuel under each arm. The Italian was small, +and the tubes were bulky. Each was about ten feet long and two feet in +diameter. With any gravity or air resistance at all, the Italian couldn't +have carried even one. + +Santos took the radiation detection instruments and the case with the +astrogation equipment from Koa. Rip greeted his men briefly, then took +his computing board and began figuring. He knew the men were glad he and +Santos had made it. But they kept their greetings short. A spinning +asteroid was no place for long and sentimental speeches. + +He remembered the dimensions of the asteroid and its mass. He computed +its inertia, then figured out what it would take to overcome the inertia +of the spin. + +The mathematics would have been simpler under normal conditions, but +doing them on the run, trying to watch his step at the same time, made +things a little complicated. He had to hold the board under his arm, run +alongside Santos while the new sergeant held the case open, select the +book he wanted, open it and try to read the tables by his belt light, and +then transfer the data to the board. + +His ventilator had quieted down once he got into the darkness, but now it +started whining slightly again because he was sweating profusely. Finally +he figured out the thrust needed to stop the spin. Now all he had to do +was compute how much fuel it would take. + +He had figures on the amount of thrust given by the kind of rocket fuel +in the tubes. He also knew how much fuel each tube contained. But the +figures were not in his head. They were on reference sheets. + +He collected the data on the fly, slowing down now and then to read +something, until a yell from Santos or Koa warned that the sun line was +creeping close. When he had all data noted on the board, he started his +mathematics. He was right in the middle of a laborious equation when he +stumbled over a thorium crystal. He went headlong, shooting like a rocket +three feet above the ground. His board flew away at a tangent. His stylus +sped out of his glove like a miniature projectile, and the slide rule +clanged against his bubble. + +It happened so fast that neither Koa nor Santos had time to grab him. The +action had given him extra speed, and he saw with horror that he was +going to crash into Trudeau. He yelled, "Frenchy! Watch out!" Then he put +both hands before him to protect his helmet. His hands caught the French +Planeteer between the shoulders. + + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN + +Visitors! + + +Trudeau held tight to the launcher, but the rocket racks opened and +spilled attack rockets into space. They flew in a dozen different +directions. Trudeau gave vent to his feelings in colorful French. + +Koa and Santos laughed so hard they had trouble collecting the scattered +equipment. Rip, slowed by his crash with Trudeau, got his feet under him +again. + +When the asteroid turned into the sun, they still had not collected Rip's +stylus and five of the attack rockets. The space pencil was the only +thing that could write on the computing board. It had to be found. "Next +time around," Rip called to the others. He then led the way full speed +ahead until they reached the safety of shadow again. + +Rip suspected the stylus was somewhere above the rock and probably +wouldn't return to the surface for some minutes. While he was wondering +what to do, there was a chorus of yells. A rocket sped between the +Planeteers and shot off into space. + +"Our own rockets are after us," Trudeau gasped. There hadn't been time +to collect them all after Rip's unwilling attack on the Frenchman had +scattered them. Now the sun was setting them off. Another flashed past, +fortunately over their heads. The sun's heat was causing them to fire +unevenly. + +"Three more to go," Koa called. "Watch out!" + +Only two went, and they were far enough away to offer no danger. + +Santos had been fishing around in the instrument case. Suddenly he +produced another stylus. "It was under the sextant," he explained +triumphantly. + +"If we get through this, I'll propose you for ten more stripes," Rip +vowed. "We'll make you the highest ranking sergeant that ever made a +private's life miserable." + +Working slowly but more safely, Rip figured that slightly more than two +and a half tubes would do the trick. + +Now to fire them. That meant finding a thorium crystal properly placed +and big enough. There were plenty of crystals, so that was no problem. +The next step was for Kemp to cut holes with his torch, so that the +thrust of the rocket fuel would be counter to the direction in which the +asteroid was spinning. + +Rip explained to all hands what had to be done. The burden would fall on +Kemp, who would need a helper. Rip took that job himself. He took one +oxygen tank from Kemp. Koa took the other, leaving the torchman with only +his torch. + +Then Rip took a container of chemical fuel from Bradshaw. Working while +running, he lashed the two containers together with his safety line. Then +he improvised a rope sling so they could hang on his back. + +Kemp, meanwhile, assembled his torch and put the proper cutting nozzle in +place. When he was ready, he moved over to Rip's side and connected the +torch hoses to the tanks the lieutenant carried. Kemp had the torch +mechanism strapped to his own back. It was essentially a high-pressure +pump that drew oxygen and fuel from the tanks and forced them through +the nozzle, under terrific pressure. + +When he had finished, he pressed the trigger that started the cutting +torch going. The fuel ignited about a half inch in front of the nozzle. +The nozzle had two holes in it, one for oxygen and the other for fuel. +The holes were placed and angled to keep the flame always a half inch +away, otherwise the nozzle itself would melt. + +"How do we work this?" Kemp asked. + +"We'll get ahead of the others," Rip explained. "Keep up speed until +we're running at the forward sun line. Then, when the crystal we want +comes around into the shadow, we stop running and work until it spins +back into the sunshine again." + +Rip estimated the axis on which the asteroid was spinning and selected +a crystal in the right position. He had to be careful, otherwise their +counterblast might do nothing more than start the gray planet wobbling. + +He and Kemp ran ahead of the others. The Planeteers and their prisoners +were running at a speed that kept them right in the middle of the dark +area. + +It was like running on a treadmill. The Planeteers were making good +speed, but were actually staying in the same place relative to the sun's +position, keeping the turning asteroid between them and the sun. + +Rip and Kemp ran forward until they were right at the sun line. Then they +slowed down, holding position and waiting for the crystal they had chosen +to reach them. As it came across the sun line into darkness, they stopped +running and rode the crystal through the shadow until it reached the sun +again. Then the two Planeteers ran back across the dark zone to meet the +crystal as it came around again. There was only a few minutes' working +time each revolution. + +Kemp worked fast, and the first hole deepened. Rip helped as best he +could by pushing away the chunks of thorium that Kemp cut free, but it +was essentially a one-man job. + +As Kemp neared the bottom of the first hole, Rip reviewed his plan and +realized he had overlooked something. These weren't nuclear bombs; they +were simple tubes of chemical fuel. The tubes wouldn't destroy the hole +Kemp was cutting. + +He reached a quick decision and called Koa to join them. Koa appeared as +Kemp pulled his torch from the hole and started running again to avoid +the sun. Rip and Koa ran right along with him, crossing the dark zone to +meet the crystal as it came around again. + +"There's no reason to drill three holes," Rip explained as they ran. +"We'll use one hole for all three charges. They don't have to be fired +all at once." + +"How do we fire them?" Koa asked. + +"Electrically. Who has the igniters and the hand dynamo?" + +"Dowst has the igniters. One of the Connies is carrying the dynamo." + +Speaking of the Connies--Rip hadn't seen the Consops cruiser recently. He +looked up, searching for its exhaust, and finally found it, some distance +away. + +The Connie commander was stalemated for the time being. He couldn't land +his cruiser on a spinning asteroid, and he had no more boats. Rip thought +he probably was just waiting around for any opportunity that might +present itself. + +The Federation cruisers should be arriving. He studied his chronometer. +No, the nearest one, the _Sagittarius_ from Mercury, wasn't due for +another ten minutes or so. He turned up his helmet communicator and +ordered all hands to watch for the exhaust of a nuclear drive cruiser, +then turned it down again and gave Koa instructions. + +"Have Trudeau turn his load over to a Connie and collect the igniters and +the dynamo. We'll need wire, too. Who has that?" + +"Another Connie." + +"Get a reel. Cut off a few hundred feet and connect the dynamo to one end +and an igniter to the other." + +The crystal came around again, and Kemp got to work. Rip stood by, again +reviewing all steps. They couldn't afford to make a mistake. He had no +margin for error. + +Kemp finished the hole a few seconds before the crystal turned into the +sunlight again. Rip told him to keep the torch going. There might be some +last minute cutting to do. Then the lieutenant hurried off at an angle to +where Dominico was plodding along with the fuel tubes. + +Koa had turned the tube he carried over to a Connie. Rip got it and told +Dominico to follow him. Then he angled back across the asteroid to where +Kemp was holding position. + +The asteroid turned twice before Koa arrived. He had a coil of wire slung +over his arm, and he carried the dynamo in one hand and an igniter in the +other, the two connected by the wire. + +Rip took the igniter. "Uncoil the wire," he directed. "Go to its full +length at right angles to the hole. We have to time this exactly right. +When the crystal comes around again, I'll shove the tube into the hole, +then scurry for cover. When I'm clear I'll yell, and you pump the dynamo. +Dominico and Kemp stay with Koa. Make sure no one is in the way of the +blast." + +Koa unreeled the wire, moving away from Rip. The lieutenant pushed the +igniter into one end of the fuel tube and crimped it tightly with his +gloved hand. + +Koa and the others were as far away as they could get now, the wire +stretching between them and Rip. Kemp had made sure no one was running +near the line of blast. + +Rip watched for the crystal. It would be coming around any second now. He +held the tube with the igniter projecting behind him, ready for the hole +to appear. + +Koa's voice echoed in his helmet. "All set, Lieutenant." + +The crystal appeared across the sun line and moved toward him. He met it, +slowed his speed, put the end of the tube into the hole, and shoved. Kemp +had allowed enough clearance. The tube slid into place. Rip turned and +angled off as fast as he could glide. When he was far enough away from +the blast line he called, "Fire!" + +Koa squeezed the dynamo handle. The machine whined, and current shot +through the wire. A column of orange fire spurted from the crystal. + +Rip watched the stars instead of the exhaust. He kept running as it +burned soundlessly. In air, the noise would have deafened him. In airless +space, there was nothing to carry the sound. + +The apparent motion of the stars was definitely slowing. The spinning +wouldn't cease entirely, but it would slow down enough to give them more +time to work. + +The tube reached _Brennschluss_, and Rip called orders. "Same process. +Get ready to repeat." + +While Koa was connecting another igniter to the wire, Rip took a tube +from Dominico. "Take your space knife and saw through the tube you have +left. We'll need about three-fifths of it. Keep both pieces." + +Dominico pulled his knife, pressed the release, and the gas capsule shot +the blade out. He got to work. + +Koa called that he was ready. Rip took the wired igniter from him and +thrust it into the tube Dominico had given him. + +As the crystal came around again, the process was repeated. The hole was +undamaged. + +There was more time to get clear because of the asteroid's slower speed. +The second tube slowed the rock even more, so that they had to wait long +minutes while the crystal came around again. + +Rip did some estimating. He wanted to be sure the next charge would do +nothing more than slow the asteroid to a stop. If the charge were too +heavy, it would reverse the spin. He didn't want to make a career of +running on the asteroid. He was tired, and he knew his men were getting +weary, too. He could see it in their strides. + +He decided it would be best to use a little less fuel rather than a +little more. If the asteroid failed to stop its spin completely, they +could always set off a small charge or two. + +"Hold it," he ordered. "We'll use the small end of Dominico's tube and +save the big one." + +The fuel was a solid mass, so cutting the tube in two sections caused no +difficulty. Rip pushed the igniter into the small section, seated it in +the hole, and hurried to cover. As he watched the fuel burn, he wondered +why the last nuclear charge had started the spin. He had made a mistake +somewhere. The earlier blasts had been set so they wouldn't cause a spin. +He made a mental note to look at the place where the charge had exploded. + +The rocket fuel slowed the asteroid down to a point where it was barely +turning, and Rip was glad he had been cautious. The heavier charge would +have reversed it a little. He directed the placing of a very small charge +and was moving away from it so Koa could set it off when Santos suddenly +yelled, "Sir! The Connie is coming!" + +Rip called, "Fire the charge, Koa," then looked up. The Consops cruiser +was moving slowly toward them. The canny Connie had been waiting for +something to happen on the asteroid, Rip guessed. When the spinning +slowed and then stopped, the Connie probably had decided that now was +the time for a final try. + +"Where is the communicator?" Rip asked the sergeant major. + +"One of the Connies has it." + +"Get it. I'll notify Terra base of what happened." + +Koa found the Connie with the communicator, tested it to be sure the +prisoner hadn't sabotaged it, and brought it to Rip. + +"This is Foster to Terra base. Over." + +"Come in, Foster." + +Rip explained briefly what had happened and asked, "How is our orbit? +I haven't had time to take sightings." + +"You're free of the sun," Terra base answered. "Your orbit will have to +be corrected sometime within the next few hours. The last blast pushed +you off course." + +"That's a small matter," Rip stated. "Unless we can think of something +fast, this will be a Connie asteroid by then. The Consops cruiser is +moving in on us. He's careful, because he isn't sure of the situation. +But even at his present speed he'll be here in ten minutes." + +"Stand by." Terra base was silent for a few moments, then the voice +replied, "I think we have an answer for you, Foster. Terra base off. +Go ahead, MacFife." + +A Scottish burr thick enough to saw boards came out of the communicator. +"Foster, this is MacFife, commander on the _Aquila_. Y'can't see me on +account of I'm on yer sunny side. But, lad, I'm closer to ye than the +Connie. We did it this way to keep the asteroid between us and him. Also, +lad, if ye'll take a look up at Gemini, ye'll see somethin' ye'll like. +Look at Alhena, in the Twins' feet. Then, lad, if ye'll be patient the +while, ye'll have a grandstand seat for a real big show." + +Rip tilted his bubble back and stared upward at the constellation of the +Twins. He said softly, "By Gemini!" For there, a half degree south of +the star Alhena, was the clean line of a nuclear cruiser's exhaust. The +_Sagittarius_, out of Mercury, had arrived. + +He cut the communicator off for a moment and spoke exultantly to his men. +"Stand easy, you hairy Planeteers. Forget the Connie. He doesn't know it, +but he's caught. He's caught between the Archer and the Eagle!" + + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN + +Courtesy--With Claws + + +Sagittarius, constellation of the Archer, and Aquila, constellation of +the Eagle, had given the two Federation patrol cruisers their names. The +Eagle was commanded by a tough Scotsman, and the Archer by a Frenchman. + +Commander MacFife spoke through the communicator. "Switch bands to +universal, lad. Me'n Galliene are goin' to talk this Connie into a braw +mess. MacFife off." + +Rip guessed that the two cruiser commanders had been in communication +while enroute to the asteroid and had cooked up some kind of plan. He +turned the band switch to the universal frequency with which all +long-range communicators were equipped. Each of the Earth groups had its +own frequency, and so did the Martians and Jovians. But all could meet +and talk on the universal band. + +Special scrambling devices prevented eavesdropping on regular +frequencies, so there was no danger that the Connie had overheard the +plan. Rip wondered what it was. He knew the cruisers had to be careful +not to cross the thin line that might lead to war. + +The _Sagittarius_ loomed closer, decelerating with a tremendous exhaust. +The Connie couldn't have failed to see it, Rip knew. He was right. The +Consops cruiser suddenly blasted more heavily, rushing in the direction +away from the Federation ship. The direction was toward the asteroid. + +At the same moment, the _Aquila_ flashed above the horizon, also +decelerating. The Connie was caught squarely. + +A suave voice spoke on the universal band. "This is Federation SCN +_Sagittarius_, calling the Consolidation cruiser near the asteroid. +Please reply." + +Rip waited anxiously. The Connie would hear, because every control room +monitored the universal band. + +A heavy, reluctant voice replied after a pause of over a minute. + +"This is Consolidation cruiser Sixteen. You are breaking the law, +_Sagittarius_. Your missile ports are open, and they are pointing at me. +Close them at once, or I will report this." + +The suave voice, with its hint of French accent, replied, "Ah, my friend! +Do not be alarmed. We have had a slight accident to our control circuit, +and the ports are jammed open. We are trying to repair the situation. But +I assure you that we have only the friendliest of intentions." + +Rip grinned. This was about the same as a man holding a cocked pistol at +another man's head and assuring him that it was nothing but a nervous arm +that kept the gun so steady. + +The Connie demanded, "What do you want?" + +The two friendly cruisers were within a few miles of the Connie now, and +their blasts were just strong enough to keep them edging closer, while +still counteracting the sun's pull. + +The French spaceman spoke reassuringly. "My friend, we want only +the courtesy of space to which the law entitles us. We have had an +unfortunate accident to our astrogation instruments, and we wish to +come aboard to compare them with yours." + +Rip laughed outright. Every cruiser carried at least four sets of +instruments. There was as much chance of all of them being knocked off +scale at once as there was of his biting a cruiser in half with bare +teeth. + +MacFife's voice came on the air. "Foster, switch to Federation +frequency." + +Rip did so. "This is Foster, Commander." + +"Lad, it's a pity for ye to miss the show. I'm sending a boat for ye." + +"The sun will get it!" Rip exclaimed. + +"Never fear, lad. It won't get this one. Now, switch back to universal +and listen in." + +Rip did so in time to catch the Connie commander's voice. "... and I +refuse to believe such a story! Great Cosmos, do you think I am a fool?" + +"Of course not," the Frenchman replied. "You are not such a fool as to +refuse a simple request to check our instruments." + +The _Sagittarius_ commander was right. Rip understood the strategy. +Equipment sometimes did go out of operation in space, and Connies had +no hesitation in asking Federation cruisers for help, or the other way +around. Such help was always given, because no commander could be +sure when he might need help himself. + +"I agree," the Connie commander said with obvious reluctance. "You may +send a boat." + +MacFife's Scotch burr broke in. "Federation SCN _Aquila_ to Consolidation +Sixteen. Mister, my instruments are off scale, too. I'll just send them +along to ye, and ye can check them while ye're doing the _Sagittarius_!" + +"I object!" the Connie bellowed. + +"Come, now," MacFife burred soothingly. "Checking a few instruments won't +hurt ye." + +A small rocket exhaust appeared, leaving the _Aquila_. The exhaust grew +rapidly, more rapidly than that of any snapper-boat. Rip watched it, +while keeping his ears tuned to the space conversation. + +"Surely sending boats is too much of a nuisance," the French commander +said winningly. "We will come alongside." + +"It's a trick," the Connie growled. "You want me to open my valves, and +then your men will board us and try to take over my ship!" + +"My friend, you have a suspicious mind," Galliene replied smoothly. "If +you wish, arm your men. Ours will have no weapons. Train launchers on the +valves, so our men will be annihilated before they can board if you see a +single weapon." + +This was going a little far, Rip thought, but it was not his affair, and +he didn't know exactly what MacFife and Galliene had in mind. + +The _Aquila's_ boat arrived with astonishing speed. Rip saw it flash in +the sunlight and knew he had never seen one like it before. It was a +perfect globe, about twenty feet in diameter. Blast holes covered the +globe at intervals of six feet. + +The boat settled to the asteroid, and a new voice called over the helmet +circuit, "Where's Foster? Show an exhaust! We're in a rush." + +"Yes, sir." + +He hurried to the boat and stood there, bewildered. He didn't know how to +get in. + +"Up here," the voice called. He looked up and saw a hatch. He jumped, and +a space-suited figure pulled him inside. The door shut, and the boat +blasted off. Acceleration shoved him backward, but the spaceman snapped a +line to his belt, then motioned him to a seat. Rip pulled himself up the +line and got into the seat, snapping the harness in place. + +"I'm Hawkins, senior space officer," the spaceman said. "Welcome, Foster. +We've been losing weight wondering if we'd get here in time." + +"I was never so glad to see spacemen in my life," Rip said truthfully. +"What kind of craft is this, sir?" + +"Experimental," the space officer answered. "It has a number, but we call +it the ball-bat because it's shaped like a ball and goes like a bat. We +were about to take off for some test runs around the space platform when +we got a hurry call to come here. The _Aquila_ has two of these. If they +prove out, they'll replace the snapper-boats. More power, greater +maneuverability, heavier weapons, and they carry more men." + +Rip looked out through the port and saw the two Federation cruisers +closing in on the Connie. Apparently the Connie commander had agreed +to let the cruisers come alongside. + +The ball-bat blasted to the _Aquila_, paused at an open port, then slid +inside. The valve was shut before Rip could unbuckle his harness. Air +flooded into the chamber, and the lights flicked on. The space officer +gave Rip a hand out of the harness, and the young Planeteer went through +the hatch to the deck. + +The inner valve opened, and a lean, sandy-haired officer in space blue, +with the insignia of a commander, stepped through. Grinning, he hurried +to Rip's side and twisted his bubble, lifting it off. + +"Hurry, lad," he greeted Rip. "I'm MacFife. Get out of that suit quick, +because ye don't want to miss what's aboot to happen." With his own hands +he unlocked the complicated belt with its gadgets and equipment. + +Rip slipped the upper part over his head and stepped out of the bottom. +"Thanks, Commander. I'm one grateful Planeteer, believe me!" + +"Come on. We'll hurry right across ship to the opposite valve. Lad, +I've a son in the Planeteers, and he's just about your own age. He's +on Ganymede. He and the others will be proud of what ye've done." + +MacFife was pulling himself along rapidly by the convenient handholds. +Rip followed, his breathing a little rapid in the heavier air of the +ship. He followed the Scottish commander through the maze of passages +that crossed the ship. They stopped at a valve where spacemen were +waiting. With them was an officer who carried a big case. + +"The instruments," MacFife said, pointing. "We've tinkered with them a +bit, just to make it look real." + +"But why do you want to board the Connie?" + +MacFife's eye closed in a wink. "Ye'll see." + +There was a slight bump as the cruiser touched the Connie. The waiting +group recovered balance and faced the valve. Rip knew that spacemen in +the inner lock were making fast to the Connie, setting up the airtight +seal. + +It wasn't long before a bell sounded, and a spaceman opened the inner +valve. Two men in space suits were waiting, and beyond them the outer +valve was joined by a tube to the outer valve of the Connie ship. Rip +stared at the Connie spacemen in their red tunics and gray trousers. +One, an officer with two pistols in his belt, stepped forward. + +Rip noted that the other Connies were heavy with weapons, too. None of +his group had any. + +"I'm the commander," the scowling Connie said. "Bring your instruments +in. We'll check them; then you get out." + +"Ye're no verra friendly," MacFife said, his burr even more pronounced. +He led Rip and the officer with the instruments into the Connie ship. + +A handsome Federation spaceman with a moustache, the first Rip had ever +seen, stepped into the room from a passageway on the opposite side. The +spaceman bowed with exquisite grace. "I have the honor of making myself +known," he proclaimed. "Commander Rémy Galliene of the _Sagittarius_." + +The Connie commander grunted. He was afraid, Rip realized. The Connie +suspected a trick, and he had no idea what it might be. + +Galliene saw Rip's black uniform and hurried to shake his hand. "So +this is the young lieutenant who is responsible! Lieutenant, today the +spacemen honor the Planeteers because of you. Most days we fight each +other, but today we fight together, eh? I am glad to meet you!" + +"And I'm glad to meet you, sir," Rip returned. He liked the twinkle in +the Frenchman's eye. He would have given a lot to know what scheme +Galliene and MacFife had cooked up. + +The Connie had overheard Galliene's greeting. He glared at Rip. The +Frenchman saw the look and smiled happily. "Ah, you do not know each +other? Commander, I have the honor to make known Lieutenant Foster of the +Federation Special Order Squadrons. He is in command on the asteroid." + +The Connie blurted, "So! I send boats to help you, and you fire on them!" + +So that was to be the Consops story! Rip thought quickly, then held +up his hand in a shocked gesture that would have done credit to the +Frenchman. "Oh, no, Commander! You misunderstand. We had no way of +communicating by radio, so I did the only thing we could do. I fired +rockets as a warning. We didn't want your boats to get caught in a +nuclear explosion." + +He shrugged. "It was very unlucky for us that the sun threw my gunner's +aim off and he hit your boats--quite by accident." + +MacFife coughed to cover up a chuckle. Galliene hid a smile by stroking +his moustache. + +The Connie commander growled, "And I suppose it was accident that you +took my men prisoner?" + +"Prisoner?" Rip looked bewildered. "We took no prisoners. When your boats +arrived, the men asked if they might not join us. They claimed refuge, +which we had to give them under interplanetary law." + +"I will take them back," the Connie stated. + +"You will not," Galliene replied with equal positiveness. "The law is +very clear, my friend. Your men may return willingly, but you cannot +force them. When we reach Terra we will give them a choice. Those who +wish to return to the Consolidation will be given transportation to the +nearest border." + +The Connie commander motioned to a heavily armed officer. "Take their +instruments. Check them quickly." He put his lips together in a straight +line and stared at the Federation men. They stared back with equal +coldness. + +The minutes ticked by. Rip wondered again what kind of plan MacFife and +Galliene had. + +Additional minutes passed, and the officer returned with the cases. +Wordlessly he handed them to Galliene and MacFife. The Connie commander +snapped, "There. Now get out of my ship." + +Galliene bowed. "You have been a most courteous and gracious host," +he said. "Your conversation has been stimulating, inspiring, and +informative. Our profound thanks." + +He shook hands with Rip and MacFife, bowed to the Connie commander again, +and went out the way he had come. There wasn't anything to say after the +Frenchman's sarcastic farewell speech. MacFife, Rip, and the officer with +the instruments went back through the valves into their own ship. + +Once inside, MacFife called, "Come with me. Hurry." He led the way +through passages and up ladders, to the very top of the ship, to the +hatch where the astrogators took their star sights. The protective shield +of nuclite had been rolled back, and they could see into space through +the clear-vision port. + +Rip and MacFife hurried to the side where they were connected to the +Connie. Rip looked down along the length of the ship. The valve +connection was in the middle of each ship, at the point of greatest +diameter. From that point each ship grew more slender. + +MacFife pointed to the Connie's nose. Projecting from it like great horns +were the ship's steering tubes. Unlike the Federation cruiser, which +blasted steam through internal tubes that did not project, the Connie +used chemical fuel. + +"Watch," MacFife said. + +There were similar tubes on the Connie's stern, Rip knew. He wondered +what they had to do with the plan. + +MacFife walked to a wall communicator. "Follow instructions." + +He turned to Rip. "Remember, lad, the _Sagittarius_ is on the other side +of the Connie, about to do the same thing." + +Rip waited in silence, wondering. + +Then the voice horn called. "Valve closed!" + +A second voice yelled, "Blast!" + +A tremor jarred its way through the entire ship, making the deck throb +under Rip's feet. He saw that the ship's nose had swung away from the +Connie. What in space-- + +"Blast!" + +The nose swung into the Connie again, with a jar that sent Rip sliding +into the clear plastic of the astrodome. His nose jammed into the +plastic, but he didn't even wince, because he saw the Connie cruiser's +steering tubes buckle under the _Aquila's_ sudden shove. + +And suddenly the picture was clear. The two Federation cruisers hadn't +cared about getting into the Connie ship. They had only wanted an excuse +to tie up to it so they could do what had just been done. + +They had sheared off the enemy's steering tubes, first at the stern, then +at the bow, leaving him helpless, able to go only forward or back in the +direction in which he happened to be pointing! + +MacFife had a broad grin on his face. As Rip started to speak, he held up +his hand and pointed at a wall speaker. + +The Connie commander came on the circuit. He screamed, "You planned that! +You--you--" + +Galliene's voice spoke soothingly. "But my dear commander! How can I +apologize? Believe me, the man responsible will be reward--I mean, the +man responsible will be disciplined. You may rest assured of it. How +unfortunate! I am overcome with shame." + +MacFife picked up a microphone. "Same here, Connie. A terrible accident. +Aye, the man who did it will hear from me." + +"It was no accident," the Connie screamed. + +"Ah," Galliene replied, "but you cannot prove otherwise. Commander, do +you realize what this means? You are helpless. Interplanetary law says +that a helpless space ship must be salvaged and taken in tow by the +nearest cruiser, no matter what its nationality. We will do this jointly, +the _Aquila_ and the _Sagittarius_. We will take turns towing you, my +friend. We will haul you to Terra--like any other piece of space junk." + +MacFife could remain quiet no longer. "Yes, mister. And that's no' the +end o' it. We will collect the salvage fee. One half the value of the +salvaged vessel. Aye! My men will like that, since we share and share +alike on salvage. Now, put out a cable from your nose tube. I'll take ye +in tow first." + +He cut the communicator off and met Rip's grin. + +The two spacemen had figured out the one way to repay the Connie for his +attempts on the asteroid. They couldn't fire on him, but they could fake +an accident that would cripple him and cost Consops millions of dollars +in salvage fees. + +Nor would Consops refuse to pay. Salvage law was clear. Whoever performed +the salvage was not required to turn the ship back to its owners until +the fee had been paid. + +And there was another angle. The cruisers would tow the Connie into +the Federation spaceport in New Mexico. If past experience was any +indication, the Connie would lose about half its crew, perhaps more. +They would claim sanctuary in the Federation. + +Rip shook hands solemnly with the grinning Scotchman. It would be a long +time before Consops tried piracy again. + +"We'll be back at our family fight again tomorrow," MacFife said, "but +today we celebrate together. Ah, lad, this is pure joy to me. I've had +a score to settle with yon Connies for years. Now I've done it." + +He put an arm around Rip's shoulders. "While I'm in a givin' mood, which +is not the way of us Scots, is there anything ye'd like?" + +Rip could think of only one thing. "A hot shower. For me and my men. And +will you take the prisoners off our hands?" + +"Yes to both. Anything else?" + +"We'll need some rocket fuel. Terra says we have to correct course. Also, +we'll need a nuclear charge to throw us into a braking ellipse. And we +need a new landing boat. The sun baked the equipment out of ours." + +MacFife nodded. "So be it. I'll send men to the asteroid to bring back +the prisoners and your Planeteers." He smiled. "We'll let yon rock go by +itself while hot showers and a good meal are had by all. Ye've earned it, +lad." + +Rip started to thank the Scot, but his stomach suddenly turned over, and +black dizziness flooded in on him. He heard MacFife's sudden exclamation, +felt hands on him. + +White light blinded him. He shook his head and tried to keep his stomach +from acting up. A voice asked, "Were you shielded from those nuclear +blasts?" + +"No," he said past a constricted throat. "Not from the last. We got some +prompt radiation." + +"When was that? The exact time?" + +Rip tried to remember. He felt horrible. "It was twenty-three-oh-five." + +"Bad," the voice said. "He must have taken enough roentgens of gamma and +neutrons to reach or exceed the median-lethal dose." + +Rip found his voice again. "Santos," he said urgently. "On the asteroid. +He got it, too. The rest were shielded." + +MacFife snapped orders. The ball-bat would have Santos in the ship within +minutes. Being sick in a space suit was about the most unpleasant thing +that could happen. + +A hypospray tingled against Rip's arm. The drug penetrated, caught +a quick lift to all parts of his body through the bloodstream. +Consciousness slid away. + + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN + +Spacefall + + +Rip was never more eloquent. He argued, he begged, and he wheedled. + +The _Aquila's_ chief physician listened with polite interest, but he +shook his head. "Lieutenant, you simply are not aware of the close call +you've had. Another two hours without treatment, and we might not have +been able to save you." + +"I appreciate that," Rip assured him. "But I'm fine now, sir." + +"You are not fine. You are anything but fine. We've loaded you with +antibiotics and blood cell regenerator, and we've given you a total +transfusion. You feel fine, but you're not." + +The doctor looked at Rip's red hair. "That's a fine thatch of hair you +have. In a week or two it will be gone, and you'll have no more hair +than an egg. A well person doesn't lose hair. Your head will shine like +a space helmet." + +The ship's radiation safety officer had put both Rip's and Santos' +dosimeters into his measuring equipment. They had taken over a hundred +roentgens of hard radiation above the tolerance limit. This was the +result of being caught unshielded when the last nuclear charge went +off. + +"Sir," Rip pleaded, "you can load us with suppressives. It's only a few +days more before we reach Terra. You can keep us going until then. We'll +both turn in for full treatment as soon as we get to the space platform. +But we have to finish the job; can't you see that, sir?" + +The doctor shook his head. "You're a fool, even for a Planeteer. Before +you get over this, you'll be sicker than you've ever been. You have a +month in bed waiting for you. If I let you go back to the asteroid, I'll +only be delaying the time when you start full treatment." + +"But the delay won't hurt if you inject us with suppressives, will it?" +Rip asked quickly. "Don't they keep the sickness checked?" + +"Yes, for a maximum of about ten days. Then they no longer have +sufficient effect, and you come down with it." + +"But it won't take ten days," Rip pointed out. "It will only take a +couple, and it won't hurt us." + +MacFife had arrived to hear the last exchange. He nodded sympathetically. +"Doctor, I can appreciate how the lad feels. He started something, and he +wants to finish it. If y'can let him, safely, I think ye should." + +The doctor shrugged. "I can let him. There's a nine to one chance it will +do him no harm. But the one chance is what I don't like." + +"I'll know it if the suppressives start to wear off, won't I?" Rip asked. + +"You certainly will. You'll get weaker rapidly." + +"How rapidly?" + +"Perhaps six hours. Perhaps more." + +Rip nodded. "That's what I thought. Doctor, we're less than six hours +from Terra by ship. If the stuff wears off, we can be in the hospital +within a couple of hours. Once we go into a braking ellipse, we can reach +a hospital in less than an hour by snapper-boat." + +"Let him go," MacFife said. + +The doctor wasn't happy about it, but he had run out of arguments. "All +right, Commander--if you'll assume responsibility for getting him off the +asteroid and into a Terra or space platform hospital in time." + +"I'll do that," MacFife assured him. "Now get your hyposprays and fill +him full of that stuff you use. The corporal, too." + +"Sergeant," Rip corrected. His first action on getting back to the +asteroid would be to recommend Santos' promotion to Terra base. He +intended to recommend Kemp for corporal, too. He was sure the Planeteers +at Terra would make the promotions. + +The two Federation cruisers were still holding course along with the +asteroid, the Connie cruiser between them. + +Within an hour, Rip and Santos, both in false good health, thanks to +medical magic, were on their way back to the asteroid in a ball-bat boat. + +The remaining time passed quickly. The sun receded. The Planeteers +corrected course. Rip sent in his recommendations for promotions and +looked over the last nuclear crater to see why the blast had started the +asteroid spinning. + +The reason could only be guessed. The blast probably had opened a fault +in the crystal, allowing the explosion to escape partially in the wrong +direction. + +Once the course was corrected, Rip calculated the position for the final +nuclear charge. When the asteroid reached the correct position relative +to Earth, the charge would not change its course but only slow its speed +somewhat. The asteroid would go around Earth in a series of ever +tightening ellipses, using Terra's gravity, plus rocket fuel, to slow +it down to orbital speed. + +When it reached the proper position, tubes of rocket fuel would change +the course again, putting it into an orbit around Earth, close to the +space platform. It wasn't practical to take the thorium rock in for a +landing. They would lose control, and the asteroid would flame to Earth +like the greatest meteor ever to hit the planet. + +Putting the asteroid into orbit around Earth was actually the most +delicate part of the whole trip, but Rip wasn't worried. He had the +facilities of Terra base within easy reach by communicator. He dictated +his data and let them do the mathematics on the giant electronic +computers. + +He and his men rode the gray planet past the moon, so close they could +almost see the Planeteer lunar base, circled Terra in a series of +ellipses, and finally blasted the asteroid into its final orbit within +sight of the space platform. + +Landing craft and snapper-boats swarmed to meet them, and within an hour +after their arrival the Planeteers were surrounded by spacemen, cadets +from the platform, and officers and men wearing Planeteer black. + +A cadet approached Rip and looked at him with awe. "Sir, I don't know how +you ever did it!" + +And Rip, his eyes on the great curve of Earth, answered casually, +"There's one thing every space chick has to learn if he's going to be a +Planeteer. There's always a way to do anything. To be a Planeteer, you +have to be able to figure out the way." + +A new voice said, "Now, that's real wisdom!" + +Rip turned quickly and looked through a helmet at the grinning face of +Maj. Joe Barris. + +Barris spoke as though to himself, but Rip turned red as his hair. "Funny +how fast a man ages in space," the Planeteer major remarked. "Take +Foster. A few weeks ago he was just a cadet, a raw recruit who had never +met high vack. Now he's talking like the grandfather of all space. I +don't know how the Special Order Squadrons ever got along before he +became an officer." + +Rip had been feeling a little too proud of himself. + +"It's good to get back," Rip said. + + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY + +On the Platform + + +There were two things Rip could see from his hospital bed on the space +platform. One was the great curve of Earth. He was anxious to get out +of the hospital and back to Terra. + +The second thing was the asteroid. Spacemen were at work on it, slowly +cutting it to pieces. The pieces were small enough to be carried back to +Earth in supply rockets. It would be a long time before the asteroid was +completely cut up and transported to Terra base. + +Sergeant Major Koa came into the hospital ward and sat on Rip's bed. The +plastifoam mattress compressed under his weight. "How are you feeling, +sir?" + +"Pretty good," Rip replied. The worst of the radiation sickness was over, +and he was mending fast. Here and there were little bloodstains, just +below the surface of his skin, and he had no more hair than a plastic +ball. Otherwise he looked normal. The stains would go away, and his hair +would grow back in a few weeks. + +Santos, now officially a sergeant, was in the same condition. The rest of +Rip's Planeteers had resumed duties on the space platform. He saw them +frequently, because they made a point of dropping in whenever they were +near the hospital area. + +Koa looked out at the asteroid. "I sort of hate to see that rock cut up. +There isn't much about a chunk of thorium to get sentimental over, but +after fighting for it the way we did, it doesn't seem right to cut it +into blocks." + +"I know how you feel," Rip admitted, "but, after all, that's what we +brought it back for." + +He studied Koa's dark face. The sergeant major had something on his mind. +"Got vack worms chewing at you?" he asked. Vack worms were a spaceman's +equivalent of "the blues." + +"Not exactly, sir. I happened to overhear the doctor talking today. +You're due for a leave in a week." + +"That's good news!" Rip exclaimed. "You're not unhappy about it, are +you?" + +Koa shrugged. "We were all hoping we'd be together on our next +assignment. The gang liked serving under you. But we're overdue for +shipment to somewhere, and if you take eight weeks' leave, we'll be gone +by the time you come back to the platform." + +"I liked serving with all of you, too," Rip replied. "I watched the way +you all behaved when the space flap was getting tough, and it made me +proud to be a Planeteer." + +Maj. Joe Barris came in. He was carrying an envelope in his hand. + +"Hello, Rip. How are you, Koa? Am I interrupting a private talk?" + +"No, Major," Koa replied. "We're just passing the time. Want me to +leave?" + +"Stay here," Barris said. "This concerns you, too. I've been reassigned. +My eight years on the platform are up, and that's all an instructor gets. +Now I'm off for space on another job." + +Rip knew that instructors were assigned for eight-year periods. And he +knew that the major's specialty was the Planeteer science of exploration, +a specialty which required him to be an expert in biology, zoology, +anthropology, navigation and astrogation, and land fighting--not to +mention a half dozen lesser things. Only ten Planeteers rated expert in +exploration, and all were captains or majors. + +"Where are you going?" Rip asked. "Off to explore something?" + +"That's it." Major Barris smiled. "Remember once I said that when they +gave me the job of cleaning up the goopies on Ganymede, I'd ask for you +as a platoon leader?" + +Rip stared. "Don't tell me that's your assignment!" + +"Almost. Tell me, would you recommend any more of your men for promotion? +I'll need a new sergeant and two more corporals." + +Rip thought it over. "Koa can check me on this. I'd suggest making +Pederson a sergeant and Dowst and Dominico corporals. Kemp and Santos +already have promotions." + +"That would be my choice, too," Koa agreed. + +"Fine." Barris tapped the envelope. "I'll correct the orders in here +and recommend the promotions. We'll get sixteen new recruits from the +graduating class at Luna, and that will complete the platoon I'm supposed +to organize. Two full platoons are waiting, and the new platoon will give +me a full-strength squadron, except for new officers. How about Flip +Villa for a platoon commander, Rip?" + +Rip knew the Mexican officer was among the best of his own graduating +class. "I have to admit prejudice," he warned. "Flip is a pal of mine. +But I don't think you could do better." His curiosity got the better of +him, and he asked "Can you tell me what this is all about?" + +Joe Barris reached over and rubbed Rip's bald head. "By the time fur +grows back on that irradiated dome of yours, I'll be on my way with +Koa, Pederson, and the new recruits. Santos and the rest of your crew +will report to Terra base. Flip Villa will join them there. You'll be +on Earth leave for eight weeks, but it will take about that much time for +Flip and the men to assemble the supplies and equipment we'll need." + +He pulled a sheaf of papers out of the envelope. "Koa, here are orders +for you and your men. They say you're to report to Special Order Squadron +Seven, on Ganymede. SOS Seven is a new squadron, the first one organized +exclusively for exploration duties, and I'm its commanding officer. Koa, +you'll be my senior noncommissioned officer. I want you and Pederson with +me, because you can organize the new recruits en route. They have a lot +more to learn from you than they got in their two years of training. +You'll make real Planeteers out of 'em." + +He picked a paper from the sheaf and waived it at Rip. "This is for you, +Lieutenant Foster." He read, "Foster, R. I. P., Lieutenant, SOS. Serial +seven-nine-four-three. Authorized eight weeks' leave upon discharge from +hospital. Upon completion of leave, subject officer will report to Terra +base for transportation to SOS Seven on Ganymede." + +Joe Barris handed Rip his new orders. "You'll be on the same ship with +Flip Villa and your men. Flip will be another of my platoon leaders. +I'll be waiting for you on Ganymede. The moons of Jupiter are going to be +our home for quite a while, Rip. Our first assignment is to explore +Callisto from pole to pole." + +Rip didn't know what to say. To serve under Barris, to have his own men +in a regular squadron platoon, to have Flip Villa in the same outfit, +and to be assigned to exploration duty--dirtiest but most exciting of all +Planeteer jobs--was just too much. He couldn't say anything. He could +only grin. + +Maj. Joe Barris looked at Rip's shiny head and chuckled. "From what I +hear of Callisto, we're in for a rough time. Your hair will probably +grow back just in time to turn gray!" + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RIP FOSTER IN RIDE THE GRAY PLANET*** + + +******* This file should be named 18139-8.txt or 18139-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/1/3/18139 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Rip Foster in Ride the Gray Planet</p> +<p>Author: Harold Leland Goodwin</p> +<p>Release Date: April 10, 2006 [eBook #18139]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RIP FOSTER IN RIDE THE GRAY PLANET***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net/)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2>A GOLDEN GRIFFON SPACE ADVENTURE</h2> + +<h1><i>Rip Foster in Ride the Gray Planet</i></h1> + +<h3>By BLAKE SAVAGE</h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h4>GOLDEN PRESS NEW YORK</h4> + +<h4>Golden Griffon TM of Western Publishing Company, Inc.</h4> + +<h4>Copyright 1952 by Western Publishing Company, Inc.<br /> +All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.<br /> +Published by Golden Press, New York, N.Y.</h4> + +<h4>First Golden Griffon Printing, 1969</h4> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>TABLE OF CONTENTS</h2> + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> +<a href="#CHAPTER_ONE">CHAPTER ONE: Spacebound</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_TWO">CHAPTER TWO: Rake That Radiation!</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_THREE">CHAPTER THREE: Capture and Drive!</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_FOUR">CHAPTER FOUR: Find the Needle!</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_FIVE">CHAPTER FIVE: The Gray World</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_SIX">CHAPTER SIX: Rip's Planet</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_SEVEN">CHAPTER SEVEN: Earthbound!</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_EIGHT">CHAPTER EIGHT: Duck—or Die!</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_NINE">CHAPTER NINE: Repel Invaders!</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_TEN">CHAPTER TEN: Get the Scorpion!</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_ELEVEN">CHAPTER ELEVEN: Hard Words</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_TWELVE">CHAPTER TWELVE: Mercury Transit</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_THIRTEEN">CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Peril!</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_FOURTEEN">CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Between Two Fires</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_FIFTEEN">CHAPTER FIFTEEN: The Rocketeers</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_SIXTEEN">CHAPTER SIXTEEN: Ride the Planet!</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_SEVENTEEN">CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: Visitors!</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_EIGHTEEN">CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: Courtesy—With Claws</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_NINETEEN">CHAPTER NINETEEN: Spacefall</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_TWENTY">CHAPTER TWENTY: On the Platform</a><br /> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_ONE" id="CHAPTER_ONE"></a>CHAPTER ONE</h2> + +<h3>Spacebound</h3> + + +<p>A thousand miles above Earth's surface the great space platform sped +from daylight into darkness. Once every two hours it circled the earth +completely, spinning along through space like a mighty wheel of steel and +plastic.</p> + +<p>Through a telescope on Earth the platform looked to be a lifeless, lonely +disk, but within it, hundreds of spacemen and Planeteers went about their +work.</p> + +<p>In a ready room at the outer edge of the platform, a Planeteer officer +faced a dozen slim, black-clad young men who wore the single golden +orbits of lieutenants. This was a graduating class, already commissioned, +having a final informal get-together.</p> + +<p>The officer, who wore the three-orbit insignia of a major, was lean and +trim. His short-cropped hair covered his head like a gray fur skull cap. +One cheek was marked with the crisp whiteness of an old radiation burn.</p> + +<p>"Stand easy," he ordered briskly. "The general instructions of the +Special Order Squadrons say that it's my duty as senior officer to make a +farewell speech. I intend to make a speech if it kills me—and you, too."</p> + +<p>The dozen new officers facing him broke into grins. Maj. Joe Barris had +been their friend, teacher, and senior officer during six long years of +training on the space platform. He could no more make a formal speech +than he could breathe high vacuum, and they all knew it.</p> + +<p>Lt. Richard Ingalls Peter Foster, whose initials had given him the +nickname "Rip," asked, "Why don't you sing for us instead, Joe?"</p> + +<p>Major Barris fixed Rip with a cold eye. "Foster, three orbital turns, +then front and center."</p> + +<p>Rip obediently spun around three times, then walked forward and stood at +attention, trying to conceal his grin.</p> + +<p>"Foster, what does SOS mean?"</p> + +<p>"Special Order Squadrons, sir."</p> + +<p>"Right. And what else does it mean?"</p> + +<p>"It means 'Help!' sir."</p> + +<p>"Right. And what else does it mean?"</p> + +<p>"Superman or simp, sir."</p> + +<p>This was a ceremony in which questions and answers never changed. It was +supposed to make Planeteer cadets and junior officers feel properly +humble, but it didn't work. By tradition, the Planeteers were the +cockiest gang that ever blasted through high vacuum.</p> + +<p>Major Barris shook his head sadly. "You admit you're a simp, Foster. The +rest of you are simps, too, but you don't believe it. You've finished six +years on the platform. You've made a few little trips out into space. +You've landed on the moon a couple of times. So now you think you're +seasoned space spooks. Well, you're not. You're simps!"</p> + +<p>Rip stopped grinning. He had heard this before. It was part of the +routine. But he sensed that this time Joe Barris wasn't kidding.</p> + +<p>The major absently rubbed the radiation scar on his cheek as he looked +them over. They were like twelve chicks out of the same nest. They were +about the same size, a compact five feet eleven inches, 175 pounds. They +wore belted, loose black tunics over full trousers which gathered into +white cruiser boots. The comfortable uniforms concealed any slight +differences in build. All twelve were lean of face, with hair cropped to +the regulation half inch. Rip was the only redhead among them.</p> + +<p>"Sit down," Barris commanded. "Here's my speech."</p> + +<p>The twelve seated themselves on plastic stools. Major Barris remained +standing.</p> + +<p>"Well," he began soberly, "you are now officers of the Special Order +Squadrons. You're Planeteers. You are lieutenants by order of the Space +Council, Federation of Free Governments. And—space protect you!—to +yourselves you're supermen. But never forget this: To ordinary spacemen, +you're just plain simps. You're trouble in a black tunic. They have about +as much use for you as they have for leaks in their air locks. Some of +the spacemen have been high-vacking for twenty years or more, and they're +tough. They're as nasty as a Callistan <i>teekal</i>. They like to eat +Planeteer junior officers for breakfast."</p> + +<p>Lt. Felipe "Flip" Villa asked, "With salt, Joe?"</p> + +<p>Major Barris sighed. "No use trying to tell you space chicks anything. +You're lieutenants now, and a lieutenant has the thickest skull of any +rank, no matter what service he belongs to."</p> + +<p>Rip realized that Barris had not been joking, no matter how flippant his +speech. "Go ahead," he urged. "Finish what you were going to say."</p> + +<p>"Okay. I'll make it short. Then you can catch the Terra rocket and take +your eight weeks' Earth leave. You won't really know what I'm talking +about until you've batted around space for a while. All I have to say +adds up to one thing. You won't like it, because it doesn't sound +scientific. That doesn't mean it isn't good science, because it is. Just +remember this: When you're in a jam, trust your hunch and not your head."</p> + +<p>The twelve stared at him, openmouthed. For six years they had been taught +to rely on scientific methods. Now their best instructor and senior +officer was telling them just the opposite!</p> + +<p>Rip started to object, but then he caught a glimmer of meaning. He stuck +out his hand. "Thanks, Joe. I hope we'll meet again."</p> + +<p>Barris grinned. "We will, Rip. I'll ask for you as a platoon commander +when they assign me to cleaning up the goopies on Ganymede." This was the +major's idea of the worst Planeteer job in the solar system.</p> + +<p>The group shook hands all around; then the young officers broke for the +door on the run. The Terra rocket was blasting off in five minutes, and +they were to be on it.</p> + +<p>Rip joined Flip Villa, and they jumped on the high-speed track that would +whisk them to Valve Two on the other side of the platform. Their gear was +already loaded. They had only to take seats on the rocket, and their six +years on the space platform would be at an end.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what it will be like to get back to high gravity," Rip mused. +The centrifugal force of the spinning platform acted as artificial +gravity, but it was considerably less than Earth's.</p> + +<p>"We probably won't be able to walk straight until we get our Earth legs +back," Flip answered. "I wish I could stay in Colorado with you instead +of going back to Mexico City, Rip. We could have a lot of fun in eight +weeks."</p> + +<p>Rip nodded. "Tough luck, Flip. But anyway, we have the same assignment."</p> + +<p>Both Planeteers had been assigned to Special Order Squadron Four, which +was attached to the cruiser <i>Bolide</i>. The cruiser was in high space, +beyond the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn, doing comet research.</p> + +<p>They got off the track at Valve Two and stepped through into the rocket's +interior. Two seats just ahead of the fins were vacant, and they slid +into them. Rip looked through the thick port beside him and saw the +distinctive blue glow of a nuclear drive cruiser sliding toward the +platform.</p> + +<p>"Wave your eye stalks at that job," Flip said admiringly. "Wonder what +it's doing here."</p> + +<p>The space platform was a refueling depot, where conventional chemical +fuel rockets topped off their tanks before flaming for space. The newer +nuclear drive cruisers had no need to stop. Their atomic piles needed new +neutron sources only once every few years, and they carried thousands of +tons of methane, compressed into solid form, for their reaction mass.</p> + +<p>The voice horn in the rocket cabin sounded. "The SCN <i>Scorpius</i> is +passing Valve Two, landing at Valve Eight."</p> + +<p>"I thought that ship was with Squadron One on Mercury," Rip recalled. +"Wonder why they pulled it back here."</p> + +<p>Flip had no chance to reply, because the chief rocket officer took up his +station at the valve and began to call the roll. Rip answered to his +name.</p> + +<p>The rocket officer finished the roll, then announced: "Buttoning up in +twenty seconds. Blast off in forty-five. Don't bother with acceleration +harness. We'll fall free, with just enough flame going for control, after +ten seconds of retrothrust to de-orbit."</p> + +<p>The ten-second-warning bell sounded, and, before the bell had ceased, the +voice horn blasted. "Get it! Foster, R.I.P., Lieutenant. Report to the +platform commander. Show an exhaust!"</p> + +<p>Rip leaped to his feet. "Hold on, Flip. I'll see what the old man wants +and be right back."</p> + +<p>"Get flaming," the rocket officer called. "Show an exhaust, like the man +said. This bucket leaves on time, and we're sealing the port."</p> + +<p>Rip hesitated. The rocket would leave without him!</p> + +<p>Flip said urgently, "You better ram it, Rip."</p> + +<p>He knew he had no choice. "Tell my folks I'll make the next rocket," he +called, and ran. He leaped through the valve, jumped for the high-speed +track, and was whisked around the rim of the space platform.</p> + +<p>He ran a hand through his short red hair, a gesture of bewilderment. His +records had cleared. So far as he knew, all his papers were in order, and +he had his next assignment. He couldn't figure why the platform commander +would want to see him. But the horn had called, "Show an exhaust!" which +meant to get there in a hurry.</p> + +<p>He jumped off the track at the main crossrun and hurried toward the +center of the platform. In a moment he was at the commander's door, +waiting to be identified.</p> + +<p>The door swung open, and a junior officer in the blue tunic and trousers +of a spaceman motioned him to the inner room. "Go in, Lieutenant."</p> + +<p>"Thank you." He hurried into the commander's room and stood at attention.</p> + +<p>Commander Jennsen, the Norwegian spaceman who had commanded the platform +since before Rip's arrival as a raw cadet, was dictating into his command +relay circuit. As he spoke, printed copies were being received in the +platform personnel office, at Special Order Squadron headquarters on +Earth, aboard the cruiser <i>Bolide</i> in high space, and aboard the newly +landed cruiser <i>Scorpius</i>.</p> + +<p>Rip listened, spellbound.</p> + +<p>"Foster, R.I.P., Lieutenant, SOS. Serial seven-nine-four-three. Assigned +SOS Four. Change orders, effective this date-time. Cancel Earth leave. +Subject officer will report to commander, SCN <i>Scorpius</i>, with detachment +of nine men. Senior noncommissioned officer and second in command, Koa, +A.P., Sergeant Major, SOS. Serial two-nine-four-one. Commander of +<i>Scorpius</i> will transport detachment to coordinates given in basic +cruiser astro-course; deliver orders to detachment en route. Take +required steps for maximum security. This is Federation priority A, +Space Council security procedures."</p> + +<p>Rip swallowed hard. The highest possible priority, given by the +Federation itself, had canceled his leave. Not only that, but the cruiser +to which he was assigned was instructed to follow Space Council security +procedures, which meant that the job, whatever it was, was more urgent +than secret!</p> + +<p>Commander Jennsen looked up and saw Rip waiting. He snapped, "Did you get +all of that?"</p> + +<p>"Y-Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"You'll get written copies on the cruiser. Now flame out of here. Collect +your men and get aboard. The <i>Scorpius</i> leaves in five minutes."</p> + +<p>Rip ran. The realization hit him that the big nuclear cruiser had stopped +at the platform for the sole purpose of collecting him and nine enlisted +Planeteers.</p> + +<p>The low gravity helped him cover the hundred yards to the personnel +office in five leaps. He swung to a stop by grabbing the push bar of the +office door. He yelled at the enlisted spaceman on duty. "Where do I find +nine men?"</p> + +<p>The spaceman looked at him vacantly. "What for? You got a requisition, +Lieutenant?"</p> + +<p>"Never mind requisitions," Rip snapped. "I've got to find nine Planeteers +and get them on the <i>Scorpius</i> before it flames off."</p> + +<p>The spaceman's face cleared. "Oh. You mean Koa's detachment. They left a +few minutes ago."</p> + +<p>"Where. Where did they go?"</p> + +<p>The spaceman shrugged. The doings of Planeteers were no concern of his. +His shrug said so.</p> + +<p>Rip realized there was no use talking further. He ran down the long +corridor toward the outer edge of the platform. The enlisted men's squad +rooms were near Valve Ten. So was the supply department. His gear had +departed on the Terra rocket, and he couldn't go into space with only +the tunic on his back. He swung to the high-speed track and braced +himself as he sped along the platform's rim.</p> + +<p>There was no moving track inward to the enlisted Planeteers' squad rooms. +He legged it down the corridor in long leaps, muttering apologies as +blue-clad spacemen and cadets moved to the wall to let him pass.</p> + +<p>The squad rooms were on two levels. He looked in the upper ones and found +them deserted. The squads were on duty somewhere. He ran for the ladder +to the lower level, took the wrong one, and ended up in a snapper-boat +port. He had trained in the deadly little fighting rockets, and they +never failed to interest him. But there wasn't time to admire them now. +He went back up the ladder with two strong heaves, found the right +ladder, and dropped down without touching. His knees flexed to take up +the shock. He came out of the crouch facing a black-clad Planeteer +sergeant who snapped to rigid attention.</p> + +<p>"Koa," Rip barked. "Where can I find him?"</p> + +<p>"He's not here, sir. He and eight men left fifteen minutes ago. I don't +know where they went, sir."</p> + +<p>Rip shot a worried glance at his wrist chronometer. He had two minutes +left before the cruiser departed. No more time now to search for his men. +He hoped the sergeant major had sense enough to be waiting at some +reasonable place. He went up the ladder hand over hand and sped down the +corridor to the supply room. The spaceman first class in charge of +supplies was turning an audio-mag through a hand viewer, chuckling at the +cartoons. At the sight of Rip's flushed, anxious face he dropped the +machine. "Yessir?"</p> + +<p>"I need a spack. Full gear, including bubble."</p> + +<p>"Yessir." The spaceman looked him over with a practiced eye. "One full +space pack. Medium-large, right, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Correct." Rip took the counter stylus and inscribed his name, serial +number, and signature on the blank plastic sheet. Gears whirred as the +data was recorded.</p> + +<p>The spaceman vanished into an inner room and reappeared in a moment +lugging a plastic case called a space pack, or "spack" for short. It +contained complete personal equipment for space travel. Rip grabbed it. +"Fast service. Thanks, Rocky." All spacemen were called "Rocky" if you +didn't know their names. It was an abbreviation for rocketeer, a title +all of them had once carried.</p> + +<p>Valve Eight was some distance away. Rip decided a cross ramp would be +faster than the moving track. He swung the spack to his shoulder and made +his legs go. Seconds were ticking off, and he had an idea that the SCN +<i>Scorpius</i> would make space on time, whether or not he arrived. He +lengthened his stride and rounded a turn by going right up on the wall, +using a powerful leg thrust against a ventilator tube for momentum.</p> + +<p>He passed an observation port as he reached the platform rim, and caught +a glimpse of ruddy rocket exhaust flames outlined against the dark curve +of Earth. That would be the Terra rocket making its controlled fall to +home, with Flip aboard. Without slowing, he leaped across the high-speed +track, narrowly missing a senior space officer. He shouted his apologies, +and gained the entrance to Valve Eight just as the high buzz of the +radiation warning sounded, signaling a nuclear drive cruiser preparing +to take off.</p> + +<p>Nine faces of assorted colors and expressions turned to him. He had a +quick impression of black tunics and trousers. He had found his +detachment! Without slowing, he called, "Follow me!"</p> + +<p>The cruiser's safety officer had been keeping an eye on the clock, his +forehead creased in a frown as he saw that only a few seconds remained +to departure time. He walked to the valve opening and looked out. If his +passengers were not in sight, he would have to reset the clock.</p> + +<p>Rip went through the valve opening at top speed. He crashed head on into +the safety officer.</p> + +<p>The safety officer was driven across the deck, his arms pumping for +balance. He grabbed at the nearest thing, which happened to be the deputy +cruiser commander.</p> + +<p>The preset clock reached firing time. The valve slid shut and the takeoff +bell reverberated through the ship.</p> + +<p>And so it happened that the spacemen of the SCN <i>Scorpius</i> turned their +valves, threw their controls and disengaged their boron control rods, and +the great cruiser flashed into space—while the deputy commander and the +safety officer were completely tangled with a very flustered and unhappy +new Planeteer lieutenant.</p> + +<p>Sergeant Major Koa and his men had made it before the valve closed. Koa, +a seven-foot Hawaiian, took in the situation and said crisply in a voice +all could hear, "I'll bust the bubble of any son of a space sausage who +laughs!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_TWO" id="CHAPTER_TWO"></a>CHAPTER TWO</h2> + +<h3>Rake That Radiation!</h3> + + +<p>The deputy commander and the safety officer got untangled and hurried to +their post, with no more than black looks at Rip. He got to his feet, his +face crimson with embarrassment. A fine entrance for a Planeteer officer, +especially one on his first orders!</p> + +<p>Around him the spacemen were settling in their acceleration seats or +snapping belts to safety hooks. From the direction of the stern came a +rising roar as methane, heated to a liquid, dropped into the blast tubes, +flaming into pure carbon and hydrogen under the terrible heat of the +atomic drive.</p> + +<p>Rip had to lean against the acceleration. Fighting for balance, he picked +up his spack and made his way to the nine enlisted Planeteers. They had +braced against the ship's drive by sitting with backs against bulkheads +or by lying flat on the magnesium deck. Sergeant Major Koa was seated +against a vertical brace, his brown face wreathed in a grin.</p> + +<p>Rip looked him over carefully. There was a saying among the Planeteers +that an officer was only as good as his senior sergeant. Koa's looks were +reassuring. His face was good-humored, but he had a solid jaw and a mouth +that could get tough when necessary. Rip wondered a little at his size. +Big men usually didn't go to space; they were too subject to space +sickness. Koa must be a special case.</p> + +<p>Rip slid to the floor next to the sergeant major and stuck out his hand. +He sensed the strength in Koa's big fist as it closed over his.</p> + +<p>Koa said, "Sir, that was the best <i>fleedle</i> I've ever seen an earthling +make. You been on Venus?"</p> + +<p>Rip eyed him suspiciously, wondering if the big Planeteer was laughing at +him. Koa was grinning, but it was a friendly grin. "What is a <i>fleedle</i>?" +Rip demanded. "I've never been on Venus."</p> + +<p>"It's the way the water hole people fight," Koa explained. "They're like +a bunch of rubber balls when they get to fighting. They ram each other +with their heads."</p> + +<p>Rip searched his memory for data on Venus. He couldn't recall any mention +of <i>fleedling</i>. Venusians, if his memory was right, had a sort of blowgun +as a main weapon. He told Koa so.</p> + +<p>The sergeant major nodded. "That's when they mean business, Lieutenant. +<i>Fleedling</i> is more like us fighting with our fists. Sort of a sport. +Great Cosmos! The way they dive at each other is something to see."</p> + +<p>Rip grinned. "I didn't know I was going to <i>fleedle</i> those officers. It +isn't the way I usually enter a cruiser." He hadn't entered many. He +added, "I suppose I ought to report to someone."</p> + +<p>Koa shook his head. "No use, sir. You can't walk around very well until +the ship reaches <i>Brennschluss</i>. Besides, you won't find any space +officers who'll talk to you."</p> + +<p>Rip stared. "Why not?"</p> + +<p>"Because we're Planeteers. They'll give us the treatment. They always do. +When the commander of this bucket gets good and ready, he'll send for +you. Until then, we might as well take it easy." He pulled a bar of +Venusian <i>chru</i> from his pocket. "Have some. It'll make breathing +easier."</p> + +<p>The terrific acceleration made breathing a little uncomfortable, but it +was not too bad. The chief effect was to make Rip feel as though a ton +of invisible feathers were crushing him against the vertical brace. +He accepted a bite of the bittersweet vegetable candy and munched +thoughtfully. Koa seemed to take it for granted that the spacemen would +give them a rough time.</p> + +<p>He asked, "Aren't there any spacemen who get along with the Special Order +Squadrons?"</p> + +<p>"Never met one." Koa chewed chru. "And I was on the <i>Icarus</i> when the +whole thing started."</p> + +<p>Rip looked at him in surprise. Koa didn't seem that old. The bad feeling +between spacemen and the Special Order Squadrons had started about +eighteen years ago, when the cruiser <i>Icarus</i> had taken the first +Planeteers to Mercury.</p> + +<p>He reviewed the history of the expedition. The spacemen's job had been to +land the newly created Special Order Squadron on the hot planet. The job +of the squadron was to explore it. Somehow confusion developed, and the +spacemen, including the officers, later reported that the squadron had +instructed them to land on the sun side of Mercury, which would have +destroyed the spaceship and its crew, or so they believed at the time.</p> + +<p>The commanding officer of the squadron denied issuing such an order. He +said his instructions were to land as close as possible to the sun side, +but not on it. Whatever the truth—and Rip believed the SOS version, of +course—the crew of the <i>Icarus</i> mutinied, or tried to. They made the +landing on Mercury with squadron guns pointed at their heads. Of course, +they found that a sun-side landing wouldn't have hurt the ship. The whole +affair was pretty well hushed up, but it produced bad feeling between the +Special Order Squadrons and the spacemen. "Trigger-happy space bums," the +spacemen called them, and much worse, besides.</p> + +<p>The men of the Special Order Squadrons, searching for a handy nickname, +had called themselves Planeteers, because most of their work was on the +planets. As Maj. Joe Barris had told the officers of Rip's class, "You +might say the spacemen own space, but we Planeteers own everything solid +that's found in it."</p> + +<p>The Planeteers were the specialists—in science, exploration, +colonization, and fighting. The spacemen carried them back and forth, +kept them supplied, and handled their message traffic. The Planeteers did +the hard work and the important work—or so they believed.</p> + +<p>To become a Planeteer, a recruit had to pass rigid intelligence, +physical, aptitude, and psychological tests. Fewer than fifteen out of +each one hundred who applied were chosen. Then there were two years of +hard training on the space platform and the moon before a recruit was +finally accepted as a Planeteer private. Out of each fifteen who started +training, an average of five fell by the wayside.</p> + +<p>For Planeteer officers, the requirements were even tougher. Only one out +of each five hundred applicants finally received a commission. Six years +of training made them proficient in the techniques of exploration, +fighting, rocketeering, and both navigation and astrogation. In addition, +each became a full-fledged specialist in one field of science. Rip's +specialty was astrophysics.</p> + +<p>Sergeant Major Koa continued, "That business on the <i>Icarus</i> started the +war, but both sides have been feeding it ever since. I have to admit that +we Planeteers lord it over the spacemen like we were old man Cosmos +himself. So they get back at us with dirty little tricks while we're on +their ships. We command on the planets, but they command in space. And +they sure get a great big nuclear charge out of commanding us to do the +dirty work!"</p> + +<p>"We'll take whatever they hand us," Rip assured him, "and pretend we like +it fine." He gestured at the other Planeteers. "Tell me about the men, +Koa."</p> + +<p>"They're a fine bunch, sir. I handpicked them myself. The one with the +white hair is Corporal Nels Pederson, from Sweden. I served with him at +Marsport, and he's a real tough spacewalker in a fight. The other +corporal is Paulo Santos. He's from the Philippines, and the best +snapper-boat gunner you ever saw."</p> + +<p>He pointed out the six privates. Kemp and Dowst were Americans. Bradshaw +was an Englishman, Trudeau a Frenchman, Dominico an Italian, and Nunez a +Brazilian.</p> + +<p>Rip liked their looks. They were as relaxed as acceleration would allow, +but you got the impression that they would leap into action in a +microsecond if the word were given. He couldn't imagine what kind of +assignment was waiting, but he was satisfied with his Planeteers. They +looked capable of anything.</p> + +<p>He made himself as comfortable as possible and encouraged Koa to talk +about his service in the Special Order Squadrons. Koa had plenty to tell, +and he talked interestingly. Rip learned that the tall Hawaiian had been +to every planet in the system, had fought the Venusians on the central +desert, and had mined nuclite with SOS One on Mercury. He also found that +Koa was one of the seventeen pure-blooded Hawaiians left. During the +three hours that acceleration kept them from moving around the ship, Rip +got a new view of space and of service with the SOS—it was the view of a +Planeteer who had spent years around the Solar System.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad they assigned you to me," Rip told Koa frankly. "This is my +first job, and I'll be pretty green, no matter what it is. I'll depend +on you for a lot of things."</p> + +<p>To his surprise, Koa thrust out his hand. "Shake, Lieutenant." His grin +showed strong white teeth. "You're the first junior officer I ever met +who admitted he didn't know everything about everything. You can depend +on me, sir. I won't steer you into any meteor swarms."</p> + +<p>Koa had half turned to shake hands. Suddenly he spun on around, banging +his head against the deck. Rip felt a surge of relaxing muscles that had +been braced against acceleration. At the same time, silence flooded in on +them. Rip murmured "<i>Brennschluss</i>," and the murmur was like a trumpet +blast.</p> + +<p>The <i>Scorpius</i> had reached velocity, and the nuclear drive had cut out. +From terrific acceleration, they had dropped to zero. The ship was making +high speed, but velocity cannot be felt. For the moment the men were +weightless.</p> + +<p>A nearby spaceman had heard Rip's comment. He spoke in an undertone to +the man nearest. His voice was pitched low enough that Rip couldn't +object officially, but loud and clear enough to be heard by everyone.</p> + +<p>"Get this, gang. The Planeteer officer knows what <i>Brennschluss</i> is. He +doesn't look old enough to know which end his bubble goes on."</p> + +<p>Rip started to his feet, but Koa's hand on his arm restrained him. With a +violent kick, the big sergeant major shot through the air. His line of +flight took him past the spaceman, and somehow their arms got linked. The +spaceman was jerked from his post, and the two came to a stop against the +ceiling.</p> + +<p>Koa's voice echoed through the ship. "Sorry. I'm not used to no-weight. +Didn't mean to grab you. Here, I'll help you back to your post."</p> + +<p>He whirled the helpless spaceman like a bag of feathers and slung him +through the air. The force of the action only flattened Koa against the +ceiling, but the hapless spaceman shot forward head first and landed with +a clang against the bulkhead. He didn't hit hard enough to break any +bones, but he would carry a bump on his head for a day or two.</p> + +<p>Koa's voice floated after him. "Great Cosmos! I sure am sorry, spaceman. +I guess I don't know my own strength." He kicked away from the ceiling, +landing accurately at Rip's side. He added in a hard voice all could +hear, "They sure are a nice gang, these spacemen. They never say anything +about Planeteers."</p> + +<p>No spaceman answered, but Koa's meaning was clear. No spaceman had better +say anything about the Planeteers! Rip saw that the deputy commander and +the safety officer had appeared not to notice the incident. Technically, +there was no reason for an officer to take action. It had all been an +"accident." He smiled. There was a lot he had to learn about dealing with +spacemen, a lot Koa evidently knew very well indeed.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he began to feel weight. The ship was going into rotation. The +feeling increased until he felt normally heavy again. There was no other +sensation, even though the space cruiser was now spinning on its axis +through space at unaltered speed. The centrifugal force produced by the +spinning gave them an artificial gravity.</p> + +<p>Now that he thought about it, <i>Brennschluss</i> had come pretty early. The +trip apparently was going to be a short one. <i>Brennschluss</i>—funny, he +thought, how words stay on in a language, even after their original +meaning is changed. <i>Brennschluss</i> was German for "burn out." It was +rocket talk, and it meant the moment when all the fuel in a rocket burned +out. It had come into common use because the English "burn out" could +also mean that the engine itself had burned out. The German word meant +only the one thing. Now, in nuclear drive ships, the same word was used +for the moment when power was cut off.</p> + +<p>Words interested him. He started to mention it to Koa just as the +telescreen lit up. An officer's face appeared. "Send that Planeteer +officer to the commander," the face said. "Tell him to show an exhaust."</p> + +<p>Rip called instantly to the safety officer. "Where's his office?"</p> + +<p>The safety officer motioned to a spaceman. "Show him, Nelson."</p> + +<p>Rip followed the spaceman through a maze of passages, growing more +weightless with each step. The closer to the center of the ship they +went, the less he weighed. He was drawing himself along by plastic pull +cords when they finally reached the door marked <span class="smcap">COMMANDER</span>.</p> + +<p>The spaceman left without a word or a salute. Rip pushed the lock bar and +pulled himself in by grabbing the door frame. He couldn't help thinking +it was a rather undignified way to make an entrance.</p> + +<p>Seated in an acceleration chair, a safety belt across his middle, +was Space Commander Kevin O'Brine, an Irishman out of Dublin. He was +short, as compact as a deto-rocket, and obviously unfriendly. He had a +mathematically square jaw, a lopsided nose, green eyes, and sandy hair. +He spoke with a pronounced Irish brogue.</p> + +<p>Rip started to announce his name, rank, and the fact that he was +reporting as ordered. Commander O'Brine brushed his words aside and +stated flatly, "You're a Planeteer. I don't like Planeteers."</p> + +<p>Rip didn't know what to say, so he kept still. But sharp anger was rising +inside of him.</p> + +<p>O'Brine went on. "Instructions say I'm to hand you your orders en route. +They don't say when. I'll decide that. Until I do decide, I have a job +for you and your men. Do you know anything about nuclear physics?"</p> + +<p>Rip's eyes narrowed. He said cautiously, "A little, sir."</p> + +<p>"I'll assume you know nothing. Foster, the designation SCN means Space +Cruiser, Nuclear. This ship is powered by a nuclear reactor—in other +words, an atomic pile. You've heard of one?"</p> + +<p>Rip controlled his voice, but his red hair stood on end with anger. +O'Brine was being deliberately insulting. This was stuff any Planeteer +recruit knew. "I've heard, sir."</p> + +<p>"Fine. It's more than I had expected. Well, Foster, a nuclear reactor +produces heat. Great heat. We use that heat to turn a chemical called +methane into its component parts. Methane is known as marsh gas, Foster. +I wouldn't expect a Planeteer to know that. It is composed of carbon and +hydrogen. When we pump it into the heat coils of the reactor, it breaks +down and creates a gas that burns and drives us through space. But that +isn't all it does."</p> + +<p>Rip had an idea what was coming, and he didn't like it. Nor did he like +Commander O'Brine. It was not until much later that he learned that +O'Brine had been on his way to Terra, to see his family for the first +time in four years, when the cruiser's orders were changed. To the +commander, whose assignments had been made necessary by the needs of the +Special Order Squadrons, it was too much. So he took his disappointment +out on the nearest Planeteer, who happened to be Rip.</p> + +<p>"The gases go through tubes," O'Brine went on. "A little nuclear material +also leaks into the tubes. The tubes get coated with carbon, Foster. +They also get coated with nuclear fuel. We use thorium. Thorium is +radioactive. I won't give you a lecture on radioactivity, Foster. But +thorium mostly gives off the kind of radiation known as alpha particles. +Alpha is not dangerous unless breathed or eaten. It won't go through +clothes or skin. But when mixed with fine carbon, thorium alpha +contamination makes a mess. It's a dirty mess, Foster—so dirty that +I don't want my spacemen to fool with it.</p> + +<p>"I want you to take care of it instead—you and your men. The deputy +commander will assign you to a squad room. Settle in, then draw equipment +from the supply room and get going. When I want to talk to you again, +I'll call for you. Now blast off, Lieutenant, and rake that radiation. +Rake it clean."</p> + +<p>Rip forced a bright and friendly smile. "Yes, sir," he said sweetly. +"We'll rake it so clean you can see your face in it, sir." He paused, +then added politely. "If you don't mind looking at your face, sir—to see +how clean the tubes are, I mean."</p> + +<p>Rip turned and got out of there.</p> + +<p>Koa was waiting in the passageway outside. Rip told him what had +happened, mimicking O'Brine's Irish accent.</p> + +<p>The sergeant major shook his head sadly. "This is what I meant, +Lieutenant. Cruisers don't clean their tubes more'n once in ten +accelerations. The commander is just thinking up dirty work for us +to do, like I said."</p> + +<p>"Never mind," Rip told him. "Let's find our squad room and get settled, +then draw some protective clothing and equipment. We'll clean his tubes +for him. Our turn will come later."</p> + +<p>He remembered the last thing Joe Barris had said, only a few hours +before. <i>Joe was right</i>, he thought. <i>To ourselves we're supermen, but to +the spacemen we're just simps.</i> Evidently O'Brine was the kind of space +officer who ate Planeteers for breakfast.</p> + +<p>Rip thought of the way the commander had turned red with rage at that +crack about his face, and he resolved, <i>He may eat me for breakfast, but +I'll be a very tough mouthful!</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_THREE" id="CHAPTER_THREE"></a>CHAPTER THREE</h2> + +<h3>Capture and Drive!</h3> + + +<p>Commander O'Brine had not exaggerated. The residue of carbon and thorium +on the blast tube walls was stubborn, dirty, and penetrating. It was +caked on in a solid sheet, but when scraped, it broke up into fine +powder.</p> + +<p>The Planeteers wore coveralls, gloves, and face masks with respirators, +but that didn't prevent the stuff from sifting through onto their bodies. +Rip, who directed the work and kept track of the radiation with a +gamma-beta ion chamber and an alpha proportional counter, knew they would +have to undergo personal decontamination.</p> + +<p>He took a reading on the ion chamber. Only a few milliroentgens of beta +and gamma radiation. That was the dangerous kind, because both beta +particles and gamma rays could penetrate clothing and skin. But the +Planeteers wouldn't get enough of a dose to do any harm at all. The +alpha count was high, but so long as they didn't breathe any of the dust, +it was not dangerous.</p> + +<p>The <i>Scorpius</i> had six tubes. Rip divided the Planeteers into two squads, +one under his direction and one under Koa's. Each tube took a couple of +hours' hard work. Several times during the cleaning, the men would leave +the tube and go into the main mixing chamber while the tube was blasted +with live steam to throw the stuff they had scraped off out into space.</p> + +<p>Each squad was on its last tube when a spaceman arrived. He saluted Rip. +"Sir, the safety officer says to secure the tubes."</p> + +<p>That could mean only one thing: deceleration. Rip rounded up his men. +"We're finished. The safety officer passed the word to secure the tubes, +which means we're going to decelerate." He smiled grimly. "You all know +they gave us this job just out of pure love for the Planeteers. So +remember it when you go through the control room to the decontamination +chamber."</p> + +<p>The Planeteers nodded enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>Rip led the way from the mixing chamber, through the heavy safety door, +and into the engine control room. His entrance was met with poorly +concealed grins by the spacemen.</p> + +<p>Halfway across the room, Rip turned suddenly and bumped into Sergeant +Major Koa. Koa fell to the deck, arms flailing for balance—but flailing +against his protective clothing. The other Planeteers rushed to pick him +up, and somehow all their hands beat against each other.</p> + +<p>The protective clothing was saturated with fine dust. It rose from them +in a choking cloud and was picked up and dispersed by the ventilating +system. It was contaminated dust. The automatic radiation safety +equipment filled the ship with an earsplitting buzz of warning. Spacemen +clapped emergency respirators to their faces and spoke unkindly of Rip's +Planeteers in the saltiest space language possible.</p> + +<p>Rip and his men picked up Koa and continued the march to the +decontamination room, grinning under their respirators at the +consternation around them. There was no danger to the spacemen, since +they had clapped on respirators the moment the warning sounded. But even +a little contamination meant the whole ship had to be gone over with +instruments, and the ventilating system would have to be cleaned.</p> + +<p>The deputy commander met Rip at the door of the radiation room. Above the +respirator, his face looked furious.</p> + +<p>"Lieutenant," he bellowed, "haven't you any more sense than to bring +contaminated clothing into the engine control room?"</p> + +<p>Rip was sorry the deputy commander couldn't see him grinning under his +respirator. He said innocently, "No, sir, I haven't any more sense than +that."</p> + +<p>The deputy grated, "I'll have you up before the Discipline Board for +this."</p> + +<p>Rip was enjoying himself thoroughly. "I don't think so, sir. The +regulations are very clear. They say, 'It is the responsibility of the +safety officer to insure compliance with all safety regulations by both +complete instructions to personnel and personal supervision.' Your safety +officer didn't instruct us, and he didn't supervise us. You'd better run +<i>him</i> up before the Board."</p> + +<p>The deputy commander made harsh sounds into his respirator. Rip had him, +and he knew it. "He thought even a stupid Planeteer had sense enough to +obey radiation safety rules," he yelled.</p> + +<p>"He was wrong," Rip said gently. Then, just to make himself perfectly +clear, he added, "Commander O'Brine was within his rights when he made us +rake radiation. But he forgot one thing. Planeteers know the regulations, +too. Excuse me, sir. I have to get my men decontaminated."</p> + +<p>Inside the decontamination chamber, the Planeteers took off their masks +and faced Rip with admiring grins. For a moment he grinned back, feeling +pretty good. He had held his own with the spacemen, and he sensed that +his men liked him.</p> + +<p>"All right," he said briskly. "Strip down and get into the showers."</p> + +<p>In a few moments they were all standing under the chemically treated +water, washing off the contaminated dust. Rip paid special attention to +his hair, because that was where the dust was most likely to stick. He +had it well lathered when the water suddenly cut off. At the same moment, +the cruiser shuddered slightly as control blasts stopped its spinning and +left them all weightless. Rip saw instantly what had happened. He called, +"All right, men. Down on the floor."</p> + +<p>The Planeteers instantly slid to the shower deck. In a few seconds the +pressure of deceleration pushed at them.</p> + +<p>"I like spacemen," Rip said wryly. "They wait until just the right moment +before they cut the water and decelerate. Now we're stuck in our birthday +suits until we land—wherever that may be."</p> + +<p>Corporal Nels Pederson spoke up in a soft Stockholm accent. "Never mind, +sir. We'll get back at them. We always do!"</p> + +<p>While the <i>Scorpius</i> decelerated and started maneuvering for a landing, +Rip did some rapid calculations. He knew the acceleration and +deceleration rates of cruisers of this class, measured in terms of time, +and part of his daily routine on the space platform had been to examine +the daily astroplot, which gave the positions of all planets and other +large bodies within the solar system.</p> + +<p>There was only one possible destination: Mars.</p> + +<p>Rip's pulse quickened. He had always wanted to visit the red planet. Of +course, he had seen all the films, audio-mags, and books concerning it, +and he had tried to see the weekly spacecast. He had a good idea of what +the planet was like, but reading or viewing was not like actually landing +and taking a look for himself.</p> + +<p>Of course, they would land at Marsport. It was the only landing area +equipped to handle nuclear drive cruisers.</p> + +<p>The cruiser landed and deceleration cut to zero. At the same moment the +water came on.</p> + +<p>Rip hurriedly finished cleaning up, dressed, then took his radiation +instruments and carefully monitored his men as they came from the +shower. Private Dowst had to go back for another try at getting his hair +clean, but the rest were all right. Rip handed his instruments to Koa. +"You monitor Dowst when he finishes. I want to see what's happening."</p> + +<p>He hurried from the chamber and made his way down the corridors toward +the engine control room. There was a good possibility he might get a call +from O'Brine, with instructions to take his men off the ship. He might +finally learn what he was assigned to do!</p> + +<p>As he reached the engine control room, Commander O'Brine was giving +instructions to his spacemen on the stowage of equipment that evidently +was expected aboard. Rip felt a twinge of disappointment. If the +<i>Scorpius</i> had landed to take on supplies of some kind, his assignment +was probably not on Mars.</p> + +<p>He started to approach the commander with a question about his orders, +then thought better of it. He stood quietly near the control panel and +watched.</p> + +<p>The air lock hissed, then slid open. A Martian stood in the entryway, a +case on his shoulder. Rip watched him with interest. He had seen Martians +before, on the space platform, but he had never gotten used to them. They +were human, still....</p> + +<p>He tried to figure out, as he had before, what it was that made them +strange. It wasn't the blue-whiteness of their skins nor the very large, +expressionless eyes. It was something about their bodies. He studied the +Martian's figure carefully. He was slightly taller and more slender than +the average earthman, but his chest measurements would be about the same. +Nor were his legs very much longer.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Rip thought he had it. The Martian's legs and arms joined his +torso at a slightly different angle, giving him an angular look. That was +what made him look like a caricature of a human, although he was human, +of course—as human as any of them.</p> + +<p>Rip saw that other Martians were in the air lock, all carrying cases of +various sizes and shapes. They came through into the control room and put +them down, then turned without a word and hurried back into the lock. +They were all breathing heavily, Rip noticed. Of course! The artificial +atmosphere inside the spaceship must seem very heavy and moist to them, +after the thin, dry air of Mars.</p> + +<p>The lock worked, and the Martians were replaced by others. They, too, +deposited their cases. But these cases were bigger and heavier. It took +four Martians to carry one, which meant they weighed close to half a ton +each. The Martians could carry more than double an earthman's capacity.</p> + +<p>When the lock worked next time, a Planeteer captain came in. He breathed +the heavy air appreciatively, fingering the oxygen mask he had to wear +outside. He saluted Commander O'Brine and reported, "This is all, sir. We +filled the order exactly as Terra sent it. Is there anything else you +need?"</p> + +<p>O'Brine turned to his deputy. "Find out," he ordered. "This is our last +chance. We have plenty of basic supplies, but we may be short of +audio-mags and other things for the men." He turned his back on the +Planeteer captain and walked away.</p> + +<p>The captain grinned at O'Brine's retreating back, then walked over to +Rip. They shook hands.</p> + +<p>"I'm Southwick, SOS Two. Canadian."</p> + +<p>Rip introduced himself and said he was an American. He added, "And aside +from my men, you're the first human being I've seen since we made space."</p> + +<p>Southwick chuckled. "Trouble with the spacemen? Well, you're not the +first."</p> + +<p>Talking about assignments wasn't considered good practice, but Rip was +burning with curiosity. "You don't by chance know what my assignment +is, do you?"</p> + +<p>The captain's eyebrows went up. "Don't you?"</p> + +<p>Rip shook his head. "O'Brine hasn't told me."</p> + +<p>"I don't know a thing," Southwick said. "We got instructions to pack up a +pretty strange assortment of supplies for the <i>Scorpius</i>, and that's all +I know. The order was in special cipher, though, so we're all wondering +about it."</p> + +<p>The deputy commander returned, reported to O'Brine, then walked up to Rip +and Southwick. "Nothing else needed," he said curtly. "We'll get off at +once."</p> + +<p>Southwick nodded, shook hands with Rip, and said in a voice the deputy +could hear, "Don't let these spacemen bother you. Trouble with them is +they all wanted to be Planeteers and couldn't pass the intelligence +tests." He winked, then hurried to the air lock.</p> + +<p>Spacemen worked quickly to clear the deck of the new supplies, stowing +them in a nearby workroom. Within five minutes the engine control room +was clear. The safety officer signaled, and the radiation warning +sounded. Taking off!</p> + +<p>Rip hurried to the squad room and climbed into an acceleration chair. The +other Planeteers were already in the room, most of them in their bunks. +Koa slid into the chair beside him. "Find out anything, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing useful. A bunch of equipment came aboard, but it was in plain +crates. I couldn't tell what it was."</p> + +<p>Acceleration pressed them against the chairs. Rip sighed, picked up an +audio-circuit set, and put it over his ears. Might as well listen to what +the circuit had to offer. There was nothing else to do. Music was +playing, and it was the kind he liked. He settled back to relax and +listen.</p> + +<p><i>Brennschluss</i> came some time later. It woke Rip up from a sound sleep. +He blinked, glancing at his chronometer. Great Cosmos! With that length +of acceleration they must be high-vacking for Jupiter! He waited until +the ship went into the gravity spin, then got out of his chair and +stretched. He was hungry. Koa was still sleeping. He decided not to wake +him. The sergeant major would see that the men ate when they wanted to.</p> + +<p>In the messroom only one table was occupied—by Commander O'Brine.</p> + +<p>Rip gave him a civil hello and started to sit alone at another table. To +his surprise, O'Brine beckoned to him.</p> + +<p>"Sit down," the spaceman invited gruffly.</p> + +<p>Rip did and wondered what was coming next.</p> + +<p>"We'll start to decelerate in about ten minutes," O'Brine said. "Eat +while you can." He signaled, and a spaceman brought Rip the day's ration +in an individual plastic carton with thermo-lining. The Planeteer opened +it and found a block of mixed vegetables, a slab of space meat, and two +units of biscuit. He wrinkled his nose. Space meat he didn't mind. It was +chewy but tasty. The mixed vegetable ration was chosen for its food value +and not for taste. A good mouthful of Earth grass would be a lot more +palatable. He sliced off pieces of the warm stuff and chewed +thoughtfully, watching O'Brine's face for a clue as to why the commander +had invited him to sit down.</p> + +<p>It wasn't long in coming. "Your orders are the strangest things I've ever +read," O'Brine stated. "Do you know where we're going?"</p> + +<p>Rip figured quickly. They had accelerated for six and a half hours. Now, +ten minutes after <i>Brennschluss</i>, they were going to start deceleration. +That meant they had really high-vacked it to get somewhere in a hurry. He +calculated swiftly.</p> + +<p>"I don't know exactly," he admitted. "But from the ship's actions, I'd +say we were aiming for the far side of the asteroid belt. Anyway, we'll +fall short of Jupiter."</p> + +<p>There was a glimmer of respect in O'Brine's glance. "That's right. Know +anything about asteroids, Foster?"</p> + +<p>Rip considered. He knew what he had been taught in astronomy and +astrogation. Between Mars and Jupiter lay a broad belt in which the +asteroids swung. They ranged from Ceres, a tiny world only 480 miles in +diameter, down to chunks of rock the size of a house. No accurate count +of asteroids—or minor planets, as they were called—had been made, but +the observatory on Mars had charted the orbits of thousands. A few were +more than a mile in diameter, but most were great boulders of irregular +shape, from a few feet to several hundred feet at their greatest +dimension.</p> + +<p>"I know the usual stuff about them," he told O'Brine. "I haven't any +special knowledge."</p> + +<p>O'Brine blinked. "Then why did they assign you? What's your specialty?"</p> + +<p>"Astrophysics."</p> + +<p>"That might explain it. Second specialty?"</p> + +<p>"Astrogation." He couldn't resist adding, "That's more advanced than the +simple space navigation you use, Commander."</p> + +<p>O'Brine started to retort, then apparently thought better of it. "I hope +you'll be able to carry out your orders, Lieutenant," he said stiffly. +"I hope, but not much. I don't think you can."</p> + +<p>Rip asked, "What are my orders, sir?"</p> + +<p>O'Brine waved in the general direction of the wall. "Out there somewhere +in the asteroid belt, Foster, there is a little chunk of matter about one +thousand yards in diameter. A very minor planet. We know its approximate +coordinates as of two days ago, but we don't know much else. It happens +to be a very important minor planet."</p> + +<p>Rip waited, intent on the commander's words.</p> + +<p>"It's important," O'Brine continued, "because it happens to be pure +thorium."</p> + +<p>Rip gasped. Thorium! The rare, radioactive element just below uranium in +the periodic table of the elements, the element used to power this very +ship! "What a find!" he said in a hushed voice. No wonder the job was +Federation priority A, with Space Council security! "What do I do about +it?" he asked.</p> + +<p>O'Brine grinned. "Ride it," he said. "Your orders say you're to capture +this asteroid, blast it out of its orbit, and drive it back to Earth!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_FOUR" id="CHAPTER_FOUR"></a>CHAPTER FOUR</h2> + +<h3>Find the Needle!</h3> + + +<p>Rip walked into the squad room with a copy of the orders in his hand. +After one look at his face, the Planeteers clustered around him. Santos +woke those who were sleeping, while Rip waited.</p> + +<p>"We have our orders, men," he announced. Suddenly he laughed. He couldn't +help it. At first he had been completely overcome by the responsibility +and the magnitude of the job, but now he was getting used to the idea, +and he could see the adventure in it. Ten wild Planeteers riding an +asteroid! Sunny space, what a great big thermonuclear stunt!</p> + +<p>Koa remarked, "It must be good. The lieutenant is getting a real atomic +charge out of it."</p> + +<p>"Sit down," Rip ordered. "You'd better, because you might fall over when +you hear this. Listen, men. Two days ago the freighter <i>Altair</i> passed +through the asteroid belt on a run from Jupiter to Mars." He sat down, +too, because deceleration was starting. As his men looked at each other +in surprise at the quickness of it, he continued, "The old bucket found +something we need—an asteroid of pure thorium."</p> + +<p>The enlisted Planeteers knew as well as he what that meant. There were +whistles of astonishment. Koa slapped his thigh. "By Gemini! What do we +do about it, sir?"</p> + +<p>"We capture it," Rip said. "We blast it loose from its orbit and ride it +back to Earth."</p> + +<p>He sat back and watched their reactions. At first they were stunned. +Trudeau, the Frenchman, muttered to himself in French. Dominico, the +Italian, held up his hands and exclaimed, "Santa Maria!"</p> + +<p>Kemp, one of the American privates, asked, "How do we do it, sir?"</p> + +<p>Rip grinned. "That's a good question. I don't know."</p> + +<p>That stopped them. They stared at him. He added quickly, "Supplies came +aboard at Marsport. We'll get the clue when we open them. Headquarters +must have known the method when they assigned us and ordered the +equipment they thought we'd need."</p> + +<p>Koa stood up. He was the only one who could have moved upright against +the terrific deceleration. He walked to a rack at one side of the squad +room and took down a copy of <i>The Space Navigator</i>. Then, resuming his +seat, he looked questioningly at Rip. "Anything else, sir? I thought I'd +read what there is about asteroids."</p> + +<p>"Go ahead," Rip agreed. He sat back as Koa began to recite what data +there was, but he didn't listen. His mind was going ten astro-units +a second. He thought he knew why he had been chosen for the job. Word of +the priceless asteroid must have reached headquarters only a short time +before he was scheduled to leave the space platform. He could imagine the +speed with which the specialists at Terra base had acted. They had sent +orders instantly to the fastest cruiser in the area, the <i>Scorpius</i>, to +stand by for further instructions. Then their personnel machines must +have whirred rapidly, electronic brains searching for the nearest +available Planeteer officer with an astrophysics specialty and +astrogation training.</p> + +<p>He could imagine the reaction when the machine turned up the name of a +brand-new lieutenant. But the choice was logical enough. He knew that +most, if not all, of the Planeteer astrophysicists were in either high +or low space on special work. Chances were there was no astrophysicist +nearer than Ganymede. So the choice had fallen to him.</p> + +<p>He had a mental image of the Terra base scientists feeding data into the +electronic brain, taking the results, and writing fast orders for the men +and supplies needed. Work at the Planeteer base had probably been +finished within an hour of the time word was received.</p> + +<p>When they opened the cases brought aboard by the Martians, he would see +that the method of blasting the asteroid into a course for Earth was all +figured out for him.</p> + +<p>Rip was anxious to get at those cases. Not until he saw the method of +operation could he begin to figure his course. But there was no +possibility of getting at the stuff until <i>Brennschluss</i>. He put the +problem out of his mind and concentrated on what his men were saying.</p> + +<p>"... and he slugged into that asteroid going close to seven AU's," Santos +was saying. The corporal shrugged expressively.</p> + +<p>Rip recognized the story. It was about a supply ship, a chemical drive +rocket job, that had blasted into an asteroid a few years before.</p> + +<p>Private Dowst shrugged, too. "Too bad. High vack was waiting for him. +Nothing you can do when Old Man Nothing wants you. Not a thing in space!"</p> + +<p>Rip listened, interested. This was the talk of old space hands, who +had given the high vacuum of empty space a personality, calling it +"high vack," or "Old Man Nothing." With understandable fatalism, they +believed—or said they believed—that when high vacuum really wanted +you, there was nothing you could do.</p> + +<p>Rip had come across an interesting bit of word knowledge. Spacemen and +Planeteers alike had a way of using the phrase "by Gemini!" Gemini, of +course, was the constellation of the Twins, Castor and Pollux. Both were +useful stars for astrogation. The Roman horse soldiers of ancient history +had sworn "by Gemini," or "by the Twins." The Romans believed the stars +were the famous Greek warriors Castor and Pollux, placed in the heavens +after their deaths. In later years, the phrase degenerated to the simple +"by jiminy," and its meaning had been lost. Now, although few spacemen +knew the history of the phrase, they were using it again, correctly.</p> + +<p>Other space talk grew out of space itself, not out of history. For +instance, the worst thing that could happen to a man was to have his +helmet broken. Let the transparent globe be shattered, and the results +were both quick and final. Hence the oft heard threat, "I'll bust your +bubble."</p> + +<p>Speaking of bubbles ... Rip realized suddenly that he and his men would +have to live in bubbles and space suits while on the asteroid. None of +the minor planets were big enough to have an atmosphere or much gravity.</p> + +<p>If only he could get a look into those cases! But the ship was still +decelerating, and he would have to wait. He put his head against the +chair rest and settled down to wait as patiently as he could.</p> + +<p><i>Brennschluss</i> was a long time coming. When the deceleration finally +stopped, Rip didn't wait for gravity. He hauled himself out of the chair +and the squad room and went down the corridor hand over hand. He headed +straight for where the supplies were stacked, his Planeteers close behind +him.</p> + +<p>Commander O'Brine arrived at the same time. "We're starting to scan for +the asteroid," he greeted Rip. "May be some time before we find it."</p> + +<p>"Where are we, sir?" Rip asked.</p> + +<p>"Just above the asteroid belt near the outer edge. We're beyond the +position where the asteroid was sighted, moving along what the <i>Altair</i> +figured as its orbit. I'm not stretching space, Foster, when I tell you +we're hunting for a needle in a junk pile. This part of space is filled +with more objects than you would imagine, and they all register on the +rad screens."</p> + +<p>"We'll find it," Rip said confidently.</p> + +<p>O'Brine nodded. "Yes. But it probably will take some hunting. Meanwhile, +let's get at those cases. The supply clerk is on his way."</p> + +<p>The supply clerk arrived, issued tools to the Planeteers, then opened a +plastic case attached to one of the boxes and produced lists. As the +Planeteers opened and unpacked the crates, Rip and O'Brine inspected, and +the clerk checked off the items.</p> + +<p>The first case produced a complete chemical cutting unit, with an +assortment of cutting tips and adapters. Rip looked around for the gas +cylinders and saw none. "Something's wrong," he objected. "Where's the +fuel supply for the torch?"</p> + +<p>The supply clerk inspected the lists, shuffled papers, and found the +answer.</p> + +<p>"The following," he read, "are to be supplied from the <i>Scorpius</i> +complement. One landing boat, large, model twenty-eight. Eight each, +oxygen cutting unit gas bottles. Four each, chemical cutting unit fuel +tanks."</p> + +<p>"That's that," Rip said, relieved. Apparently he was supposed to do a lot +of cutting on the asteroid, probably of the thorium itself. The hot flame +of the torch could melt any known substance. The torch itself could melt +in unskilled hands.</p> + +<p>The next case yielded a set of astrogation instruments, carefully cradled +in a soft, rubbery plastic. Rip left them in the case and put them to one +side. As he did so, Sergeant Major Koa let out a whistle of surprise.</p> + +<p>"Lieutenant, look at this!"</p> + +<p>Corporal Santos exclaimed, "Well, stonker me for a stupid space squid! Do +they expect us to find any people on this asteroid?"</p> + +<p>The object was a portable rocket launcher designed to fire light attack +rockets. It was a standard item of fighting equipment for Planeteers.</p> + +<p>"I recognize the shape of those cases over there, now," Koa said. "Ten +racks of rockets for the launcher, one rack to a case."</p> + +<p>Rip scratched his head. He was as puzzled as Santos. Why supply fighting +equipment for a crew on an asteroid that couldn't possibly have any +living thing on it?</p> + +<p>He left the puzzle for the future and called for more cases. The next +two yielded projectile-type handguns for ten men, with ammunition, and +standard Planeteer space knives. The space knives had hidden blades, +which were driven forth violently when the operator pushed a thumb lever, +releasing the gas in a cartridge contained in the handle. The blades +snapped forth with enough force to break a bubble or to cut through a +space suit. They were designed for the sole purpose of space hand-to-hand +combat.</p> + +<p>The Planeteers looked at each other. What were they up against, that such +equipment was needed on a barren asteroid?</p> + +<p>Private Dowst opened a box that contained a complete tool kit, the tools +designed to be handled by men in space suits. Yards of wire, for several +purposes, were wound on reels. Two hand-driven dynamos capable of +developing great power were included.</p> + +<p>Corporal Pederson found a small case which contained books, the latest +astronomical data sheets, and a space computer and scratch board. These +were obviously for Rip's personal use. He examined them. There were all +the references he would need for computing orbit, speed, and just about +anything else that might be required. He had to admire the thoroughness +of whoever had written the order. The unknown Planeteer had assumed that +the space cruiser would not have all the astrophysics references +necessary and had included a copy of each.</p> + +<p>Several large cases remained. Koa ripped the side from one and let out an +exclamation. Rip hurried over and looked in. His stomach did a quick +orbital reverse. Great Cosmos! The thing was an atomic bomb!</p> + +<p>Commander O'Brine leaned over his shoulder and peered at the lettering on +the cylinder: <span class="smcap">EQUIVALENT TEN KT</span>.</p> + +<p>In other words, the explosion the harmless-looking cylinder could produce +was equivalent to ten thousand tons of TNT, a chemical explosive no +longer in actual use but still used for comparison.</p> + +<p>Rip asked huskily, "Any more of those things?" The importance of the job +was becoming increasingly clear to him. Nuclear explosives were not used +without good reason. The fissionable material was too valuable for other +purposes.</p> + +<p>The sides came off the remaining cases. Some of them held fat tubes of +conventional rocket fuel in solid form, the igniters carefully packed +separately.</p> + +<p>There were three other atomic bombs, making four in all. There were two +bombs each of five KT and ten KT.</p> + +<p>Commander O'Brine looked at the amazing assortment of stuff. "Does that +check, clerk?"</p> + +<p>The spaceman nodded. "Yes, sir. I found another notation that says food +supplies and personal equipment to be supplied by the <i>Scorpius</i>."</p> + +<p>"Well, vack me for a Venusian rabbit!" O'Brine muttered. He tugged at his +ear. "You could dump me on that asteroid with this assortment of junk, +and I'd spend the rest of my life there. I don't see how you can use this +stuff to move an asteroid!"</p> + +<p>"Maybe that's why the Federation sent Planeteers," Rip said—and was +sorry the moment the words were out.</p> + +<p>O'Brine's jaw muscles bulged, but he held his temper. "I'm going to +pretend I didn't hear that, Foster. We have to get along until the +asteroid is safely in an orbit around Earth. After that, I'm going to +take a great deal of pleasure in feeding you to the space fish, piece +by piece."</p> + +<p>It was Rip's turn to get red. "I'm sorry, Commander. Accept my +apologies." He certainly had a lot to learn about space etiquette. There +was a time for spacemen and Planeteers to fight each other and a time for +them to cooperate.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure you'll be able to figure out what to do with this stuff," +O'Brine said. "If you need help, let me know."</p> + +<p>And Rip knew his apology was accepted.</p> + +<p>The deputy commander arrived, drew O'Brine aside, and whispered in his +ear. The commander let out an exclamation and started out of the room. At +the door he turned. "Better come along, Foster."</p> + +<p>Rip followed as the commander led the way to his own quarters. At the +door two space officers were waiting, their faces grave.</p> + +<p>O'Brine motioned them to chairs. "All right, let's have it."</p> + +<p>The senior space officer held out a sheet of flimsy. It was pale blue, +the color used for highly confidential documents. "Sir, this came in +Space Council special cipher."</p> + +<p>"Read it aloud," O'Brine ordered.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. It's addressed to you, this ship. From Planeteer Intelligence, +Marsport. 'Consops cruiser departed general direction your area. Agents +report crew <i>Altair</i> may have leaked data re asteroid. Take appropriate +action.' It's signed 'Williams, SOS, Commanding.'"</p> + +<p>Rip saw the meaning of the message instantly. The Consolidation of +People's Governments, of Earth, traditional enemies and rivals of the +Federation of Free Governments, needed radioactive minerals as badly as, +or worse than, the Federation. In space it was first come, first take. +They had to find the asteroid quickly. It was to prevent Consops from +knowing of the asteroid that security measures had been taken. They +hadn't worked, because of loose space chatter at Marsport.</p> + +<p>O'Brine issued quick orders. "Now, get this. We have to work fast. +Accelerate fifty percent, same course. I want two men on each screen. +If anything of the right size shows up, decelerate until we can get mass +and albedo measurements. Snap to it."</p> + +<p>The space officers started out, but O'Brine stopped them. "Use one +long-range screen for scanning high space toward Mars. Let me know +the minute you get a blip, because it probably will be that Consops +cruiser. Have the missile ports cleared for action."</p> + +<p>Rip's eyes opened. Clear the missile ports? That meant getting the +cruiser in fighting shape, ready for instant action. "You wouldn't fire +on that Consops cruiser, would you, sir?"</p> + +<p>O'Brine gave him a grim smile. "Certainly not, Foster. It's against +orders to start anything with Consops cruisers. You know why. The +situation is so tense that a fight between two spaceships might plunge +Earth into war." His smile got even grimmer. "But you never know. The +Consops ship might fire first. Or an accident might happen."</p> + +<p>The commander leaned forward. "We'll find that asteroid for you, Mr. +Planeteer. We'll put you on it and see you on your way. Then we'll ride +space along with you, and if any Consops thieves try to take over and +collect that thorium for themselves, they'll find Kevin O'Brine waiting. +That's a promise."</p> + +<p>Rip felt a lot better. He sat back in his chair and regarded the +commander with mixed respect and something else. Against his will, he +was beginning to like the man. No doubt of it, the <i>Scorpius</i> was well +named. And the sting in the scorpion's tail was O'Brine himself.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_FIVE" id="CHAPTER_FIVE"></a>CHAPTER FIVE</h2> + +<h3>The Gray World</h3> + + +<p>Rip rejoined his Planeteers in the supply room and motioned for them +to gather around him. "I know why Terra base sent us the fighting +equipment," he announced. "They were afraid word of this thorium asteroid +would leak out to Consops—and it has. A Connie cruiser blasted off from +Marsport and it's headed this way."</p> + +<p>He watched the faces of his men carefully, to see how they would take the +news. They merely looked at each other and shrugged. Conflict with +Consops was nothing new to them.</p> + +<p>"The freighter that found the asteroid landed at Marsport, didn't it?" +Koa asked. Getting a nod from Rip, he went on, "Then I know what probably +happened. The two things spacemen can't do are breathe high vack and keep +their mouths shut. Some of the crew blabbed about the asteroid, probably +at the Space Club. That's where they hang out. The Connies hang out +there, too. Result, we get a Connie cruiser after the asteroid."</p> + +<p>"You hit it," Rip acknowledged.</p> + +<p>Corporal Santos shrugged. "If the Connies try to take the asteroid away, +they'll have a real warm time. We have ten racks of rockets, twenty-four +to a rack. That's a lot of snapper-boats we can pick off if they try to +make a landing."</p> + +<p>The Planeteers stopped talking as the voice horn sounded. "Get it! We are +going into no-weight. Prepare to stay in no-weight indefinitely. Rotation +stops in two minutes."</p> + +<p>Rip realized why the order was given. The <i>Scorpius</i> could not maneuver +while in a gravity spin, and O'Brine wanted to be free to take action if +necessary.</p> + +<p>The voice horn came on again. "Now get it again. The ship may maneuver +suddenly. Prepare for acceleration or deceleration without warning. One +minute to no-weight."</p> + +<p>Rip gave quick orders. "Get lines around the equipment and prepare to +haul it. I'll get landing boats assigned, and we can load. Then prepare +space packs. Lay out suits and bubbles. We want to be ready to go the +moment we get the word."</p> + +<p>Lines were taken from a locker and secured to the equipment. As the +Planeteers worked, the ship's spinning slowed and stopped. They were +in no-weight. Rip grabbed for a hand cord that hung from the wall and +hauled himself out into the engine control room. The deputy commander was +at his post, waiting tensely for orders. Rip thrust against a bulkhead +with one foot and floated to his side. "I need two landing boats, sir," +he requested. "One stays on the asteroid with us."</p> + +<p>"Take numbers five and six. I'll assign a pilot to bring number five back +to the ship after you've landed."</p> + +<p>"Thank you." Rip would have been surprised at the deputy's quick assent +if Commander O'Brine hadn't shown him that the spacemen were ready to do +anything possible to aid the Planeteers. He went back to the supply room +and told Koa which boats were to be used, instructed him to get the +supplies aboard, then made his way to Commander O'Brine's office.</p> + +<p>O'Brine was not in. Rip searched and found him in the astroplot room, +watching a 'scope. Green streaks called "blips" marked the panel, each +one indicating an asteroid.</p> + +<p>"All too small," O'Brine said. "We've only seen two large ones, and they +were too large."</p> + +<p>"Space is certainly full of junk," Rip commented. "At least this corner +of it is pretty full."</p> + +<p>A junior space officer overheard him. "This is nothing. We're on the edge +of the asteroid belt. Closer to the middle, there's so much stuff a ship +has to crawl through it."</p> + +<p>Rip wandered over to the main control desk. A senior space officer was +seated before a simple panel on which there were only a dozen small +levers, a visiphone, and a radar screen. The screen was circular, with +numbers around the rim like those on an Earth clock. In the center of the +screen was a tiny circle. The central circle represented the <i>Scorpius</i>. +The rest of the screen was the area dead ahead. Rip watched and saw +several blips on it that indicated asteroids. They were all small. He +watched, interested, as the <i>Scorpius</i> overtook them. Once, according to +the screen, the cruiser passed under an asteroid, with a clearance of +only a few hundred feet.</p> + +<p>"You didn't miss that one by much," Rip told the space officer.</p> + +<p>"Don't have to miss by much," he retorted. "A few feet are as good as a +mile in space. Our blast might kick them around a little, and maybe +there's a little mutual mass attraction, but we don't worry about it."</p> + +<p>He pointed to a blip that was just swimming into view, a sharp green +point against the screen. "We do have to worry about that one." He +selected a lever and pulled it toward him.</p> + +<p>Rip felt sudden weight against his feet. The green point on the screen +moved downward, below center. The feeling of weight ceased. He knew what +had happened, of course. Around the hull of the ship, set in evenly +spaced lines, were a series of blast holes through which steam was fired. +The steam was produced instantly by running water through the heat coils +of the nuclear engine. By using groups or combinations of steam tubes, +the control officer could move the ship in any direction, set it rolling, +spin it end over end, or whirl it in an eccentric pattern.</p> + +<p>"How do you decide which tubes to use?" Rip asked.</p> + +<p>"Depends on what's happening. If we were ducking missiles from an enemy, +I'd get orders from the commander. But to duck asteroids, there's no +problem. I go over them by firing the steam tubes along the bottom of the +ship. That way, you feel the acceleration on your feet. If I fired the +top tubes, the ship would drop out from under those who were standing. +They'd all end up on the overhead."</p> + +<p>Rip watched for a while longer, then wandered back to Commander O'Brine. +He was getting anxious. At first the task of capturing an asteroid and +moving it back to Earth had been rather unreal, like some of the problems +he had worked out while training on the space platform. Now he was no +longer calm about it. He had faith in the Terra base Planeteer +specialists, but they couldn't figure out everything for him. Most of the +problems of getting the asteroid back to Earth would have to be solved by +Lt. Richard Ingalls Peter Foster.</p> + +<p>A junior space officer suddenly called, "Sir, I have a reading at +two-seventy degrees, twenty-three degrees eight minutes high."</p> + +<p>Commander O'Brine jumped up so fast that the action shot him to the +ceiling. He kicked down again and leaned over the officer's 'scope. +Rip got there by pulling himself right across the top of the chart table.</p> + +<p>The green point of light on the 'scope was bigger than any other he had +seen.</p> + +<p>"It's about the right size," O'Brine said. There was excitement in his +voice. "Correct course. Let's take a look at it."</p> + +<p>All hands gripped something with which to steady themselves as the +cruiser spun swiftly onto the new course. The control officer called, +"I have it centered, sir. We'll reach it in about an hour at this speed."</p> + +<p>"Jack it up," O'Brine ordered. "Heave some neutrons into it. Double +speed, then decelerate to reach it in thirty minutes."</p> + +<p>The control officer issued orders to the engine control room. In a moment +acceleration plucked at them. O'Brine motioned to Rip. "Come on, Foster. +Let's see what Analysis makes of this rock."</p> + +<p>Rip followed the commander to the deck below, where the technical +analysts were located. His heart was pounding a little faster than usual, +and not from acceleration, either. He found himself wetting his lips +frequently and thought, <i>Get hold of it, boy. You've got nothing to worry +about but high vacuum.</i></p> + +<p>He didn't really believe it. There would be plenty to worry about. Like +detonating nuclear bombs and trying to figure their blast reaction. Like +figuring out the course that would take them closest to the sun without +pulling them into it. Like a thousand things—all of them up to him.</p> + +<p>The chief analyst greeted them. "We got the orders to change course, +Commander. That gave us the location of the asteroid. We're already +working on it."</p> + +<p>"Anything yet?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir. We'll have the albedo measurement in a few minutes. It'll take +longer to figure the mass."</p> + +<p>The asteroid's efficiency in reflecting sunlight was its albedo. The +efficiency depended on the material of which it was made. The albedo of +pure metallic thorium was known. If the asteroid's albedo matched it, +that would be one piece of evidence.</p> + +<p>In the same way, the mass of thorium was known. The measurements of the +asteroid were being taken. They would be compared with a chunk of thorium +of the same size. If it worked out, that would be evidence enough.</p> + +<p>Commander O'Brine motioned to chairs. "Might as well sit down while we're +waiting, Foster." He took one of the chairs and looked closely at Rip. +Suddenly he grinned. "I thought Planeteers never got nervous."</p> + +<p>"Who's nervous?" Rip retorted, then answered his own question truthfully. +"I am. You're right, sir. The closer we get, the more scared I get."</p> + +<p>"That's a good sign," O'Brine replied. "It means you'll be careful. Got +any real doubts about the job?"</p> + +<p>Rip thought it over and didn't think so. "Not any real ones. I think we +can do it. But I'm nervous just the same. Great Cosmos, Commander! This +is my first assignment, and they give me a whole world to myself and tell +me to bring it home. Maybe it isn't a very big world, but that doesn't +change things much."</p> + +<p>O'Brine chuckled. "I never expected to get an admission like that from a +Planeteer."</p> + +<p>"And I," Rip retorted, "never expected to make one like that to a +spaceman."</p> + +<p>The chief analyst returned, a sheet of computations in his hand. "Report, +sir. The albedo measurement is correct. This may be it."</p> + +<p>"How long before we get the measurements and comparisons?"</p> + +<p>"Ten minutes, perhaps."</p> + +<p>Rip spoke up. "Sir, there's some data I'll need."</p> + +<p>"What, Lieutenant?" The analyst got out a notebook.</p> + +<p>"I'll need all possible data on the asteroid's speed, orbit, and physical +measurements. I will have to figure a new orbit and what it will take to +blast the mass into it."</p> + +<p>"We'll get those. The orbit will not be exact, of course. We have only +two reference points. But I think we'll come pretty close."</p> + +<p>O'Brine nodded. "Do what you can, Chief. And when Foster gets down to +doing his calculations, have your men run them through the electronic +computer for him."</p> + +<p>Rip thanked them both, then stood up. "Sir, I'm going back to my men. I +want to be sure everything is ready. If there's a Connie cruiser headed +this way, we don't want to lose any time."</p> + +<p>"Good idea. I think we'll dump you on the asteroid, Foster, and then +blast off. Not too far, of course. Just enough to lead the Connie away +from you if its screen picks us up."</p> + +<p>That sounded good to Rip. "We'll be ready when you are, sir."</p> + +<p>The chief analyst took less than the estimated ten minutes for his next +set of figures. Commander O'Brine called personally while Rip was still +searching for the right landing-boat ports. The voice horn bellowed, "Get +it, Lieutenant Foster! The mass measurements are correct. This is your +asteroid. Estimated twelve minutes before we reach it. Your data will be +ready by the time you get back here. Show an exhaust!"</p> + +<p>Rip found Koa and the men and asked the sergeant major for a report.</p> + +<p>"We're ready, sir," Koa told him. "We can get out in three minutes. It +will take us that long to get into space gear. Your stuff is laid out, +sir."</p> + +<p>"Get me the books and charts from the supplies," Rip directed. "Have +Santos take them to the chief analyst. I'm going back and figure our +course. No use doing it the hard way on the asteroid, when I can do it in +a few minutes here with the ship's computer."</p> + +<p>He turned and hurried back, hauling himself along by handholds. The ship +had stopped acceleration and was at no-weight again. As he neared the +analysis section, it went into deceleration, but the pressure was not too +bad. He made his way against it easily.</p> + +<p>The chief analyst was waiting for him. "We have everything you need, +Lieutenant, except the orbital stuff. We'll do the best we can on that +and have an estimate in a few minutes. Meanwhile you can mark up your +figures. Incidentally, what power are you going to use to move the +asteroid?"</p> + +<p>"Nuclear explosions," Rip said, and saw the chief's eyes pop. He added, +"With conventional chemical fuel for corrections."</p> + +<p>He felt rising excitement. The whole ship seemed to have come to life. +There was excited tension in the computer room when he went in with the +chief. Spacemen, all mathematicians, were waiting for him. As the chief +led him to a table, they gathered around him.</p> + +<p>Rip took command. "Here's what we're after. I need to plot an orbit that +will get us out of the asteroid belt without collisions, take us as close +to the sun as possible without having it capture us, and land us in space +about ten thousand miles from Earth. From then on I'll throw the asteroid +into a braking ellipse around the earth, and I'll be able to make any +small corrections necessary."</p> + +<p>He spread out a solar system chart and marked in the positions of the +planets as of that moment, using the daily almanac. Then he put down the +position of the asteroid, taking it from the paper the chief analyst +handed him.</p> + +<p>"Will you make assignments, Chief?"</p> + +<p>The chief shook his head. "Make them yourself, Lieutenant. We're at your +service."</p> + +<p>Rip felt a little ashamed of some of the unkind things he had said about +spacemen. "Thank you." He pointed to a spaceman. "Will you calculate the +inertia of the asteroid, please?" The spaceman hurried off. "First thing +to do is plot the orbit as though there were no other bodies in the +system," Rip said. "Where's Santos?"</p> + +<p>"Here, sir." The corporal had come in unnoticed with Rip's reference +books.</p> + +<p>Rip had plotted orbits before, but never one for actual use. His palms +were wet as he laid it out, using prepared tables. When he had finished +he pointed to a spaceman. "That's it. Will you translate it into analogue +figures for the computer, please?" He assigned to others the task of +figuring out the effect Mercury, the sun, and Earth would have on the +orbit, using an assumed speed for the asteroid.</p> + +<p>To the chief analyst he gave the job of putting all the data together in +proper form for feeding to the electronic brain.</p> + +<p>It would have taken all spacemen present about ten days to complete the +job by regular methods, but the electronic computer produced the answer +in three minutes.</p> + +<p>"Thanks a million, Chief," Rip said. "I'll be calling on you again before +this is over." He tucked the sheets into his pocket.</p> + +<p>"Anytime, Lieutenant. We'll keep rechecking the figures as we go along. +If there are any corrections, we'll send them to you. That will give +you a check on your own figures."</p> + +<p>"Don't worry," Rip assured him, "we're going to have plenty of +corrections before we're through."</p> + +<p>Deceleration had been dropping steadily. It ceased altogether, leaving +them weightless. O'Brine's voice came over the speaker. "Get it! Valve +crews take stations at landing boats five and six. The Planeteers will +depart in five minutes. Lieutenant Foster will report to central control +if he cannot be ready in that time."</p> + +<p>Santos grinned at Rip. "Here we go, Lieutenant."</p> + +<p>Rip's heart would have dropped into his shoes if there had been any +gravity. Only a little excitement showed on his face, though. He waved +his thanks at the analysts and grinned back at Santos.</p> + +<p>"Show an exhaust, Corporal. High vack is waiting!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_SIX" id="CHAPTER_SIX"></a>CHAPTER SIX</h2> + +<h3>Rip's Planet</h3> + + +<p>Rip rechecked his space suit before putting on his helmet. The air seal +was intact, and his heating and ventilating units worked. He slapped his +knee pouches to make sure the space knife was handy to his left hand, the +pistol to his right.</p> + +<p>Koa was already fully dressed. He handed Rip the shoulder case that +contained the plotting board. Santos had taken charge of Rip's +astrogation instruments.</p> + +<p>A spaceman was waiting with Rip's bubble. At a nod, the spaceman slipped +it on his head. Rip reached up and gave it a quarter turn. The locking +mechanism clamped into place. He turned his belt ventilator control on +full, and the space suit puffed out. When it was fully inflated, he +watched the pressure gauge. It was steady. No leaks in suit or helmet. +He let the pressure go down to normal.</p> + +<p>Koa's voice buzzed in his ears. "Hear me, sir?"</p> + +<p>Rip adjusted the volume of his communicator and replied, "I hear you. Am +I clear?"</p> + +<p>"Yessir. All men dressed and ready."</p> + +<p>Rip made a final check. He counted his men, then personally inspected +their suits. The boats were next. They were typical landing craft, +shaped like rectangular boxes. There was no need for streamlining in the +vacuum of space. They were not pressurized. Only men in space suits rode +in the ungainly boxes.</p> + +<p>He checked all blast tubes to make sure they were clear. There were small +single tubes on each side of the craft. A clogged one could explode and +blow the boat up.</p> + +<p>Koa, he knew, had checked everything, but the final responsibility was +his. In space, no officer took anyone's word for anything that might mean +lives. Each checked every detail personally.</p> + +<p>Rip looked around and saw the Planeteers watching him. There was approval +on the faces behind the clear helmets, and he knew they were satisfied +with his thoroughness.</p> + +<p>At last, certain that everything was in good order, he said quietly, +"Pilots, man your boats."</p> + +<p>Dowst got into one and a spaceman into the other. Dowst's boat would stay +with them on the asteroid. The spaceman would bring the other back to the +ship.</p> + +<p>Commander O'Brine stepped through the valve into the boat lock. A +spaceman handed him a hand communicator. He spoke into it. Rip couldn't +have heard him through the helmet otherwise. "All set, Foster?"</p> + +<p>"Ready, sir."</p> + +<p>"Good. The long-range screen picked up a blip a few minutes ago. It's +probably that Connie cruiser."</p> + +<p>Rip swallowed. The Planeteers froze, waiting for the commander's next +words.</p> + +<p>"Our screens are a little better than theirs, so there's a slim chance +they haven't picked us up yet. We'll drop you and get out of here. But +don't worry. We have your orbit fixed, and we'll find you when the +screens are clear."</p> + +<p>"Suppose they find us while you're gone?" Rip said.</p> + +<p>"It's a chance," O'Brine admitted. "You'll have to take spaceman's +luck on that one. But we won't be far away. We'll duck behind Vesta, +or another of the big asteroids, and hide so their screens won't pick +up our motion. Every now and then we'll sneak out for a look, if the +screen seems clear. If those high-vack vermin do find you, get on the +landing-boat radio and yell for help. We'll come blasting."</p> + +<p>He waved a hand, thumb and forefinger held together in the ancient symbol +for "everything right," then ordered, "Get flaming." He stepped through +the valve.</p> + +<p>"Clear the lock," Rip ordered. "Open outer valve when ready."</p> + +<p>He took a quick, final look around. The pilots were in the boats. His +Planeteers were standing by, safety lines already attached to the boats +and their belts. He moved into position and snapped his own line to a +ring on Dowst's boat. The spacemen vanished through the valve, and the +massive door slid closed. The overhead lights flicked out. Rip now +snapped on his belt light, and the others followed suit.</p> + +<p>In front of the boxlike landing boats a great door slid open, and air +from the lock rushed out. Rip knew it was only imagination, but he felt +as though all the heat from his suit was radiating into space, chilling +him to near absolute zero. Beyond the lights from their belts, he saw +stars and recognized the constellation for which the space cruiser was +named. A superstitious spaceman would have taken that as a good sign. +Rip admitted that it was nice to see.</p> + +<p>"Float 'em," he ordered.</p> + +<p>The Planeteers gripped handholds at the entrance with one hand and +launching rails on the boats with the other, then heaved. The boats +slid into space. As the safety lines tightened, the Planeteers were +pulled after the boat.</p> + +<p>Rip left his feet with a little spring and shot through the door. +Directly below him, the asteroid gleamed darkly in the light of the tiny +sun. His first reaction was "Great Cosmos! What a little chunk of rock!" +But that was because he was used to looking from the space platform at +the great curve of Terra or at the big ball of the moon. Actually the +asteroid was fair-sized, when compared with most of its kind.</p> + +<p>The Planeteers hauled themselves into the boats by their safety lines. +Rip waited until all were in, then pulled himself along his own line +to the black square of the door. Koa was waiting to give him a hand into +the craft.</p> + +<p>The Planeteers were standing, except for Dowst. Rip had never seen an +old-type railroad, or he might have likened the landing boat to a +railroad boxcar. It was about the same size and shape, but had huge +"windows" on both sides and in front of the pilot—windows that were +not enclosed. The space-suited men needed no protection.</p> + +<p>"Blast," Rip ordered.</p> + +<p>A pulse of fire spurted from the top of each boat, driving them bottom +first toward the asteroid.</p> + +<p>"Land at will," Rip said.</p> + +<p>The asteroid loomed large as he looked through an opening. It was rocky, +but there were plenty of smooth places.</p> + +<p>Dowst picked one. He was an expert pilot, and Rip watched him with +pleasure. The exhaust from the top lessened, and fire spurted soundlessly +from the bottom. Dowst balanced the opposite thrusts of the top and +bottom blasts with the delicacy of a woman threading a needle. In a few +moments the boat was hovering a foot above the asteroid. Dowst cut the +exhausts, and Rip stepped out onto the tiny planet.</p> + +<p>The Planeteers knew what to do. Corporal Pederson produced hardened steel +spikes with ring tops. Private Trudeau had a sledge. Driving the first +spike would be the hardest, because the action of swinging the hammer +would propel the Planeteer like a rocket exhaust. In space, the law that +every action has an equal and opposite reaction had to be remembered +every moment.</p> + +<p>Rip watched, interested in how his man would tackle the problem. He +didn't know the answer himself, because he had never driven a spike +on an airless world with almost no gravity, and no one had ever mentioned +it to him.</p> + +<p>Pederson searched the gray metal with his torch and found a slender spur +of thorium, perhaps two feet high, a short distance from the boat. +"Here's a hold," he said. "Come on, Frenchy. You too, Bradshaw."</p> + +<p>Trudeau, carrying the sledge, walked up to the spur of rock and stood +with his heels against it. Pederson sat down on the ground with his legs +on either side of the spur. He stretched, hooking his heels around +Trudeau's ankles, anchoring him. With his gloves, he grabbed the seat of +the Frenchman's space suit.</p> + +<p>Bradshaw took a spike and held it against the gray metal ground. The +Frenchman swung, his hammer noiseless as it drove the tough spike. A +few inches into the metal was enough. Bradshaw took a wrench from his +belt, put it on the head of the spike, and turned it. Below the surface, +teeth on the spike bit into the metal. It would hold.</p> + +<p>The rest was easy. The spike was used to anchor Trudeau while he drove +another, at his longest reach. Then the second spike became his anchor, +and so on, until enough spikes had been set to lace the boat down against +any sudden shock.</p> + +<p>The boat piloted by the spaceman was tied to the one that would remain, +and the Planeteers floated its supplies through a window. It took only a +few moments, with Planeteers forming a chain from inside the boat to a +spot a little distance away. The crates weighed almost nothing, but still +retained their mass. Once their inertia was overcome, they moved from one +man to the next like ungainly balloons.</p> + +<p>"All clear, sir," Koa called.</p> + +<p>Rip stepped inside and made a quick inspection. The box was empty except +for the spaceman pilot. He put a hand on the pilot's shoulder. "On your +way, Rocky. Thanks."</p> + +<p>"You're welcome, sir." The pilot added, "Watch out for high vack."</p> + +<p>Rip and Koa stepped out and walked a little distance away. Santos and +Pederson cast the landing boat adrift and shoved it away from the +anchored boat. In a moment fire spurted from the bottom tube, spreading +over the dull metal and licking at the feet of the Planeteers.</p> + +<p>Rip watched the boat rise upward to the great, sleek, dark bulk of the +<i>Scorpius</i>. The landing boat maneuvered into the air lock with brief +flares from its exhausts. In a few moments the sparkling blast of +auxiliary rocket tubes moved the spaceship away. O'Brine was putting a +little distance between his ship and the asteroid before turning on the +nuclear drive. The ship decreased in size until Rip saw it only as a +dark, oval silhouette against the Milky Way. Then the exhaust of the +nuclear drive grew into a mighty column of glowing blue, and the ship +flamed into space.</p> + +<p>For a moment Rip had a wild impulse to yell for the ship to come back. +He had been in vacuum before, but only as a cadet, with an officer in +charge. Now, suddenly, he was the one responsible. The job was his. He +stiffened. Planeteer officers didn't worry about things like that. +He forced his mind to the job at hand.</p> + +<p>The next step was to establish a base. The base would have to be on the +dark side of the asteroid, once it was in its new orbit. That meant a +temporary base now and a better one later, when they had blasted the +little planet into its new course. He estimated roughly the approximate +positions where he would place his charges, using the sun and the star +Canopus as visual guides.</p> + +<p>"This will do for a temporary base," he announced. "Rig the boat +compartment. While two of you are doing that, you others break out the +rocket launcher and rocket racks and assemble the cutting torch. Koa will +make assignments."</p> + +<p>While the sergeant major translated Rip's general instructions into +specific orders for each man, the young lieutenant walked to the edge +of the sun belt. There was no atmosphere, so the edge was a sharp line +between dark and light. There wasn't much light, either. They were too +far from the sun for that. But as they neared the sun, the darkness would +be their protection. They would get so close to Sol that the metal on the +sun side would get soft as butter.</p> + +<p>He bent close to the uneven surface. It was clean metal, not oxidized +at all. The thorium had never been exposed to oxygen. Here and there, +pyramids of metal thrust up from the asteroid, sometimes singly, +sometimes in clusters. They were metal crystal formations. He guessed +that once, long ages ago, the asteroid had been a part of something much +bigger, perhaps a planet. One theory said the asteroids were formed when +a planet exploded. This asteroid might have been a pocket of pure thorium +in the planet.</p> + +<p>There would be plenty to do in a short while, but meanwhile he enjoyed +the sensation of being on a tiny world in space with only a handful of +Planeteers for company. He smiled. "King Foster," he said to himself. +"Monarch of a thorium space speck." It was a rather nice feeling, even +though he laughed at himself for thinking it. Since he was in command of +the detachment, he could in all truth say that this was his own personal +planet. It would be a good bit of space humor to spring on the folks back +on Terra.</p> + +<p>"Yep, once I was boss of a whole world. Made myself king. Emperor of all +the metal molecules and king of the thorium spurs. And my subjects obeyed +my every command." He added, "Thanks to Planeteer discipline. The +detachment commander is boss."</p> + +<p>He reminded himself that he had better stop gathering space dust and +start acting like a detachment commander. He walked back to the landing +boat, stepping with care. With such low gravity, a false step could send +him high above the asteroid. Of course, that would not be dangerous, +since space suits were equipped with six small compressed-air bottles for +emergency propulsion. But it would be embarrassing.</p> + +<p>Inside the boat, Dowst and Nunez were setting up the compartment. +Sections of the rear wall swung out and locked into place against +airtight seals, forming a box at the rear end of the boat. Equipment +sealed in the stern, next to the rocket tube, supplied light, heat, and +air. It was a simple but necessary arrangement. Without it, the +Planeteers could not have eaten.</p> + +<p>There was no air lock for the compartment. The half of the detachment not +on duty would walk in, seal it up, turn on the equipment, wait until the +gauges registered sufficient air and heat, and then remove their space +suits. When it was time to leave, they would don suits, open the door, +and walk out, and the next shift would enter and repeat the process. +Earlier models had permanent compartments, but they took up too much room +in craft designed for carrying as many men and as much equipment as +possible. They were strictly work boats, and hard experience had dictated +the best design.</p> + +<p>The rocket launcher was already set up near the boat. It was a simple +affair, with three adjustable legs bolted to ground spikes. The legs +held a movable cradle in which the rocket racks were placed. High-geared +hand controls enabled the gunner to swing the cradle at high speed in +any direction except straight down. A simple, illuminated optical sight +was all the gunner needed. Since there were neither gravity nor +atmosphere in space, the missiles flashed out in a straight line, +continuing on into infinity if they missed their targets. Proximity fuses +made this a remote possibility. If the rocket got anywhere near the +target, the shell would explode.</p> + +<p>Rip found his astrogation instruments set carefully to one side. He +removed the data sheets from his case and examined them. Now came the +work of finding the spots in which to place his atomic charges. Since the +computer aboard ship had done all the mathematics necessary, he needed +only to take sights to determine the precise positions.</p> + +<p>He took a transit-like instrument from the case, pulled out the legs of +its self-contained tripod, then carried it to a spot near where he had +estimated the first charge would be placed. The instrument was equipped +with three movable rings to be set for the celestial equator, for the +zero meridian, and for the right ascension of any convenient star. Using +a regular level would have been much simpler. The instrument had one, but +with so little gravity to activate it, the thing was useless.</p> + +<p>The sights were specially designed for use in space, and his bubble was +no obstacle in taking observations. He merely put the clear plastic +against the curved sight and looked into it much as he would have looked +through a telescope on Earth.</p> + +<p>As he did so, a hint of pale pink light caught the corner of his eye. He +backed away from the instrument and turned his head quickly, looking at +the colorimeter-type radiation detector at the side of his helmet. It was +glowing.</p> + +<p>An icy chill sent a shiver through him. Great, gorgeous galaxies! He had +forgotten ... had Koa and the others? He turned so fast that he lost his +balance and floated above the surface like a captive balloon. Santos, who +had been standing nearby to help if requested, hooked a toe on the ground +spike, caught him, and set him upright on the ground again.</p> + +<p>"Get me the radiation detection instruments," he ordered.</p> + +<p>Koa sensed the urgency in his voice and got the instruments himself. Rip +switched them on and read the illuminated dial on the alpha counter. +Plenty high, as was natural. But no danger there—alpha particles +couldn't penetrate the space suits. Then, his hand clammy inside the +space glove, he switched on the other meter. The gamma count was far +below the alpha, but there were too many of the rays around for comfort. +Inside the helmet his face turned pale.</p> + +<p>There was no immediate danger. It would take many days to build up a dose +of gamma that could hurt them. But gamma was not the only radiation. They +were in space, fully exposed to equally dangerous cosmic radiation.</p> + +<p>The Planeteers had gathered while he read the instruments. Now they stood +watching him.</p> + +<p>They knew the significance of what he had found.</p> + +<p>"I ought to be busted to recruit," he told them. "I knew this asteroid +was thorium and that thorium is radioactive. If I had used my head, I +would have added nuclite shielding to the list of supplies the <i>Scorpius</i> +provided. We could have had enough of it to protect us while around our +base, even if we couldn't be protected while working on the charges. That +would at least have kept our dosage down enough for safety."</p> + +<p>"No one else thought of it, either, sir," Koa reminded him.</p> + +<p>"It was my job to think of it, and I didn't. So I've put us in a time +squeeze. If the <i>Scorpius</i> gets back soon, we can get the shielding +before our radiation dosage has built up very high. If the ship doesn't +come back, the dosage will mount."</p> + +<p>He looked at them grimly. "It won't kill us, and it won't even make us +very sick. I'll have the ship take us off before we build up that much +dosage."</p> + +<p>Santos started. "But, sir! That means—"</p> + +<p>"I know what it means," Rip stated bitterly. "It means the ship has got +to return in time to give us some nuclite shielding, or we'll be the +laughingstock of the Special Order Squadrons—the detachment that started +a job the spacemen had to finish!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_SEVEN" id="CHAPTER_SEVEN"></a>CHAPTER SEVEN</h2> + +<h3>Earthbound!</h3> + + +<p>There was something else that Rip didn't add, although he knew the +Planeteers would realize it in a few minutes. Probably some of them +already had thought of it.</p> + +<p>To move the asteroid into a new orbit, they were going to fire nuclear +bombs. Most of the highly radioactive fission products would be blown +into space, but some would be drawn back by the asteroid's slight +gravity. The craters would be highly radioactive, and some radioactive +debris was certain to be scattered around, too. Every particle would add +to the problem.</p> + +<p>"Is there anything we can do, sir?" Koa asked.</p> + +<p>Rip shook his head inside the transparent bubble. "If you have a good +luck charm in your pocket, you might talk to it. That's about all."</p> + +<p>Nuclear physics had been part of his training. He read the gamma meter +again and did some quick calculations. They would be exposed for the +entire trip, at a daily dosage of—</p> + +<p>Koa interrupted his train of thought. Evidently the sergeant major had +been doing some calculations of his own. "How long will we be on this +rock, sir? You've never told us just how long the trip will take."</p> + +<p>Rip said quietly, "With luck, it will take us a little more than three +weeks."</p> + +<p>He could see their faces faintly in the dim sunlight. They were shocked. +Spaceships blasted through space between the inner planets in a matter +of hours. The nuclear drive cruisers, which could approach almost half +the speed of light, had brought even distant Pluto within easy reach. +The inner planets could be covered in a matter of minutes on a straight +speed run, although to take off from one and land on the other meant +considerable time used in acceleration and deceleration.</p> + +<p>The Planeteers were used to such speed. Hearing that it would take over +three weeks to reach Earth had jarred them.</p> + +<p>"This piece of metal isn't a spaceship," Rip reminded them. "At the +moment, our speed around the sun is just slightly more than ten miles a +second. If we just shifted orbits and kept the same speed, it would take +us months to reach Terra. But we'll use one bomb for retrothrust, then +fire two to increase speed. The estimate is that we'll push up to about +forty miles a second."</p> + +<p>Koa spoke up. "That's not bad when you think that Mercury is the fastest +planet, and it only makes about thirty miles a second."</p> + +<p>"Right," Rip agreed. "After the asteroid is kicked out of orbit, it will +fall toward the sun. At our closest approach to the sun, we'll have +enough velocity to carry us past safely. Then we'll lose speed constantly +until we come into Earth's gravitational field and have to brake."</p> + +<p>It was just space luck that Terra was on the other side of the sun from +the asteroid's present position. By the time they approached, it would +be in a good place, just far enough from the line to the sun to avoid +changing course. Of course, Rip's planned orbit was not aiming the +asteroid at Earth, but at where Earth would be at the end of the trip.</p> + +<p>"That means more than three weeks of radiation, then," Corporal Santos +observed. "Can we take it, sir?"</p> + +<p>Rip shrugged, but the gesture couldn't be seen inside his space suit. "At +the rate we're getting radiation now, plus what I estimate we'll get from +the nuclear explosions, we'll get the maximum safety limit in just three +weeks. That leaves us no margin, even if we risk getting radiation +sickness. So we have to get shielding pretty soon. If we do, we can last +the trip."</p> + +<p>Private Dominico saluted and moved forward. "Sir, may I ask a question?"</p> + +<p>Rip turned to face the Planeteer, still worrying over the problem. He +nodded and said, "What is it, Dominico?"</p> + +<p>"Sir, I think we can't worry too much about this radiation, eh? You will +think of some way to take care of it. What I want to ask, sir, is when do +we let go the bombs? I do not know much about radiation, but I can set +those bombs like you want them."</p> + +<p>Rip was touched by the Planeteer's faith in his ability to solve the +radiation problem. That was why being an officer in the Special Order +Squadrons was so challenging. The men knew the kind of training their +officers had, and they expected them to come up with technical solutions +as the situation required.</p> + +<p>"You'll have a chance to set the bombs in just a short while," he said +crisply. "Let's get busy. Koa, load all bombs but one ten KT on the +landing boat. Stake the rest of the equipment down. While you're doing +that, I'll find the spots where we plant the charges. I'll need two men +now and more later."</p> + +<p>He went back to his instrument, putting the radiation problem out of his +mind—a rather hard thing to do with the colorimeter glowing pink next to +his shoulder. Koa detailed men to load the nuclear bombs into the landing +craft, left Pederson to supervise, and then brought Santos with him to +help Rip.</p> + +<p>"The bombs are being put on the boat, sir," Koa reported.</p> + +<p>"Fine. There isn't too much chance of the blasts setting them off, but +we'll take no chances at all. Koa, I'm going to shoot a line straight out +toward Alpha Centauri. You walk that way and turn on your belt light. +I'll tell you which way to move."</p> + +<p>He adjusted his sighting rings while the sergeant major glided away. +Moving around on a no-weight world was more like skating than walking. A +regular walk would have lifted Koa into space with every step. Of course, +the asteroid had some gravity, but so little that it hardly mattered.</p> + +<p>Rip centered the top of the instrument's vertical hairline on Alpha +Centauri, then waited until Koa was almost out of sight over the +asteroid's horizon, which was only a few hundred yards away.</p> + +<p>He turned up the volume on his helmet communicator. "Koa, move about ten +feet to your left."</p> + +<p>Koa did so. Rip sighted past the vertical hairline at the belt light. +"That's a little too far. Take a small step to the right. That's +good ... just a few inches more ... hold it. You're right in position. +Stand where you are."</p> + +<p>"Yessir."</p> + +<p>Rip turned to Santos. "Stand here, Corporal. Take a sight at Koa to get +your bearings, then hold position."</p> + +<p>Santos did so. Now the two lights gave Rip one of the lines he needed. He +called for two more men, and Trudeau and Nunez joined him. "Follow me," +he directed.</p> + +<p>Rip picked up the instrument and carried it to a point ninety degrees +from the line represented by Koa and Santos. He put the instrument down +and zeroed it on Messier 44, the Beehive star cluster in the +constellation Cancer. For the second sighting star he chose Beta Pyxis +as being closest to the line he wanted, made the slight adjustments +necessary to set the line of sight, since Pyxis wasn't exactly on it, +then directed Trudeau into position as he had Koa. Nunez took position +behind the instrument, and Rip had his cross fix.</p> + +<p>He called for Dowst, then carried the instrument to the center of the +cross formed by the four men. Using the instrument, he rechecked the +lines from the center out. They were within a hair or two of being +exactly on, and a slight error wouldn't hurt, anyway. He knew he would +have to correct with rocket blasts once the asteroid was in the new +orbit.</p> + +<p>"X marks the spot," he told Dowst. He put his toe on the place where the +crosslines met.</p> + +<p>Dowst used a spike to make an X in the metal ground.</p> + +<p>"All set," Rip announced. "You four men can move now. Let's have the +cutting equipment over here, Koa."</p> + +<p>The Planeteers were all waiting for instructions now. In a few moments +the equipment was ready, fuel and oxygen bottles attached.</p> + +<p>"Who's the champion torchman?" Rip asked.</p> + +<p>Koa replied, "Kemp is, sir."</p> + +<p>Kemp, one of the two American privates, took the torch and waited for +orders. "We need a hole six feet across and twenty feet deep," Rip told +him. "Go to it."</p> + +<p>"How about direction, sir?" Kemp asked.</p> + +<p>"Straight down. We'll take a bearing on an overhead star when you're in a +few feet."</p> + +<p>Dowst inscribed a circle around the X he had made and stood back. Kemp +pushed the striker button and the torch flared. "Watch your eyes," he +warned. The Planeteers reached for belt controls and turned the rheostats +that darkened the clear bubbles electronically. Kemp adjusted his flame +until it was blue-white, a knife of fire brighter by far than the light +of the sun at this distance.</p> + +<p>Koa stepped behind Kemp and leaned against his back, because the flame of +the torch was like an exhaust, driving Kemp backward. Kemp bent down, and +the torch sliced into the metal of the asteroid like a hot knife into +ice. The metal splintered a little as the heat raised it instantly from +almost absolute zero to many thousands of degrees.</p> + +<p>When the circle was completed, Kemp adjusted his torch again, and the +flame lengthened. He moved inside the circle and cut at an angle toward +the perimeter. His control was quick and certain. In a moment he stood +aside, and Koa lifted out a perfect ring of thorium. It varied from a +knife edge on the inner side to eighteen inches on the outer side.</p> + +<p>In the middle of the circle there was now a cone of metal. Kemp cut +around it, the torch angling toward the center. A piece shaped like +two cones set base to base came free. Since the metal cooled in the +bitter chill of space almost as fast as Kemp could cut it, there was no +heat to worry about.</p> + +<p>Alternately cutting from the outside and the center of the hole, Kemp +worked his way downward until his head was below ground level. Rip +called a halt. Kemp gave a little jump and floated straight upward. Koa +caught him and swung him to one side. Rip stepped into the hole, and +Santos gave him a slight push to send him to the bottom. Rip knelt and +sighted upward. Kemp had done a good job. The star Rip had chosen as a +guide was straight overhead.</p> + +<p>He bounced out of the hole, and, as Koa caught him, he told Kemp to go +ahead. "Dominico, here's your chance. Get tools and wire. Find a timer +and connect up the ten-kiloton bomb. Nunez, bring it here while Dominico +gets what he needs."</p> + +<p>Kemp was burning his way into the asteroid at a good rate. Every few +moments he pushed another circle or spindle of thorium out of the hole. +Rip directed some of the men to carry them away, to the other side of the +asteroid. He didn't want chunks of thorium flying around from the blast.</p> + +<p>The sergeant major had a sudden thought. He cut off his communicator, +motioned to Rip to do the same, then put his helmet against Rip's for +direct communication. He didn't want the others to hear what he had to +say. His voice came like a roar from the bottom of a well. "Lieutenant, +do you suppose there's any chance the blast might break up the asteroid? +Maybe split it in two?"</p> + +<p>The same thought had occurred to Rip on the <i>Scorpius</i>. His calculations +had showed that the metal would do little more than compress, except +where it melted from the terrific heat of the bomb. That would be only +in and around the shaft. He was sure the men at Terra base had figured +it out before they decided that A-bombs would be necessary to throw the +asteroid into a new orbit. He wasn't worried. Cracks in the asteroid +would be dangerous, but he hadn't seen any.</p> + +<p>"This rock will take more nuclear blasts than we have," he assured Koa. +He turned his communicator back on and went to the edge of the hole for +a look at Kemp's progress. He was far down now. Pederson was holding one +end of a measuring tape. The other end was fastened to Kemp's shoulder +strap.</p> + +<p>The Swedish corporal showed Rip that he had only about eight feet of tape +left. Kemp was almost down. Rip called, "Kemp, when you reach bottom, cut +toward the center. Leave an inverted cone."</p> + +<p>"Got it, sir. Be up in two more cuts."</p> + +<p>Dominico had connected cable to the bomb terminals and was attaching a +timer to the other end. Without the wooden case, the bomb was like a fat, +oversized can. It had been shipped without a combat casing.</p> + +<p>"Koa, make a final check. You can untie the landing boat, except for one +line. We'll be taking off in a few minutes."</p> + +<p>"Right, sir." Koa glided toward the landing boat, which was moored out of +sight beyond the horizon.</p> + +<p>It was nearly time. Rip had a moment's misgiving. Had his figures or his +sightings been off? His scalp prickled at the thought. But the ship's +computer had done the work, and it was not capable of making a mistake.</p> + +<p>Kemp tossed up the last section of thorium and then came out of the hole +himself, carrying his torch.</p> + +<p>Rip inspected the hole, saw with satisfaction that it was in almost +perfect alignment, and ordered the bomb placed. He bent over the edge +of the hole and watched Trudeau pay out wire while Dominico pushed the +bomb to the bottom. The Italian made a last-minute check, then called +to Rip. "Ready, sir."</p> + +<p>Rip dropped into the hole and inspected the connections himself, then +personally pulled the safety lever. The bomb was armed. When the timer +acted, it would go off.</p> + +<p>Back at ground level, he turned up his communicator. "Koa, is everything +ready at the boat?"</p> + +<p>"Ready, sir."</p> + +<p>The Planeteers had already carried away the torch and its fuel and oxygen +supplies. The area was clear of pieces of thorium.</p> + +<p>Rip announced, "We're setting the explosion for ten minutes." He leaned +over the timer, which rested near the lip of the hole, took the dial +control in his glove, and turned it to position ten. He held it long +enough to glance at his chronometer and say, "Starting now!" Then he +let it go.</p> + +<p>Wasting no time, but not hurrying, he and Dominico returned to the +landing boat. The Planeteers were already aboard, except for Koa, who +stood by to cast off the remaining tie line. Rip stepped inside and +counted the men. All present. He ordered, "Cast off." As Koa did so +and stepped aboard, Rip added, "Pilot, take off. Straight up."</p> + +<p>The landing boat rose from the asteroid. Rip counted the men again, just +to be sure. The boat seemed a little crowded, but that was because the +rear compartment took up quite a bit of room.</p> + +<p>Rip watched his chronometer. They had plenty of time. When the boat +reached a point about ten miles above the asteroid, he ordered, "Stern +tube." The boat moved at an angle. He let it go until a sight at the +stars showed they were in about the right position, ninety degrees from +the line of blast and where they would be behind the asteroid as it moved +toward the new course.</p> + +<p>He looked at his chronometer again. "Two minutes. Line up at the side if +you want to watch, but darken your helmets to full protection. This thing +will light up like nothing you've ever seen before."</p> + +<p>It was a good thing space cruisers depended on their radar and not on +sight, he thought. Usually spacemen opened up visual ports only when +landing or taking a star sight for an astroplot. The clear plastic of the +domes had to be shielded from chance meteors. Besides, radar screens were +more dependable than eyes, even though they could pick up only solid +objects. If the Consops cruiser happened to be searching visually, it +would see this blast. But the chance had to be taken. It wasn't really +much of a chance.</p> + +<p>"One minute," he said. He faced the asteroid, then darkened his helmet, +counting to himself.</p> + +<p>The minute ticked off rapidly, though his count was a little slow. When +he reached five, brilliant, incandescent light lit up the interior of the +boat. Rip saw it even though his helmet was dark. The light faded slowly, +and as it did, he gradually put his helmet back on full transparent.</p> + +<p>A mighty column of fire now reached out from the asteroid into space. Rip +held his breath until he saw that the little planet was sheering off its +course under the great blast. Then he sighed with relief. All was well so +far.</p> + +<p>Someone muttered, "By Gemini! I'm glad we're out here instead of down +there!"</p> + +<p>The column of fire lengthened, thinned out, grew fainter, until there was +only a glow behind the asteroid. Rip took his astrogation instruments and +made a number of sights. They looked good. The first blast had worked +about as predicted, although he wouldn't be able to tell how much +correction was needed until he had taken star sights over a period of +five or six days.</p> + +<p>"Let's go home," he ordered.</p> + +<p>Back on the asteroid, a pit that glowed with radioactivity marked the +site of the first blast. Rip ordered the men to stay as far from it as +possible, to avoid increasing their radiation doses. He plotted the lines +for the second blast, found the spot, and put Kemp back to work on a new +hole.</p> + +<p>Two hours later the second blast threw fire into space. In another three +hours, with the asteroid now speeding on its new course, Rip set off the +explosion that blasted straight back and gave extra speed.</p> + +<p>Three radioactive craters marked the asteroid. Rip checked the radiation +level and didn't like it a bit. He decided to set up the landing boat and +their supplies as far away from the craters as possible, which was on the +sun side. They could move to the dark side as they approached the orbit +of Earth. By then the radioactivity from the blasts would have died down +considerably.</p> + +<p>He was selecting the location for a base when Dowst suddenly called, +"Lieutenant Foster!"</p> + +<p>There was urgency in the Planeteer's voice. "What is it, Dowst?"</p> + +<p>"Sir, take a look, about two degrees south of Rigel!"</p> + +<p>Rip found the constellation Orion and looked at bright Rigel. For a +moment he saw nothing; then, south of the star, he saw a thin, orange +line.</p> + +<p>Nuclear drive cruisers didn't have exhausts of that color, and there was +only one rocket-drive ship around, so far as they knew.</p> + +<p>Rip said softly, "Let's get our house in order, gang. Looks as if we're +going to get a visit from the Connies!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_EIGHT" id="CHAPTER_EIGHT"></a>CHAPTER EIGHT</h2> + +<h3>Duck—or Die!</h3> + + +<p>Sergeant Major Koa's great frame loomed in front of Rip. "Think they've +spotted us, sir?"</p> + +<p>Rip hated to say it. "Probably. Koa, can you estimate from the exhaust +how far away they are?"</p> + +<p>"Not very well, Lieutenant. From the position of the streak, I'd say +they're decelerating."</p> + +<p>The Planeteers looked at Rip. He was in command, and they expected him to +do something about the situation. Rip didn't know what to do. The rocket +launcher, their only weapon, wasn't designed for fighting spaceships. It +was useful against snapper-boats and people, but firing at a cruiser +would be like sending mosquitoes to fight elephants.</p> + +<p>He sized up their position. For one thing, they were right out in the +open, exposed to anything the Connie cruiser might throw at them. If they +could get under cover, there might be a chance. At least it would take +the Connies a while to find them.</p> + +<p>For a moment he thought of hurrying into the landing boat and sending out +a call for help to the <i>Scorpius</i>, but he thought better of it. They +weren't certain that Connie had spotted them. He would wait until there +was no doubt. Meanwhile, they had to find cover.</p> + +<p>His searching eyes fell on the cutting torch. If they could use that to +cut themselves right into the asteroid.... Suddenly he knew how it could +be done. On the sun side he remembered a series of high-piled, giant +crystals of thorium. They could cut into the side of one of those. And +with Kemp's skill, they might be able to do it in time.</p> + +<p>He called, "Kemp, Koa, bring the torch and fuel and follow me."</p> + +<p>In his haste he took a misstep and flew headlong a few feet above the +metal surface. Koa, gliding along behind him, turned him upright again. +He saw that the sergeant major was grinning. Rip grinned back. It was the +second time he had lost his footing.</p> + +<p>They reached the peaks of thorium, and Rip looked them over. The tallest +was perhaps forty feet high. It was roughly pyramidal, with a base about +sixty feet thick. It would do.</p> + +<p>"Kemp." The private hurried to his side. "Take the torch and make us a +cave. Make it big enough for the entire crew and the equipment."</p> + +<p>Kemp was a good Planeteer. He didn't stop to ask questions. He said, +"I'll make a small entrance and open the cave out inside." He picked up +the torch and got busy.</p> + +<p>Rip smiled. The Planeteer was right. He should have thought of it +himself, but it was good to see increasing proof that his men were smart +as well as tough and disciplined.</p> + +<p>"Bring up all supplies," he told Koa. "Move the boat over here, too. We +won't be able to bury that, but we want it close by." He had an idea for +their boat. It was able to maneuver infinitely faster than the big +cruiser. They could put the supplies in the cave, then take to the boat, +depending on its ability to turn quickly and on Dowst's skill at piloting +to play hide and seek. Dowst certainly could keep the asteroid between +them and the cruiser.</p> + +<p>The plan would fail when the cruiser sent a landing party. They would +certainly come in snapper-boats, and those deadly little fighting craft +could blast rings around the landing boat. The snapper-boats had gotten +their name because fast acceleration and quick changes of position could +snap a man right out of his seat if he forgot to buckle his harness +tightly.</p> + +<p>The solution would be to keep the landing boat close to the asteroid. At +the first sign of a landing party, they would take to the cave, using the +rocket launcher as a defense.</p> + +<p>The supplies began to arrive. The Planeteers towed them two crates at a +time in a steady line of hurrying men.</p> + +<p>Kemp's torch sent an incandescent knife three feet into the metal at each +cut. He was rapidly slicing out a cave. He cut the metal out in great +triangular bars, angling the torch from first one side, then the other.</p> + +<p>Koa came and stood beside Rip. "I haven't seen the Connie's exhaust for a +while, sir. They've probably stopped decelerating. We can't see them at +all."</p> + +<p>"Meaning what?" Rip asked. He thought he knew, but he wanted Koa's +opinion.</p> + +<p>"They're in free fall now, sir. That could mean they're just hunting in +the area. Or it could mean that they've stopped somewhere close by. They +could be looking us over right now, for all we know."</p> + +<p>Rip surveyed the stars. "If that's so, they're not too close, Koa. +Otherwise they'd block out a patch of stars."</p> + +<p>"Well, sir—" Koa hesitated. "I mean, if you were looking over this +asteroid, and you weren't sure whether the enemy had it or not, how close +would you get?"</p> + +<p>"Probably about one AU," Rip said jokingly. That was one astronomical +unit, equal to about ninety-three million miles, the distance from Earth +to the sun.</p> + +<p>"That's a safe distance, sir," Koa agreed with a grin.</p> + +<p>"But let's suppose the Connie isn't as timid as I am," Rip went on. "He +might be only a few miles out. The question is, would he wait to get +closer before launching his snapper-boats?"</p> + +<p>The tall officer answered frankly, "I've never been in a space grab like +this. I don't know the answer."</p> + +<p>"We'll soon know," Rip replied grimly. A thought had just struck him. The +<i>Scorpius</i> had trouble finding the asteroid because it was just one of +many sailing along through the belt. But now the asteroid was the only +one traveling <i>across</i> the belt. It would make an outstanding blip on any +radarscope. It wasn't possible that the Connie cruiser had missed the +blip and its significance.</p> + +<p>"The Connie may be looking us over," Rip added, "but I'll tell you one +thing. He knows we've taken the asteroid."</p> + +<p>Koa looked wistfully at the atomic bomb which remained. "If we had a way +to throw that thing at them...."</p> + +<p>"But we haven't. And the thing wouldn't explode, anyway. We don't have +the outside casing with an exploder mechanism, so it has to be turned on +electrically." Rip could see no way to use the atomic bomb against the +Connies. It was too big for use against a landing party. Besides, it +would put the Planeteers themselves in danger.</p> + +<p>"Ever have trouble with the Connies before?" he asked Koa.</p> + +<p>"More'n once, sir. Sometimes it seems like I'll never get a job where +I don't have to fight Connies."</p> + +<p>Rip was trained in science and Planeteer techniques, and he didn't +pretend to know the ins and outs of interplanetary politics. Just the +same, he couldn't help wondering about the strange relationship between +the Consolidation of People's Governments and the Federation of Free +Nations.</p> + +<p>Connies and Feds, mostly Planeteers but sometimes spacemen, were +constantly skirmishing. They fought over property, over control of +ports on distant planets and moons, and over space salvage. Often there +was bloodshed. Sometimes there were pitched battles between groups of +platoon size.</p> + +<p>But at that point the struggle ended. The law of the Federation said that +no spaceship could fire on a Connie spaceship or on Connie land bases, +except with special permission of the Space Council. The theory was that +brief struggles between men, or even between small fighting craft like +the snapper-boats, was not war. But firing on a spaceship was considered +an act of war, and the first such act could mean the beginning of a war +throughout the entire solar system.</p> + +<p>It made a sort of sense to Rip when he thought about it. Little fights +here and there were better than a full war among the planets.</p> + +<p>Koa suddenly gripped his arm. "Sir! Look up!"</p> + +<p>The short hairs on the back of Rip's neck prickled. Far above, blackness +in the shape of a spaceship blotted out stars. The Connie had arrived!</p> + +<p>Rip ordered urgently, "Kemp! Stop cutting! The rest of you get the stuff +under cover. Ram it!" He hurried to lend a hand himself, hustling crates +into the cave.</p> + +<p>Kemp had made astonishing progress. There was room for the crates, if +stacked properly, and for the men, besides. Rip supervised the stacking +and then the placement of the rocket launcher at the entrance.</p> + +<p>"All hands inside the boat," he ordered. "Dowst, be ready to take off at +a moment's notice. You'll have to buck this box around as never before." +He explained to the pilot his plan to dodge, keeping the asteroid between +the boat and the cruiser.</p> + +<p>"We'll make it, sir," Dowst said.</p> + +<p>"I'm not worried," Rip replied—and wished it were true. He looked up at +the Connie again. It was getting larger. The cruiser was within a few +miles of the asteroid.</p> + +<p>As Rip watched, fire spurted from the cruiser, and it moved with +gathering speed toward the asteroid's horizon. He watched the exhaust +trail, wondering why the Connie had blasted off.</p> + +<p>"He has something up his sleeve," Koa muttered. "Wish we knew what."</p> + +<p>"Let's take no chances," Rip stated. "Come on."</p> + +<p>The men were already in the boat. He and Koa joined them. They stood at a +window, watching the Connie's trail.</p> + +<p>The trail dwindled. Koa said, "Something's up!" Suddenly new fire shot +from one side of the cruiser, and it spun. Balancing fire came from the +other side, and for an instant the three exhausts formed a cross, with +the darkness of the Connie's hull in the center. Then they could see only +the exhausts from the sides. The stern flame was out of sight. "He's made +a full turn to come back this way," Rip stated tensely. "Dowst, get +ready."</p> + +<p>The Connie was perhaps twenty miles away. It grew larger, and the side +jets winked out. A few seconds later, fire spurted from the nose.</p> + +<p>Rip figured rapidly. The cruiser had gone far enough away to make a turn. +It had straightened out, heading right for them. Now the nose tube was +blasting, slowing the cruiser down.</p> + +<p>He sighted, holding out one glove, and gauging the Connie's distance +above the horizon, and his heart speeded. The Connie was right on the +horizon!</p> + +<p>"Ram it!" Rip called. "Around the asteroid. Quick!"</p> + +<p>Acceleration jammed him back against his men as Dowst blasted. No sooner +had he recovered than acceleration in a different direction shoved him up +to the ceiling so hard that his bubble rang. He clawed his way to the +window as the Connie cruiser flashed by, bathing the asteroid in glowing +flame.</p> + +<p>There was a chorus of gasps from the men as they saw the thing Rip had +realized a moment before. The Consops cruiser was playing it safe, using +its rocket exhaust as a great blowtorch to burn the surface of the +asteroid clean of any possible life!</p> + +<p>The sheer inhumanity of the thing made Rip's stomach tighten into a knot. +No asking for surrender, no taking of prisoners, not even a clean fight. +The Connie was doing its arguing with fire, knowing that the exhaust +would char every man on the asteroid's surface.</p> + +<p>The Planeteers watched as the Connie sped away, blasted with side jets, +and turned to come back. Dowst tensed over the controls, trying to +anticipate the next move. He delicately touched the firing levers, +letting out just enough flame to maneuver. He slid the craft across the +asteroid's surface to the side away from the Connie, going slowly enough +that they could watch the enemy's every move.</p> + +<p>"Here he comes," Rip snapped, and braced for acceleration. The landing +craft shot to safety as the cruiser's nose jet flamed. Dowst was just in +time. Tiny sparks from the edge of the fiery column brushed past the +boat.</p> + +<p>Rip realized that the Connie couldn't know the Federation men were in a +boat, dodging. The cruiser would make about two more runs, just enough to +allow for hitting every bit of the asteroid. Then it would assume that +anything on it was finished and send a landing party.</p> + +<p>"He'll be back," he stated. "About twice more. Three at most." He +suddenly remembered the landing boat's radio. "Dowst, where is the radio +connection?"</p> + +<p>The pilot handed him a wire with a jack plug on the end of it. Rip +plugged it into his belt. Now his voice would be heard on the <i>Scorpius</i>.</p> + +<p>"Calling <i>Scorpius</i>! Calling <i>Scorpius</i>! Foster reporting. We are under +attack. Repeat, we are under attack. Over to you."</p> + +<p>The answer rang in his helmet. "<i>Scorpius</i> to Foster. Hold 'em, +Planeteers. We're on our way!"</p> + +<p>"Here comes the Connie," Koa yelled.</p> + +<p>Rip braced. The landing boat shot forward, then piled the Planeteers in a +heap on the bottom as Dowst accelerated upward.</p> + +<p>There was a sudden wrenching crash that sent the Planeteers in a jumbled +mass into the front of the boat. It whirled crazily, then stopped.</p> + +<p>Rip was not hurt. He shoved at someone whose bubble was in his stomach +and cleared the way. "Turn on belt lights," he called. "Quick!"</p> + +<p>Lights flared on. He searched quickly, swinging his light. The Planeteers +were getting to their feet. His light focused on Private Bradshaw, and he +gasped.</p> + +<p>Bradshaw's face was scarlet, and his skin was flecked with drops of +blood. His eyes were closed and bulging horribly.</p> + +<p>Rip jumped forward, but Koa was even faster. The Hawaiian jerked a repair +strip from a belt pouch and slapped it on the crack in Bradshaw's bubble. +Rip wasted no time, either. By the time Koa had the strip in place he had +pulled the connection from his belt light. He ran the tips of the wires +over the edges of the strip. The current sealed the patch in place +instantly.</p> + +<p>Koa grabbed the atmosphere control on Bradshaw's belt and turned it. The +suit puffed up. Rip watched the repair anxiously in the light from Koa's +belt. It held.</p> + +<p>Rip reconnected his light as he asked swiftly, "Anyone else hurt? Answer +by name."</p> + +<p>There were quick replies. No one else had been injured.</p> + +<p>"Run for the cave," Rip commanded. "Follow Koa. Santos and Pederson, drag +Bradshaw."</p> + +<p>The Englishman's voice sounded bubbly. "I can make it."</p> + +<p>"Good for you!" Rip exclaimed. "Call if you need help."</p> + +<p>Koa was already out of the craft and leading the way. Rip went out +through a window and saw the cause of the trouble. Dowst had been a +hair too close to the asteroid. A particularly high crystal of thorium +had snagged the landing craft.</p> + +<p>Rip looked for the Connie and saw it make another turn. They had only a +moment or two before the next run. "Show an exhaust!" he called. The +Connie must have blasted the opposite side of the asteroid while they +were hung up.</p> + +<p>The cave was a quarter of the asteroid away. Rip stayed in the rear, +watching for stragglers, but even Bradshaw was moving rapidly. Koa +reached the cave well ahead of the rest, reached for a rack of rockets, +and slapped it into the launcher.</p> + +<p>Rip urged the men on. The Connie was squared off for another run.</p> + +<p>They catapulted to safety as the cruiser flamed past, the exhaust +splashing over the metal and sending sparks into the cave.</p> + +<p>Rip looked out. That, if he had guessed right, was the last run. He +watched the Connie's stern jet cut off, saw the nose exhaust as the +cruiser decelerated to a fast stop.</p> + +<p>"Check your weapons," he ordered.</p> + +<p>He pulled his pistol from his knee pocket and checked it carefully. There +was a clip in the magazine. Other clips were in his pocket. The clips +were loaded with high velocity shells that exploded on contact. One slug +could stop a Venusian <i>krel</i>, a mammoth beast that had been described as +a cross between a sea lion and a cactus plant.</p> + +<p>His knife was in place in the other knee pocket.</p> + +<p>The Connie cruiser decelerated, went into reverse, and came to a full +stop about a mile from the asteroid. The Planeteers saw fire in two +places along the hull, marking the exhausts of two small craft.</p> + +<p>"Snapper-boats," Koa said tonelessly. "Five men in each, if those are the +regular Connie kind."</p> + +<p>Rip made a quick decision. With only one launcher they couldn't guard the +whole asteroid. "We'll stay under cover, except for Santos and Pederson. +You two sneak out. Take advantage of every bit of cover you can find. I +don't want you spotted. When a boat lands, report its position. The +Connies operate on different communicator frequencies, so they won't +overhear. We'll let them think they've burned the asteroid clean."</p> + +<p>He paused. "They'll search for a while. Then, when they're pretty well +satisfied that all is quiet, we'll show up." Rip grinned at his +Planeteers. "We can have a real, old-fashioned surprise party."</p> + +<p>Koa slid the safety catch from his pistol. "With fireworks," he added.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_NINE" id="CHAPTER_NINE"></a>CHAPTER NINE</h2> + +<h3>Repel Invaders!</h3> + + +<p>The snapper-boats came out of the darkness of space, leaving a glowing +trail of fire. They were not graceful. Rip could see no beauty in their +lines, but to his professional eye there was plenty of deadly efficiency.</p> + +<p>The Connie fighting craft looked like three globes strung evenly on +a steel tube. The middle globe was larger than the end ones, and it +was transparent. From it projected the barrels of two kinds of +weapons—explosive and ultrasonic. Five men usually rode in the middle +ball. One piloted. The other four were gunners.</p> + +<p>The end globes were pierced by five large holes. They were blast tubes +for the rocket exhaust. Unlike the landing boats, each tube did not have +its own fuel supply. One fuel tank served each globe. The pilot could +direct the exhaust through any tube or combination of tubes he wished, by +operating valves that either sealed or opened the vents. The system gave +high maneuverability to the boats. By playing on the controls with the +skill of an organist, the pilot could shift direction with dazzling +speed.</p> + +<p>Snapper-boats used by the Federation operated on the same principle, but +they were of American design, and they showed the Americans' love of +clean lines. Federation fighter craft were slim and streamlined, even +though the streamlining was of no use whatever in space. With blast holes +at each end, they looked like double-ended needles. The pilot's canopy in +the center controlled guns that fired through the front only. Rear guns +were handled by a gunner, who sat with back to the pilot.</p> + +<p>Where Connie snapper-boats carried five men, the Federation boats carried +two. The Connies could fire in any direction. The Federation pilots aimed +by pointing the snapper-boat itself, as fighter pilots of conventional +aircraft had once aimed their guns.</p> + +<p>Rip watched the boats approach. He was ready to duck inside if they +decided to look the asteroid over before landing. He hoped they wouldn't +catch sight of his two scouts. He also hoped his nervousness would vanish +when the fight started. He knew what to do, at least in theory. He had +gone through combat problems on the moon during training. But this was +different. This was real. The lives of his men depended on his being +right, and he was afraid of making a wrong decision.</p> + +<p>Sergeant Major Koa, an experienced Planeteer with true understanding, +came and stood beside him. He said, "Guess I'll never get over being +jittery while waiting for the fight to start. I'm sweating so hard my +dehumidifier is humming like a Callistan honey lizard. But it doesn't +last long once the shooting begins. I get so busy I forget to be +jittery."</p> + +<p>Before Rip could reply, the snapper-boats flashed over the cave, circled +the asteroid once, and landed on the dark side, close to the bomb +craters.</p> + +<p>The first scout reported. "Santos, sir. I'm fifty yards beyond the stakes +where we had the first base. The snapper-boats landed between the first +two craters. Men coming out of one boat. I count six. Now they're coming +out of the other boat, but I can't see very well."</p> + +<p>The other scout picked up the report, his voice thick with excitement. "I +can see them, sir! By Cosmos! There are seven in this boat on my side. I +am behind a rock forty yards to sunward of the second crater."</p> + +<p>Rip turned up the volume of his communicator. "How are they armed? +Santos, report."</p> + +<p>"One has a chatter gun. The rest have nothing."</p> + +<p>"Pederson, report."</p> + +<p>"No weapons I can see, sir."</p> + +<p>Koa looked at Rip. "They must think the asteroid is clean. Otherwise +they'd have more than a chatter gun in sight. You can bet they have +knives and pistols, too."</p> + +<p>Rip had been playing with an idea. He tried it on his men. "These Connies +would be useful to us alive, if we could capture them."</p> + +<p>Dowst caught his meaning first. "As hostages, sir?"</p> + +<p>"That's it. If we could capture them, the Connie cruiser would be +helpless. We could use the snapper-boat radios to warn the ship that any +false move would mean harm to their men."</p> + +<p>Koa shook his head doubtfully. "I'm not sure the Connies worry about +their men, but it's worth the try. We can capture some of them if they +split up to search the asteroid. But we won't be able to sneak up on them +all."</p> + +<p>"We have an advantage," Rip reminded them. "We've been on the asteroid +longer. We know our way around, and we're used to space walking. They've +just come out of deceleration, and they won't have their space legs yet."</p> + +<p>Santos reported. "They're breaking up into groups of two. Three are +guarding the snapper-boats. One is the man with the chatter gun."</p> + +<p>"Are their belt lights on?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Then keep out of the beams. Don't let them walk into you. Keep low, and +keep moving. Stay on the dark side."</p> + +<p>"We'd better get to the dark side ourselves," Koa warned. He was right, +Rip knew. The Connies didn't have far to search before reaching the sun +side. "Koa, you take Trudeau and Kemp. I'll take Dowst and Dominico. +Nunez and Bradshaw stay here to guard the cave. If they arrive in twos, +let them get into the cave before you jump them. Bradshaw, how do you +feel?"</p> + +<p>"I'm all right, Lieutenant."</p> + +<p>Rip admired the Planeteer's nerve. He knew Bradshaw was in pain, +because bleeding into high vacuum was always painful. The crack in +the Englishman's helmet had let most of the air out, and his own blood +pressure had done the rest. He would carry the marks for days. A few more +moments, and all air and all heat would have been gone, with fatal +results. Fortunately, bubbles didn't shatter easily when cracked. To +destroy them took a good blow.</p> + +<p>"All right. Let's travel. Koa, go right. I'll go the other way, and we'll +work around the asteroid until we meet."</p> + +<p>Rip led the way, gliding as rapidly as he could toward the edge of +darkness. He called, "Santos. Anyone coming in the direction of the +cave?"</p> + +<p>"Two pairs. About fifty yards apart. They will be out of my sight in a +few seconds."</p> + +<p>That meant they would be within sight of Rip and the others. He knew Koa +had heard the message, too. Both groups put on more speed and reached the +safety of darkness. "Get down," Rip ordered. They could still be seen, if +silhouetted against the edge of sunlight.</p> + +<p>Starlight gave a little light, but it was too faint to help much. Rip's +plan was that the Connies would supply the light needed for an attack.</p> + +<p>In a few seconds, as Santos had predicted, belt light beams cut sharp +paths through the darkness. Rip sized up the possibilities. There were +two teams of two men each, and they were getting farther apart with each +step. One team was coming almost directly toward them. The other two men +slanted away from them and would soon be out of sight behind the thorium +crystals in which the cave was located. Fortunately, the Connies were +going away from the cave.</p> + +<p>A Connie from the nearby team swung his beam back and forth, and it cut +space over their heads. Rip saw a few low pyramids of thorium a few rods +away. Quickly he ordered, "Dowst, hang on to my boots. Dominico, hang on +to Dowst's boots."</p> + +<p>He lay face down on the metal ground until he felt hands grip his boots, +then he asked, "All set?"</p> + +<p>Two voices answered, "Ready."</p> + +<p>Rip put his gloves on the ground, then heaved forward and slightly upward +to overcome his inertia and that of his men. The trio moved slowly, +almost parallel with the surface. Once or twice Rip reached down to a +convenient crystal and put his strength into changing course and +altitude. Those were the only times when he felt the tug of his men.</p> + +<p>He reached the first pyramid of thorium and directed, "Get behind these +rocks and stay down. Feel your way. Use me for a guide. I'll hold on +until you're under cover." He gripped a crystal. "Come on."</p> + +<p>Dominico pulled himself along Dowst's prone form and then along Rip's. +When Dominico had reached the shelter of the crystals, Dowst crawled +along, with Rip's body for his guide, passed over him, and reached cover. +Rip followed.</p> + +<p>The belt lights of the two Connies were almost abreast of them. Far to +their left, Rip saw another pair of lights. That was a pair he hadn't +seen before.</p> + +<p>"We'll wait until they pass," he told his men. "Then we'll get up and +rush them from behind. They can't hear us coming. Dowst, you take the +near one. I'll take the far one. Dominico, you help as needed, but +concentrate on cutting off their equipment. The first thing we must do is +cut their communicators; otherwise they'll warn the rest. Then turn off +their air supplies and collapse their suits."</p> + +<p>One thing was in their favor. The space suits worn by the Connies were +almost the same as theirs. The controls were of the same kind. The only +way to know a Connie was by his bubble, which was a little more tubular +than the round bubbles of the Federation.</p> + +<p>Rip suddenly realized that he wasn't nervous anymore. He grinned. After +all, this was what he was trained for.</p> + +<p>The Connies came abreast and passed. "Let's go," Rip said, and as he rose +he heard Koa's voice.</p> + +<p>The sergeant major said, "Kemp, kneel on their right side. Trudeau and +I will hit them from the left and tumble them over you. Get their +communicators first."</p> + +<p>Koa had his own methods and they sounded good.</p> + +<p>Rip started slowly. He wanted to get directly behind the Connies. He +stayed down low until he was sure they couldn't see him unless they +turned.</p> + +<p>Dowst and Dominico were right with him. "Come on," he said, and started +gliding after the helmeted figures. He kept his eyes on the one he had +selected, and he called on all the myriad stars of space to give him +luck. If the men turned, his plan for quick victory would fail.</p> + +<p>He sensed his Planeteers beside him as the figures loomed ahead. He gave +a final spring that sent him through space with knees bent and outthrust, +his hands reaching.</p> + +<p>His knees connected solidly with the Connie's thighs, and his hands +groped around the bulky space suit. He felt a rheostat control and +twisted savagely, then groped for the distinctive star-shaped button +of the air supply.</p> + +<p>The Connie wrenched violently and threw them both upward. Rip felt the +star shape and twisted. If he could only deflate the Connie's suit! But +the man was writhing from his grip, clawing for a weapon.</p> + +<p>Then Rip stopped reaching for the deflation valve. He grabbed his knife, +jerked it free, and thrust it against the middle of the Connie's back. +Then he clanged his bubble against the man's helmet for direct +communication and shouted, "Grab some space, or I'll let vack into +you!"</p> + +<p>The Connie understood English. Most earthlings did. But even better was +his understanding of the pressure on his back. He stopped struggling; his +arms shot starward.</p> + +<p>Rip breathed freely for the first time since he had leaped, and +exultation grew in him. He had his first man! His first hand-to-hand +fight had ended in victory so easily that he could hardly believe it.</p> + +<p>He took time to look around him and saw that he was a good five feet +above the asteroid.</p> + +<p>Below him, a Connie belt light sent its shaft parallel with the ground, +and he knew the second man was down.</p> + +<p>The question was, had either of them shouted before their communicators +were cut off?</p> + +<p>"Dowst," he called urgently. "All okay?"</p> + +<p>"No," Dowst said grimly. "We got the Connie, but he got Dominico. Cut his +leg with a space knife. I'm putting a patch on it. You okay?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. When you can, pull me down."</p> + +<p>"Right you are."</p> + +<p>Dominico spoke up. "Don't worry about me, sir. Nothing bad. I don't lose +much air."</p> + +<p>"Fine, Dominico. Glad it wasn't worse."</p> + +<p>But Rip knew it wasn't good, either. A cut with a space knife let air out +of the suit and created at least a partial vacuum. If it also cut flesh, +the vacuum let the blood pressure force out blood and tissue to turn a +minor wound into an ugly one.</p> + +<p>They would have to bring this space flap with the Connies to a quick end, +Rip thought. He had to get his men into air somehow, to take a look at +their wounds. Bradshaw needed attention immediately, and now so did +Dominico.</p> + +<p>Dowst reached up, took Rip's ankle, and pulled him down. Rip held on to +his captive. Then the private bound the Connie's hands, jerked his +communicator control completely off, and turned his air back on. Since +Rip had been unable to collapse the suit, the Connie was comfortable +enough. The reason for collapsing the suit was to deprive the enemy of +air instantly, so that he could be tied up while helpless from lack of +oxygen. There was enough air in the suit for only a few breaths once the +supply was cut off.</p> + +<p>The Connie on the ground was neatly trussed. Rip's prisoner joined him. +Dowst switched off his belt light. "Now what, sir?"</p> + +<p>Dominico was standing patiently nearby. He said nothing. Rip knew that no +more could be done for the Italian at present. "Go back to the cave, +Dominico," he ordered.</p> + +<p>"I can stay with you, sir."</p> + +<p>"No, Dominico. Thanks for the offer, but we'll get along. Go back to the +cave."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>Rip was a little worried. He had heard nothing from Koa since that first +exchange. He told Dowst as much. But Koa himself heard and answered.</p> + +<p>"Lieutenant, we're all right. Got two Connies, and I don't think they had +a chance to yell. But I'm sorry about one, sir. Kemp had to swing at him +and busted his bubble."</p> + +<p>"Fatal?"</p> + +<p>"No, we patched it in time. But worse than Bradshaw."</p> + +<p>"Tough." Rip couldn't feel too sympathetic.</p> + +<p>After all, it was the Connie cruiser's fault Bradshaw had felt high vack. +"All right. We have four. That leaves nine."</p> + +<p>Santos came on the circuit. "Sir, this is Santos. Only three men are at +the snapper-boats. If you could get here without being seen, maybe we +could knock them off. The rest wouldn't be much good if we had their +boats."</p> + +<p>"You're right, Santos," Rip replied instantly. Why hadn't he seen that +for himself? He knew how he and Dowst could approach the craters without +being spotted, now that they had removed two teams of Connies. "We're on +our way. Koa, make it if you can."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>Dominico was already making his way back to the cave. Rip and Dowst +started for the horizon at a good walk, not afraid now to use their +lights, at least for a few yards. If any of the remaining Connie search +teams saw the lights, they would think they were their own men's.</p> + +<p>Rip remembered the lay of the ground and Santos' description of the +snapper-boats' position. He circled almost to the horizon, then told +Dowst to cut his light. He cut his own. In a moment they topped the +horizon and, standing with only helmets visible from the snapper-boats, +looked the situation over.</p> + +<p>The three Connies were standing between them and the boats. To the left +of the boats was the second crater. Rip studied the ground as best he +could in the Connie belt lights and decided on a plan of action. Calling +to Dowst, he circled again. Presently they were approaching the crater. +The Connies were just about twenty-five yards from the crater's opposite +rim.</p> + +<p>Rip said, "I hate to do this, Dowst, but I can't see any way out. We have +to go into the crater."</p> + +<p>Dowst merely said, "Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>The extra radiation might put both of them well over the safety limits +long before Earth was reached, and they both knew it. He reached the +crater's edge and walked right down into it.</p> + +<p>They were out of sight of the Connies now. Rip walked up the other side +of the crater until his bubble was just below ground level. The chunks of +thorium he had ordered thrown in to block some of the radiation made +walking a little difficult.</p> + +<p>"Santos," he said, "we're in the second crater."</p> + +<p>"Sir, I'm beyond the first, between two crystals. Pederson is near you +somewhere."</p> + +<p>"Good. When I give the word, turn up your helmet light until they can see +a pretty good glow. Keep watching them." The bubbles were equipped with +lights, but they were seldom used. He outlined his plan swiftly. Both +Santos and Dowst acknowledged.</p> + +<p>Koa reported in. "We're after two more Connies near the wreck of the +landing boat, sir."</p> + +<p>"Be careful. Pederson, go help Koa. Nunez, how are things at the cave?"</p> + +<p>"Nunez reporting, sir. Two Connies in sight, but they haven't seen us +yet."</p> + +<p>"Let me know when they spot the cave."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Santos, go ahead."</p> + +<p>For long moments there was silence. Rip felt for a solid foothold, found +one, and flexed his knees. He kept his back straight and his eyes on the +crater rim. His hands were occupied with two air bottles taken from his +belt, and his thumbs were on their valve releases. He waited patiently +for word from Santos that his helmet glow had been seen.</p> + +<p>Santos yelled, "Now!"</p> + +<p>Rip's legs straightened with a mighty thrust. He flashed into space +headfirst, at an angle that took him over the crater's rim and fifty feet +above the ground. He caught a glimpse of Santos' helmet, glowing like a +pink balloon, and of the three Connies facing it.</p> + +<p>Rip's arms flashed above his head. His thumbs compressed. Air spurted +from the two bottles, driving him downward feetfirst, directly at the +heads of the Connies!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_TEN" id="CHAPTER_TEN"></a>CHAPTER TEN</h2> + +<h3>Get the Scorpion!</h3> + + +<p>From the corner of his eye, Rip saw Dowst's heavy space boots and knew +the private was right with him. As they drove down, one of the Connies +stepped a little distance away from the others, probably to get a better +look at Santos. The Connie sensed something and turned, just as Rip and +Dowst flashed downward on his two mates.</p> + +<p>Rip's boots caught one Connie where his bubble joined his suit, and the +impact drove the man downward to the unyielding surface of the asteroid +with a soundless smash. Rip threw up his arms to cushion his helmet as he +struck the ground beyond his enemy. He threw the air bottles away. He +fought to keep his feet under him and almost succeeded, but his knees hit +the ground, and pistol and knife bit into them painfully.</p> + +<p>Two figures came into his view, locked tightly together, arms flailing. +It was Dowst and the second Connie. He got to his feet and was moving to +the Planeteer's aid when Santos' voice shrilled in his helmet. "Sir! Look +left!"</p> + +<p>Rip whirled. The Connie who had stepped aside was advancing, pistol in +hand. His light caught Rip full in the face.</p> + +<p>The young officer thought quickly. The Connie hadn't fired. Why? Suddenly +he had it. The man hadn't fired for fear of hitting his friend, who was +battling with Dowst. Rip was in front of them. Quickly he dropped to one +knee, reaching for his own pistol. The Connie wouldn't dare fire now. The +high-velocity slug would go right through him, to explode in one of the +struggling figures behind—and the wrong one might get it.</p> + +<p>The Connie saw Rip's action and tossed his pistol aside. He, too, knew he +couldn't fire. He reached into a knee pouch and drew out his space knife. +He leaped for the Planeteer.</p> + +<p>Rip pulled frantically at his pistol. It was stuck fast, probably caught +in the fabric by his knee landing. The space knife wouldn't be caught. It +was smooth, with no projections to catch. He shifted knees and jerked it +out.</p> + +<p>The Connie's flying body hit him, and a powerful arm circled his waist. +Rip thrust upward with his knees, one hand reaching for the Connie's +suit valve. But the Connie had one arm free, too. He drove his glove up +under Rip's heart. Rip let go of the valve and used his elbow to lever +away, just as the Connie pressed his knife's release valve. The blade +slammed outward and drove into the inside of Rip's right arm, just above +the elbow.</p> + +<p>Pain lanced through him, and he felt the blood rush to the wound as air +poured through the gap in his suit. He gritted his teeth and smashed at +the Connie with his own knife. It rammed home, and he squeezed the +release. The blade connected solidly. He was suddenly free.</p> + +<p>He pressed the wounded arm to his side, stopping the outpouring of +air. The cut hurt like all the devils of space. With his other hand he +increased the air in his suit, then looked swiftly around. The Connie was +on his knees, both gloves pressed tightly to his side.</p> + +<p>Dowst was just finishing a knot in the safety line that bound a second +enemy's hands. The Connie Rip had rocketed down on was still lying where +he had fallen. And Corporal Santos, the enemy's pneumatic chatter gun at +the ready, was standing guard.</p> + +<p>Rip turned up the volume in his communicator. He tried to sound calm, +but the shakiness of triumph and excitement was in his voice. "All +Planeteers. We have the Connie snapper-boats. Koa, bring your men here."</p> + +<p>He felt someone working on his arm and turned to see Corporal Pederson, +his face one vast grin in the glare from Dowst's belt light. "Koa didn't +need me," he said.</p> + +<p>Rip grinned back. "Nunez," he called, "how are things at the cave?"</p> + +<p>"Sir, this is Nunez. Two Connies were prowling around, but they didn't +see the entrance. Then, a minute ago, they hurried away."</p> + +<p>Rip considered. "Koa, how many Connies have you?"</p> + +<p>"Four, sir."</p> + +<p>With the five he and Dowst had taken, that meant four sill at large, and +from Nunex's report, some Connie yelling had been going on. The four +certainly knew by this time that there were Federal men on the asteroid. +Unless something were done quickly the four Connies would be shooting at +them from the darkness. He ordered, "All Planeteers, kill your belt +lights."</p> + +<p>The lights on the Connies they had just taken still glowed. Dowst was +putting a patch on the Connie Rip had stabbed. He waited until the +private had finished, then said, "Turn out the Connies' lights, too."</p> + +<p>If he could get in touch with the Connies, he could tell them they were +finished. But using the snapper-boat radios was out, because the enemy +cruiser would hear. The cruiser couldn't hear the helmet communications, +though, because they carried only a short distance. The cruiser was close +enough so that a helmet communicator turned on full volume might barely +be heard, although it was unlikely.</p> + +<p>He couldn't stick his head in a Connie helmet, but he could talk to a +Connie by direct communication and have him give instructions.</p> + +<p>There was complete darkness with all belt lights out, but he groped his +way to the Connie Dowst had been patching, felt for his helmet, and put +his own against it. He yelled, "Do you hear me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes." Then he asked, "Why did you patch me?"</p> + +<p>It was a perfect opening. "Because we don't want to kill you. Listen. We +have all but four of you. Understand?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. What will you do with us?"</p> + +<p>"Treat you as prisoners—if you behave. Get on your communicator and tell +those four men to surrender. Tell them to come to the boats, with lights +on. Tell them we'll give them five minutes. If they don't come, we'll +hunt them with rockets. Make that clear."</p> + +<p>"They will come," the Connie said. "They don't want to die. I will do +it."</p> + +<p>Rip kept his helmet against the Connie's, but the man spoke in another +language, which Rip identified as the main Consops tongue. When he had +finished, Rip told his Planeteers to have weapons ready and to keep +lights off. Time enough for light when the Connies were all disarmed.</p> + +<p>It didn't take five minutes. The Connie teams came quickly and willingly, +and they seemed almost glad to give up their pistols and knives. This was +not unusual. Rip had seen many Planeteer reports that spoke of the same +thing. Many Connies, it seemed, were glad to get away from the iron +Consops rule, even if it meant becoming Federation prisoners.</p> + +<p>Inside one of the snapper-boats a light glowed. Rip put his helmet +against that of the man who had given the surrender order and demanded, +"What's that light?"</p> + +<p>"The cruiser wants us."</p> + +<p>Rip considered demanding that the Connie answer, then thought better of +it. He would do it himself. After all, they had hostages. The cruiser +wouldn't take any further action. He climbed into the snapper-boat and +hunted for the plug-in terminal. It fitted his own belt jack. He plugged +in and said, "Go ahead."</p> + +<p>There was an instant of silence, then an accented voice demanded, "Why +are you speaking English?"</p> + +<p>Rip replied formally, "This is Lieutenant Foster, Federation Special +Order Squadrons, in charge on the asteroid. Your landing party is in +our hands, as prisoners, two wounded, none dead. If you agree to +withdraw, we will send the wounded men back to you in one boat. The rest +will remain here as hostages for your good behavior."</p> + +<p>"Stand by," the voice said. There was silence for several moments, then a +new voice said, "This is the cruiser commander. We make a counteroffer. +If you release our men and surrender to them, we will spare the lives of +you and your men."</p> + +<p>Rip listened incredulously. The commanding officer didn't understand. He, +Rip, held the whip hand, because the lives of the Connie prisoners were +in his hands. He repeated his offer.</p> + +<p>"And I repeat," the commander retorted. "Surrender or die. Choose now."</p> + +<p>"I refuse," Rip stated flatly. "Try anything, and your men will suffer, +not us."</p> + +<p>"You are mistaken," the harsh voice said. "We will sweep the asteroid +clean with our exhaust, but this time we will be more thorough. When +we have finished, we will hammer you with guided missiles. Then we will +send snapper-boats with rockets to hunt down any who remain. We intend to +have that thorium. You had better surrender."</p> + +<p>Rip couldn't believe it. The cruiser commander had no hesitation in +sacrificing his own men! And it was not a bluff. He knew instinctively +that the Connie commander meant it. Instantly he unplugged the radio +connection from his belt and spoke urgently. "Koa, get everyone under +cover in the cave. Hurry! Collect all the Connies and take them with +you."</p> + +<p>Then he plugged in again. "Commander, I must have time to think this +over."</p> + +<p>"You have one minute."</p> + +<p>He watched his chronometer, planning the next move. When the minute +ended, he asked, "Commander, how do we know you will spare our lives if +we surrender?" Through the transparent shell of the snapper-boat he saw +lights moving toward the horizon and knew Koa was following orders.</p> + +<p>"You don't know," the cruiser answered. "You must take our word for it. +But if you surrender, we have no reason to wish you harm."</p> + +<p>Rip remained silent. The seconds ticked past until the commander snapped, +"Quickly! You have no more time."</p> + +<p>"Sir," Rip said plaintively, "two of my men do not wish to surrender."</p> + +<p>"Shoot them, fool! Are you in command or not?"</p> + +<p>Rip grinned. He made his voice whine. "But, sir, it is against the law of +the Federation to shoot men without a trial."</p> + +<p>The commander lapsed into his own language, caught himself, then barked, +"You are no longer under Federation law. You are under the Consolidation +of People's Governments. Do you surrender or not? Answer at once, or we +take action anyway. Quick!"</p> + +<p>Rip knew he could stall no longer. He said coolly, "If you had brains +in your head instead of high vacuum, you'd know that Planeteers never +surrender. Blast away, you filthy space pirate!"</p> + +<p>He jerked the plug loose, hesitated for a second over whether or not to +take the snapper-boat, and decided against it. He wasn't familiar with +Connie controls, and there wasn't time to experiment. He headed for the +cave.</p> + +<p>The Connie cruiser lost no time. Its stern tubes flamed, then its +steering tubes. It was going to drive directly at the asteroid without +making a long run! Rip estimated quickly and realized that the Connie +would get to the asteroid at the same time that he reached the cave—if +he made it.</p> + +<p>He speeded up as fast as he dared. With little gravity on the asteroid, +he couldn't fall, but a false step could lift him into space and make +him lose time while he got out an air bottle to propel him down again. +The thought gave him an idea. Without slowing he took two bottles from +his belt, turned them so the openings pointed backward, squeezed the +release valves.</p> + +<p>The Connie was gaining speed, blasting straight toward him. Rip sped +forward and crossed to the sun side, intent on the cave entrance but no +longer sure he would make it. The Connie's nose tube shot a cylinder of +flame forward, reaching for the asteroid. He saw the fire lick downward +and sweep toward him with appalling speed as he put everything he had +into a frantic dive for the cave entrance. The flaming rocket exhaust +seemed to snatch at him as a dozen hands pulled him to safety, then beat +the sparks from his suit.</p> + +<p>He was safe. He leaned against Koa, his heart thumping wildly. For a +moment or two he couldn't speak; then he managed, "Thanks."</p> + +<p>Koa spoke for the Planeteers. "We're the ones to say thanks, sir. If you +hadn't thought of stalling the cruiser, and if you hadn't stayed behind +to give us time, we'd have some casualties, and so would the Connies we +captured."</p> + +<p>"There wasn't anything else I could do," Rip replied. "Come on, Koa. +Let's see what the cruiser is doing."</p> + +<p>They stepped outside. The metal was already cold again. Things didn't +stay hot in the vacuum of space.</p> + +<p>They didn't see the Connie until the fire of its exhaust suddenly blasted +above the horizon, and then they ducked for cover. The cruiser had taken +a swing at the other side of the asteroid. They peered out again and saw +it turning.</p> + +<p>"He won't get us," Rip said confidently. "Our tough time will come when +he sends a fleet of snapper-boats."</p> + +<p>"We'll get a few," Koa replied grimly. "Wait! What's he doing?"</p> + +<p>The cruiser had started for the asteroid. Suddenly jets flamed from every +quarter of the ship. He was using all steering jets at once! Rip watched, +bewildered, as the great ship spun slowly, advanced, then settled to a +stop just at the horizon.</p> + +<p>"He can't be launching boats already," he said worriedly. "What's he up +to?"</p> + +<p>They ran forward a short distance until they could see below the cave's +horizon level. The cruiser released exhausts from both sides of the ship, +the outer ones the slightest bit stronger. Rip exclaimed, "Great Cosmos, +he's cuddling right up to the asteroid! Why?"</p> + +<p>"Hiding," Koa said. "By Gemini! Come on, sir!"</p> + +<p>Rip saw his meaning instantly, and they raced to the side of the asteroid +away from the ship. As they crossed into the dark half, Rip looked back. +He couldn't see the cruiser from here. But he looked out into space, +across the horizon, and knew that Koa's guess had been right. The +distinctive glow of a nuclear drive cruiser was clear among the stars.</p> + +<p>The <i>Scorpius</i> had returned!</p> + +<p>"The Connie saw it," Rip said worriedly, "but didn't blast away. That +means he's intending to ambush the <i>Scorpius</i>. Koa, if he does, that +means war."</p> + +<p>The tall officer shook his head. "Sir, the Connie has guided missiles +with atomic warheads, just as our ship has. If he can launch one from +ambush and hit our ship, that's the end of it. The <i>Scorpius</i> will be +nothing but space junk. Commander O'Brine will never have time to get +off a message, because he'll be dead before he knows there is danger."</p> + +<p>The logic of it sent a chill down Rip's spine. The Connie could get the +<i>Scorpius</i> with one nuclear blast and then clean up the asteroid at +leisure. The Federation would suspect, but it would be unable to prove +anything, because there would be no witnesses. If the Connie took time to +tow the remains of the <i>Scorpius</i> deep into the asteroid belt, it likely +would never be found, no matter how the Federation searched.</p> + +<p>They had to warn the ship. But how? Their helmet communicators wouldn't +reach it until it was right at the asteroid, and that would be too late. +They had no other radio. If only the radios in the snapper-boats were on +a Federation frequency.... Hey! They could take one of the boats and +intercept the cruiser!</p> + +<p>He was hurrying toward them before Koa understood what he was saying. He +tried to make his legs go faster, but they were unsteady. He knew he was +losing blood. He had lost plenty. He gritted his teeth and kept going.</p> + +<p>The snapper-boats seemed miles away to Rip, but he plugged ahead until +his belt light picked them up. He took a long look, then turned away, +heartsick. The Connie's exhaust had charred them into wreckage.</p> + +<p>"Now what?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, sir," Koa answered somberly.</p> + +<p>They went back to the cave, not hurrying because Rip no longer had the +strength to hurry. Weakness and a deep desire to sleep almost overcame +him, and he knew that he was finished, anyway. His wound must be too deep +to clot, which meant it would bleed until he bled to death. Whether he +warned the <i>Scorpius</i> or not, his end was the same.</p> + +<p>Back in the cave, he leaned against the wall and asked tiredly. "How is +Dominico?"</p> + +<p>"I am fine, sir. My wound stopped bleeding."</p> + +<p>"How is the Connie I got?"</p> + +<p>"Unconscious, sir," Santos replied. "He must be bleeding badly, but we +can't tell. The one you landed on is all right now, but he may have a +broken rib or two."</p> + +<p>Because his voice was weak, Rip had to turn up the volume on his +communicator to tell the Planeteers about the <i>Scorpius</i>. They were +silent when he finished. Then Dowst spoke up.</p> + +<p>"Looks like they have us, sir. But we'll take plenty of them with us +before we're finished."</p> + +<p>"That's the spirit," Rip told them. "I won't last much longer. When I get +too weak, Koa will take over. Meanwhile, I want to get outside. Bring the +rocket launcher outside, too. Who's the gunner? Santos? Stand by, then. +We'll need you, in case the Connie decides to send a few snappers before +it goes after the Scorpius."</p> + +<p>The cruiser's glow was plain above the horizon now. It was so close that +they could make out its form against the background of stars. O'Brine was +decelerating, and Rip was certain he was watching his screens for a sign +of the enemy. He would see nothing, because the enemy was in the shadow +of the asteroid. He would think the coast was clear and would come to a +stop nearby while he asked why Rip had called for help. Failing to get a +reply, since the landing boat was wrecked, he would send a landing party, +and the Connie would attack while he was launching boats, off guard.</p> + +<p>Rip watched the prediction come true. The nuclear cruiser slowed +gradually, its great bulk nearing the asteroid. O'Brine was operating as +expected.</p> + +<p>Rip was having trouble keeping his vision from blurring. He leaned +against the rocket launcher, and his glove caressed one of the sharp +noses in the rack.</p> + +<p>He heard his own voice before the idea had even taken full form. "Santos! +Do you hear me? Santos! Get the <i>Scorpius</i>! Fire before it comes to a +stop. And don't miss!"</p> + +<p>Santos started to protest, but Koa bellowed, "Do it! The lieutenant's +right. It's the only chance we've got to warn the ship. Get the scorpion, +Santos. Dead amidships!"</p> + +<p>The young corporal swung into action. His space gloves flew as he cranked +the launcher around, turned on the illuminated sight, and bent low over +it. Rip stood behind the corporal. He saw the cruiser's shape stand out +in the glow of the sight, saw the sighting rings move as Santos corrected +for its speed.</p> + +<p>The corporal fired. Fire flared back past his shoulder. The rocket +flashed away, its trail dwindling as it sped toward the great bulk +above. It reached <i>Brennschluss</i>, and there was darkness. Rip held his +breath for long seconds, then gave a weak cry of victory.</p> + +<p>A blossom of orange fire marked a perfect hit.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_ELEVEN" id="CHAPTER_ELEVEN"></a>CHAPTER ELEVEN</h2> + +<h3>Hard Words</h3> + + +<p>The <i>Scorpius</i> could have taken direct hits with little or no major +damage from a hundred rockets of the kind Rip had used, but Commander +O'Brine took no chances. When the alarm bell signaled that the outer hull +had been hit, the commander acted instantly with a bellowed order.</p> + +<p>The Planeteers on the asteroid blinked at the speed of the cruiser's +getaway. Fire flamed from the stern tubes for an instant, and then there +was nothing but a fading glow where the <i>Scorpius</i> had been.</p> + +<p>Rip had a mental image of everything movable in the ship crashing against +bulkheads with the terrific acceleration.</p> + +<p>And in the same moment, the Consops cruiser reacted. The Connie commander +was ready to fire guided missiles, when his target suddenly, +mysteriously, blasted into space at optimum acceleration. There was only +one reason the Connie could imagine: His cruiser had been spotted. The +ambush had failed. It was one thing for the Connie to lie in ambush for +a single, deadly surprise blast at the Federation cruiser. It was quite +another to face the nuclear drive ship with its missile ports cleared for +action. The Connie knew he had lost.</p> + +<p>Rip and the Planeteers saw the Consops ship suddenly flame away, then +turn and dive for low space below the asteroid belt, in a direction +opposite to the one the <i>Scorpius</i> had taken. The Planeteers' helmet +communicators rang with their cheers.</p> + +<p>The young officer clapped Santos on the shoulder and exclaimed weakly, +"Good shooting!"</p> + +<p>The corporal turned anxiously to Koa. "The lieutenant's pretty weak. +Can't we do something?"</p> + +<p>"Forget it," Rip said. There was nothing anyone could do. He was trapped +inside his space suit. There was nothing anyone could do for his wound +until he got into air.</p> + +<p>Koa untied his safety line and moved to Rip's side. "Sir, this is +dangerous, but there's just as much danger without it. I'm going to tie +off that arm."</p> + +<p>Rip knew what Koa meant. He stood quietly as the big sergeant major put +the line around his arm above the wound, then put his massive strength +into the task of pulling the line tight.</p> + +<p>The heavy fabric of the suit was stiff, and the air pressure gave further +resistance that had to be overcome. Rip let most of the air out of the +suit, then fought for breath until the pain in his arm told him that Koa +had succeeded. He inflated the suit again and thanked the sergeant major +weakly.</p> + +<p>The tight line stopped the bleeding, but it also cut off the air +circulation. Without the air, the heating system couldn't operate +efficiently. It was only a matter of time before the arm froze.</p> + +<p>"Stand easy," Rip told his men. "Nothing to do now but wait. The +<i>Scorpius</i> will be back." He set an example by leaning against the +thorium crystal in which the cave was located. It was a natural but +rather meaningless gesture. With virtually no gravity pulling at them, +they could remain standing almost indefinitely, sleeping upright.</p> + +<p>Rip closed his eyes and relaxed. The pain in his arm was less now, and he +knew the cold was setting in. He was getting lightheaded, and, most of +all, he wanted to sleep. Well, why not? He slumped a little inside the +suit.</p> + +<p>He awoke with Koa shaking him violently. Rip stood upright and shook his +head to clear his vision. "What is it?"</p> + +<p>"Sir, the <i>Scorpius</i> has returned."</p> + +<p>Rip blinked as he stared out into space to where Koa was pointing. He had +trouble focusing his eyes at first, and then he saw the glow of the +cruiser.</p> + +<p>"Good," he said. "They'll send a landing boat first thing."</p> + +<p>"I hope so," Koa replied.</p> + +<p>Rip wanted to ask why the big Planeteer was dubious, but he was too tired +to phrase the question. He contented himself with watching the cruiser.</p> + +<p>In a short time the <i>Scorpius</i> was balanced, with nose tubes +counteracting the thrust of stern tubes, ready to flash into space again +at a second's notice.</p> + +<p>Rip watched, puzzled. The cruiser was miles away. Why didn't it come any +closer? Then suddenly it erupted a dozen fiery streaks.</p> + +<p>"Snapper-boats!" someone gasped.</p> + +<p>Rip jerked fully awake. In the ruddy glow of the fighting rockets' tubes, +he had seen that the cruiser's missile ports were yawning wide, ready to +spew forth their deadly nuclear charges in an instant.</p> + +<p>The snapper-boats flashed toward the asteroid in a group, sheered off, +and broke formation. They came back in pairs, streaking space with the +sparks of their exhausts.</p> + +<p>"Into the cave," Koa shouted.</p> + +<p>The Planeteers obeyed instantly. Koa took Rip's arm to lead him inside, +but the young officer shook him off. "No, Koa. I'll take my chances out +here. I want to see what they're up to."</p> + +<p>"Great Cosmos, sir! They'll go over this rock like Martian beetles. +You'll get it, for sure."</p> + +<p>"Get inside," Rip ordered. He gathered strength enough to make his voice +firm. "I'm staying here until I figure out some way to call them off. We +can't just stand here and let them blast us. They're our own men."</p> + +<p>"Then I'm staying, too," Koa stated.</p> + +<p>A pair of snapper-boats flashed overhead and vanished below the horizon. +Two more swept past from another direction.</p> + +<p>Rip watched, curious. What were they up to? Another pair quartered past +them at high speed, then two more. The boats seemed to be crisscrossing +the asteroid in a definite pattern.</p> + +<p>A pair streaked past, and something sped downward from one of them, +trailing yellow flame. It exploded in a ball of molten fire that licked +across the asteroid in waves. Rip tensed, then saw that the chemical +would burn out before it reached them.</p> + +<p>"Fire bomb," Koa muttered.</p> + +<p>Rip nodded. He had recognized it. The Planeteers were trained in the use +of fire bombs, tanks of chemicals that burned even in an airless world. +They were equipped with simple jets for use in space.</p> + +<p>The snapper-boats drew off, back toward the <i>Scorpius</i>. Rip watched, +searching for some reason for their actions. Then one of the boats +pulled away from the others. It returned to the asteroid, with stern jet +burning fitfully.</p> + +<p>"Is he landing?" Koa asked.</p> + +<p>Rip didn't know. The snapper-boat was moving slowly enough to make a +landing.</p> + +<p>Directly above the asteroid it changed direction, circled, and returned +over their heads. Rip could almost have picked it off with a pistol shot. +Santos could have blasted it into space dust with one rocket.</p> + +<p>The snapper-boat changed direction, and for a fraction of a second stern +and side tubes "fought" each other, making the boat yaw wildly. Then it +straightened out on a new course.</p> + +<p>Koa exclaimed, "That's a drone!"</p> + +<p>Rip got it then. A pilotless snapper-boat! That's why its actions were a +little uneven. Only one thing could explain its deliberate slowness. It +was bait. The <i>Scorpius</i> had sent piloted snapper-boats over the asteroid +at high speed, crisscrossing in order to cover the thorium world +completely, expecting to have the unknown rocketeer fire at them. Then a +fire bomb had been dropped as a further means of getting the asteroid to +fire. But no rockets had been fired from the asteroid, so the pilot in +control of the drone had sent it at low speed, a perfect target.</p> + +<p>That meant O'Brine wasn't sure of what was going on. He must have seen +the blip on his screen as the Connie cruiser flamed off, Kip reasoned. +But the commander probably suspected that the Connies had overcome +the Planeteers and were in control of the asteroid. He had sent the +snapper-boats to try to draw fire, in an attempt to find out more surely +whether Planeteers or Connies had the thorium rock.</p> + +<p>"The <i>Scorpius</i> doesn't know what's going on," Rip told his Planeteers. +"O'Brine didn't know the cruiser was waiting to ambush him, so the rocket +we fired made him think the Connies had taken us over."</p> + +<p>He put himself in O'Brine's place. What would his next step be? The +snapper-boats hadn't drawn fire, even when a drone was sent over at low +speed. The next thing would be to send a piloted boat over slowly enough +to take a look.</p> + +<p>Rip hoped O'Brine would hurry. There was no longer any feeling in his arm +below Koa's safety line. That meant the arm had frozen. He had to get +medical attention from the <i>Scorpius</i> pretty soon.</p> + +<p>He gritted his teeth. At least he was no longer losing blood. He wasn't +getting any weaker. But every now and then his vision fogged, and he had +to shake his head to clear it.</p> + +<p>The pilotless snapper-boat made another slow run, then put on speed +and flashed back to the group of boats near the cruiser. Another boat +detached itself from the squadron and moved toward the asteroid.</p> + +<p>Rip wished for a communicator powerful enough to reach the <i>Scorpius</i>, +but he knew it was useless to try with his helmet circuit. The carrier +waves of the snapper-boats were on the same frequency, and they would +smother the faint signal from his bubble.</p> + +<p>But the boats might be able to hear if they got close enough! He had a +swift memory of the communications circuits. The pilots were plugged into +their boat communicators. If a boat got near enough, he could turn up his +bubble to full volume and yell. Not only would the boat pilot hear him, +but also his voice would go through the pilot's circuit and be heard in +the ship!</p> + +<p>Rip grabbed Koa's arm. "Let's move away from the cave a little farther."</p> + +<p>The two of them stepped away from the cave and stood in full view as the +snapper-boat moved cautiously down toward the asteroid. Rip planned what +he would say. "Commander O'Brine, this is Foster!"</p> + +<p>No, that wouldn't do. Connies would know that Kevin O'Brine commanded the +<i>Scorpius</i>, and if they had taken over the Planeteers on the asteroid, +they would also have learned Rip's name. He had to say something that +would immediately identify him beyond the shadow of a doubt.</p> + +<p>The snapper-boat was closing in slowly. Rip knew the pilot and gunner +must be tense, frightened, ready to blast with their guns at the first +wrong move on the asteroid. He groped with his good arm and turned up his +helmet communicator to full volume.</p> + +<p>The fighting rocket drew closer, cut in its nose tube, and hovered only a +few hundred feet above the Planeteers.</p> + +<p>Rip summoned enough strength to make his voice sharp and clear. His words +sped through space into the bubble of the pilot, echoed in the helmet, +were picked up by the pilot's microphone, and then were hurled through +the snapper-boat circuit and through space to the cruiser's control room.</p> + +<p>O'Brine stiffened as the speaker threw Rip's voice at him, amplified and +hollow-sounding from reverberations in the snapper-boat pilot's helmet.</p> + +<p>"<i>O'Brine is so ugly he won't look at his face in a clean blast tube! +That no-good Irishman wouldn't know what to do with an asteroid if he had +one!</i>"</p> + +<p>The commander turned purple with rage. He bellowed, "Foster!"</p> + +<p>A junior space officer hid a grin and murmured, "Looks like the +Planeteers still have the asteroid."</p> + +<p>O'Brine bent over the communicator and yelled, "Deputy commander! Launch +landing boats. Get those Planeteers and bring them here under armed +guard. Ram it!"</p> + +<p>The snapper-boat pilot through whose circuit Rip had yelled turned to +look wide-eyed at his gunner. "Did you hear that? Throw a light down on +the asteroid. It must have come from there."</p> + +<p>The gunner threw a switch, and a searchlight port opened in the boat's +belly. Its beam searched downward, swept past, then steadied on two +space-suited figures.</p> + +<p>"It worked," Rip said tiredly. He closed his eyes to guard them against +the brilliant glare, then waved his good arm.</p> + +<p>Santos called from the cave entrance. "Sir, landing boats are being +launched!"</p> + +<p>"Bring out the prisoners," Rip ordered. "Line them up. Planeteers fall in +behind them."</p> + +<p>The landing boats, with snapper-boats in watchful attendance, blasted +down to the surface of the asteroid. Spacemen jumped out, awkward at +first on the no-weight surface. An officer glided to meet Rip, and he had +a pistol in his hand.</p> + +<p>"It's all right," Rip told him. "The Connies are our prisoners. You won't +need guns."</p> + +<p>The spaceman snapped, "You're under arrest."</p> + +<p>Rip stared incredulously. "What for?"</p> + +<p>"The commander's orders. Don't give me any arguments. Just get aboard."</p> + +<p>"I can't argue with a loaded gun," Rip said wearily. He called to his +men. "We're under arrest. I don't know why. Don't try to resist. Do as +the spacemen order."</p> + +<p>Rip got aboard the nearest landing boat, his head spinning. O'Brine had +made a mistake of some kind.</p> + +<p>The landing boats, loaded with Planeteers and Connies, lifted from the +asteroid to the cruiser. They slid smoothly into the air locks and +settled. The massive lock doors slid closed and lights flickered on. Rip +waited, trying to keep consciousness from slipping away.</p> + +<p>The lock gauges registered normal air, and the inner valves slid open. +Commander O'Brine stepped through, his square jaw outthrust and his face +flushed with anger. He bellowed, "Where's Foster?"</p> + +<p>His voice was so loud that Rip heard him even through the bubble. He +stepped out of the boat and faced the irate commander.</p> + +<p>O'Brine ordered, "Get him out of that suit."</p> + +<p>Two spacemen jumped forward. One twisted Rip's bubble free and lifted it +off. The heavy air of the ship hit him with physical force.</p> + +<p>O'Brine grated, "You're under arrest, Foster, for firing on the +<i>Scorpius</i>, for insubordination, and for conduct unbecoming an officer. +Get out of that suit and get flaming. It's the space pot for you."</p> + +<p>Rip had to grin. He couldn't help it. He started to reply, but the heavy +air of the cruiser, so much richer and denser than that of the suits, was +too much. He fell, unconscious.</p> + +<p>There was no gravity to pull him to the floor, but the action of his +relaxing muscles swung him slowly until he lay facedown in the air a +few feet above the floor.</p> + +<p>Commander O'Brine stared for a moment, then took the unconscious +Planeteer and swung him upright. His quick eyes took in the patch +on the arm, the safety line tied tightly. He roared, "Quick! Get him +to the wound ward!"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Rip came back to consciousness on the operating table. The wound in his +arm had been neatly repaired, and below the wound, where his arm had +frozen, a plastic temperature bag was slowly bringing the cold flesh back +to normal. On his other side, a pulsing pressure pump forced new blood +from the ship's supplies into his veins.</p> + +<p>A senior space officer, with the golden lancet of the medical service on +his tunic, bent over him. "How do you feel?"</p> + +<p>Rip's voice surprised him. It was as full and strong as ever. "I feel +wonderful. Can I get up?"</p> + +<p>"When we get enough blood into you, and your arm is fully restored."</p> + +<p>Commander O'Brine appeared in the door frame. "Can he talk?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. He's fine, sir."</p> + +<p>O'Brine glared down at Rip. "Can you give me a good reason why I +shouldn't have you treated for space madness and then toss you in the +space pot until we reach Earth?"</p> + +<p>"Best reason in the galaxy," Rip said cheerfully. "But before we talk +about it, I want to know how my men are. One got cut, and another had his +bubble cracked. Also, one of the Connies got badly cut, another had some +broken bones, and a third one bled into high vack when Koa cracked his +bubble."</p> + +<p>The doctor answered Rip's question. "Your men are all right. We put the +one with the cracked bubble into high compression for a while, just to +relieve his pain a little. The other one didn't bleed much. He's back in +the squad room right now. Two of the prisoners are patched up, but the +third one is in the other operating room. I don't know whether we can +save him or not. We're trying."</p> + +<p>O'Brine nodded. "Thanks, Doctor. Now, Foster, start talking. You fired +on this ship, scored a hit, and broke the air seal. No casualties, +fortunately. But by forcing us to accelerate at optimum speed, you caused +so much breakage of ship's stores that we'll have to put into Marsport +for new stocks. And on top of all that, you insulted me within the +hearing of every man on the ship. I don't mind being insulted by +Planeteers. I'm used to it. But when it's done over the communications +system, it's bad for discipline."</p> + +<p>Rip tried to keep a straight face. He said mildly, "Sir, I'm surprised +you even give me a chance to explain."</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't have," O'Brine said frankly. "I would have shot off a special +message to Earth, relieving you of command and asking for Discipline +Board action. But when I saw those Connie prisoners, I knew there was +more to this than just a young space pup going vack-wacky."</p> + +<p>"There was, Commander." Rip recited the events of the past few hours +while the Irishman listened with growing amazement. "I had to convince +you in a hurry that we still held the asteroid, so I used some insulting +phrases that would let you know, without any doubt, who was talking. And +you did know, didn't you, sir?"</p> + +<p>O'Brine flushed. For a long moment his glance locked with Rip's, then he +roared with laughter.</p> + +<p>Rip grinned his relief. "My apologies, sir."</p> + +<p>"Accepted," O'Brine chuckled. "I'm rather sorry I don't have an excuse +for dumping you in the space pot, though, Foster. Your explanation is +acceptable, but I have a suspicion that you enjoyed calling me names."</p> + +<p>"I might have," Rip admitted, "but I wasn't in very good shape. The only +thing I could think of was getting into air so I could have my arm +treated. Commander, we've moved the asteroid. Now we have to correct +course. And we have to get some new equipment, including nuclite +shielding. Also, sir, I'd appreciate it if you'd let my men clean up and +eat. They haven't been in air since we left the cruiser."</p> + +<p>For answer, O'Brine strode to the operating-room communicator. "Get it," +he called. "The deputy commander will prepare landing boat one and issue +new space suits and helmets for all Planeteers with damaged equipment. +Put in two rolls of nuclite. Sergeant Major Koa will see that all +Planeteers have an opportunity to clean up and eat. They will return to +the asteroid in one hour."</p> + +<p>Rip asked, "Will I be able to go into space by then?"</p> + +<p>The doctor replied, "Your arm will be normal in about twenty minutes. It +will ache some, but you'll have full use of it. We'll bring you back to +the ship in about twenty-four hours for another look at it, just to be +sure."</p> + +<p>Sixty minutes later, clean, fed, and contented, the Planeteers were again +on the thorium planet, while the <i>Scorpius</i>, riding the same orbit, stood +by a few miles out in space.</p> + +<p>The asteroid and the great cruiser arched high above the belt of tiny +worlds in the orbit Rip had set, traveling together toward distant Mars.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_TWELVE" id="CHAPTER_TWELVE"></a>CHAPTER TWELVE</h2> + +<h3>Mercury Transit</h3> + + +<p>The long hours passed, and only Rip's chronometer told him when the end +of a day was reached. The Planeteers alternately worked on the surface +and rested in the air of the landing boat compartment, while the asteroid +sped steadily on its way.</p> + +<p>When a series of sightings over several days gave Rip enough exact data +to work on, he recalculated the orbit, found the amount that the course +had to be corrected, and supervised the cutting of new holes in the +metal.</p> + +<p>Tubes of ordinary rocket fuel were placed in these and fired, and the +thrust moved the asteroid slightly, just enough to make the corrections +Rip needed. It was not necessary to take to the landing boat for these +blasts. The Planeteers retired to their cave, which was now lined with +nuclite as a protection against radiation.</p> + +<p>Rip watched his dosimeter climb steadily as the radiation dosage mounted. +Then he took the landing boat to the Scorpius, talked the problem over +with the ship's medical department, and arranged for his men to take +injections that would keep them from getting radiation sickness.</p> + +<p>They left the asteroid belt far behind and passed within ten thousand +miles of Mars. The <i>Scorpius</i> sent its entire complement of snapper-boats +to the asteroid for protection, in case Consops made another try, then +flamed off to Marsport to put in new supplies to replace those damaged +when Rip had forced sudden and disastrous acceleration.</p> + +<p>The asteroid had reached Earth's solar orbit before the cruiser returned, +though Earth itself was on the other side of the sun. Rip ordered a +survey and found the best place on the dark side to make a new base. The +Planeteers cut out a cave with the torch, lined it with nuclite, and +moved in the supplies. It would be their base to the end of the trip.</p> + +<p>The sun was very hot now. On the sunny side of the asteroid the +temperature had soared far past the boiling point of water. But on the +dark side, Rip measured temperatures close to absolute zero.</p> + +<p>When the <i>Scorpius</i> returned, he arranged with Commander O'Brine for the +Planeteers to take turns going to the cruiser for showers and decent +meals.</p> + +<p>The asteroid approached the orbit of Venus, but the bright planet was +some distance away, at its greatest elongation to the east of the sun. +Mercury, however, loomed larger and larger. They would pass close to the +hot planet.</p> + +<p>O'Brine recalled Rip to the <i>Scorpius</i> and handed him a message.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Asteroid now within protection reach of Mercury and Terra bases. Your +escort no longer required. Proceed immediately Titan, take on cargo and +personnel.</p></div> + +<p>The commander sighed. "Looks like I'll never get to Earth long enough to +see my family."</p> + +<p>Rip sympathized. "Tough, sir. Perhaps the cargo from Titan will be +scheduled for Terra."</p> + +<p>"That's what I hope," O'Brine agreed. "Well, here's where we part. Is +there anything you need?"</p> + +<p>Rip made a mental check on supplies. He had more than enough. "The only +thing we need is a long-range communicator, sir. We'll need one to +contact the planet bases."</p> + +<p>"I'll see that you get one." The Irishman thrust out his hand. "Stay +out of high vack, Foster. Too bad you didn't join us instead of the +Planeteers. I might have made a decent officer out of you."</p> + +<p>Rip grinned. "That's a real compliment, sir. I might return it by saying +that you have the makings of a Planeteer officer yourself."</p> + +<p>O'Brine chuckled. "All right. Let's declare a truce, Planeteer. We'll +meet again. Space isn't very big."</p> + +<p>A short time later Rip stood in front of his asteroid base and watched +the great cruiser drive into space. A short distance away a snapper-boat +was lashed to the landing boat. O'Brine had left it, with a word of +warning.</p> + +<p>"These Connies are plenty smart. I don't like leaving you unprotected, +even within reach of Mercury and Terra, but orders are orders. Keep the +snapper-boat, and you'll at least be able to put up a fight if you bump +into trouble."</p> + +<p>The asteroid sped on its lonely way for two days, and then a cruiser came +out of space, its nuclear drive glowing. The Planeteers manned the rocket +launcher, and Rip and Santos stood by the snapper-boat, just in case, but +the cruiser was the <i>Sagittarius</i>, out of Mercury.</p> + +<p>Capt. Go Sian-tek, a Chinese Planeteer officer, arrived in one of the +cruiser's boats with three enlisted men.</p> + +<p>Captain Go greeted Rip and his men, then handed over a plastic stylus +plate ordering Rip to deliver six cubic meters of thorium for use on +Mercury. While Koa supervised the cutting of the block, Rip and the +captain chatted.</p> + +<p>The Mercurian Planeteer base was in the twilight zone, but the Planeteers +always worked on the sun side, wearing special alloy suits to mine the +precious nuclite that only the hot planet provided.</p> + +<p>At some time during its first years, Mercury had been so close to the +sun that its temperature was driven high enough to permit a subatomic +thermonuclear reaction. The reaction had shorn some elements of their +electrons and left a thin coating of material composed almost entirely +of neutrons. The nuclite was incredibly dense. It could be handled only +in low gravity because of its weight. But nothing else provided the +shielding against radiation and meteors half so well, and it was in great +demand.</p> + +<p>"Things aren't so bad," Go told Rip. "The base is comfortable, and we +only work a two-hour shift out of each ten. We've had a plague of silly +dillies recently. They got into one man's suit while we were working, but +mostly they're just a nuisance."</p> + +<p>Rip had heard of the creatures. They were like Earth armadillos, except +that they were silicon animals and not carbon like those of Earth. They +were drawn to oxygen like iron to a magnet, and their diamond-hard +tongues, used for drilling rock in order to get the minerals on which +they lived, could drive right through a space suit. Or, if these animals +worked undetected for a while, they could drill through the shell of a +space station.</p> + +<p><i>Scralabus primus</i> was the scientific name of the creature, but the fact +that it looked like a silicon armadillo had given it the popular name of +"silly dilly." Apart from its desire for oxygen, it was harmless.</p> + +<p>Koa reported, "Sir, the block of thorium is ready. We've hung it on a +line behind the landing-boat. The blast won't hurt it, and it's too big +to get inside the boat."</p> + +<p>"Fine, Koa. Well, Captain, that does it."</p> + +<p>The Mercurian Planeteers got into their craft and blasted off, trailing +the block of thorium in their exhaust. Rip watched the cruiser take the +craft and thorium aboard, then drive toward Mercury, brilliant sunlight +reflecting from its sleek sides. The planet was only a short distance +away by spaceship. It was the largest thing in space, except for the sun, +as seen from the asteroid.</p> + +<p>Past the orbit of Mercury, the sun side of the asteroid grew dangerously +hot for men in space suits. Rip and the Planeteers stayed in the bitter +cold of the dark side, which ceased to be entirely dark. The temperature +rose somewhat. They were close enough to the sun that the prominences, +great flaming tongues of hydrogen that sped many thousands of miles into +space, gave them light and enough heat to register on Rip's instruments.</p> + +<p>Mercury was left far behind, and Earth could not be seen because of the +sun. There was nothing to do now but ride out the rest of the trip as +comfortably as possible, until it was time to throw the asteroid into +a series of ever-tightening elliptical orbits around Earth, known as +braking ellipses. The method would use Earth's gravity to slow them down +to the proper speed. A single atomic bomb and a half dozen tubes of +rocket fuel remained.</p> + +<p>Then, as Rip was enjoying the comfort of air during his off-watch hour in +the boat compartment, Koa beat an alarm on the door.</p> + +<p>Rip and the Planeteers got into suits and opened up.</p> + +<p>"It's Terra base calling on the communicator, sir," Koa reported. "Urgent +message, they said, and they want to talk to you personally."</p> + +<p>Rip hurried to the cave. The communicator indicator light was glowing +bright red. He plugged in his helmet circuit and said, "This is +Lieutenant Foster. Go ahead."</p> + +<p>A voice crackled across space from Earth. "This is Terra base. Foster, +a Consops cruiser has apparently been hiding behind the sun waiting for +you. Our screens just picked it up, heading your way. We've sent orders +to the <i>Sagittarius</i> on Mercury to give you cover, and the <i>Aquila</i> has +taken off from here. But get this, Foster. The Consops cruiser will reach +you first. You have about one hour. Do you understand?"</p> + +<p>Rip understood all right. He understood too well. "Got you," he said +shortly. "Now what?"</p> + +<p>The communicator buzzed. "Take any appropriate action. You're on your +own. Sorry. Sending the cruisers is all we can do. We'll stand by for +word from you. If you think of any way we can help, let us know."</p> + +<p>Rip asked, "How long before the cruisers arrive?"</p> + +<p>"You're too close to us for them to move fast. They'll have to use time +accelerating and decelerating. The <i>Sagittarius</i> should arrive in +something less than two hours and the <i>Aquila</i> a few minutes later."</p> + +<p>The communicator paused, then continued. "One thing more, Foster. The +Connies know how badly we want that asteroid, but they also know we don't +want it enough to start a war. Got that?"</p> + +<p>"Got it," Rip stated wryly. "I got it good. Thanks for the warning, Terra +base. Foster off."</p> + +<p>"Terra base off. Stay out of high vack."</p> + +<p>Fine advice, if it could be taken. Rip stared up at the brilliant stars, +thinking fast. The Connie would have almost an hour's lead on the +space-patrol cruisers. In that hour, if the Connie were willing to pay +the price in blasted snapper-boats, Consops would have the asteroid. And +Terra base had made it clear that the space patrol would not try to blast +the Connie cruiser, because that would mean war.</p> + +<p>Added together, the facts said just one thing: They had one hour in which +to think of some way to hold off the Connies for an additional hour.</p> + +<p>The Planeteers were clustered around him. Rip asked grimly, "Any of you +ever study the ancient art of magic?"</p> + +<p>The Planeteers remained silent and tense.</p> + +<p>"Magic is what we need," Rip told them. "We have to make the whole +asteroid disappear, or else we have to conjure up a space cruiser out +of the thorium. Otherwise, we have barely an hour till we're either +prisoners or dead!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_THIRTEEN" id="CHAPTER_THIRTEEN"></a>CHAPTER THIRTEEN</h2> + +<h3>Peril!</h3> + + +<p>Sergeant major Koa asked thoughtfully, "Sir, would it do the Connie much +good to launch boats this close to the sun? They'd have to use too much +fuel just keeping position."</p> + +<p>"You could be right," Rip said slowly. Koa had a point! To counter +gravitational attraction took velocity, which meant consumption of fuel. +Maneuvering boats meant rapid velocity changes. Against the sun's +terrific gravity at this distance, it also meant maximum thrust and +maximum fuel flow most of the time. The asteroid, in a planned orbit with +the correct velocity, was safe enough, and the Connie cruiser would +simply match the asteroid's orbit. But boats, which had to maneuver, were +another matter.</p> + +<p>Rip figured quickly. In accordance with Newton's Law, gravitational +attraction increased rapidly on approaching a body. If he could put the +asteroid even closer to the sun, the boat problem would become worse, +until even a small velocity change in the wrong direction could leave +a boat in the terrible position of not having enough thrust for a long +enough time to keep from being drawn into the sun.</p> + +<p>But to change the asteroid's orbit was dangerous! It meant losing just +enough velocity to be drawn closer to the sun, and then picking up a much +higher velocity to get free again!</p> + +<p>Rip got his instruments and pulled out a special slide rule designed for +use in space. He had Koa stand by with stylus and computation board and +take down his figures.</p> + +<p>He recalculated the safety factor he had used when deciding how close +to the sun to put the asteroid, then took quick star sights to determine +their exact position. They were within a few miles of perihelion, the +point at which they would be closest to Sol.</p> + +<p>Rip tapped gloved fingers on his helmet absently. If they could blast out +of the orbit and drive into the sun.... He estimated the result. A few +miles per second of less speed would let them be pulled so far within the +sun's field of gravity that, within an hour or so, small boats would +venture into space only at their peril.</p> + +<p>He reviewed the equipment. They had tubes of rocket fuel, but the tubes +wouldn't give the powerful thrust needed for this job. They had one +atomic bomb. One wasn't enough. Not only must they drive toward the sun, +but also they must keep reserve power to blast free again. If only they +had a pair of nuclear charges!</p> + +<p>He called his Planeteers together and outlined the problem. Perhaps +one of them would have an idea. But no useful suggestions were +forth-coming—until Dominico spoke up. "Sir, why don't we make two +bombs from one?"</p> + +<p>"I wish we could," Rip said. "Do you know how?"</p> + +<p>"No, Lieutenant. If we had parts, I could put bombs together. I can take +them apart, but I don't know how to make two out of one." The Italian +Planeteer looked accusingly at Rip. "I thought maybe you knew, sir."</p> + +<p>Rip grunted. If they had parts, he could assemble nuclear bombs, too. +Part of his physics training had been concerned with fission and its +various applications. But no one had taught him how to make two bombs +out of one.</p> + +<p>The theory behind this particular bomb design was simple. Two or more +correctly sized pieces of plutonium or uranium isotope, when brought +together, formed what was known as a critical mass, which would fission. +The fissioning released energy and produced the explosion.</p> + +<p>But there was a wide gap between theory and practice. A nuclear bomb was +actually pretty complicated. It had to be complicated to keep the pieces +of the fissionable material apart until a chemical explosion drove them +together fast and hard enough to create a fission explosion. If the +pieces weren't brought together rapidly enough, the mass would fission +in a slow chain reaction with no explosion.</p> + +<p>Rip was trained in scientific analysis. He tackled the problem logically, +considering the design of a nuclear bomb and the reasons for it.</p> + +<p>Atomic bombs had to be carried. That meant an outer casing was necessary. +The casing had a lot to do with the design. Suppose no casing were +required? What would be needed?</p> + +<p>He took the stylus and computation board from Koa and jotted down the +parts required. First, two or more pieces of plutonium large enough to +form a critical mass. Second, a neutron source—the type of radioactivity +that produced neutrons—to accelerate the reaction. Third, some kind of +neutron reflector. And fourth, explosive to drive the pieces together.</p> + +<p>Did they have all those items? He checked them off. Their single five KT +bomb contained at least enough plutonium for two critical masses, if +brought together inside a good neutron reflector. Each mass should give +about a two kiloton explosion. And they did have a good neutron +reflector—nuclite. There wasn't anything better.</p> + +<p>"What have we got for a neutron source?" he asked aloud. He was really +asking himself, but he got a quick answer from Koa.</p> + +<p>"Sir, some of the stuff left in the craters from the other explosions +gives off neutrons."</p> + +<p>"You're right," Rip agreed instantly. A small piece from one of the +craters, when combined with half of the neutron source in the bomb, +should be enough. As for the explosive, they had exploding heads on their +attack rockets.</p> + +<p>In other words, he had what he needed—except for a method of putting all +the pieces together to create a bomb.</p> + +<p>If only they had a tube of some sort that would withstand the chemical +explosion—the one that brought the critical mass together!</p> + +<p>He told the Planeteers what he had been thinking, then asked, "Any ideas +for a tube?"</p> + +<p>"How about a tube from the snapper-boat?" Santos suggested.</p> + +<p>Rip shook his head. "Not strong enough. They're designed to withstand the +slow push of rocket fuel, not the fast rap of an explosion. When I say +slow, I mean slow-burning when compared with explosive. Any more ideas?"</p> + +<p>Kemp, the expert torchman, said, "Sir, I can burn you a tube into the +asteroid."</p> + +<p>Rip grabbed the Planeteer so hard they both floated upward. "Kemp, that's +wonderful! That's it!" The details took form in his mind even as he +called orders. "Dominico, tear down that bomb. Santos, remove two heads +from your rockets and wire them to explode on electrical impulse. Kemp, +we'll want the tube just a fraction of an inch wider than a rocket head. +Get your torch ready."</p> + +<p>He took the stylus and began calculating. He talked as he worked, telling +the Planeteers exactly what they were up against. "I'm figuring out where +to put the charge so it will do the most good, but my data isn't +complete. If our homemade bomb goes off, I don't know exactly how much +power it will give. If it gives too much, we'll be driven so close to the +sun we'll never get free of its gravity."</p> + +<p>Bradshaw, the English Planeteer, said mildly, "Don't worry, Lieutenant. +If it isn't the solar frying pan, it's Connie fire."</p> + +<p>A chorus of agreement came from the other Planeteers. "What a crew!" Rip +thought. "What a great gang of space pirates!"</p> + +<p>He finished his calculations and found the exact place where Kemp would +cut. A few feet away from the spot was a thick pyramid of thorium. That +would do, and they could cut into it horizontally instead of drilling +straight down. He pointed to it. "Let's have a hole straight in for six +feet. And keep it straight, Kemp. Allow enough room for a lining of +nuclite. Koa, cut a sheet of nuclite to size."</p> + +<p>Kemp's torch already was slicing into the metal. Rip asked, "Can you weld +with that thing, Kemp?"</p> + +<p>"Just show me what you want, sir."</p> + +<p>"Good." Rip motioned to Trudeau. "Frenchy, we'll need a strong rod at +least eight feet long."</p> + +<p>The French Planeteer hurried off. Rip consulted his chronometer. Less +than ten minutes had passed since the call from Terra base.</p> + +<p>He went over his plan again. It had to work! If it didn't, asteroid and +Planeteers would end up as subatomic particles in the sun's photosphere, +because he had calculated his blast to drive the asteroid past the limit +of safety. It was the only way he could be sure of putting them beyond +danger from Connie landing boats or snapper-boats. The Connie would have +only one chance—to bring his cruiser down.</p> + +<p>If he tried that, Rip thought grimly, he would get a surprise. The second +nuclear charge would be set, ready to be fired. The Connie cruiser was +so big that no matter how it pulled up to the asteroid, some part of it +would be close enough to the charge to be blown into space dust. No +cruiser could survive an atomic explosion within five hundred yards, and +the Connie would have to get closer to the nuclear charge than that.</p> + +<p>Dominico reported that the bomb had been dismantled. Rip went to it and +examined the raw plutonium, being careful to keep the pieces widely +separated.</p> + +<p>This particular bomb design used five pieces of plutonium which were +driven together to form a ball. Rip made a quick estimate. Two were +enough to form a critical mass. He would use two to blast into the sun +and three to blast out again. He would need the extra kick.</p> + +<p>There was only one trouble. The pieces were wedge shaped. They would have +to be mounted in thorium in order to keep them rigid. Only Kemp could do +that. They had no cutting tool but the torch.</p> + +<p>Santos appeared, carrying a rocket head under each arm. They had wires +wound around them, ready to be attached to an electrical source.</p> + +<p>Rip hurried back to where Kemp was at work. The private was using a +cutting nozzle that threw an almost invisible flame five feet long. +In air, the nozzle wouldn't have worked effectively beyond two feet, but +in space it cut right down to the end of the flame. Kemp had his arm +inside the hole and was peering past it as he finished the cut.</p> + +<p>"Done, sir," he said, and adjusted the flame to a spout of red fire. He +thrust the torch into the hole and quickly withdrew it as pieces of +thorium flew out. A stream of water hosed into the tube would have worked +the same way.</p> + +<p>Rip took a block of plutonium from Dominico and handed it to Kemp. "Cut +a plug and fit this into it. Then cut a second plug for the other piece. +They have to match perfectly, and you can't put them together to try out +the fit. If you do, we'll have fission right here in the open."</p> + +<p>Kemp searched and found a piece he had cut in making the tube. It was +perfectly round, ideal for the purpose. He sliced off the inner side +where it tapered to a cone, then, working only by eye estimate, cut out a +hole in which the wedge of fission material would fit. He wasn't off by a +thirty-second of an inch. Skillful application of the torch melted the +thorium around the wedge and sealed it tightly.</p> + +<p>Koa was ready with a sheet of nuclite. Trudeau arrived with a pole made +by lashing two crate sticks together.</p> + +<p>Rip gave directions as they formed a cylinder of nuclite. Kemp +spot-welded it, and they pushed it into the hole.</p> + +<p>Nunez found a small piece of material in one of the earlier craters. It +would provide some neutrons to start the chain reaction. Rip added it to +the front of the plutonium wedge, along with a piece of beryllium from +the bomb, and Kemp welded it in place.</p> + +<p>They put the thorium block which contained the plutonium into the hole, +the plutonium facing outward. Trudeau rammed it to the bottom with his +pole. The neutron source, the neutron reflector, and one piece of +fissionable material were in place.</p> + +<p>Kemp sliced another round block of thorium out of a nearby crystal and +fitted the second wedge of plutonium into it. At first Rip had worried +about the two pieces of plutonium making a good enough contact, but +Kemp's skillful hand and precision eye removed that worry.</p> + +<p>The torchman finished fitting the plutonium and carried the block to the +tube opening. He tried it, removed a slight irregularity with his torch, +then said quietly, "Finished, sir."</p> + +<p>Rip took over. He slid the thorium-plutonium block into the tube, took a +rocket head from Santos, and used it to push the block in farther. When +the rocket head was about four inches inside the tube, its wires trailing +out, Rip called Kemp. At his direction, the torchman sliced a thin slot +up the face of the crystal. Rip fitted the wires into it and held them in +place with a small wedge of thorium.</p> + +<p>Kemp cut a plug, fitted it into the hole, and welded the seams closed. +The tube was sealed. When electric current fired the rocket head, the +thorium carrying the plutonium wedge would be driven forward to meet the +wedge in the back. And, unless Rip had miscalculated the mass of the two +pieces, they would have their nuclear blast. Rip surveyed the crystal +with some anxiety. It looked right.</p> + +<p>Dominico already had rigged the timer from the atomic bomb. He connected +the wires. "Do I set it, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Load the communicator, the extra bomb parts, the rocket launcher and +rockets, the cutting equipment, my instruments, and the tubes of fuel," +Rip ordered. "Leave everything else in the cave."</p> + +<p>The Planeteers ran to obey. Rip waited until the landing boat was nearly +loaded, then told Dominico to set the timer for five minutes. He wondered +how they would explode the second charge, since they had only the one +timer left, then forgot about it. Time enough to worry when faced with +the problem.</p> + +<p>"I'll take the snapper-boat," he stated. "Santos in the gunner's seat. +Koa in charge in the landing boat. Dowst pilot. Let's show an exhaust."</p> + +<p>He fitted himself into the tight pilot seat of the snapper-boat while +Santos climbed in behind. Then, handling the controls with the skill +of long practice, he lifted the tiny fighting rocket above the asteroid +and waited for the landing boat. When it joined up, Rip led the way to +safety. As he cut his exhaust to wait for the explosion, he sighted past +the snapper-boat's nose to the asteroid.</p> + +<p>Even though both boats had been careful to match velocity with the +asteroid as closely as possible, the slight difference remaining caused +them to drift sunward. Rip cut his jets in to compensate, and saw Dowst +do the same.</p> + +<p>Another few miles toward the sun, and the landing boat wouldn't have the +power to get away from Sol's gravity. A few miles beyond that, even the +powerful little snapper-boat would be caught.</p> + +<p>Below, the timer reached zero. A mighty fan of fire shot into space. The +asteroid shuddered from the blast, then swerved gradually, picking up +speed as well as new direction.</p> + +<p>Rip swallowed hard. Now they were committed. They would reach a new +perihelion far beyond the limits of safety. <i>P</i> for perihelion and <i>P</i> for +peril. In this case, they were the same thing!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_FOURTEEN" id="CHAPTER_FOURTEEN"></a>CHAPTER FOURTEEN</h2> + +<h3>Between Two Fires</h3> + + +<p>Back on the asteroid, the Planeteers started laying the second atomic +charge. Rip selected the spot, found a nearby crystal that would serve to +house the bomb, and Kemp started cutting.</p> + +<p>The Planeteers knew what to do now, and the work went rapidly. Rip kept +an eye on his chronometer. According to the message from Terra base, he +had about fifteen minutes before the Consops cruiser arrived.</p> + +<p>"We have one advantage we didn't have back in the asteroid belt," he +remarked to Koa. "Back there they could have landed anywhere on the +rock. Now they have to stick to the dark side. Snapper-boats could last +on the sun side, but men in ordinary space suits couldn't."</p> + +<p>"That's good," Koa agreed. "We have only one side to defend. Why don't we +put the rocket launcher right in the middle of the dark side?"</p> + +<p>"Go ahead. And have all men check their pistols and knives. We don't know +what's likely to happen when that Connie flames in."</p> + +<p>Rip walked over to the communicator and plugged his suit into the +circuit. "This is the asteroid calling Terra base. Over."</p> + +<p>"This is Terra base. Go ahead, Foster. How are you doing?"</p> + +<p>"If you need anything cooked, send it to us," Rip replied. "We have heat +enough to cook anything, including tungsten alloy." He explained briefly +what action they had taken.</p> + +<p>A new voice came on the communicator. "Foster, this is Colonel Stevens."</p> + +<p>Rip responded swiftly, "Yes, sir!" Stevens was the top Planeteer, +commanding officer of all the Special Order Squadrons.</p> + +<p>"We've piped this circuit into every channel in the system," the colonel +said. "Every Planeteer in the Squadrons is listening and rooting for you. +Is there anything we can do?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," Rip replied. "Do you know if Terra base has been plotting our +course this far?"</p> + +<p>There was a brief silence, then the colonel answered, "Yes, Foster. We +have a complete track from the time you started showing on the Terra +screens, about halfway between the orbits of Mars and Earth."</p> + +<p>"Did you just get our change of direction?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. We're following you on the screens."</p> + +<p>"Then, sir, I'd appreciate it if you'd put the calculators to work and +make a time-distance plot for the next few hours. The blast we're saving +to push to escape velocity is about three kilotons. Let us know the last +moment when we can fire."</p> + +<p>"You will have it within fifteen minutes. Anything else, Foster?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing else I can think of, sir."</p> + +<p>"Then, good luck. We'll be standing by."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. Foster off."</p> + +<p>Rip disconnected and turned up his helmet communicator, repeating the +conversation to his men. Koa came and stood beside him. "Lieutenant, +how do we set off this next charge?"</p> + +<p>There was only one way. When the time came to blast, they would be too +close to the sun to take to the boats. The blast had to be set off +from the asteroid.</p> + +<p>"We'll get underground as far away from the bomb as we can," Rip said. He +surveyed the dark side, which was rapidly growing less dark. "I think the +second crater will do. Kemp can square it off on the side toward the +blast to give us a vertical wall to hide behind."</p> + +<p>Koa looked doubtful. "Plenty of radiation left in those holes, sir."</p> + +<p>Rip grinned mirthlessly. "Radiation is the least of our problems. I'd +rather get an overdose of gamma then get blasted into space."</p> + +<p>A yell rang in his helmet. "Here comes the Connie!"</p> + +<p>Rip looked up, startled. The Consops cruiser passed directly overhead, +about ten miles away. It was decelerating rapidly. Rip wondered why they +hadn't spotted it earlier, then realized the Connie had come from the +direction of the hot side.</p> + +<p>The enemy cruiser was probably the same one that had attacked them +before. He must have lain in wait for days, keeping between the sun +and Terra. That way, the screens wouldn't pick him up, since very few +observatories scanned the sun with regularity. To the observatories, +the cruiser would have been only a tiny speck, too small to be noticed. +Or, if they had noticed it, the astronomers probably decided it was just +a very tiny sunspot.</p> + +<p>The Planeteers worked with increased speed. Kemp welded the final plug +into place, then hurried to the crater from which they would set off +the charge. Dominico and Dowst connected wires from the rocket head to +a reel of wire and rolled it toward the crater. Nunez got a hand-driven +dynamo from the supplies and tested it for use in setting off the charge. +Santos stood by the rocket launcher, with Pederson ready to put another +rack of rockets into the device when necessary.</p> + +<p>Rip and Koa watched the Connie cruiser. It decelerated to a stop for a +brief second, then started moving again, with no jets showing.</p> + +<p>"That's the sun pulling," Rip said exultantly.</p> + +<p>"They'll have to keep blasting to maintain position."</p> + +<p>The Consops commander didn't wait to trim ship against the sun's drag. +His air locks opened, clearly visible to Rip and Koa because that side of +the cruiser was brilliant with sunlight. Ten snapper-boats sped forth. +Rip was certain now that this was the enemy cruiser they had fought off +back in the asteroid belt. Two Connie snapper-boats had been destroyed in +that clash, which explained why the commander was sending out only ten +boats instead of a full quota of twelve.</p> + +<p>The squadron instantly formed a V, like a strange space letter made up of +globes. The sun's gravity pulled at them, dragging them off course. Rip +watched as flames poured from their stern tubes. They were firing full +speed ahead, but the drag of the sun distorted their line of flight into +a great arc.</p> + +<p>Rip saw the strategy instantly. The Connie commander knew the situation +exactly, and he was staking everything on one great gamble, sending his +snapper-boats to land on the asteroid—to crash-land if necessary.</p> + +<p>The asteroid was so close to the sun that even the powerful fighting +rockets would use most of their fuel in simply combating its gravity.</p> + +<p>"All hands stand by to repel Connies," Rip shouted, and he drew his +pistol. He looked into the magazine, saw that the clip was full, and +then charged the weapon.</p> + +<p>Santos was crouched over the rocket launcher, his space gloves working +rapidly as he kept the rockets pointed at the enemy.</p> + +<p>Rip called, "Santos, fire at will."</p> + +<p>The Planeteers formed a skirmish line which pivoted on the launcher. Only +Kemp remained at work. His torch flared, slicing through the thorium as +he prepared their firing position.</p> + +<p>The atomic charge was ready. The wires had been laid up to the rim of the +crater in which Kemp worked, and the dynamo was attached.</p> + +<p>Rip was everywhere, checking on the launcher, on Kemp, on the pistols of +his men. And Santos, hunched over his illuminated sight, watched the +Connie snapper-boats draw near.</p> + +<p>"Here we go," the corporal muttered. He pressed the trigger.</p> + +<p>The first rocket sped outward in a sweeping curve, and for a moment Rip +opened his mouth to yell at Santos. The sun's gravity affected the attack +rockets, too! Then he saw that the corporal had allowed for the sun's +pull.</p> + +<p>The rocket curved into the squadron of on-coming boats, and they all +tried to dodge at once. Two of them met in a sideways crash, then a third +staggered as its stern globe flared and exploded. Santos had scored a +hit!</p> + +<p>Rip called, "Good shooting!"</p> + +<p>The corporal's reply was rueful. "Sir, that wasn't the one I aimed at. +The sun's pull is worse than I figured."</p> + +<p>The damaged snapper-boat instantly blasted from its nose tubes, +decelerated, and went into reverse, flipping through space crabwise as it +tried to regain the safety of the cruiser. The two boats that had crashed +while trying to dodge were blasting in great spurts of flame, following +the example of their damaged companion.</p> + +<p>"Seven left," Rip called, and another rocket flashed on its way. He +followed its trail as it curved away from the asteroid and into the +squadron. Its proximity fuse detonated in the exhaust of a Connie boat, +blowing the tube out of position. The boat yawed wildly, cut its stern +tubes, and blasted to a stop from the bow tube. Then it, too, started +backward toward the cruiser. Six left!</p> + +<p>Flame blossomed a few yards from Rip. He was picked up bodily and flung +into space, whirling end over end. Koa's voice rang in his helmet.</p> + +<p>"Watch it! They're firing back!"</p> + +<p>Rip tugged frantically at an air bottle in his belt. He pulled it out and +used it to whirl him upright again; then its air blast drove him back to +the surface of the asteroid. Sweat poured from his forehead, and the suit +ventilator whined as it picked up the extra moisture. Great Cosmos! That +was close!</p> + +<p>Santos fired again, twice, in rapid succession. The Connie snapper-boats +scattered as the proximity fuses produced flowers of fire among them. Two +near misses, but they threw the enemy off course. Rip watched tensely as +the boats fought to regain their course. He knew asteroid, cruiser, and +boats were speeding toward the sun at close to fifty miles a second, +and the drag was getting terrific. The Connies knew it, too.</p> + +<p>There was an exultant yell from the Planeteers as two of the boats gave +up and turned back, using full power to regain the safety of the mother +ship. Four left!</p> + +<p>Santos scored a direct hit on the nose of the nearest one, but +its momentum drove it to within a few yards of the asteroid. Five +space-suited figures erupted from it, holding hand propulsion units, +tubes of rocket fuel used for hand combat in empty space.</p> + +<p>The Connies lit their propulsion tubes and drove feet first for the +asteroid. The Planeteers estimated where the enemy would land, and +they were there waiting, with aimed handguns. The Connies had their hands +over their heads, holding the propulsion tubes. They took one look at the +gleaming Planeteer guns, and their hands stayed upright.</p> + +<p>The Planeteers lashed the Connies' hands behind them with their own +safety lines and, at Rip's orders, dumped all but one of them into the +crater where Kemp was just finishing his cutting.</p> + +<p>Three snapper-boats remained. Rip watched, holding tightly to the arm of +the Connie he had kept at his side. The man wore the insignia of an +officer.</p> + +<p>The remaining snapper-boats were going to make it. Santos threw rockets +among them and scored hits, but the boats kept coming. The Connies were +too far away from the cruiser to return, and they knew it. Getting to the +asteroid was their only chance.</p> + +<p>Rip called, "Santos! Cease fire. Set the launcher for ground level. Let +them land, but don't fire until I give the word."</p> + +<p>He put his helmet against his prisoner's for direct communication. "You +speak English?"</p> + +<p>The man shouted back, "Yes."</p> + +<p>"Good. We're going to let your friends land. As soon as they do, I want +you to yell to them. Say we have assault rockets trained on them. Tell +them to surrender, or they'll be killed in their tracks. Got that?"</p> + +<p>The Connie replied, "Suppose I refuse?"</p> + +<p>Rip put his space knife against the man's stomach. "Then we'll get them +with rockets. But you won't care, because you won't know it."</p> + +<p>The truth was that Santos couldn't hope to get them all with his rockets. +They might overcome the Connies in hand-to-hand fighting, but there would +be a cost to pay in Planeteer casualties. Rip hoped the Connie wouldn't +call his bluff, because that's all it was. He couldn't use a space knife +on an unarmed prisoner.</p> + +<p>The Connie didn't know that. In Rip's place he would have no compunctions +about using the knife, so instead of calling Rip's bluff, he agreed.</p> + +<p>The snapper-boats blew their front tubes, decelerating, and squashed down +to the asteroid in a roar of exhaust flames, sending the Planeteers +running out of the way. Rip thrust harder with his space knife and +yelled, "Tell them!"</p> + +<p>The Connie officer nodded. "Turn up my communicator."</p> + +<p>Rip turned it on full, and the Connie barked quick instructions. The +exhausts died, and five men filed out of each boat, with hands held high. +Rip blew a drop of perspiration from the tip of his nose. Empty space! +It was a good thing Connie morale was bad. The enemy's willingness to +surrender had saved them a costly fight.</p> + +<p>The Planeteers rounded up the prisoners and secured them, while Rip took +an anxious look at the communicator. It was about time he heard from +Terra base.</p> + +<p>The light was glowing. For all he knew, it might have been glowing for +many minutes. He plugged into the circuit.</p> + +<p>"This is Foster on the asteroid."</p> + +<p>"Terra base to Foster. Listen. You will reach optimum position on the +time-distance curve at twenty-three-oh-six."</p> + +<p>"Got it. We will reach optimum position at twenty-three-oh-six." He +looked at his chronometer, and his pulse stopped. It was 22:58! They +had just eight minutes before the sun caught them forever, atomic blast +or no!</p> + +<p>And the Connie cruiser was still overhead, with no friendly cruisers in +sight. He looked up, white-faced. Not only was the Connie still there, +but its main air lock was sliding open to disclose a new danger.</p> + +<p>In the opening, ready to launch, an assault boat waited. The assault +boats were something only the Connies used. They were about four times +the size of a snapper-boat, less maneuverable but more powerful. They +carried twenty men and a pair of guided missiles with atomic warheads!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_FIFTEEN" id="CHAPTER_FIFTEEN"></a>CHAPTER FIFTEEN</h2> + +<h3>The Rocketeers</h3> + + +<p>Rip ran for the snapper-boat, feet moving as rapidly as lack of gravity +would permit. He called instructions. "Santos! Turn the launcher over to +Pederson and come with me. Koa, take over. Start throwing rockets at that +boat, and don't stop until you run out of ammunition."</p> + +<p>He reached the snapper-boat and squeezed in, Santos close behind him. As +he strapped himself into the seat he called, "Koa! Get this, and get it +straight. At twenty-three-oh-five, fire the bomb. Fire it whether I'm +back or not."</p> + +<p>Koa replied, "Got it, sir."</p> + +<p>That would give the Planeteers a minute's leeway. Not much of a safety +margin, especially when he wasn't sure how much power the atomic charge +would produce.</p> + +<p>He plugged into the snapper-boat's communicator and called, "Ready, +Santos?"</p> + +<p>"Ready, Lieutenant."</p> + +<p>He braced himself against acceleration and flipped the speed control to +full power. The fighting rocket rammed out from the asteroid, snapping +him back against the seat. He made a quick check. Gunsight on, fuel tanks +almost full, propulsion tubes racked handy to his hand.</p> + +<p>They drove toward the enemy cruiser at top speed, swerving in a great arc +as the sun pulled at them. The enemy's big boat was out of the ship, its +jets firing.</p> + +<p>Rip leaned over his illuminated gunsight. The boat showed up clearly, the +rings of the sight framing it. He estimated distance and the pull of the +sun, then squeezed the trigger on the speed control handle. The cannon up +in the nose spat fire. He watched tensely and saw the charge explode on +the hull of the Connie cruiser. He had underestimated the sun's drag. He +compensated and tried again.</p> + +<p>He missed. Now that he was closer and the charge had less distance to +travel, he had overestimated the sun's effect. He gritted his teeth. +The next shot would be at close range.</p> + +<p>The fighting rocket closed space, and the landing boat loomed large in +the sight. He fired again, and the shot blew metal loose from the top of +the boat's hull. A hit, but not good enough. He leaned over the sight to +fire again, but before he had sighted, an explosion blew the assault boat +completely around.</p> + +<p>Koa and Pederson had scored a hit from the asteroid!</p> + +<p>The big boat fired its side jets and spun around on course again. Flame +bloomed from its side as Connie gunners tried to get the range on the +snapper-boat.</p> + +<p>Rip was within reach now. He fired at point-blank range and flashed over +the boat as its front end exploded. Santos, firing from the rear, hit it +again.</p> + +<p>Rip threw the rocket into a turn that rammed him against the top of his +harness. He steadied on a line with the crippled Connie craft. It was +hard hit. The bow jets flickered fitfully, and the stern tubes were dead. +He sighted, fired. A charge hit the boat aft and blew its stern tubes off +completely.</p> + +<p>And at the same moment, a Connie gunner got a perfect bead on the +snapper-boat.</p> + +<p>Space blew up in Rip's face. The snapper-boat slewed wildly as the Connie +shot took effect. Rip worked his controls frantically, trying to +straighten the rocket out more by instinct than anything else.</p> + +<p>His eyes recovered from the blinding flash, and he gulped as he saw the +raw, twisted metal where the boat's nose had been. He managed to correct +the boat's twisting by using the stern tubes, but he lost full control of +the ship.</p> + +<p>For a moment panic gripped him. Without full control he couldn't get back +to the asteroid! Then he forced himself to calm down. He sized up the +situation. They were still underway, the stern tubes pushing, but their +trajectory would take them right under the crippled Connie boat.</p> + +<p>There was nothing he could do but pass close to the Connie. The enemy +gunners would fire, but he had to take his chances. He looked down at the +asteroid and saw an orange trail as Koa launched another rocket.</p> + +<p>The shot from the asteroid ticked the bottom of the Connie boat and +exploded. The Connie rolled violently. Tubes flared as the pilot fought +to correct the roll. He slowed the spinning as Rip and Santos passed, +just long enough for a Connie gunner to get in a final shot.</p> + +<p>The shell struck directly under Rip. He felt himself pushed violently +upward, and, at the same moment, he reacted—by hunch and not by reason. +He rammed the controls full ahead, and the dying rocket cut space, +curving slowly as flaming fuel spurted from the ruptured tanks.</p> + +<p>Rip yelled, "Santos! You all right?"</p> + +<p>"I think so. Lieutenant, we're on fire!"</p> + +<p>"I know it. Get ready to abandon ship."</p> + +<p>When the main mass of fuel caught, the rocket would become an inferno. +Rip smashed at the escape hatch above his head, grabbed propulsion tubes +from the rack, and called, "Now!"</p> + +<p>He pulled the release on his harness, stood up on the seat, and thrust +with all his leg power. He catapulted out of the burning snapper-boat +into space.</p> + +<p>Santos followed a second later, and the crippled rocket twisted wildly +under the two Planeteers.</p> + +<p>"Don't use the propulsion tubes," Rip called. "Slow down with your air +bottles." He thrust the tubes into his belt, found his air bottles, and +pointed two of them in the direction they had been traveling. He wanted +to come to a stop, to let the wild snapper-boat get away from them.</p> + +<p>The compressed-air bottles did the trick. He and Santos slowed down as +the little jets overcame the inertia that was taking them along with the +burning boat. The boat was spiraling now, burning freely. It moved away +from them, its stern jets still firing weakly.</p> + +<p>Rip took a look toward the enemy cruiser. The assault boat was no longer +showing an exhaust. Instead, it was being dragged rapidly away from the +Connie cruiser by the pull of the sun. At least it was hit in time to +prevent launching of the atomic guided missiles. Or, he thought, perhaps +the enemy had never intended using them. The principal effect, besides +killing the Planeteers, would have been to drive the asteroid into the +sun at an even faster rate.</p> + +<p>The enemy assault boat was no longer a menace. Its occupants would be +lucky if they succeeded in saving their own lives.</p> + +<p>Rip wondered what the Connie cruiser commander would try now. Only one +thing remained, and that was to set the cruiser down on the asteroid. +If the Connie tried, he would arrive at just about the time set for +releasing the nuclear charge. And that would be the end of the +cruiser—and probably of the Planeteers as well.</p> + +<p>Santos asked coolly, "Lieutenant, wouldn't you say we're in a sort of bad +spot?"</p> + +<p>Rip had been so busy sizing up the situation that he hadn't thought about +his own predicament. Now he looked down and suddenly realized that he was +floating free in space, a considerable distance above the asteroid, and +with only small propulsion tubes for power.</p> + +<p>He gasped, "Great space! We're in a mess, Santos."</p> + +<p>The corporal asked, still in a calm voice, "How long will it be before +we're dragged into the sun, sir?"</p> + +<p>Rip stared. Santos had used the same tone he might have used in asking +for a piece of Venusian <i>chru</i>. An officer couldn't be less calm, so +Rip replied in a voice he hoped was casual, "I wouldn't worry, Santos. We +won't know it. The heat will get through our suits long before then."</p> + +<p>In fact, the heat should be overloading their ventilating systems +right now. In a few minutes the cooling elements would break down, and +that would be the end. He listened for the accelerated whine as the +ventilating systems struggled under the increased heat load but heard +nothing.</p> + +<p>Funny. Had it overloaded and given out already? No, that was impossible. +He would be feeling the heat on his body if that were the case.</p> + +<p>He looked for an explanation and realized for the first time that they +weren't in the sunlight at all. They were in darkness. His searching +glance told him they were in the cone of shadow stretching out from +behind the asteroid. The thorium rock was between them and the sun!</p> + +<p>His lips moved soundlessly. Maj. Joe Barris had been right. <i>In a jam, +trust your hunch.</i> He had acted instinctively, not even thinking as he +used the last full power of the stern tubes to throw them into the shadow +cone.</p> + +<p>And he knew in the same moment that it could save their lives. The sun's +pull would only accelerate their fall toward the asteroid. He said +exultantly, "We're staying out of high vac, Santos. Light off a +propulsion tube. Let's get back to the asteroid."</p> + +<p>He pulled a tube from his belt, held it above his head, and thumbed the +striker mechanism. The tube flared, pushing downward on his hand.</p> + +<p>He held steady and plummeted feet first toward the rock.</p> + +<p>Santos was only a few seconds behind him. Rip saw the corporal's tube +flare and knew that everything was all right, at least for the moment, +even though the asteroid was still a long way down.</p> + +<p>He looked upward at the Connie cruiser and saw that it was moving. Its +exhaust increased in length and deepened slightly in color as Rip +watched.</p> + +<p>Then he saw side jets flare out from the projecting control tubes and +knew the ship was maneuvering. Rip realized suddenly that the cruiser was +going to pick up the crippled assault boat.</p> + +<p>He hadn't expected such a humane move, after his first meeting with the +Connie cruiser when the commander had been willing to sacrifice his own +men. This time, however, there was a difference, he saw. The commander +would lose nothing by picking up the assault boat, and he would save a +few men. Rip supposed that manpower meant something, even to Consops.</p> + +<p>His propulsion tube reached <i>Brennschluss</i>, and for a few moments he +watched, checking his speed and direction. Then, before he lit off +another tube, he checked his chronometer. The illuminated dial registered +23:01. They had just four minutes to get to the asteroid!</p> + +<p>He spoke swiftly. "Waste no time in lighting off, Santos. That nuclear +charge goes in four minutes!"</p> + +<p>Rip pulled a tube from his belt, held it overhead, and triggered it. His +flight through space speeded up, but he wasn't at all sure they would +make it. He turned up his helmet communicator to full power and called, +"Koa, can you hear me?"</p> + +<p>The sergeant major's reply was faint in his helmet. "I hear you weakly. +Do you hear me?"</p> + +<p>"Same way," Rip replied. "Get this, Koa. Don't fail to explode that +charge at twenty-three-oh-five. Can you see us?"</p> + +<p>The reply was very slightly stronger. "I will explode the charge as +ordered, Lieutenant. We can see a pair of rocket exhausts, but no boats. +Is that you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. We're coming in on propulsion tubes."</p> + +<p>Koa waited for a long moment, then asked, "Sir, what if you're not with +us by twenty-three-oh-five?"</p> + +<p>"You know the answer," Rip retorted crisply.</p> + +<p>Of course Koa knew. The nuclear blast would send Rip and Santos spinning +into outer space, perhaps crippled, burned, or completely irradiated. +But the lives of two men couldn't delay the blast that would save the +lives of eight others, not counting prisoners.</p> + +<p>Rip estimated his speed and course and the distance to the asteroid. He +was increasingly sure that they wouldn't make it, and the knowledge was +like the cold of space in his stomach. It would be close but not close +enough. A minute would make all the difference.</p> + +<p>For a few heartbeats he almost called Koa and told him to wait that extra +minute, to explode the nuclear charge at 23:06, at the very last second. +But even Planeteer chronometers could be off by a few seconds, and he +couldn't risk it. His men had to be given some leeway.</p> + +<p>He surveyed the asteroid. The nuclear charge was on his left side, pretty +close to the sun line. At least he and Santos could angle to the right, +to get as far away as possible.</p> + +<p>The edge of the asteroid's shadow was barely visible. That it was visible +at all was due to the minute particles of matter and gas that surrounded +the sun, even millions of miles out into space. He reduced helmet power +and told Santos, "Angle to the right. Get as close to the edge of shadow +as you can without being cooked."</p> + +<p>As an afterthought, he asked, "How many tubes do you have?"</p> + +<p>"One after this, sir. I had three."</p> + +<p>"Save the one you have left."</p> + +<p>Rip didn't know yet what use they would be, but it was always a good idea +to have some kind of reserve.</p> + +<p>The Connie cruiser was sliding up to the crippled assault boat. Rip took +a quick look, then shifted his hands and angled toward the edge of +shadow. When he was within a few feet, he reversed the direction of the +tube to keep from shooting out into the sunlight. A second or two later +the tube burned out.</p> + +<p>Santos was several yards away and slightly above him. Rip saw that the +Planeteer was all right and turned his attention back to the cruiser. It +was close enough to the assault boat to haul it in with grappling hooks. +The hooks emerged and engaged the torn metal of the boat, then drew it +into the waiting port. The massive air door slid closed.</p> + +<p>The question was, would the Connie try to set his ship down on the +asteroid? Rip grinned without mirth. Now would be a fine time. His +chronometer showed a minute and a half to blast time.</p> + +<p>He took another look at his own situation. He and Santos were getting +close to the asteroid, but there was still over a half mile of Earth +distance to go. They would cover perhaps three-fourths of that distance +before Koa fired the charge.</p> + +<p>He had a daring idea. How long could he and Santos last in direct +sunlight? The effect of the sun in the open was powerful enough to +make lead run like water. Their suits could absorb some heat, and the +ventilating system could take care of quite a lot. They might last +as much as three minutes, with luck.</p> + +<p>They had to take a risk with the full knowledge that the odds were +against them. But if they didn't take the risk, the blast would push +them outward from the asteroid—into full sunlight. The end result would +be the same.</p> + +<p>"We're not going to make it, Santos," he began.</p> + +<p>"I know it, sir," Santos replied.</p> + +<p>Rip thought anyone with that much coolness and sheer nerve rated some +kind of special treatment. And the young corporal had shown his ability +time and time again. He said, "I should have known you knew, <i>Sergeant</i> +Santos. We still have a slight chance. When I give the word, use an air +bottle to push yourself into the sunlight. When I give the word again, +light off your remaining tube."</p> + +<p>"Yessir," Santos replied. "Thank you for the promotion. I hope I live to +collect the extra rating."</p> + +<p>"Same here," Rip agreed fervently. His eyes were on his chronometer, and +with his free hand he took another air bottle. When the chronometer +registered exactly one minute before blast time, he called, "Now!" He +triggered the bottle and moved from shadow into glaring sunlight. A +slight motion of the bottle turned him so his back was to the sun; then +he used the remaining compressed air to push himself downward along the +edge of shadow. The sun's gravity tugged at him.</p> + +<p>He pulled the last tube from his belt and held it ready while he watched +his chronometer creep around. With five seconds to go, he called to +Santos and fired it. Acceleration pushed at him.</p> + +<p>In the same moment, the nuclear charge exploded.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_SIXTEEN" id="CHAPTER_SIXTEEN"></a>CHAPTER SIXTEEN</h2> + +<h3>Ride the Planet!</h3> + + +<p>A mighty hand reached out and shoved Rip, sweeping him through space like +a dust mote. He clutched his propulsion tube with both hands and fought +to hold it steady. He swiveled his head quickly, searching for Santos, +and saw the corporal a dozen rods away.</p> + +<p>From the far horizon of the asteroid the incandescent fire of the nuclear +blast stretched into space, turning from silver to orange to red as it +cooled.</p> + +<p>Rip knew they had escaped the heat and blast of the explosion, but now +there was a question of how much prompt radiation they had absorbed. +During the first few seconds, a nuclear blast sprayed gamma radiation and +neutrons in all directions. He and Santos certainly had gotten plenty. +But how much? His lower-level colorimeter had long since reached maximum +red, and his high-level dosimeter could be read only on a measuring +device.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, he had other worries. Radiation had no immediate effect. At +worst, it would be a few hours before he felt any symptoms.</p> + +<p>As he sized up his position and that of the asteroid, he let out a yell +of triumph. His gamble would succeed! He had estimated that going into +the direct gravity pull of the sun at the proper moment and lighting off +their last tubes would put them into a landing position. The asteroid was +moving rapidly, into a new orbit that would intersect the course he and +Santos were on. He had planned on the asteroid's change of orbit. In a +minute at most they would be back on the rock.</p> + +<p>His propulsion tube flared out, and he released it. It would travel along +with him, but his hands would be free.</p> + +<p>Then he saw something else. The blast had started the asteroid turning!</p> + +<p>He reacted instantly. Turning up his communicator he yelled, "Koa! The +rock is spinning! Cut the prisoners loose, grab the equipment, and run +for it! You'll have to keep running to stay in the shadow. If sunlight +hits those fuel tanks or the rocket tubes, they'll explode!"</p> + +<p>Koa replied tersely, "Got it. We're moving."</p> + +<p>At least the Connie cruiser couldn't harm them now, Rip thought grimly. +He looked for the cruiser and failed to find it for several seconds. It +had moved. He finally saw its exhausts some distance away.</p> + +<p>He forgot his own predicament and grinned. The Connie cruiser had moved, +but not because its commander had wanted to. It had been right in the +path of the nuclear blast and had been literally shoved away.</p> + +<p>Then Rip forgot the cruiser. His suit ventilator was whining in the +terrific heat, and his whole body was now bathed in perspiration. The sun +was getting them. It would be only a short time until the ventilator +overloaded and burned out. They had to reach the asteroid before then. +The trouble was that there was nothing further he could do about it. He +had only air bottles left, and their blast was so weak that the effect +wouldn't speed him up much. Nevertheless, he called to Santos and +directed him to use his bottles.</p> + +<p>Santos spoke up. "Sir, we're going to make it."</p> + +<p>In the same instant, Rip saw that they would land on the dark side. The +asteroid was turning over and over. For a second he had the impression +that he was looking at a turning globe of the earth, the kind used in +elementary school back home. But this gray planet was scarcely bigger +than the giant globe at the Space Council building on Terra.</p> + +<p>He knew he was going to hit hard. The way to keep from being hurt was to +turn the vertical energy of his arrival into motion in another direction. +As he swept down to the metal surface he started running, his legs +pumping wildly in space. He hit with a bone-jarring thud, lost his +footing and fell sideways, both hands cradling his helmet. He got to his +feet instantly and looked for Santos.</p> + +<p>"You all right, sir?" Santos called anxiously. "I think the others are +over there." He pointed.</p> + +<p>"We'll find them," Rip said. His hip hurt like fury from smashing against +the unyielding metal, and the worst part was that he couldn't rub it. The +blow had been strong enough to hurt through the heavy fabric and air +pressure, but his hand wasn't strong enough to compress the suit. Just +the same, he tried.</p> + +<p>And while he was trying, he found himself in direct sunlight!</p> + +<p>He had forgotten to run. Standing still on the asteroid meant turning +with it, from darkness into sunlight and back again. He yelled at Santos +and legged it out of there, moving in long, gliding steps. He regained +the shadow and kept going.</p> + +<p>The first order of business was to stop the rock from turning. Otherwise +they couldn't live on it.</p> + +<p>Rip knew that they had only one means of stopping the spin. That was to +use the tubes of rocket fuel left over from correcting the course. They +had three tubes left, but he didn't know if that was enough to do the +job.</p> + +<p>Moving rapidly, he and Santos caught up to Koa and the Planeteers.</p> + +<p>The Connie prisoners were pretty well bunched up, gliding along like a +herd of fantastic sheep. Their shepherds were Pederson, Nunez, and Dowst. +The three Planeteers had a pistol in each hand. The spares were probably +those taken from prisoners.</p> + +<p>The Planeteers were loaded down with equipment. A few Connie prisoners +carried equipment, too.</p> + +<p>Trudeau had the rocket launcher and the remaining rockets. Kemp had his +torch and two tanks of oxygen. Bradshaw had tied his safety line to the +squat containers of chemical fuel for the torch and was towing them +behind like strange balloons. The only trouble with that system, Rip +thought, was that Bradshaw could stop, but the fuel would have a tendency +to keep going. Unless the Englishman was skillful, his burden would drag +him off his feet.</p> + +<p>Dominico had a tube of rocket fuel under each arm. The Italian was small, +and the tubes were bulky. Each was about ten feet long and two feet in +diameter. With any gravity or air resistance at all, the Italian couldn't +have carried even one.</p> + +<p>Santos took the radiation detection instruments and the case with the +astrogation equipment from Koa. Rip greeted his men briefly, then took +his computing board and began figuring. He knew the men were glad he and +Santos had made it. But they kept their greetings short. A spinning +asteroid was no place for long and sentimental speeches.</p> + +<p>He remembered the dimensions of the asteroid and its mass. He computed +its inertia, then figured out what it would take to overcome the inertia +of the spin.</p> + +<p>The mathematics would have been simpler under normal conditions, but +doing them on the run, trying to watch his step at the same time, made +things a little complicated. He had to hold the board under his arm, run +alongside Santos while the new sergeant held the case open, select the +book he wanted, open it and try to read the tables by his belt light, and +then transfer the data to the board.</p> + +<p>His ventilator had quieted down once he got into the darkness, but now it +started whining slightly again because he was sweating profusely. Finally +he figured out the thrust needed to stop the spin. Now all he had to do +was compute how much fuel it would take.</p> + +<p>He had figures on the amount of thrust given by the kind of rocket fuel +in the tubes. He also knew how much fuel each tube contained. But the +figures were not in his head. They were on reference sheets.</p> + +<p>He collected the data on the fly, slowing down now and then to read +something, until a yell from Santos or Koa warned that the sun line was +creeping close. When he had all data noted on the board, he started his +mathematics. He was right in the middle of a laborious equation when he +stumbled over a thorium crystal. He went headlong, shooting like a rocket +three feet above the ground. His board flew away at a tangent. His stylus +sped out of his glove like a miniature projectile, and the slide rule +clanged against his bubble.</p> + +<p>It happened so fast that neither Koa nor Santos had time to grab him. The +action had given him extra speed, and he saw with horror that he was +going to crash into Trudeau. He yelled, "Frenchy! Watch out!" Then he put +both hands before him to protect his helmet. His hands caught the French +Planeteer between the shoulders.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_SEVENTEEN" id="CHAPTER_SEVENTEEN"></a>CHAPTER SEVENTEEN</h2> + +<h3>Visitors!</h3> + + +<p>Trudeau held tight to the launcher, but the rocket racks opened and +spilled attack rockets into space. They flew in a dozen different +directions. Trudeau gave vent to his feelings in colorful French.</p> + +<p>Koa and Santos laughed so hard they had trouble collecting the scattered +equipment. Rip, slowed by his crash with Trudeau, got his feet under him +again.</p> + +<p>When the asteroid turned into the sun, they still had not collected Rip's +stylus and five of the attack rockets. The space pencil was the only +thing that could write on the computing board. It had to be found. "Next +time around," Rip called to the others. He then led the way full speed +ahead until they reached the safety of shadow again.</p> + +<p>Rip suspected the stylus was somewhere above the rock and probably +wouldn't return to the surface for some minutes. While he was wondering +what to do, there was a chorus of yells. A rocket sped between the +Planeteers and shot off into space.</p> + +<p>"Our own rockets are after us," Trudeau gasped. There hadn't been time +to collect them all after Rip's unwilling attack on the Frenchman had +scattered them. Now the sun was setting them off. Another flashed past, +fortunately over their heads. The sun's heat was causing them to fire +unevenly.</p> + +<p>"Three more to go," Koa called. "Watch out!"</p> + +<p>Only two went, and they were far enough away to offer no danger.</p> + +<p>Santos had been fishing around in the instrument case. Suddenly he +produced another stylus. "It was under the sextant," he explained +triumphantly.</p> + +<p>"If we get through this, I'll propose you for ten more stripes," Rip +vowed. "We'll make you the highest ranking sergeant that ever made a +private's life miserable."</p> + +<p>Working slowly but more safely, Rip figured that slightly more than two +and a half tubes would do the trick.</p> + +<p>Now to fire them. That meant finding a thorium crystal properly placed +and big enough. There were plenty of crystals, so that was no problem. +The next step was for Kemp to cut holes with his torch, so that the +thrust of the rocket fuel would be counter to the direction in which the +asteroid was spinning.</p> + +<p>Rip explained to all hands what had to be done. The burden would fall on +Kemp, who would need a helper. Rip took that job himself. He took one +oxygen tank from Kemp. Koa took the other, leaving the torchman with only +his torch.</p> + +<p>Then Rip took a container of chemical fuel from Bradshaw. Working while +running, he lashed the two containers together with his safety line. Then +he improvised a rope sling so they could hang on his back.</p> + +<p>Kemp, meanwhile, assembled his torch and put the proper cutting nozzle in +place. When he was ready, he moved over to Rip's side and connected the +torch hoses to the tanks the lieutenant carried. Kemp had the torch +mechanism strapped to his own back. It was essentially a high-pressure +pump that drew oxygen and fuel from the tanks and forced them through +the nozzle, under terrific pressure.</p> + +<p>When he had finished, he pressed the trigger that started the cutting +torch going. The fuel ignited about a half inch in front of the nozzle. +The nozzle had two holes in it, one for oxygen and the other for fuel. +The holes were placed and angled to keep the flame always a half inch +away, otherwise the nozzle itself would melt.</p> + +<p>"How do we work this?" Kemp asked.</p> + +<p>"We'll get ahead of the others," Rip explained. "Keep up speed until +we're running at the forward sun line. Then, when the crystal we want +comes around into the shadow, we stop running and work until it spins +back into the sunshine again."</p> + +<p>Rip estimated the axis on which the asteroid was spinning and selected +a crystal in the right position. He had to be careful, otherwise their +counterblast might do nothing more than start the gray planet wobbling.</p> + +<p>He and Kemp ran ahead of the others. The Planeteers and their prisoners +were running at a speed that kept them right in the middle of the dark +area.</p> + +<p>It was like running on a treadmill. The Planeteers were making good +speed, but were actually staying in the same place relative to the sun's +position, keeping the turning asteroid between them and the sun.</p> + +<p>Rip and Kemp ran forward until they were right at the sun line. Then they +slowed down, holding position and waiting for the crystal they had chosen +to reach them. As it came across the sun line into darkness, they stopped +running and rode the crystal through the shadow until it reached the sun +again. Then the two Planeteers ran back across the dark zone to meet the +crystal as it came around again. There was only a few minutes' working +time each revolution.</p> + +<p>Kemp worked fast, and the first hole deepened. Rip helped as best he +could by pushing away the chunks of thorium that Kemp cut free, but it +was essentially a one-man job.</p> + +<p>As Kemp neared the bottom of the first hole, Rip reviewed his plan and +realized he had overlooked something. These weren't nuclear bombs; they +were simple tubes of chemical fuel. The tubes wouldn't destroy the hole +Kemp was cutting.</p> + +<p>He reached a quick decision and called Koa to join them. Koa appeared as +Kemp pulled his torch from the hole and started running again to avoid +the sun. Rip and Koa ran right along with him, crossing the dark zone to +meet the crystal as it came around again.</p> + +<p>"There's no reason to drill three holes," Rip explained as they ran. +"We'll use one hole for all three charges. They don't have to be fired +all at once."</p> + +<p>"How do we fire them?" Koa asked.</p> + +<p>"Electrically. Who has the igniters and the hand dynamo?"</p> + +<p>"Dowst has the igniters. One of the Connies is carrying the dynamo."</p> + +<p>Speaking of the Connies—Rip hadn't seen the Consops cruiser recently. He +looked up, searching for its exhaust, and finally found it, some distance +away.</p> + +<p>The Connie commander was stalemated for the time being. He couldn't land +his cruiser on a spinning asteroid, and he had no more boats. Rip thought +he probably was just waiting around for any opportunity that might +present itself.</p> + +<p>The Federation cruisers should be arriving. He studied his chronometer. +No, the nearest one, the <i>Sagittarius</i> from Mercury, wasn't due for +another ten minutes or so. He turned up his helmet communicator and +ordered all hands to watch for the exhaust of a nuclear drive cruiser, +then turned it down again and gave Koa instructions.</p> + +<p>"Have Trudeau turn his load over to a Connie and collect the igniters and +the dynamo. We'll need wire, too. Who has that?"</p> + +<p>"Another Connie."</p> + +<p>"Get a reel. Cut off a few hundred feet and connect the dynamo to one end +and an igniter to the other."</p> + +<p>The crystal came around again, and Kemp got to work. Rip stood by, again +reviewing all steps. They couldn't afford to make a mistake. He had no +margin for error.</p> + +<p>Kemp finished the hole a few seconds before the crystal turned into the +sunlight again. Rip told him to keep the torch going. There might be some +last minute cutting to do. Then the lieutenant hurried off at an angle to +where Dominico was plodding along with the fuel tubes.</p> + +<p>Koa had turned the tube he carried over to a Connie. Rip got it and told +Dominico to follow him. Then he angled back across the asteroid to where +Kemp was holding position.</p> + +<p>The asteroid turned twice before Koa arrived. He had a coil of wire slung +over his arm, and he carried the dynamo in one hand and an igniter in the +other, the two connected by the wire.</p> + +<p>Rip took the igniter. "Uncoil the wire," he directed. "Go to its full +length at right angles to the hole. We have to time this exactly right. +When the crystal comes around again, I'll shove the tube into the hole, +then scurry for cover. When I'm clear I'll yell, and you pump the dynamo. +Dominico and Kemp stay with Koa. Make sure no one is in the way of the +blast."</p> + +<p>Koa unreeled the wire, moving away from Rip. The lieutenant pushed the +igniter into one end of the fuel tube and crimped it tightly with his +gloved hand.</p> + +<p>Koa and the others were as far away as they could get now, the wire +stretching between them and Rip. Kemp had made sure no one was running +near the line of blast.</p> + +<p>Rip watched for the crystal. It would be coming around any second now. He +held the tube with the igniter projecting behind him, ready for the hole +to appear.</p> + +<p>Koa's voice echoed in his helmet. "All set, Lieutenant."</p> + +<p>The crystal appeared across the sun line and moved toward him. He met it, +slowed his speed, put the end of the tube into the hole, and shoved. Kemp +had allowed enough clearance. The tube slid into place. Rip turned and +angled off as fast as he could glide. When he was far enough away from +the blast line he called, "Fire!"</p> + +<p>Koa squeezed the dynamo handle. The machine whined, and current shot +through the wire. A column of orange fire spurted from the crystal.</p> + +<p>Rip watched the stars instead of the exhaust. He kept running as it +burned soundlessly. In air, the noise would have deafened him. In airless +space, there was nothing to carry the sound.</p> + +<p>The apparent motion of the stars was definitely slowing. The spinning +wouldn't cease entirely, but it would slow down enough to give them more +time to work.</p> + +<p>The tube reached <i>Brennschluss</i>, and Rip called orders. "Same process. +Get ready to repeat."</p> + +<p>While Koa was connecting another igniter to the wire, Rip took a tube +from Dominico. "Take your space knife and saw through the tube you have +left. We'll need about three-fifths of it. Keep both pieces."</p> + +<p>Dominico pulled his knife, pressed the release, and the gas capsule shot +the blade out. He got to work.</p> + +<p>Koa called that he was ready. Rip took the wired igniter from him and +thrust it into the tube Dominico had given him.</p> + +<p>As the crystal came around again, the process was repeated. The hole was +undamaged.</p> + +<p>There was more time to get clear because of the asteroid's slower speed. +The second tube slowed the rock even more, so that they had to wait long +minutes while the crystal came around again.</p> + +<p>Rip did some estimating. He wanted to be sure the next charge would do +nothing more than slow the asteroid to a stop. If the charge were too +heavy, it would reverse the spin. He didn't want to make a career of +running on the asteroid. He was tired, and he knew his men were getting +weary, too. He could see it in their strides.</p> + +<p>He decided it would be best to use a little less fuel rather than a +little more. If the asteroid failed to stop its spin completely, they +could always set off a small charge or two.</p> + +<p>"Hold it," he ordered. "We'll use the small end of Dominico's tube and +save the big one."</p> + +<p>The fuel was a solid mass, so cutting the tube in two sections caused no +difficulty. Rip pushed the igniter into the small section, seated it in +the hole, and hurried to cover. As he watched the fuel burn, he wondered +why the last nuclear charge had started the spin. He had made a mistake +somewhere. The earlier blasts had been set so they wouldn't cause a spin. +He made a mental note to look at the place where the charge had exploded.</p> + +<p>The rocket fuel slowed the asteroid down to a point where it was barely +turning, and Rip was glad he had been cautious. The heavier charge would +have reversed it a little. He directed the placing of a very small charge +and was moving away from it so Koa could set it off when Santos suddenly +yelled, "Sir! The Connie is coming!"</p> + +<p>Rip called, "Fire the charge, Koa," then looked up. The Consops cruiser +was moving slowly toward them. The canny Connie had been waiting for +something to happen on the asteroid, Rip guessed. When the spinning +slowed and then stopped, the Connie probably had decided that now was +the time for a final try.</p> + +<p>"Where is the communicator?" Rip asked the sergeant major.</p> + +<p>"One of the Connies has it."</p> + +<p>"Get it. I'll notify Terra base of what happened."</p> + +<p>Koa found the Connie with the communicator, tested it to be sure the +prisoner hadn't sabotaged it, and brought it to Rip.</p> + +<p>"This is Foster to Terra base. Over."</p> + +<p>"Come in, Foster."</p> + +<p>Rip explained briefly what had happened and asked, "How is our orbit? +I haven't had time to take sightings."</p> + +<p>"You're free of the sun," Terra base answered. "Your orbit will have to +be corrected sometime within the next few hours. The last blast pushed +you off course."</p> + +<p>"That's a small matter," Rip stated. "Unless we can think of something +fast, this will be a Connie asteroid by then. The Consops cruiser is +moving in on us. He's careful, because he isn't sure of the situation. +But even at his present speed he'll be here in ten minutes."</p> + +<p>"Stand by." Terra base was silent for a few moments, then the voice +replied, "I think we have an answer for you, Foster. Terra base off. +Go ahead, MacFife."</p> + +<p>A Scottish burr thick enough to saw boards came out of the communicator. +"Foster, this is MacFife, commander on the <i>Aquila</i>. Y'can't see me on +account of I'm on yer sunny side. But, lad, I'm closer to ye than the +Connie. We did it this way to keep the asteroid between us and him. Also, +lad, if ye'll take a look up at Gemini, ye'll see somethin' ye'll like. +Look at Alhena, in the Twins' feet. Then, lad, if ye'll be patient the +while, ye'll have a grandstand seat for a real big show."</p> + +<p>Rip tilted his bubble back and stared upward at the constellation of the +Twins. He said softly, "By Gemini!" For there, a half degree south of +the star Alhena, was the clean line of a nuclear cruiser's exhaust. The +<i>Sagittarius</i>, out of Mercury, had arrived.</p> + +<p>He cut the communicator off for a moment and spoke exultantly to his men. +"Stand easy, you hairy Planeteers. Forget the Connie. He doesn't know it, +but he's caught. He's caught between the Archer and the Eagle!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_EIGHTEEN" id="CHAPTER_EIGHTEEN"></a>CHAPTER EIGHTEEN</h2> + +<h3>Courtesy—With Claws</h3> + + +<p>Sagittarius, constellation of the Archer, and Aquila, constellation of +the Eagle, had given the two Federation patrol cruisers their names. The +Eagle was commanded by a tough Scotsman, and the Archer by a Frenchman.</p> + +<p>Commander MacFife spoke through the communicator. "Switch bands to +universal, lad. Me'n Galliene are goin' to talk this Connie into a braw +mess. MacFife off."</p> + +<p>Rip guessed that the two cruiser commanders had been in communication +while enroute to the asteroid and had cooked up some kind of plan. He +turned the band switch to the universal frequency with which all +long-range communicators were equipped. Each of the Earth groups had its +own frequency, and so did the Martians and Jovians. But all could meet +and talk on the universal band.</p> + +<p>Special scrambling devices prevented eavesdropping on regular +frequencies, so there was no danger that the Connie had overheard the +plan. Rip wondered what it was. He knew the cruisers had to be careful +not to cross the thin line that might lead to war.</p> + +<p>The <i>Sagittarius</i> loomed closer, decelerating with a tremendous exhaust. +The Connie couldn't have failed to see it, Rip knew. He was right. The +Consops cruiser suddenly blasted more heavily, rushing in the direction +away from the Federation ship. The direction was toward the asteroid.</p> + +<p>At the same moment, the <i>Aquila</i> flashed above the horizon, also +decelerating. The Connie was caught squarely.</p> + +<p>A suave voice spoke on the universal band. "This is Federation SCN +<i>Sagittarius</i>, calling the Consolidation cruiser near the asteroid. +Please reply."</p> + +<p>Rip waited anxiously. The Connie would hear, because every control room +monitored the universal band.</p> + +<p>A heavy, reluctant voice replied after a pause of over a minute.</p> + +<p>"This is Consolidation cruiser Sixteen. You are breaking the law, +<i>Sagittarius</i>. Your missile ports are open, and they are pointing at me. +Close them at once, or I will report this."</p> + +<p>The suave voice, with its hint of French accent, replied, "Ah, my friend! +Do not be alarmed. We have had a slight accident to our control circuit, +and the ports are jammed open. We are trying to repair the situation. But +I assure you that we have only the friendliest of intentions."</p> + +<p>Rip grinned. This was about the same as a man holding a cocked pistol at +another man's head and assuring him that it was nothing but a nervous arm +that kept the gun so steady.</p> + +<p>The Connie demanded, "What do you want?"</p> + +<p>The two friendly cruisers were within a few miles of the Connie now, and +their blasts were just strong enough to keep them edging closer, while +still counteracting the sun's pull.</p> + +<p>The French spaceman spoke reassuringly. "My friend, we want only +the courtesy of space to which the law entitles us. We have had an +unfortunate accident to our astrogation instruments, and we wish to +come aboard to compare them with yours."</p> + +<p>Rip laughed outright. Every cruiser carried at least four sets of +instruments. There was as much chance of all of them being knocked off +scale at once as there was of his biting a cruiser in half with bare +teeth.</p> + +<p>MacFife's voice came on the air. "Foster, switch to Federation +frequency."</p> + +<p>Rip did so. "This is Foster, Commander."</p> + +<p>"Lad, it's a pity for ye to miss the show. I'm sending a boat for ye."</p> + +<p>"The sun will get it!" Rip exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Never fear, lad. It won't get this one. Now, switch back to universal +and listen in."</p> + +<p>Rip did so in time to catch the Connie commander's voice. "... and I +refuse to believe such a story! Great Cosmos, do you think I am a fool?"</p> + +<p>"Of course not," the Frenchman replied. "You are not such a fool as to +refuse a simple request to check our instruments."</p> + +<p>The <i>Sagittarius</i> commander was right. Rip understood the strategy. +Equipment sometimes did go out of operation in space, and Connies had +no hesitation in asking Federation cruisers for help, or the other way +around. Such help was always given, because no commander could be +sure when he might need help himself.</p> + +<p>"I agree," the Connie commander said with obvious reluctance. "You may +send a boat."</p> + +<p>MacFife's Scotch burr broke in. "Federation SCN <i>Aquila</i> to Consolidation +Sixteen. Mister, my instruments are off scale, too. I'll just send them +along to ye, and ye can check them while ye're doing the <i>Sagittarius</i>!"</p> + +<p>"I object!" the Connie bellowed.</p> + +<p>"Come, now," MacFife burred soothingly. "Checking a few instruments won't +hurt ye."</p> + +<p>A small rocket exhaust appeared, leaving the <i>Aquila</i>. The exhaust grew +rapidly, more rapidly than that of any snapper-boat. Rip watched it, +while keeping his ears tuned to the space conversation.</p> + +<p>"Surely sending boats is too much of a nuisance," the French commander +said winningly. "We will come alongside."</p> + +<p>"It's a trick," the Connie growled. "You want me to open my valves, and +then your men will board us and try to take over my ship!"</p> + +<p>"My friend, you have a suspicious mind," Galliene replied smoothly. "If +you wish, arm your men. Ours will have no weapons. Train launchers on the +valves, so our men will be annihilated before they can board if you see a +single weapon."</p> + +<p>This was going a little far, Rip thought, but it was not his affair, and +he didn't know exactly what MacFife and Galliene had in mind.</p> + +<p>The <i>Aquila's</i> boat arrived with astonishing speed. Rip saw it flash in +the sunlight and knew he had never seen one like it before. It was a +perfect globe, about twenty feet in diameter. Blast holes covered the +globe at intervals of six feet.</p> + +<p>The boat settled to the asteroid, and a new voice called over the helmet +circuit, "Where's Foster? Show an exhaust! We're in a rush."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>He hurried to the boat and stood there, bewildered. He didn't know how to +get in.</p> + +<p>"Up here," the voice called. He looked up and saw a hatch. He jumped, and +a space-suited figure pulled him inside. The door shut, and the boat +blasted off. Acceleration shoved him backward, but the spaceman snapped a +line to his belt, then motioned him to a seat. Rip pulled himself up the +line and got into the seat, snapping the harness in place.</p> + +<p>"I'm Hawkins, senior space officer," the spaceman said. "Welcome, Foster. +We've been losing weight wondering if we'd get here in time."</p> + +<p>"I was never so glad to see spacemen in my life," Rip said truthfully. +"What kind of craft is this, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Experimental," the space officer answered. "It has a number, but we call +it the ball-bat because it's shaped like a ball and goes like a bat. We +were about to take off for some test runs around the space platform when +we got a hurry call to come here. The <i>Aquila</i> has two of these. If they +prove out, they'll replace the snapper-boats. More power, greater +maneuverability, heavier weapons, and they carry more men."</p> + +<p>Rip looked out through the port and saw the two Federation cruisers +closing in on the Connie. Apparently the Connie commander had agreed +to let the cruisers come alongside.</p> + +<p>The ball-bat blasted to the <i>Aquila</i>, paused at an open port, then slid +inside. The valve was shut before Rip could unbuckle his harness. Air +flooded into the chamber, and the lights flicked on. The space officer +gave Rip a hand out of the harness, and the young Planeteer went through +the hatch to the deck.</p> + +<p>The inner valve opened, and a lean, sandy-haired officer in space blue, +with the insignia of a commander, stepped through. Grinning, he hurried +to Rip's side and twisted his bubble, lifting it off.</p> + +<p>"Hurry, lad," he greeted Rip. "I'm MacFife. Get out of that suit quick, +because ye don't want to miss what's aboot to happen." With his own hands +he unlocked the complicated belt with its gadgets and equipment.</p> + +<p>Rip slipped the upper part over his head and stepped out of the bottom. +"Thanks, Commander. I'm one grateful Planeteer, believe me!"</p> + +<p>"Come on. We'll hurry right across ship to the opposite valve. Lad, +I've a son in the Planeteers, and he's just about your own age. He's +on Ganymede. He and the others will be proud of what ye've done."</p> + +<p>MacFife was pulling himself along rapidly by the convenient handholds. +Rip followed, his breathing a little rapid in the heavier air of the +ship. He followed the Scottish commander through the maze of passages +that crossed the ship. They stopped at a valve where spacemen were +waiting. With them was an officer who carried a big case.</p> + +<p>"The instruments," MacFife said, pointing. "We've tinkered with them a +bit, just to make it look real."</p> + +<p>"But why do you want to board the Connie?"</p> + +<p>MacFife's eye closed in a wink. "Ye'll see."</p> + +<p>There was a slight bump as the cruiser touched the Connie. The waiting +group recovered balance and faced the valve. Rip knew that spacemen in +the inner lock were making fast to the Connie, setting up the airtight +seal.</p> + +<p>It wasn't long before a bell sounded, and a spaceman opened the inner +valve. Two men in space suits were waiting, and beyond them the outer +valve was joined by a tube to the outer valve of the Connie ship. Rip +stared at the Connie spacemen in their red tunics and gray trousers. +One, an officer with two pistols in his belt, stepped forward.</p> + +<p>Rip noted that the other Connies were heavy with weapons, too. None of +his group had any.</p> + +<p>"I'm the commander," the scowling Connie said. "Bring your instruments +in. We'll check them; then you get out."</p> + +<p>"Ye're no verra friendly," MacFife said, his burr even more pronounced. +He led Rip and the officer with the instruments into the Connie ship.</p> + +<p>A handsome Federation spaceman with a moustache, the first Rip had ever +seen, stepped into the room from a passageway on the opposite side. The +spaceman bowed with exquisite grace. "I have the honor of making myself +known," he proclaimed. "Commander Rémy Galliene of the <i>Sagittarius</i>."</p> + +<p>The Connie commander grunted. He was afraid, Rip realized. The Connie +suspected a trick, and he had no idea what it might be.</p> + +<p>Galliene saw Rip's black uniform and hurried to shake his hand. "So +this is the young lieutenant who is responsible! Lieutenant, today the +spacemen honor the Planeteers because of you. Most days we fight each +other, but today we fight together, eh? I am glad to meet you!"</p> + +<p>"And I'm glad to meet you, sir," Rip returned. He liked the twinkle in +the Frenchman's eye. He would have given a lot to know what scheme +Galliene and MacFife had cooked up.</p> + +<p>The Connie had overheard Galliene's greeting. He glared at Rip. The +Frenchman saw the look and smiled happily. "Ah, you do not know each +other? Commander, I have the honor to make known Lieutenant Foster of the +Federation Special Order Squadrons. He is in command on the asteroid."</p> + +<p>The Connie blurted, "So! I send boats to help you, and you fire on them!"</p> + +<p>So that was to be the Consops story! Rip thought quickly, then held +up his hand in a shocked gesture that would have done credit to the +Frenchman. "Oh, no, Commander! You misunderstand. We had no way of +communicating by radio, so I did the only thing we could do. I fired +rockets as a warning. We didn't want your boats to get caught in a +nuclear explosion."</p> + +<p>He shrugged. "It was very unlucky for us that the sun threw my gunner's +aim off and he hit your boats—quite by accident."</p> + +<p>MacFife coughed to cover up a chuckle. Galliene hid a smile by stroking +his moustache.</p> + +<p>The Connie commander growled, "And I suppose it was accident that you +took my men prisoner?"</p> + +<p>"Prisoner?" Rip looked bewildered. "We took no prisoners. When your boats +arrived, the men asked if they might not join us. They claimed refuge, +which we had to give them under interplanetary law."</p> + +<p>"I will take them back," the Connie stated.</p> + +<p>"You will not," Galliene replied with equal positiveness. "The law is +very clear, my friend. Your men may return willingly, but you cannot +force them. When we reach Terra we will give them a choice. Those who +wish to return to the Consolidation will be given transportation to the +nearest border."</p> + +<p>The Connie commander motioned to a heavily armed officer. "Take their +instruments. Check them quickly." He put his lips together in a straight +line and stared at the Federation men. They stared back with equal +coldness.</p> + +<p>The minutes ticked by. Rip wondered again what kind of plan MacFife and +Galliene had.</p> + +<p>Additional minutes passed, and the officer returned with the cases. +Wordlessly he handed them to Galliene and MacFife. The Connie commander +snapped, "There. Now get out of my ship."</p> + +<p>Galliene bowed. "You have been a most courteous and gracious host," +he said. "Your conversation has been stimulating, inspiring, and +informative. Our profound thanks."</p> + +<p>He shook hands with Rip and MacFife, bowed to the Connie commander again, +and went out the way he had come. There wasn't anything to say after the +Frenchman's sarcastic farewell speech. MacFife, Rip, and the officer with +the instruments went back through the valves into their own ship.</p> + +<p>Once inside, MacFife called, "Come with me. Hurry." He led the way +through passages and up ladders, to the very top of the ship, to the +hatch where the astrogators took their star sights. The protective shield +of nuclite had been rolled back, and they could see into space through +the clear-vision port.</p> + +<p>Rip and MacFife hurried to the side where they were connected to the +Connie. Rip looked down along the length of the ship. The valve +connection was in the middle of each ship, at the point of greatest +diameter. From that point each ship grew more slender.</p> + +<p>MacFife pointed to the Connie's nose. Projecting from it like great horns +were the ship's steering tubes. Unlike the Federation cruiser, which +blasted steam through internal tubes that did not project, the Connie +used chemical fuel.</p> + +<p>"Watch," MacFife said.</p> + +<p>There were similar tubes on the Connie's stern, Rip knew. He wondered +what they had to do with the plan.</p> + +<p>MacFife walked to a wall communicator. "Follow instructions."</p> + +<p>He turned to Rip. "Remember, lad, the <i>Sagittarius</i> is on the other side +of the Connie, about to do the same thing."</p> + +<p>Rip waited in silence, wondering.</p> + +<p>Then the voice horn called. "Valve closed!"</p> + +<p>A second voice yelled, "Blast!"</p> + +<p>A tremor jarred its way through the entire ship, making the deck throb +under Rip's feet. He saw that the ship's nose had swung away from the +Connie. What in space—</p> + +<p>"Blast!"</p> + +<p>The nose swung into the Connie again, with a jar that sent Rip sliding +into the clear plastic of the astrodome. His nose jammed into the +plastic, but he didn't even wince, because he saw the Connie cruiser's +steering tubes buckle under the <i>Aquila's</i> sudden shove.</p> + +<p>And suddenly the picture was clear. The two Federation cruisers hadn't +cared about getting into the Connie ship. They had only wanted an excuse +to tie up to it so they could do what had just been done.</p> + +<p>They had sheared off the enemy's steering tubes, first at the stern, then +at the bow, leaving him helpless, able to go only forward or back in the +direction in which he happened to be pointing!</p> + +<p>MacFife had a broad grin on his face. As Rip started to speak, he held up +his hand and pointed at a wall speaker.</p> + +<p>The Connie commander came on the circuit. He screamed, "You planned that! +You—you—"</p> + +<p>Galliene's voice spoke soothingly. "But my dear commander! How can I +apologize? Believe me, the man responsible will be reward—I mean, the +man responsible will be disciplined. You may rest assured of it. How +unfortunate! I am overcome with shame."</p> + +<p>MacFife picked up a microphone. "Same here, Connie. A terrible accident. +Aye, the man who did it will hear from me."</p> + +<p>"It was no accident," the Connie screamed.</p> + +<p>"Ah," Galliene replied, "but you cannot prove otherwise. Commander, do +you realize what this means? You are helpless. Interplanetary law says +that a helpless space ship must be salvaged and taken in tow by the +nearest cruiser, no matter what its nationality. We will do this jointly, +the <i>Aquila</i> and the <i>Sagittarius</i>. We will take turns towing you, my +friend. We will haul you to Terra—like any other piece of space junk."</p> + +<p>MacFife could remain quiet no longer. "Yes, mister. And that's no' the +end o' it. We will collect the salvage fee. One half the value of the +salvaged vessel. Aye! My men will like that, since we share and share +alike on salvage. Now, put out a cable from your nose tube. I'll take ye +in tow first."</p> + +<p>He cut the communicator off and met Rip's grin.</p> + +<p>The two spacemen had figured out the one way to repay the Connie for his +attempts on the asteroid. They couldn't fire on him, but they could fake +an accident that would cripple him and cost Consops millions of dollars +in salvage fees.</p> + +<p>Nor would Consops refuse to pay. Salvage law was clear. Whoever performed +the salvage was not required to turn the ship back to its owners until +the fee had been paid.</p> + +<p>And there was another angle. The cruisers would tow the Connie into +the Federation spaceport in New Mexico. If past experience was any +indication, the Connie would lose about half its crew, perhaps more. +They would claim sanctuary in the Federation.</p> + +<p>Rip shook hands solemnly with the grinning Scotchman. It would be a long +time before Consops tried piracy again.</p> + +<p>"We'll be back at our family fight again tomorrow," MacFife said, "but +today we celebrate together. Ah, lad, this is pure joy to me. I've had +a score to settle with yon Connies for years. Now I've done it."</p> + +<p>He put an arm around Rip's shoulders. "While I'm in a givin' mood, which +is not the way of us Scots, is there anything ye'd like?"</p> + +<p>Rip could think of only one thing. "A hot shower. For me and my men. And +will you take the prisoners off our hands?"</p> + +<p>"Yes to both. Anything else?"</p> + +<p>"We'll need some rocket fuel. Terra says we have to correct course. Also, +we'll need a nuclear charge to throw us into a braking ellipse. And we +need a new landing boat. The sun baked the equipment out of ours."</p> + +<p>MacFife nodded. "So be it. I'll send men to the asteroid to bring back +the prisoners and your Planeteers." He smiled. "We'll let yon rock go by +itself while hot showers and a good meal are had by all. Ye've earned it, +lad."</p> + +<p>Rip started to thank the Scot, but his stomach suddenly turned over, and +black dizziness flooded in on him. He heard MacFife's sudden exclamation, +felt hands on him.</p> + +<p>White light blinded him. He shook his head and tried to keep his stomach +from acting up. A voice asked, "Were you shielded from those nuclear +blasts?"</p> + +<p>"No," he said past a constricted throat. "Not from the last. We got some +prompt radiation."</p> + +<p>"When was that? The exact time?"</p> + +<p>Rip tried to remember. He felt horrible. "It was twenty-three-oh-five."</p> + +<p>"Bad," the voice said. "He must have taken enough roentgens of gamma and +neutrons to reach or exceed the median-lethal dose."</p> + +<p>Rip found his voice again. "Santos," he said urgently. "On the asteroid. +He got it, too. The rest were shielded."</p> + +<p>MacFife snapped orders. The ball-bat would have Santos in the ship within +minutes. Being sick in a space suit was about the most unpleasant thing +that could happen.</p> + +<p>A hypospray tingled against Rip's arm. The drug penetrated, caught +a quick lift to all parts of his body through the bloodstream. +Consciousness slid away.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_NINETEEN" id="CHAPTER_NINETEEN"></a>CHAPTER NINETEEN</h2> + +<h3>Spacefall</h3> + + +<p>Rip was never more eloquent. He argued, he begged, and he wheedled.</p> + +<p>The <i>Aquila's</i> chief physician listened with polite interest, but he +shook his head. "Lieutenant, you simply are not aware of the close call +you've had. Another two hours without treatment, and we might not have +been able to save you."</p> + +<p>"I appreciate that," Rip assured him. "But I'm fine now, sir."</p> + +<p>"You are not fine. You are anything but fine. We've loaded you with +antibiotics and blood cell regenerator, and we've given you a total +transfusion. You feel fine, but you're not."</p> + +<p>The doctor looked at Rip's red hair. "That's a fine thatch of hair you +have. In a week or two it will be gone, and you'll have no more hair +than an egg. A well person doesn't lose hair. Your head will shine like +a space helmet."</p> + +<p>The ship's radiation safety officer had put both Rip's and Santos' +dosimeters into his measuring equipment. They had taken over a hundred +roentgens of hard radiation above the tolerance limit. This was the +result of being caught unshielded when the last nuclear charge went +off.</p> + +<p>"Sir," Rip pleaded, "you can load us with suppressives. It's only a few +days more before we reach Terra. You can keep us going until then. We'll +both turn in for full treatment as soon as we get to the space platform. +But we have to finish the job; can't you see that, sir?"</p> + +<p>The doctor shook his head. "You're a fool, even for a Planeteer. Before +you get over this, you'll be sicker than you've ever been. You have a +month in bed waiting for you. If I let you go back to the asteroid, I'll +only be delaying the time when you start full treatment."</p> + +<p>"But the delay won't hurt if you inject us with suppressives, will it?" +Rip asked quickly. "Don't they keep the sickness checked?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, for a maximum of about ten days. Then they no longer have +sufficient effect, and you come down with it."</p> + +<p>"But it won't take ten days," Rip pointed out. "It will only take a +couple, and it won't hurt us."</p> + +<p>MacFife had arrived to hear the last exchange. He nodded sympathetically. +"Doctor, I can appreciate how the lad feels. He started something, and he +wants to finish it. If y'can let him, safely, I think ye should."</p> + +<p>The doctor shrugged. "I can let him. There's a nine to one chance it will +do him no harm. But the one chance is what I don't like."</p> + +<p>"I'll know it if the suppressives start to wear off, won't I?" Rip asked.</p> + +<p>"You certainly will. You'll get weaker rapidly."</p> + +<p>"How rapidly?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps six hours. Perhaps more."</p> + +<p>Rip nodded. "That's what I thought. Doctor, we're less than six hours +from Terra by ship. If the stuff wears off, we can be in the hospital +within a couple of hours. Once we go into a braking ellipse, we can reach +a hospital in less than an hour by snapper-boat."</p> + +<p>"Let him go," MacFife said.</p> + +<p>The doctor wasn't happy about it, but he had run out of arguments. "All +right, Commander—if you'll assume responsibility for getting him off the +asteroid and into a Terra or space platform hospital in time."</p> + +<p>"I'll do that," MacFife assured him. "Now get your hyposprays and fill +him full of that stuff you use. The corporal, too."</p> + +<p>"Sergeant," Rip corrected. His first action on getting back to the +asteroid would be to recommend Santos' promotion to Terra base. He +intended to recommend Kemp for corporal, too. He was sure the Planeteers +at Terra would make the promotions.</p> + +<p>The two Federation cruisers were still holding course along with the +asteroid, the Connie cruiser between them.</p> + +<p>Within an hour, Rip and Santos, both in false good health, thanks to +medical magic, were on their way back to the asteroid in a ball-bat boat.</p> + +<p>The remaining time passed quickly. The sun receded. The Planeteers +corrected course. Rip sent in his recommendations for promotions and +looked over the last nuclear crater to see why the blast had started the +asteroid spinning.</p> + +<p>The reason could only be guessed. The blast probably had opened a fault +in the crystal, allowing the explosion to escape partially in the wrong +direction.</p> + +<p>Once the course was corrected, Rip calculated the position for the final +nuclear charge. When the asteroid reached the correct position relative +to Earth, the charge would not change its course but only slow its speed +somewhat. The asteroid would go around Earth in a series of ever +tightening ellipses, using Terra's gravity, plus rocket fuel, to slow +it down to orbital speed.</p> + +<p>When it reached the proper position, tubes of rocket fuel would change +the course again, putting it into an orbit around Earth, close to the +space platform. It wasn't practical to take the thorium rock in for a +landing. They would lose control, and the asteroid would flame to Earth +like the greatest meteor ever to hit the planet.</p> + +<p>Putting the asteroid into orbit around Earth was actually the most +delicate part of the whole trip, but Rip wasn't worried. He had the +facilities of Terra base within easy reach by communicator. He dictated +his data and let them do the mathematics on the giant electronic +computers.</p> + +<p>He and his men rode the gray planet past the moon, so close they could +almost see the Planeteer lunar base, circled Terra in a series of +ellipses, and finally blasted the asteroid into its final orbit within +sight of the space platform.</p> + +<p>Landing craft and snapper-boats swarmed to meet them, and within an hour +after their arrival the Planeteers were surrounded by spacemen, cadets +from the platform, and officers and men wearing Planeteer black.</p> + +<p>A cadet approached Rip and looked at him with awe. "Sir, I don't know how +you ever did it!"</p> + +<p>And Rip, his eyes on the great curve of Earth, answered casually, +"There's one thing every space chick has to learn if he's going to be a +Planeteer. There's always a way to do anything. To be a Planeteer, you +have to be able to figure out the way."</p> + +<p>A new voice said, "Now, that's real wisdom!"</p> + +<p>Rip turned quickly and looked through a helmet at the grinning face of +Maj. Joe Barris.</p> + +<p>Barris spoke as though to himself, but Rip turned red as his hair. "Funny +how fast a man ages in space," the Planeteer major remarked. "Take +Foster. A few weeks ago he was just a cadet, a raw recruit who had never +met high vack. Now he's talking like the grandfather of all space. I +don't know how the Special Order Squadrons ever got along before he +became an officer."</p> + +<p>Rip had been feeling a little too proud of himself.</p> + +<p>"It's good to get back," Rip said.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_TWENTY" id="CHAPTER_TWENTY"></a>CHAPTER TWENTY</h2> + +<h3>On the Platform</h3> + + +<p>There were two things Rip could see from his hospital bed on the space +platform. One was the great curve of Earth. He was anxious to get out +of the hospital and back to Terra.</p> + +<p>The second thing was the asteroid. Spacemen were at work on it, slowly +cutting it to pieces. The pieces were small enough to be carried back to +Earth in supply rockets. It would be a long time before the asteroid was +completely cut up and transported to Terra base.</p> + +<p>Sergeant Major Koa came into the hospital ward and sat on Rip's bed. The +plastifoam mattress compressed under his weight. "How are you feeling, +sir?"</p> + +<p>"Pretty good," Rip replied. The worst of the radiation sickness was over, +and he was mending fast. Here and there were little bloodstains, just +below the surface of his skin, and he had no more hair than a plastic +ball. Otherwise he looked normal. The stains would go away, and his hair +would grow back in a few weeks.</p> + +<p>Santos, now officially a sergeant, was in the same condition. The rest of +Rip's Planeteers had resumed duties on the space platform. He saw them +frequently, because they made a point of dropping in whenever they were +near the hospital area.</p> + +<p>Koa looked out at the asteroid. "I sort of hate to see that rock cut up. +There isn't much about a chunk of thorium to get sentimental over, but +after fighting for it the way we did, it doesn't seem right to cut it +into blocks."</p> + +<p>"I know how you feel," Rip admitted, "but, after all, that's what we +brought it back for."</p> + +<p>He studied Koa's dark face. The sergeant major had something on his mind. +"Got vack worms chewing at you?" he asked. Vack worms were a spaceman's +equivalent of "the blues."</p> + +<p>"Not exactly, sir. I happened to overhear the doctor talking today. +You're due for a leave in a week."</p> + +<p>"That's good news!" Rip exclaimed. "You're not unhappy about it, are +you?"</p> + +<p>Koa shrugged. "We were all hoping we'd be together on our next +assignment. The gang liked serving under you. But we're overdue for +shipment to somewhere, and if you take eight weeks' leave, we'll be gone +by the time you come back to the platform."</p> + +<p>"I liked serving with all of you, too," Rip replied. "I watched the way +you all behaved when the space flap was getting tough, and it made me +proud to be a Planeteer."</p> + +<p>Maj. Joe Barris came in. He was carrying an envelope in his hand.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Rip. How are you, Koa? Am I interrupting a private talk?"</p> + +<p>"No, Major," Koa replied. "We're just passing the time. Want me to +leave?"</p> + +<p>"Stay here," Barris said. "This concerns you, too. I've been reassigned. +My eight years on the platform are up, and that's all an instructor gets. +Now I'm off for space on another job."</p> + +<p>Rip knew that instructors were assigned for eight-year periods. And he +knew that the major's specialty was the Planeteer science of exploration, +a specialty which required him to be an expert in biology, zoology, +anthropology, navigation and astrogation, and land fighting—not to +mention a half dozen lesser things. Only ten Planeteers rated expert in +exploration, and all were captains or majors.</p> + +<p>"Where are you going?" Rip asked. "Off to explore something?"</p> + +<p>"That's it." Major Barris smiled. "Remember once I said that when they +gave me the job of cleaning up the goopies on Ganymede, I'd ask for you +as a platoon leader?"</p> + +<p>Rip stared. "Don't tell me that's your assignment!"</p> + +<p>"Almost. Tell me, would you recommend any more of your men for promotion? +I'll need a new sergeant and two more corporals."</p> + +<p>Rip thought it over. "Koa can check me on this. I'd suggest making +Pederson a sergeant and Dowst and Dominico corporals. Kemp and Santos +already have promotions."</p> + +<p>"That would be my choice, too," Koa agreed.</p> + +<p>"Fine." Barris tapped the envelope. "I'll correct the orders in here +and recommend the promotions. We'll get sixteen new recruits from the +graduating class at Luna, and that will complete the platoon I'm supposed +to organize. Two full platoons are waiting, and the new platoon will give +me a full-strength squadron, except for new officers. How about Flip +Villa for a platoon commander, Rip?"</p> + +<p>Rip knew the Mexican officer was among the best of his own graduating +class. "I have to admit prejudice," he warned. "Flip is a pal of mine. +But I don't think you could do better." His curiosity got the better of +him, and he asked "Can you tell me what this is all about?"</p> + +<p>Joe Barris reached over and rubbed Rip's bald head. "By the time fur +grows back on that irradiated dome of yours, I'll be on my way with +Koa, Pederson, and the new recruits. Santos and the rest of your crew +will report to Terra base. Flip Villa will join them there. You'll be +on Earth leave for eight weeks, but it will take about that much time for +Flip and the men to assemble the supplies and equipment we'll need."</p> + +<p>He pulled a sheaf of papers out of the envelope. "Koa, here are orders +for you and your men. They say you're to report to Special Order Squadron +Seven, on Ganymede. SOS Seven is a new squadron, the first one organized +exclusively for exploration duties, and I'm its commanding officer. Koa, +you'll be my senior noncommissioned officer. I want you and Pederson with +me, because you can organize the new recruits en route. They have a lot +more to learn from you than they got in their two years of training. +You'll make real Planeteers out of 'em."</p> + +<p>He picked a paper from the sheaf and waived it at Rip. "This is for you, +Lieutenant Foster." He read, "Foster, R. I. P., Lieutenant, SOS. Serial +seven-nine-four-three. Authorized eight weeks' leave upon discharge from +hospital. Upon completion of leave, subject officer will report to Terra +base for transportation to SOS Seven on Ganymede."</p> + +<p>Joe Barris handed Rip his new orders. "You'll be on the same ship with +Flip Villa and your men. Flip will be another of my platoon leaders. +I'll be waiting for you on Ganymede. The moons of Jupiter are going to be +our home for quite a while, Rip. Our first assignment is to explore +Callisto from pole to pole."</p> + +<p>Rip didn't know what to say. To serve under Barris, to have his own men +in a regular squadron platoon, to have Flip Villa in the same outfit, +and to be assigned to exploration duty—dirtiest but most exciting of all +Planeteer jobs—was just too much. He couldn't say anything. He could +only grin.</p> + +<p>Maj. Joe Barris looked at Rip's shiny head and chuckled. "From what I +hear of Callisto, we're in for a rough time. Your hair will probably +grow back just in time to turn gray!"</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RIP FOSTER IN RIDE THE GRAY PLANET***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 18139-h.txt or 18139-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/1/3/18139">http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/1/3/18139</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Rip Foster in Ride the Gray Planet + + +Author: Harold Leland Goodwin + + + +Release Date: April 10, 2006 [eBook #18139] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RIP FOSTER IN RIDE THE GRAY +PLANET*** + + +E-text prepared by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan, and the Project Gutenberg +Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net/) + + + +A Golden Griffon Space Adventure + +RIP FOSTER IN RIDE THE GRAY PLANET + +by + +BLAKE SAVAGE + + + + + + + +Golden Press New York +Golden Griffon TM of Western Publishing Company, Inc. +Copyright 1952 by Western Publishing Company, Inc. +All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. +Published by Golden Press, New York, N.Y. +First Golden Griffon Printing, 1969 + + + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS + + CHAPTER ONE: Spacebound + + CHAPTER TWO: Rake That Radiation! + + CHAPTER THREE: Capture and Drive! + + CHAPTER FOUR: Find the Needle! + + CHAPTER FIVE: The Gray World + + CHAPTER SIX: Rip's Planet + + CHAPTER SEVEN: Earthbound! + + CHAPTER EIGHT: Duck--or Die! + + CHAPTER NINE: Repel Invaders! + + CHAPTER TEN: Get the Scorpion! + + CHAPTER ELEVEN: Hard Words + + CHAPTER TWELVE: Mercury Transit + + CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Peril! + + CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Between Two Fires + + CHAPTER FIFTEEN: The Rocketeers + + CHAPTER SIXTEEN: Ride the Planet! + + CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: Visitors! + + CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: Courtesy--With Claws + + CHAPTER NINETEEN: Spacefall + + CHAPTER TWENTY: On the Platform + + + + +CHAPTER ONE + +Spacebound + + +A thousand miles above Earth's surface the great space platform sped +from daylight into darkness. Once every two hours it circled the earth +completely, spinning along through space like a mighty wheel of steel and +plastic. + +Through a telescope on Earth the platform looked to be a lifeless, lonely +disk, but within it, hundreds of spacemen and Planeteers went about their +work. + +In a ready room at the outer edge of the platform, a Planeteer officer +faced a dozen slim, black-clad young men who wore the single golden +orbits of lieutenants. This was a graduating class, already commissioned, +having a final informal get-together. + +The officer, who wore the three-orbit insignia of a major, was lean and +trim. His short-cropped hair covered his head like a gray fur skull cap. +One cheek was marked with the crisp whiteness of an old radiation burn. + +"Stand easy," he ordered briskly. "The general instructions of the +Special Order Squadrons say that it's my duty as senior officer to make a +farewell speech. I intend to make a speech if it kills me--and you, too." + +The dozen new officers facing him broke into grins. Maj. Joe Barris had +been their friend, teacher, and senior officer during six long years of +training on the space platform. He could no more make a formal speech +than he could breathe high vacuum, and they all knew it. + +Lt. Richard Ingalls Peter Foster, whose initials had given him the +nickname "Rip," asked, "Why don't you sing for us instead, Joe?" + +Major Barris fixed Rip with a cold eye. "Foster, three orbital turns, +then front and center." + +Rip obediently spun around three times, then walked forward and stood at +attention, trying to conceal his grin. + +"Foster, what does SOS mean?" + +"Special Order Squadrons, sir." + +"Right. And what else does it mean?" + +"It means 'Help!' sir." + +"Right. And what else does it mean?" + +"Superman or simp, sir." + +This was a ceremony in which questions and answers never changed. It was +supposed to make Planeteer cadets and junior officers feel properly +humble, but it didn't work. By tradition, the Planeteers were the +cockiest gang that ever blasted through high vacuum. + +Major Barris shook his head sadly. "You admit you're a simp, Foster. The +rest of you are simps, too, but you don't believe it. You've finished six +years on the platform. You've made a few little trips out into space. +You've landed on the moon a couple of times. So now you think you're +seasoned space spooks. Well, you're not. You're simps!" + +Rip stopped grinning. He had heard this before. It was part of the +routine. But he sensed that this time Joe Barris wasn't kidding. + +The major absently rubbed the radiation scar on his cheek as he looked +them over. They were like twelve chicks out of the same nest. They were +about the same size, a compact five feet eleven inches, 175 pounds. They +wore belted, loose black tunics over full trousers which gathered into +white cruiser boots. The comfortable uniforms concealed any slight +differences in build. All twelve were lean of face, with hair cropped to +the regulation half inch. Rip was the only redhead among them. + +"Sit down," Barris commanded. "Here's my speech." + +The twelve seated themselves on plastic stools. Major Barris remained +standing. + +"Well," he began soberly, "you are now officers of the Special Order +Squadrons. You're Planeteers. You are lieutenants by order of the Space +Council, Federation of Free Governments. And--space protect you!--to +yourselves you're supermen. But never forget this: To ordinary spacemen, +you're just plain simps. You're trouble in a black tunic. They have about +as much use for you as they have for leaks in their air locks. Some of +the spacemen have been high-vacking for twenty years or more, and they're +tough. They're as nasty as a Callistan _teekal_. They like to eat +Planeteer junior officers for breakfast." + +Lt. Felipe "Flip" Villa asked, "With salt, Joe?" + +Major Barris sighed. "No use trying to tell you space chicks anything. +You're lieutenants now, and a lieutenant has the thickest skull of any +rank, no matter what service he belongs to." + +Rip realized that Barris had not been joking, no matter how flippant his +speech. "Go ahead," he urged. "Finish what you were going to say." + +"Okay. I'll make it short. Then you can catch the Terra rocket and take +your eight weeks' Earth leave. You won't really know what I'm talking +about until you've batted around space for a while. All I have to say +adds up to one thing. You won't like it, because it doesn't sound +scientific. That doesn't mean it isn't good science, because it is. Just +remember this: When you're in a jam, trust your hunch and not your head." + +The twelve stared at him, openmouthed. For six years they had been taught +to rely on scientific methods. Now their best instructor and senior +officer was telling them just the opposite! + +Rip started to object, but then he caught a glimmer of meaning. He stuck +out his hand. "Thanks, Joe. I hope we'll meet again." + +Barris grinned. "We will, Rip. I'll ask for you as a platoon commander +when they assign me to cleaning up the goopies on Ganymede." This was the +major's idea of the worst Planeteer job in the solar system. + +The group shook hands all around; then the young officers broke for the +door on the run. The Terra rocket was blasting off in five minutes, and +they were to be on it. + +Rip joined Flip Villa, and they jumped on the high-speed track that would +whisk them to Valve Two on the other side of the platform. Their gear was +already loaded. They had only to take seats on the rocket, and their six +years on the space platform would be at an end. + +"I wonder what it will be like to get back to high gravity," Rip mused. +The centrifugal force of the spinning platform acted as artificial +gravity, but it was considerably less than Earth's. + +"We probably won't be able to walk straight until we get our Earth legs +back," Flip answered. "I wish I could stay in Colorado with you instead +of going back to Mexico City, Rip. We could have a lot of fun in eight +weeks." + +Rip nodded. "Tough luck, Flip. But anyway, we have the same assignment." + +Both Planeteers had been assigned to Special Order Squadron Four, which +was attached to the cruiser _Bolide_. The cruiser was in high space, +beyond the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn, doing comet research. + +They got off the track at Valve Two and stepped through into the rocket's +interior. Two seats just ahead of the fins were vacant, and they slid +into them. Rip looked through the thick port beside him and saw the +distinctive blue glow of a nuclear drive cruiser sliding toward the +platform. + +"Wave your eye stalks at that job," Flip said admiringly. "Wonder what +it's doing here." + +The space platform was a refueling depot, where conventional chemical +fuel rockets topped off their tanks before flaming for space. The newer +nuclear drive cruisers had no need to stop. Their atomic piles needed new +neutron sources only once every few years, and they carried thousands of +tons of methane, compressed into solid form, for their reaction mass. + +The voice horn in the rocket cabin sounded. "The SCN _Scorpius_ is +passing Valve Two, landing at Valve Eight." + +"I thought that ship was with Squadron One on Mercury," Rip recalled. +"Wonder why they pulled it back here." + +Flip had no chance to reply, because the chief rocket officer took up his +station at the valve and began to call the roll. Rip answered to his +name. + +The rocket officer finished the roll, then announced: "Buttoning up in +twenty seconds. Blast off in forty-five. Don't bother with acceleration +harness. We'll fall free, with just enough flame going for control, after +ten seconds of retrothrust to de-orbit." + +The ten-second-warning bell sounded, and, before the bell had ceased, the +voice horn blasted. "Get it! Foster, R.I.P., Lieutenant. Report to the +platform commander. Show an exhaust!" + +Rip leaped to his feet. "Hold on, Flip. I'll see what the old man wants +and be right back." + +"Get flaming," the rocket officer called. "Show an exhaust, like the man +said. This bucket leaves on time, and we're sealing the port." + +Rip hesitated. The rocket would leave without him! + +Flip said urgently, "You better ram it, Rip." + +He knew he had no choice. "Tell my folks I'll make the next rocket," he +called, and ran. He leaped through the valve, jumped for the high-speed +track, and was whisked around the rim of the space platform. + +He ran a hand through his short red hair, a gesture of bewilderment. His +records had cleared. So far as he knew, all his papers were in order, and +he had his next assignment. He couldn't figure why the platform commander +would want to see him. But the horn had called, "Show an exhaust!" which +meant to get there in a hurry. + +He jumped off the track at the main crossrun and hurried toward the +center of the platform. In a moment he was at the commander's door, +waiting to be identified. + +The door swung open, and a junior officer in the blue tunic and trousers +of a spaceman motioned him to the inner room. "Go in, Lieutenant." + +"Thank you." He hurried into the commander's room and stood at attention. + +Commander Jennsen, the Norwegian spaceman who had commanded the platform +since before Rip's arrival as a raw cadet, was dictating into his command +relay circuit. As he spoke, printed copies were being received in the +platform personnel office, at Special Order Squadron headquarters on +Earth, aboard the cruiser _Bolide_ in high space, and aboard the newly +landed cruiser _Scorpius_. + +Rip listened, spellbound. + +"Foster, R.I.P., Lieutenant, SOS. Serial seven-nine-four-three. Assigned +SOS Four. Change orders, effective this date-time. Cancel Earth leave. +Subject officer will report to commander, SCN _Scorpius_, with detachment +of nine men. Senior noncommissioned officer and second in command, Koa, +A.P., Sergeant Major, SOS. Serial two-nine-four-one. Commander of +_Scorpius_ will transport detachment to coordinates given in basic +cruiser astro-course; deliver orders to detachment en route. Take +required steps for maximum security. This is Federation priority A, +Space Council security procedures." + +Rip swallowed hard. The highest possible priority, given by the +Federation itself, had canceled his leave. Not only that, but the cruiser +to which he was assigned was instructed to follow Space Council security +procedures, which meant that the job, whatever it was, was more urgent +than secret! + +Commander Jennsen looked up and saw Rip waiting. He snapped, "Did you get +all of that?" + +"Y-Yes, sir." + +"You'll get written copies on the cruiser. Now flame out of here. Collect +your men and get aboard. The _Scorpius_ leaves in five minutes." + +Rip ran. The realization hit him that the big nuclear cruiser had stopped +at the platform for the sole purpose of collecting him and nine enlisted +Planeteers. + +The low gravity helped him cover the hundred yards to the personnel +office in five leaps. He swung to a stop by grabbing the push bar of the +office door. He yelled at the enlisted spaceman on duty. "Where do I find +nine men?" + +The spaceman looked at him vacantly. "What for? You got a requisition, +Lieutenant?" + +"Never mind requisitions," Rip snapped. "I've got to find nine Planeteers +and get them on the _Scorpius_ before it flames off." + +The spaceman's face cleared. "Oh. You mean Koa's detachment. They left a +few minutes ago." + +"Where. Where did they go?" + +The spaceman shrugged. The doings of Planeteers were no concern of his. +His shrug said so. + +Rip realized there was no use talking further. He ran down the long +corridor toward the outer edge of the platform. The enlisted men's squad +rooms were near Valve Ten. So was the supply department. His gear had +departed on the Terra rocket, and he couldn't go into space with only +the tunic on his back. He swung to the high-speed track and braced +himself as he sped along the platform's rim. + +There was no moving track inward to the enlisted Planeteers' squad rooms. +He legged it down the corridor in long leaps, muttering apologies as +blue-clad spacemen and cadets moved to the wall to let him pass. + +The squad rooms were on two levels. He looked in the upper ones and found +them deserted. The squads were on duty somewhere. He ran for the ladder +to the lower level, took the wrong one, and ended up in a snapper-boat +port. He had trained in the deadly little fighting rockets, and they +never failed to interest him. But there wasn't time to admire them now. +He went back up the ladder with two strong heaves, found the right +ladder, and dropped down without touching. His knees flexed to take up +the shock. He came out of the crouch facing a black-clad Planeteer +sergeant who snapped to rigid attention. + +"Koa," Rip barked. "Where can I find him?" + +"He's not here, sir. He and eight men left fifteen minutes ago. I don't +know where they went, sir." + +Rip shot a worried glance at his wrist chronometer. He had two minutes +left before the cruiser departed. No more time now to search for his men. +He hoped the sergeant major had sense enough to be waiting at some +reasonable place. He went up the ladder hand over hand and sped down the +corridor to the supply room. The spaceman first class in charge of +supplies was turning an audio-mag through a hand viewer, chuckling at the +cartoons. At the sight of Rip's flushed, anxious face he dropped the +machine. "Yessir?" + +"I need a spack. Full gear, including bubble." + +"Yessir." The spaceman looked him over with a practiced eye. "One full +space pack. Medium-large, right, sir?" + +"Correct." Rip took the counter stylus and inscribed his name, serial +number, and signature on the blank plastic sheet. Gears whirred as the +data was recorded. + +The spaceman vanished into an inner room and reappeared in a moment +lugging a plastic case called a space pack, or "spack" for short. It +contained complete personal equipment for space travel. Rip grabbed it. +"Fast service. Thanks, Rocky." All spacemen were called "Rocky" if you +didn't know their names. It was an abbreviation for rocketeer, a title +all of them had once carried. + +Valve Eight was some distance away. Rip decided a cross ramp would be +faster than the moving track. He swung the spack to his shoulder and made +his legs go. Seconds were ticking off, and he had an idea that the SCN +_Scorpius_ would make space on time, whether or not he arrived. He +lengthened his stride and rounded a turn by going right up on the wall, +using a powerful leg thrust against a ventilator tube for momentum. + +He passed an observation port as he reached the platform rim, and caught +a glimpse of ruddy rocket exhaust flames outlined against the dark curve +of Earth. That would be the Terra rocket making its controlled fall to +home, with Flip aboard. Without slowing, he leaped across the high-speed +track, narrowly missing a senior space officer. He shouted his apologies, +and gained the entrance to Valve Eight just as the high buzz of the +radiation warning sounded, signaling a nuclear drive cruiser preparing +to take off. + +Nine faces of assorted colors and expressions turned to him. He had a +quick impression of black tunics and trousers. He had found his +detachment! Without slowing, he called, "Follow me!" + +The cruiser's safety officer had been keeping an eye on the clock, his +forehead creased in a frown as he saw that only a few seconds remained +to departure time. He walked to the valve opening and looked out. If his +passengers were not in sight, he would have to reset the clock. + +Rip went through the valve opening at top speed. He crashed head on into +the safety officer. + +The safety officer was driven across the deck, his arms pumping for +balance. He grabbed at the nearest thing, which happened to be the deputy +cruiser commander. + +The preset clock reached firing time. The valve slid shut and the takeoff +bell reverberated through the ship. + +And so it happened that the spacemen of the SCN _Scorpius_ turned their +valves, threw their controls and disengaged their boron control rods, and +the great cruiser flashed into space--while the deputy commander and the +safety officer were completely tangled with a very flustered and unhappy +new Planeteer lieutenant. + +Sergeant Major Koa and his men had made it before the valve closed. Koa, +a seven-foot Hawaiian, took in the situation and said crisply in a voice +all could hear, "I'll bust the bubble of any son of a space sausage who +laughs!" + + + + +CHAPTER TWO + +Rake That Radiation! + + +The deputy commander and the safety officer got untangled and hurried to +their post, with no more than black looks at Rip. He got to his feet, his +face crimson with embarrassment. A fine entrance for a Planeteer officer, +especially one on his first orders! + +Around him the spacemen were settling in their acceleration seats or +snapping belts to safety hooks. From the direction of the stern came a +rising roar as methane, heated to a liquid, dropped into the blast tubes, +flaming into pure carbon and hydrogen under the terrible heat of the +atomic drive. + +Rip had to lean against the acceleration. Fighting for balance, he picked +up his spack and made his way to the nine enlisted Planeteers. They had +braced against the ship's drive by sitting with backs against bulkheads +or by lying flat on the magnesium deck. Sergeant Major Koa was seated +against a vertical brace, his brown face wreathed in a grin. + +Rip looked him over carefully. There was a saying among the Planeteers +that an officer was only as good as his senior sergeant. Koa's looks were +reassuring. His face was good-humored, but he had a solid jaw and a mouth +that could get tough when necessary. Rip wondered a little at his size. +Big men usually didn't go to space; they were too subject to space +sickness. Koa must be a special case. + +Rip slid to the floor next to the sergeant major and stuck out his hand. +He sensed the strength in Koa's big fist as it closed over his. + +Koa said, "Sir, that was the best _fleedle_ I've ever seen an earthling +make. You been on Venus?" + +Rip eyed him suspiciously, wondering if the big Planeteer was laughing at +him. Koa was grinning, but it was a friendly grin. "What is a _fleedle_?" +Rip demanded. "I've never been on Venus." + +"It's the way the water hole people fight," Koa explained. "They're like +a bunch of rubber balls when they get to fighting. They ram each other +with their heads." + +Rip searched his memory for data on Venus. He couldn't recall any mention +of _fleedling_. Venusians, if his memory was right, had a sort of blowgun +as a main weapon. He told Koa so. + +The sergeant major nodded. "That's when they mean business, Lieutenant. +_Fleedling_ is more like us fighting with our fists. Sort of a sport. +Great Cosmos! The way they dive at each other is something to see." + +Rip grinned. "I didn't know I was going to _fleedle_ those officers. It +isn't the way I usually enter a cruiser." He hadn't entered many. He +added, "I suppose I ought to report to someone." + +Koa shook his head. "No use, sir. You can't walk around very well until +the ship reaches _Brennschluss_. Besides, you won't find any space +officers who'll talk to you." + +Rip stared. "Why not?" + +"Because we're Planeteers. They'll give us the treatment. They always do. +When the commander of this bucket gets good and ready, he'll send for +you. Until then, we might as well take it easy." He pulled a bar of +Venusian _chru_ from his pocket. "Have some. It'll make breathing +easier." + +The terrific acceleration made breathing a little uncomfortable, but it +was not too bad. The chief effect was to make Rip feel as though a ton +of invisible feathers were crushing him against the vertical brace. +He accepted a bite of the bittersweet vegetable candy and munched +thoughtfully. Koa seemed to take it for granted that the spacemen would +give them a rough time. + +He asked, "Aren't there any spacemen who get along with the Special Order +Squadrons?" + +"Never met one." Koa chewed chru. "And I was on the _Icarus_ when the +whole thing started." + +Rip looked at him in surprise. Koa didn't seem that old. The bad feeling +between spacemen and the Special Order Squadrons had started about +eighteen years ago, when the cruiser _Icarus_ had taken the first +Planeteers to Mercury. + +He reviewed the history of the expedition. The spacemen's job had been to +land the newly created Special Order Squadron on the hot planet. The job +of the squadron was to explore it. Somehow confusion developed, and the +spacemen, including the officers, later reported that the squadron had +instructed them to land on the sun side of Mercury, which would have +destroyed the spaceship and its crew, or so they believed at the time. + +The commanding officer of the squadron denied issuing such an order. He +said his instructions were to land as close as possible to the sun side, +but not on it. Whatever the truth--and Rip believed the SOS version, of +course--the crew of the _Icarus_ mutinied, or tried to. They made the +landing on Mercury with squadron guns pointed at their heads. Of course, +they found that a sun-side landing wouldn't have hurt the ship. The whole +affair was pretty well hushed up, but it produced bad feeling between the +Special Order Squadrons and the spacemen. "Trigger-happy space bums," the +spacemen called them, and much worse, besides. + +The men of the Special Order Squadrons, searching for a handy nickname, +had called themselves Planeteers, because most of their work was on the +planets. As Maj. Joe Barris had told the officers of Rip's class, "You +might say the spacemen own space, but we Planeteers own everything solid +that's found in it." + +The Planeteers were the specialists--in science, exploration, +colonization, and fighting. The spacemen carried them back and forth, +kept them supplied, and handled their message traffic. The Planeteers did +the hard work and the important work--or so they believed. + +To become a Planeteer, a recruit had to pass rigid intelligence, +physical, aptitude, and psychological tests. Fewer than fifteen out of +each one hundred who applied were chosen. Then there were two years of +hard training on the space platform and the moon before a recruit was +finally accepted as a Planeteer private. Out of each fifteen who started +training, an average of five fell by the wayside. + +For Planeteer officers, the requirements were even tougher. Only one out +of each five hundred applicants finally received a commission. Six years +of training made them proficient in the techniques of exploration, +fighting, rocketeering, and both navigation and astrogation. In addition, +each became a full-fledged specialist in one field of science. Rip's +specialty was astrophysics. + +Sergeant Major Koa continued, "That business on the _Icarus_ started the +war, but both sides have been feeding it ever since. I have to admit that +we Planeteers lord it over the spacemen like we were old man Cosmos +himself. So they get back at us with dirty little tricks while we're on +their ships. We command on the planets, but they command in space. And +they sure get a great big nuclear charge out of commanding us to do the +dirty work!" + +"We'll take whatever they hand us," Rip assured him, "and pretend we like +it fine." He gestured at the other Planeteers. "Tell me about the men, +Koa." + +"They're a fine bunch, sir. I handpicked them myself. The one with the +white hair is Corporal Nels Pederson, from Sweden. I served with him at +Marsport, and he's a real tough spacewalker in a fight. The other +corporal is Paulo Santos. He's from the Philippines, and the best +snapper-boat gunner you ever saw." + +He pointed out the six privates. Kemp and Dowst were Americans. Bradshaw +was an Englishman, Trudeau a Frenchman, Dominico an Italian, and Nunez a +Brazilian. + +Rip liked their looks. They were as relaxed as acceleration would allow, +but you got the impression that they would leap into action in a +microsecond if the word were given. He couldn't imagine what kind of +assignment was waiting, but he was satisfied with his Planeteers. They +looked capable of anything. + +He made himself as comfortable as possible and encouraged Koa to talk +about his service in the Special Order Squadrons. Koa had plenty to tell, +and he talked interestingly. Rip learned that the tall Hawaiian had been +to every planet in the system, had fought the Venusians on the central +desert, and had mined nuclite with SOS One on Mercury. He also found that +Koa was one of the seventeen pure-blooded Hawaiians left. During the +three hours that acceleration kept them from moving around the ship, Rip +got a new view of space and of service with the SOS--it was the view of a +Planeteer who had spent years around the Solar System. + +"I'm glad they assigned you to me," Rip told Koa frankly. "This is my +first job, and I'll be pretty green, no matter what it is. I'll depend +on you for a lot of things." + +To his surprise, Koa thrust out his hand. "Shake, Lieutenant." His grin +showed strong white teeth. "You're the first junior officer I ever met +who admitted he didn't know everything about everything. You can depend +on me, sir. I won't steer you into any meteor swarms." + +Koa had half turned to shake hands. Suddenly he spun on around, banging +his head against the deck. Rip felt a surge of relaxing muscles that had +been braced against acceleration. At the same time, silence flooded in on +them. Rip murmured "_Brennschluss_," and the murmur was like a trumpet +blast. + +The _Scorpius_ had reached velocity, and the nuclear drive had cut out. +From terrific acceleration, they had dropped to zero. The ship was making +high speed, but velocity cannot be felt. For the moment the men were +weightless. + +A nearby spaceman had heard Rip's comment. He spoke in an undertone to +the man nearest. His voice was pitched low enough that Rip couldn't +object officially, but loud and clear enough to be heard by everyone. + +"Get this, gang. The Planeteer officer knows what _Brennschluss_ is. He +doesn't look old enough to know which end his bubble goes on." + +Rip started to his feet, but Koa's hand on his arm restrained him. With a +violent kick, the big sergeant major shot through the air. His line of +flight took him past the spaceman, and somehow their arms got linked. The +spaceman was jerked from his post, and the two came to a stop against the +ceiling. + +Koa's voice echoed through the ship. "Sorry. I'm not used to no-weight. +Didn't mean to grab you. Here, I'll help you back to your post." + +He whirled the helpless spaceman like a bag of feathers and slung him +through the air. The force of the action only flattened Koa against the +ceiling, but the hapless spaceman shot forward head first and landed with +a clang against the bulkhead. He didn't hit hard enough to break any +bones, but he would carry a bump on his head for a day or two. + +Koa's voice floated after him. "Great Cosmos! I sure am sorry, spaceman. +I guess I don't know my own strength." He kicked away from the ceiling, +landing accurately at Rip's side. He added in a hard voice all could +hear, "They sure are a nice gang, these spacemen. They never say anything +about Planeteers." + +No spaceman answered, but Koa's meaning was clear. No spaceman had better +say anything about the Planeteers! Rip saw that the deputy commander and +the safety officer had appeared not to notice the incident. Technically, +there was no reason for an officer to take action. It had all been an +"accident." He smiled. There was a lot he had to learn about dealing with +spacemen, a lot Koa evidently knew very well indeed. + +Suddenly he began to feel weight. The ship was going into rotation. The +feeling increased until he felt normally heavy again. There was no other +sensation, even though the space cruiser was now spinning on its axis +through space at unaltered speed. The centrifugal force produced by the +spinning gave them an artificial gravity. + +Now that he thought about it, _Brennschluss_ had come pretty early. The +trip apparently was going to be a short one. _Brennschluss_--funny, he +thought, how words stay on in a language, even after their original +meaning is changed. _Brennschluss_ was German for "burn out." It was +rocket talk, and it meant the moment when all the fuel in a rocket burned +out. It had come into common use because the English "burn out" could +also mean that the engine itself had burned out. The German word meant +only the one thing. Now, in nuclear drive ships, the same word was used +for the moment when power was cut off. + +Words interested him. He started to mention it to Koa just as the +telescreen lit up. An officer's face appeared. "Send that Planeteer +officer to the commander," the face said. "Tell him to show an exhaust." + +Rip called instantly to the safety officer. "Where's his office?" + +The safety officer motioned to a spaceman. "Show him, Nelson." + +Rip followed the spaceman through a maze of passages, growing more +weightless with each step. The closer to the center of the ship they +went, the less he weighed. He was drawing himself along by plastic pull +cords when they finally reached the door marked COMMANDER. + +The spaceman left without a word or a salute. Rip pushed the lock bar and +pulled himself in by grabbing the door frame. He couldn't help thinking +it was a rather undignified way to make an entrance. + +Seated in an acceleration chair, a safety belt across his middle, +was Space Commander Kevin O'Brine, an Irishman out of Dublin. He was +short, as compact as a deto-rocket, and obviously unfriendly. He had a +mathematically square jaw, a lopsided nose, green eyes, and sandy hair. +He spoke with a pronounced Irish brogue. + +Rip started to announce his name, rank, and the fact that he was +reporting as ordered. Commander O'Brine brushed his words aside and +stated flatly, "You're a Planeteer. I don't like Planeteers." + +Rip didn't know what to say, so he kept still. But sharp anger was rising +inside of him. + +O'Brine went on. "Instructions say I'm to hand you your orders en route. +They don't say when. I'll decide that. Until I do decide, I have a job +for you and your men. Do you know anything about nuclear physics?" + +Rip's eyes narrowed. He said cautiously, "A little, sir." + +"I'll assume you know nothing. Foster, the designation SCN means Space +Cruiser, Nuclear. This ship is powered by a nuclear reactor--in other +words, an atomic pile. You've heard of one?" + +Rip controlled his voice, but his red hair stood on end with anger. +O'Brine was being deliberately insulting. This was stuff any Planeteer +recruit knew. "I've heard, sir." + +"Fine. It's more than I had expected. Well, Foster, a nuclear reactor +produces heat. Great heat. We use that heat to turn a chemical called +methane into its component parts. Methane is known as marsh gas, Foster. +I wouldn't expect a Planeteer to know that. It is composed of carbon and +hydrogen. When we pump it into the heat coils of the reactor, it breaks +down and creates a gas that burns and drives us through space. But that +isn't all it does." + +Rip had an idea what was coming, and he didn't like it. Nor did he like +Commander O'Brine. It was not until much later that he learned that +O'Brine had been on his way to Terra, to see his family for the first +time in four years, when the cruiser's orders were changed. To the +commander, whose assignments had been made necessary by the needs of the +Special Order Squadrons, it was too much. So he took his disappointment +out on the nearest Planeteer, who happened to be Rip. + +"The gases go through tubes," O'Brine went on. "A little nuclear material +also leaks into the tubes. The tubes get coated with carbon, Foster. +They also get coated with nuclear fuel. We use thorium. Thorium is +radioactive. I won't give you a lecture on radioactivity, Foster. But +thorium mostly gives off the kind of radiation known as alpha particles. +Alpha is not dangerous unless breathed or eaten. It won't go through +clothes or skin. But when mixed with fine carbon, thorium alpha +contamination makes a mess. It's a dirty mess, Foster--so dirty that +I don't want my spacemen to fool with it. + +"I want you to take care of it instead--you and your men. The deputy +commander will assign you to a squad room. Settle in, then draw equipment +from the supply room and get going. When I want to talk to you again, +I'll call for you. Now blast off, Lieutenant, and rake that radiation. +Rake it clean." + +Rip forced a bright and friendly smile. "Yes, sir," he said sweetly. +"We'll rake it so clean you can see your face in it, sir." He paused, +then added politely. "If you don't mind looking at your face, sir--to see +how clean the tubes are, I mean." + +Rip turned and got out of there. + +Koa was waiting in the passageway outside. Rip told him what had +happened, mimicking O'Brine's Irish accent. + +The sergeant major shook his head sadly. "This is what I meant, +Lieutenant. Cruisers don't clean their tubes more'n once in ten +accelerations. The commander is just thinking up dirty work for us +to do, like I said." + +"Never mind," Rip told him. "Let's find our squad room and get settled, +then draw some protective clothing and equipment. We'll clean his tubes +for him. Our turn will come later." + +He remembered the last thing Joe Barris had said, only a few hours +before. _Joe was right_, he thought. _To ourselves we're supermen, but to +the spacemen we're just simps._ Evidently O'Brine was the kind of space +officer who ate Planeteers for breakfast. + +Rip thought of the way the commander had turned red with rage at that +crack about his face, and he resolved, _He may eat me for breakfast, but +I'll be a very tough mouthful!_ + + + + +CHAPTER THREE + +Capture and Drive! + + +Commander O'Brine had not exaggerated. The residue of carbon and thorium +on the blast tube walls was stubborn, dirty, and penetrating. It was +caked on in a solid sheet, but when scraped, it broke up into fine +powder. + +The Planeteers wore coveralls, gloves, and face masks with respirators, +but that didn't prevent the stuff from sifting through onto their bodies. +Rip, who directed the work and kept track of the radiation with a +gamma-beta ion chamber and an alpha proportional counter, knew they would +have to undergo personal decontamination. + +He took a reading on the ion chamber. Only a few milliroentgens of beta +and gamma radiation. That was the dangerous kind, because both beta +particles and gamma rays could penetrate clothing and skin. But the +Planeteers wouldn't get enough of a dose to do any harm at all. The +alpha count was high, but so long as they didn't breathe any of the dust, +it was not dangerous. + +The _Scorpius_ had six tubes. Rip divided the Planeteers into two squads, +one under his direction and one under Koa's. Each tube took a couple of +hours' hard work. Several times during the cleaning, the men would leave +the tube and go into the main mixing chamber while the tube was blasted +with live steam to throw the stuff they had scraped off out into space. + +Each squad was on its last tube when a spaceman arrived. He saluted Rip. +"Sir, the safety officer says to secure the tubes." + +That could mean only one thing: deceleration. Rip rounded up his men. +"We're finished. The safety officer passed the word to secure the tubes, +which means we're going to decelerate." He smiled grimly. "You all know +they gave us this job just out of pure love for the Planeteers. So +remember it when you go through the control room to the decontamination +chamber." + +The Planeteers nodded enthusiastically. + +Rip led the way from the mixing chamber, through the heavy safety door, +and into the engine control room. His entrance was met with poorly +concealed grins by the spacemen. + +Halfway across the room, Rip turned suddenly and bumped into Sergeant +Major Koa. Koa fell to the deck, arms flailing for balance--but flailing +against his protective clothing. The other Planeteers rushed to pick him +up, and somehow all their hands beat against each other. + +The protective clothing was saturated with fine dust. It rose from them +in a choking cloud and was picked up and dispersed by the ventilating +system. It was contaminated dust. The automatic radiation safety +equipment filled the ship with an earsplitting buzz of warning. Spacemen +clapped emergency respirators to their faces and spoke unkindly of Rip's +Planeteers in the saltiest space language possible. + +Rip and his men picked up Koa and continued the march to the +decontamination room, grinning under their respirators at the +consternation around them. There was no danger to the spacemen, since +they had clapped on respirators the moment the warning sounded. But even +a little contamination meant the whole ship had to be gone over with +instruments, and the ventilating system would have to be cleaned. + +The deputy commander met Rip at the door of the radiation room. Above the +respirator, his face looked furious. + +"Lieutenant," he bellowed, "haven't you any more sense than to bring +contaminated clothing into the engine control room?" + +Rip was sorry the deputy commander couldn't see him grinning under his +respirator. He said innocently, "No, sir, I haven't any more sense than +that." + +The deputy grated, "I'll have you up before the Discipline Board for +this." + +Rip was enjoying himself thoroughly. "I don't think so, sir. The +regulations are very clear. They say, 'It is the responsibility of the +safety officer to insure compliance with all safety regulations by both +complete instructions to personnel and personal supervision.' Your safety +officer didn't instruct us, and he didn't supervise us. You'd better run +_him_ up before the Board." + +The deputy commander made harsh sounds into his respirator. Rip had him, +and he knew it. "He thought even a stupid Planeteer had sense enough to +obey radiation safety rules," he yelled. + +"He was wrong," Rip said gently. Then, just to make himself perfectly +clear, he added, "Commander O'Brine was within his rights when he made us +rake radiation. But he forgot one thing. Planeteers know the regulations, +too. Excuse me, sir. I have to get my men decontaminated." + +Inside the decontamination chamber, the Planeteers took off their masks +and faced Rip with admiring grins. For a moment he grinned back, feeling +pretty good. He had held his own with the spacemen, and he sensed that +his men liked him. + +"All right," he said briskly. "Strip down and get into the showers." + +In a few moments they were all standing under the chemically treated +water, washing off the contaminated dust. Rip paid special attention to +his hair, because that was where the dust was most likely to stick. He +had it well lathered when the water suddenly cut off. At the same moment, +the cruiser shuddered slightly as control blasts stopped its spinning and +left them all weightless. Rip saw instantly what had happened. He called, +"All right, men. Down on the floor." + +The Planeteers instantly slid to the shower deck. In a few seconds the +pressure of deceleration pushed at them. + +"I like spacemen," Rip said wryly. "They wait until just the right moment +before they cut the water and decelerate. Now we're stuck in our birthday +suits until we land--wherever that may be." + +Corporal Nels Pederson spoke up in a soft Stockholm accent. "Never mind, +sir. We'll get back at them. We always do!" + +While the _Scorpius_ decelerated and started maneuvering for a landing, +Rip did some rapid calculations. He knew the acceleration and +deceleration rates of cruisers of this class, measured in terms of time, +and part of his daily routine on the space platform had been to examine +the daily astroplot, which gave the positions of all planets and other +large bodies within the solar system. + +There was only one possible destination: Mars. + +Rip's pulse quickened. He had always wanted to visit the red planet. Of +course, he had seen all the films, audio-mags, and books concerning it, +and he had tried to see the weekly spacecast. He had a good idea of what +the planet was like, but reading or viewing was not like actually landing +and taking a look for himself. + +Of course, they would land at Marsport. It was the only landing area +equipped to handle nuclear drive cruisers. + +The cruiser landed and deceleration cut to zero. At the same moment the +water came on. + +Rip hurriedly finished cleaning up, dressed, then took his radiation +instruments and carefully monitored his men as they came from the +shower. Private Dowst had to go back for another try at getting his hair +clean, but the rest were all right. Rip handed his instruments to Koa. +"You monitor Dowst when he finishes. I want to see what's happening." + +He hurried from the chamber and made his way down the corridors toward +the engine control room. There was a good possibility he might get a call +from O'Brine, with instructions to take his men off the ship. He might +finally learn what he was assigned to do! + +As he reached the engine control room, Commander O'Brine was giving +instructions to his spacemen on the stowage of equipment that evidently +was expected aboard. Rip felt a twinge of disappointment. If the +_Scorpius_ had landed to take on supplies of some kind, his assignment +was probably not on Mars. + +He started to approach the commander with a question about his orders, +then thought better of it. He stood quietly near the control panel and +watched. + +The air lock hissed, then slid open. A Martian stood in the entryway, a +case on his shoulder. Rip watched him with interest. He had seen Martians +before, on the space platform, but he had never gotten used to them. They +were human, still.... + +He tried to figure out, as he had before, what it was that made them +strange. It wasn't the blue-whiteness of their skins nor the very large, +expressionless eyes. It was something about their bodies. He studied the +Martian's figure carefully. He was slightly taller and more slender than +the average earthman, but his chest measurements would be about the same. +Nor were his legs very much longer. + +Suddenly Rip thought he had it. The Martian's legs and arms joined his +torso at a slightly different angle, giving him an angular look. That was +what made him look like a caricature of a human, although he was human, +of course--as human as any of them. + +Rip saw that other Martians were in the air lock, all carrying cases of +various sizes and shapes. They came through into the control room and put +them down, then turned without a word and hurried back into the lock. +They were all breathing heavily, Rip noticed. Of course! The artificial +atmosphere inside the spaceship must seem very heavy and moist to them, +after the thin, dry air of Mars. + +The lock worked, and the Martians were replaced by others. They, too, +deposited their cases. But these cases were bigger and heavier. It took +four Martians to carry one, which meant they weighed close to half a ton +each. The Martians could carry more than double an earthman's capacity. + +When the lock worked next time, a Planeteer captain came in. He breathed +the heavy air appreciatively, fingering the oxygen mask he had to wear +outside. He saluted Commander O'Brine and reported, "This is all, sir. We +filled the order exactly as Terra sent it. Is there anything else you +need?" + +O'Brine turned to his deputy. "Find out," he ordered. "This is our last +chance. We have plenty of basic supplies, but we may be short of +audio-mags and other things for the men." He turned his back on the +Planeteer captain and walked away. + +The captain grinned at O'Brine's retreating back, then walked over to +Rip. They shook hands. + +"I'm Southwick, SOS Two. Canadian." + +Rip introduced himself and said he was an American. He added, "And aside +from my men, you're the first human being I've seen since we made space." + +Southwick chuckled. "Trouble with the spacemen? Well, you're not the +first." + +Talking about assignments wasn't considered good practice, but Rip was +burning with curiosity. "You don't by chance know what my assignment +is, do you?" + +The captain's eyebrows went up. "Don't you?" + +Rip shook his head. "O'Brine hasn't told me." + +"I don't know a thing," Southwick said. "We got instructions to pack up a +pretty strange assortment of supplies for the _Scorpius_, and that's all +I know. The order was in special cipher, though, so we're all wondering +about it." + +The deputy commander returned, reported to O'Brine, then walked up to Rip +and Southwick. "Nothing else needed," he said curtly. "We'll get off at +once." + +Southwick nodded, shook hands with Rip, and said in a voice the deputy +could hear, "Don't let these spacemen bother you. Trouble with them is +they all wanted to be Planeteers and couldn't pass the intelligence +tests." He winked, then hurried to the air lock. + +Spacemen worked quickly to clear the deck of the new supplies, stowing +them in a nearby workroom. Within five minutes the engine control room +was clear. The safety officer signaled, and the radiation warning +sounded. Taking off! + +Rip hurried to the squad room and climbed into an acceleration chair. The +other Planeteers were already in the room, most of them in their bunks. +Koa slid into the chair beside him. "Find out anything, sir?" + +"Nothing useful. A bunch of equipment came aboard, but it was in plain +crates. I couldn't tell what it was." + +Acceleration pressed them against the chairs. Rip sighed, picked up an +audio-circuit set, and put it over his ears. Might as well listen to what +the circuit had to offer. There was nothing else to do. Music was +playing, and it was the kind he liked. He settled back to relax and +listen. + +_Brennschluss_ came some time later. It woke Rip up from a sound sleep. +He blinked, glancing at his chronometer. Great Cosmos! With that length +of acceleration they must be high-vacking for Jupiter! He waited until +the ship went into the gravity spin, then got out of his chair and +stretched. He was hungry. Koa was still sleeping. He decided not to wake +him. The sergeant major would see that the men ate when they wanted to. + +In the messroom only one table was occupied--by Commander O'Brine. + +Rip gave him a civil hello and started to sit alone at another table. To +his surprise, O'Brine beckoned to him. + +"Sit down," the spaceman invited gruffly. + +Rip did and wondered what was coming next. + +"We'll start to decelerate in about ten minutes," O'Brine said. "Eat +while you can." He signaled, and a spaceman brought Rip the day's ration +in an individual plastic carton with thermo-lining. The Planeteer opened +it and found a block of mixed vegetables, a slab of space meat, and two +units of biscuit. He wrinkled his nose. Space meat he didn't mind. It was +chewy but tasty. The mixed vegetable ration was chosen for its food value +and not for taste. A good mouthful of Earth grass would be a lot more +palatable. He sliced off pieces of the warm stuff and chewed +thoughtfully, watching O'Brine's face for a clue as to why the commander +had invited him to sit down. + +It wasn't long in coming. "Your orders are the strangest things I've ever +read," O'Brine stated. "Do you know where we're going?" + +Rip figured quickly. They had accelerated for six and a half hours. Now, +ten minutes after _Brennschluss_, they were going to start deceleration. +That meant they had really high-vacked it to get somewhere in a hurry. He +calculated swiftly. + +"I don't know exactly," he admitted. "But from the ship's actions, I'd +say we were aiming for the far side of the asteroid belt. Anyway, we'll +fall short of Jupiter." + +There was a glimmer of respect in O'Brine's glance. "That's right. Know +anything about asteroids, Foster?" + +Rip considered. He knew what he had been taught in astronomy and +astrogation. Between Mars and Jupiter lay a broad belt in which the +asteroids swung. They ranged from Ceres, a tiny world only 480 miles in +diameter, down to chunks of rock the size of a house. No accurate count +of asteroids--or minor planets, as they were called--had been made, but +the observatory on Mars had charted the orbits of thousands. A few were +more than a mile in diameter, but most were great boulders of irregular +shape, from a few feet to several hundred feet at their greatest +dimension. + +"I know the usual stuff about them," he told O'Brine. "I haven't any +special knowledge." + +O'Brine blinked. "Then why did they assign you? What's your specialty?" + +"Astrophysics." + +"That might explain it. Second specialty?" + +"Astrogation." He couldn't resist adding, "That's more advanced than the +simple space navigation you use, Commander." + +O'Brine started to retort, then apparently thought better of it. "I hope +you'll be able to carry out your orders, Lieutenant," he said stiffly. +"I hope, but not much. I don't think you can." + +Rip asked, "What are my orders, sir?" + +O'Brine waved in the general direction of the wall. "Out there somewhere +in the asteroid belt, Foster, there is a little chunk of matter about one +thousand yards in diameter. A very minor planet. We know its approximate +coordinates as of two days ago, but we don't know much else. It happens +to be a very important minor planet." + +Rip waited, intent on the commander's words. + +"It's important," O'Brine continued, "because it happens to be pure +thorium." + +Rip gasped. Thorium! The rare, radioactive element just below uranium in +the periodic table of the elements, the element used to power this very +ship! "What a find!" he said in a hushed voice. No wonder the job was +Federation priority A, with Space Council security! "What do I do about +it?" he asked. + +O'Brine grinned. "Ride it," he said. "Your orders say you're to capture +this asteroid, blast it out of its orbit, and drive it back to Earth!" + + + + +CHAPTER FOUR + +Find the Needle! + + +Rip walked into the squad room with a copy of the orders in his hand. +After one look at his face, the Planeteers clustered around him. Santos +woke those who were sleeping, while Rip waited. + +"We have our orders, men," he announced. Suddenly he laughed. He couldn't +help it. At first he had been completely overcome by the responsibility +and the magnitude of the job, but now he was getting used to the idea, +and he could see the adventure in it. Ten wild Planeteers riding an +asteroid! Sunny space, what a great big thermonuclear stunt! + +Koa remarked, "It must be good. The lieutenant is getting a real atomic +charge out of it." + +"Sit down," Rip ordered. "You'd better, because you might fall over when +you hear this. Listen, men. Two days ago the freighter _Altair_ passed +through the asteroid belt on a run from Jupiter to Mars." He sat down, +too, because deceleration was starting. As his men looked at each other +in surprise at the quickness of it, he continued, "The old bucket found +something we need--an asteroid of pure thorium." + +The enlisted Planeteers knew as well as he what that meant. There were +whistles of astonishment. Koa slapped his thigh. "By Gemini! What do we +do about it, sir?" + +"We capture it," Rip said. "We blast it loose from its orbit and ride it +back to Earth." + +He sat back and watched their reactions. At first they were stunned. +Trudeau, the Frenchman, muttered to himself in French. Dominico, the +Italian, held up his hands and exclaimed, "Santa Maria!" + +Kemp, one of the American privates, asked, "How do we do it, sir?" + +Rip grinned. "That's a good question. I don't know." + +That stopped them. They stared at him. He added quickly, "Supplies came +aboard at Marsport. We'll get the clue when we open them. Headquarters +must have known the method when they assigned us and ordered the +equipment they thought we'd need." + +Koa stood up. He was the only one who could have moved upright against +the terrific deceleration. He walked to a rack at one side of the squad +room and took down a copy of _The Space Navigator_. Then, resuming his +seat, he looked questioningly at Rip. "Anything else, sir? I thought I'd +read what there is about asteroids." + +"Go ahead," Rip agreed. He sat back as Koa began to recite what data +there was, but he didn't listen. His mind was going ten astro-units +a second. He thought he knew why he had been chosen for the job. Word of +the priceless asteroid must have reached headquarters only a short time +before he was scheduled to leave the space platform. He could imagine the +speed with which the specialists at Terra base had acted. They had sent +orders instantly to the fastest cruiser in the area, the _Scorpius_, to +stand by for further instructions. Then their personnel machines must +have whirred rapidly, electronic brains searching for the nearest +available Planeteer officer with an astrophysics specialty and +astrogation training. + +He could imagine the reaction when the machine turned up the name of a +brand-new lieutenant. But the choice was logical enough. He knew that +most, if not all, of the Planeteer astrophysicists were in either high +or low space on special work. Chances were there was no astrophysicist +nearer than Ganymede. So the choice had fallen to him. + +He had a mental image of the Terra base scientists feeding data into the +electronic brain, taking the results, and writing fast orders for the men +and supplies needed. Work at the Planeteer base had probably been +finished within an hour of the time word was received. + +When they opened the cases brought aboard by the Martians, he would see +that the method of blasting the asteroid into a course for Earth was all +figured out for him. + +Rip was anxious to get at those cases. Not until he saw the method of +operation could he begin to figure his course. But there was no +possibility of getting at the stuff until _Brennschluss_. He put the +problem out of his mind and concentrated on what his men were saying. + +"... and he slugged into that asteroid going close to seven AU's," Santos +was saying. The corporal shrugged expressively. + +Rip recognized the story. It was about a supply ship, a chemical drive +rocket job, that had blasted into an asteroid a few years before. + +Private Dowst shrugged, too. "Too bad. High vack was waiting for him. +Nothing you can do when Old Man Nothing wants you. Not a thing in space!" + +Rip listened, interested. This was the talk of old space hands, who +had given the high vacuum of empty space a personality, calling it +"high vack," or "Old Man Nothing." With understandable fatalism, they +believed--or said they believed--that when high vacuum really wanted +you, there was nothing you could do. + +Rip had come across an interesting bit of word knowledge. Spacemen and +Planeteers alike had a way of using the phrase "by Gemini!" Gemini, of +course, was the constellation of the Twins, Castor and Pollux. Both were +useful stars for astrogation. The Roman horse soldiers of ancient history +had sworn "by Gemini," or "by the Twins." The Romans believed the stars +were the famous Greek warriors Castor and Pollux, placed in the heavens +after their deaths. In later years, the phrase degenerated to the simple +"by jiminy," and its meaning had been lost. Now, although few spacemen +knew the history of the phrase, they were using it again, correctly. + +Other space talk grew out of space itself, not out of history. For +instance, the worst thing that could happen to a man was to have his +helmet broken. Let the transparent globe be shattered, and the results +were both quick and final. Hence the oft heard threat, "I'll bust your +bubble." + +Speaking of bubbles ... Rip realized suddenly that he and his men would +have to live in bubbles and space suits while on the asteroid. None of +the minor planets were big enough to have an atmosphere or much gravity. + +If only he could get a look into those cases! But the ship was still +decelerating, and he would have to wait. He put his head against the +chair rest and settled down to wait as patiently as he could. + +_Brennschluss_ was a long time coming. When the deceleration finally +stopped, Rip didn't wait for gravity. He hauled himself out of the chair +and the squad room and went down the corridor hand over hand. He headed +straight for where the supplies were stacked, his Planeteers close behind +him. + +Commander O'Brine arrived at the same time. "We're starting to scan for +the asteroid," he greeted Rip. "May be some time before we find it." + +"Where are we, sir?" Rip asked. + +"Just above the asteroid belt near the outer edge. We're beyond the +position where the asteroid was sighted, moving along what the _Altair_ +figured as its orbit. I'm not stretching space, Foster, when I tell you +we're hunting for a needle in a junk pile. This part of space is filled +with more objects than you would imagine, and they all register on the +rad screens." + +"We'll find it," Rip said confidently. + +O'Brine nodded. "Yes. But it probably will take some hunting. Meanwhile, +let's get at those cases. The supply clerk is on his way." + +The supply clerk arrived, issued tools to the Planeteers, then opened a +plastic case attached to one of the boxes and produced lists. As the +Planeteers opened and unpacked the crates, Rip and O'Brine inspected, and +the clerk checked off the items. + +The first case produced a complete chemical cutting unit, with an +assortment of cutting tips and adapters. Rip looked around for the gas +cylinders and saw none. "Something's wrong," he objected. "Where's the +fuel supply for the torch?" + +The supply clerk inspected the lists, shuffled papers, and found the +answer. + +"The following," he read, "are to be supplied from the _Scorpius_ +complement. One landing boat, large, model twenty-eight. Eight each, +oxygen cutting unit gas bottles. Four each, chemical cutting unit fuel +tanks." + +"That's that," Rip said, relieved. Apparently he was supposed to do a lot +of cutting on the asteroid, probably of the thorium itself. The hot flame +of the torch could melt any known substance. The torch itself could melt +in unskilled hands. + +The next case yielded a set of astrogation instruments, carefully cradled +in a soft, rubbery plastic. Rip left them in the case and put them to one +side. As he did so, Sergeant Major Koa let out a whistle of surprise. + +"Lieutenant, look at this!" + +Corporal Santos exclaimed, "Well, stonker me for a stupid space squid! Do +they expect us to find any people on this asteroid?" + +The object was a portable rocket launcher designed to fire light attack +rockets. It was a standard item of fighting equipment for Planeteers. + +"I recognize the shape of those cases over there, now," Koa said. "Ten +racks of rockets for the launcher, one rack to a case." + +Rip scratched his head. He was as puzzled as Santos. Why supply fighting +equipment for a crew on an asteroid that couldn't possibly have any +living thing on it? + +He left the puzzle for the future and called for more cases. The next +two yielded projectile-type handguns for ten men, with ammunition, and +standard Planeteer space knives. The space knives had hidden blades, +which were driven forth violently when the operator pushed a thumb lever, +releasing the gas in a cartridge contained in the handle. The blades +snapped forth with enough force to break a bubble or to cut through a +space suit. They were designed for the sole purpose of space hand-to-hand +combat. + +The Planeteers looked at each other. What were they up against, that such +equipment was needed on a barren asteroid? + +Private Dowst opened a box that contained a complete tool kit, the tools +designed to be handled by men in space suits. Yards of wire, for several +purposes, were wound on reels. Two hand-driven dynamos capable of +developing great power were included. + +Corporal Pederson found a small case which contained books, the latest +astronomical data sheets, and a space computer and scratch board. These +were obviously for Rip's personal use. He examined them. There were all +the references he would need for computing orbit, speed, and just about +anything else that might be required. He had to admire the thoroughness +of whoever had written the order. The unknown Planeteer had assumed that +the space cruiser would not have all the astrophysics references +necessary and had included a copy of each. + +Several large cases remained. Koa ripped the side from one and let out an +exclamation. Rip hurried over and looked in. His stomach did a quick +orbital reverse. Great Cosmos! The thing was an atomic bomb! + +Commander O'Brine leaned over his shoulder and peered at the lettering on +the cylinder: EQUIVALENT TEN KT. + +In other words, the explosion the harmless-looking cylinder could produce +was equivalent to ten thousand tons of TNT, a chemical explosive no +longer in actual use but still used for comparison. + +Rip asked huskily, "Any more of those things?" The importance of the job +was becoming increasingly clear to him. Nuclear explosives were not used +without good reason. The fissionable material was too valuable for other +purposes. + +The sides came off the remaining cases. Some of them held fat tubes of +conventional rocket fuel in solid form, the igniters carefully packed +separately. + +There were three other atomic bombs, making four in all. There were two +bombs each of five KT and ten KT. + +Commander O'Brine looked at the amazing assortment of stuff. "Does that +check, clerk?" + +The spaceman nodded. "Yes, sir. I found another notation that says food +supplies and personal equipment to be supplied by the _Scorpius_." + +"Well, vack me for a Venusian rabbit!" O'Brine muttered. He tugged at his +ear. "You could dump me on that asteroid with this assortment of junk, +and I'd spend the rest of my life there. I don't see how you can use this +stuff to move an asteroid!" + +"Maybe that's why the Federation sent Planeteers," Rip said--and was +sorry the moment the words were out. + +O'Brine's jaw muscles bulged, but he held his temper. "I'm going to +pretend I didn't hear that, Foster. We have to get along until the +asteroid is safely in an orbit around Earth. After that, I'm going to +take a great deal of pleasure in feeding you to the space fish, piece +by piece." + +It was Rip's turn to get red. "I'm sorry, Commander. Accept my +apologies." He certainly had a lot to learn about space etiquette. There +was a time for spacemen and Planeteers to fight each other and a time for +them to cooperate. + +"I'm sure you'll be able to figure out what to do with this stuff," +O'Brine said. "If you need help, let me know." + +And Rip knew his apology was accepted. + +The deputy commander arrived, drew O'Brine aside, and whispered in his +ear. The commander let out an exclamation and started out of the room. At +the door he turned. "Better come along, Foster." + +Rip followed as the commander led the way to his own quarters. At the +door two space officers were waiting, their faces grave. + +O'Brine motioned them to chairs. "All right, let's have it." + +The senior space officer held out a sheet of flimsy. It was pale blue, +the color used for highly confidential documents. "Sir, this came in +Space Council special cipher." + +"Read it aloud," O'Brine ordered. + +"Yes, sir. It's addressed to you, this ship. From Planeteer Intelligence, +Marsport. 'Consops cruiser departed general direction your area. Agents +report crew _Altair_ may have leaked data re asteroid. Take appropriate +action.' It's signed 'Williams, SOS, Commanding.'" + +Rip saw the meaning of the message instantly. The Consolidation of +People's Governments, of Earth, traditional enemies and rivals of the +Federation of Free Governments, needed radioactive minerals as badly as, +or worse than, the Federation. In space it was first come, first take. +They had to find the asteroid quickly. It was to prevent Consops from +knowing of the asteroid that security measures had been taken. They +hadn't worked, because of loose space chatter at Marsport. + +O'Brine issued quick orders. "Now, get this. We have to work fast. +Accelerate fifty percent, same course. I want two men on each screen. +If anything of the right size shows up, decelerate until we can get mass +and albedo measurements. Snap to it." + +The space officers started out, but O'Brine stopped them. "Use one +long-range screen for scanning high space toward Mars. Let me know +the minute you get a blip, because it probably will be that Consops +cruiser. Have the missile ports cleared for action." + +Rip's eyes opened. Clear the missile ports? That meant getting the +cruiser in fighting shape, ready for instant action. "You wouldn't fire +on that Consops cruiser, would you, sir?" + +O'Brine gave him a grim smile. "Certainly not, Foster. It's against +orders to start anything with Consops cruisers. You know why. The +situation is so tense that a fight between two spaceships might plunge +Earth into war." His smile got even grimmer. "But you never know. The +Consops ship might fire first. Or an accident might happen." + +The commander leaned forward. "We'll find that asteroid for you, Mr. +Planeteer. We'll put you on it and see you on your way. Then we'll ride +space along with you, and if any Consops thieves try to take over and +collect that thorium for themselves, they'll find Kevin O'Brine waiting. +That's a promise." + +Rip felt a lot better. He sat back in his chair and regarded the +commander with mixed respect and something else. Against his will, he +was beginning to like the man. No doubt of it, the _Scorpius_ was well +named. And the sting in the scorpion's tail was O'Brine himself. + + + + +CHAPTER FIVE + +The Gray World + + +Rip rejoined his Planeteers in the supply room and motioned for them +to gather around him. "I know why Terra base sent us the fighting +equipment," he announced. "They were afraid word of this thorium asteroid +would leak out to Consops--and it has. A Connie cruiser blasted off from +Marsport and it's headed this way." + +He watched the faces of his men carefully, to see how they would take the +news. They merely looked at each other and shrugged. Conflict with +Consops was nothing new to them. + +"The freighter that found the asteroid landed at Marsport, didn't it?" +Koa asked. Getting a nod from Rip, he went on, "Then I know what probably +happened. The two things spacemen can't do are breathe high vack and keep +their mouths shut. Some of the crew blabbed about the asteroid, probably +at the Space Club. That's where they hang out. The Connies hang out +there, too. Result, we get a Connie cruiser after the asteroid." + +"You hit it," Rip acknowledged. + +Corporal Santos shrugged. "If the Connies try to take the asteroid away, +they'll have a real warm time. We have ten racks of rockets, twenty-four +to a rack. That's a lot of snapper-boats we can pick off if they try to +make a landing." + +The Planeteers stopped talking as the voice horn sounded. "Get it! We are +going into no-weight. Prepare to stay in no-weight indefinitely. Rotation +stops in two minutes." + +Rip realized why the order was given. The _Scorpius_ could not maneuver +while in a gravity spin, and O'Brine wanted to be free to take action if +necessary. + +The voice horn came on again. "Now get it again. The ship may maneuver +suddenly. Prepare for acceleration or deceleration without warning. One +minute to no-weight." + +Rip gave quick orders. "Get lines around the equipment and prepare to +haul it. I'll get landing boats assigned, and we can load. Then prepare +space packs. Lay out suits and bubbles. We want to be ready to go the +moment we get the word." + +Lines were taken from a locker and secured to the equipment. As the +Planeteers worked, the ship's spinning slowed and stopped. They were +in no-weight. Rip grabbed for a hand cord that hung from the wall and +hauled himself out into the engine control room. The deputy commander was +at his post, waiting tensely for orders. Rip thrust against a bulkhead +with one foot and floated to his side. "I need two landing boats, sir," +he requested. "One stays on the asteroid with us." + +"Take numbers five and six. I'll assign a pilot to bring number five back +to the ship after you've landed." + +"Thank you." Rip would have been surprised at the deputy's quick assent +if Commander O'Brine hadn't shown him that the spacemen were ready to do +anything possible to aid the Planeteers. He went back to the supply room +and told Koa which boats were to be used, instructed him to get the +supplies aboard, then made his way to Commander O'Brine's office. + +O'Brine was not in. Rip searched and found him in the astroplot room, +watching a 'scope. Green streaks called "blips" marked the panel, each +one indicating an asteroid. + +"All too small," O'Brine said. "We've only seen two large ones, and they +were too large." + +"Space is certainly full of junk," Rip commented. "At least this corner +of it is pretty full." + +A junior space officer overheard him. "This is nothing. We're on the edge +of the asteroid belt. Closer to the middle, there's so much stuff a ship +has to crawl through it." + +Rip wandered over to the main control desk. A senior space officer was +seated before a simple panel on which there were only a dozen small +levers, a visiphone, and a radar screen. The screen was circular, with +numbers around the rim like those on an Earth clock. In the center of the +screen was a tiny circle. The central circle represented the _Scorpius_. +The rest of the screen was the area dead ahead. Rip watched and saw +several blips on it that indicated asteroids. They were all small. He +watched, interested, as the _Scorpius_ overtook them. Once, according to +the screen, the cruiser passed under an asteroid, with a clearance of +only a few hundred feet. + +"You didn't miss that one by much," Rip told the space officer. + +"Don't have to miss by much," he retorted. "A few feet are as good as a +mile in space. Our blast might kick them around a little, and maybe +there's a little mutual mass attraction, but we don't worry about it." + +He pointed to a blip that was just swimming into view, a sharp green +point against the screen. "We do have to worry about that one." He +selected a lever and pulled it toward him. + +Rip felt sudden weight against his feet. The green point on the screen +moved downward, below center. The feeling of weight ceased. He knew what +had happened, of course. Around the hull of the ship, set in evenly +spaced lines, were a series of blast holes through which steam was fired. +The steam was produced instantly by running water through the heat coils +of the nuclear engine. By using groups or combinations of steam tubes, +the control officer could move the ship in any direction, set it rolling, +spin it end over end, or whirl it in an eccentric pattern. + +"How do you decide which tubes to use?" Rip asked. + +"Depends on what's happening. If we were ducking missiles from an enemy, +I'd get orders from the commander. But to duck asteroids, there's no +problem. I go over them by firing the steam tubes along the bottom of the +ship. That way, you feel the acceleration on your feet. If I fired the +top tubes, the ship would drop out from under those who were standing. +They'd all end up on the overhead." + +Rip watched for a while longer, then wandered back to Commander O'Brine. +He was getting anxious. At first the task of capturing an asteroid and +moving it back to Earth had been rather unreal, like some of the problems +he had worked out while training on the space platform. Now he was no +longer calm about it. He had faith in the Terra base Planeteer +specialists, but they couldn't figure out everything for him. Most of the +problems of getting the asteroid back to Earth would have to be solved by +Lt. Richard Ingalls Peter Foster. + +A junior space officer suddenly called, "Sir, I have a reading at +two-seventy degrees, twenty-three degrees eight minutes high." + +Commander O'Brine jumped up so fast that the action shot him to the +ceiling. He kicked down again and leaned over the officer's 'scope. +Rip got there by pulling himself right across the top of the chart table. + +The green point of light on the 'scope was bigger than any other he had +seen. + +"It's about the right size," O'Brine said. There was excitement in his +voice. "Correct course. Let's take a look at it." + +All hands gripped something with which to steady themselves as the +cruiser spun swiftly onto the new course. The control officer called, +"I have it centered, sir. We'll reach it in about an hour at this speed." + +"Jack it up," O'Brine ordered. "Heave some neutrons into it. Double +speed, then decelerate to reach it in thirty minutes." + +The control officer issued orders to the engine control room. In a moment +acceleration plucked at them. O'Brine motioned to Rip. "Come on, Foster. +Let's see what Analysis makes of this rock." + +Rip followed the commander to the deck below, where the technical +analysts were located. His heart was pounding a little faster than usual, +and not from acceleration, either. He found himself wetting his lips +frequently and thought, _Get hold of it, boy. You've got nothing to worry +about but high vacuum._ + +He didn't really believe it. There would be plenty to worry about. Like +detonating nuclear bombs and trying to figure their blast reaction. Like +figuring out the course that would take them closest to the sun without +pulling them into it. Like a thousand things--all of them up to him. + +The chief analyst greeted them. "We got the orders to change course, +Commander. That gave us the location of the asteroid. We're already +working on it." + +"Anything yet?" + +"No, sir. We'll have the albedo measurement in a few minutes. It'll take +longer to figure the mass." + +The asteroid's efficiency in reflecting sunlight was its albedo. The +efficiency depended on the material of which it was made. The albedo of +pure metallic thorium was known. If the asteroid's albedo matched it, +that would be one piece of evidence. + +In the same way, the mass of thorium was known. The measurements of the +asteroid were being taken. They would be compared with a chunk of thorium +of the same size. If it worked out, that would be evidence enough. + +Commander O'Brine motioned to chairs. "Might as well sit down while we're +waiting, Foster." He took one of the chairs and looked closely at Rip. +Suddenly he grinned. "I thought Planeteers never got nervous." + +"Who's nervous?" Rip retorted, then answered his own question truthfully. +"I am. You're right, sir. The closer we get, the more scared I get." + +"That's a good sign," O'Brine replied. "It means you'll be careful. Got +any real doubts about the job?" + +Rip thought it over and didn't think so. "Not any real ones. I think we +can do it. But I'm nervous just the same. Great Cosmos, Commander! This +is my first assignment, and they give me a whole world to myself and tell +me to bring it home. Maybe it isn't a very big world, but that doesn't +change things much." + +O'Brine chuckled. "I never expected to get an admission like that from a +Planeteer." + +"And I," Rip retorted, "never expected to make one like that to a +spaceman." + +The chief analyst returned, a sheet of computations in his hand. "Report, +sir. The albedo measurement is correct. This may be it." + +"How long before we get the measurements and comparisons?" + +"Ten minutes, perhaps." + +Rip spoke up. "Sir, there's some data I'll need." + +"What, Lieutenant?" The analyst got out a notebook. + +"I'll need all possible data on the asteroid's speed, orbit, and physical +measurements. I will have to figure a new orbit and what it will take to +blast the mass into it." + +"We'll get those. The orbit will not be exact, of course. We have only +two reference points. But I think we'll come pretty close." + +O'Brine nodded. "Do what you can, Chief. And when Foster gets down to +doing his calculations, have your men run them through the electronic +computer for him." + +Rip thanked them both, then stood up. "Sir, I'm going back to my men. I +want to be sure everything is ready. If there's a Connie cruiser headed +this way, we don't want to lose any time." + +"Good idea. I think we'll dump you on the asteroid, Foster, and then +blast off. Not too far, of course. Just enough to lead the Connie away +from you if its screen picks us up." + +That sounded good to Rip. "We'll be ready when you are, sir." + +The chief analyst took less than the estimated ten minutes for his next +set of figures. Commander O'Brine called personally while Rip was still +searching for the right landing-boat ports. The voice horn bellowed, "Get +it, Lieutenant Foster! The mass measurements are correct. This is your +asteroid. Estimated twelve minutes before we reach it. Your data will be +ready by the time you get back here. Show an exhaust!" + +Rip found Koa and the men and asked the sergeant major for a report. + +"We're ready, sir," Koa told him. "We can get out in three minutes. It +will take us that long to get into space gear. Your stuff is laid out, +sir." + +"Get me the books and charts from the supplies," Rip directed. "Have +Santos take them to the chief analyst. I'm going back and figure our +course. No use doing it the hard way on the asteroid, when I can do it in +a few minutes here with the ship's computer." + +He turned and hurried back, hauling himself along by handholds. The ship +had stopped acceleration and was at no-weight again. As he neared the +analysis section, it went into deceleration, but the pressure was not too +bad. He made his way against it easily. + +The chief analyst was waiting for him. "We have everything you need, +Lieutenant, except the orbital stuff. We'll do the best we can on that +and have an estimate in a few minutes. Meanwhile you can mark up your +figures. Incidentally, what power are you going to use to move the +asteroid?" + +"Nuclear explosions," Rip said, and saw the chief's eyes pop. He added, +"With conventional chemical fuel for corrections." + +He felt rising excitement. The whole ship seemed to have come to life. +There was excited tension in the computer room when he went in with the +chief. Spacemen, all mathematicians, were waiting for him. As the chief +led him to a table, they gathered around him. + +Rip took command. "Here's what we're after. I need to plot an orbit that +will get us out of the asteroid belt without collisions, take us as close +to the sun as possible without having it capture us, and land us in space +about ten thousand miles from Earth. From then on I'll throw the asteroid +into a braking ellipse around the earth, and I'll be able to make any +small corrections necessary." + +He spread out a solar system chart and marked in the positions of the +planets as of that moment, using the daily almanac. Then he put down the +position of the asteroid, taking it from the paper the chief analyst +handed him. + +"Will you make assignments, Chief?" + +The chief shook his head. "Make them yourself, Lieutenant. We're at your +service." + +Rip felt a little ashamed of some of the unkind things he had said about +spacemen. "Thank you." He pointed to a spaceman. "Will you calculate the +inertia of the asteroid, please?" The spaceman hurried off. "First thing +to do is plot the orbit as though there were no other bodies in the +system," Rip said. "Where's Santos?" + +"Here, sir." The corporal had come in unnoticed with Rip's reference +books. + +Rip had plotted orbits before, but never one for actual use. His palms +were wet as he laid it out, using prepared tables. When he had finished +he pointed to a spaceman. "That's it. Will you translate it into analogue +figures for the computer, please?" He assigned to others the task of +figuring out the effect Mercury, the sun, and Earth would have on the +orbit, using an assumed speed for the asteroid. + +To the chief analyst he gave the job of putting all the data together in +proper form for feeding to the electronic brain. + +It would have taken all spacemen present about ten days to complete the +job by regular methods, but the electronic computer produced the answer +in three minutes. + +"Thanks a million, Chief," Rip said. "I'll be calling on you again before +this is over." He tucked the sheets into his pocket. + +"Anytime, Lieutenant. We'll keep rechecking the figures as we go along. +If there are any corrections, we'll send them to you. That will give +you a check on your own figures." + +"Don't worry," Rip assured him, "we're going to have plenty of +corrections before we're through." + +Deceleration had been dropping steadily. It ceased altogether, leaving +them weightless. O'Brine's voice came over the speaker. "Get it! Valve +crews take stations at landing boats five and six. The Planeteers will +depart in five minutes. Lieutenant Foster will report to central control +if he cannot be ready in that time." + +Santos grinned at Rip. "Here we go, Lieutenant." + +Rip's heart would have dropped into his shoes if there had been any +gravity. Only a little excitement showed on his face, though. He waved +his thanks at the analysts and grinned back at Santos. + +"Show an exhaust, Corporal. High vack is waiting!" + + + + +CHAPTER SIX + +Rip's Planet + + +Rip rechecked his space suit before putting on his helmet. The air seal +was intact, and his heating and ventilating units worked. He slapped his +knee pouches to make sure the space knife was handy to his left hand, the +pistol to his right. + +Koa was already fully dressed. He handed Rip the shoulder case that +contained the plotting board. Santos had taken charge of Rip's +astrogation instruments. + +A spaceman was waiting with Rip's bubble. At a nod, the spaceman slipped +it on his head. Rip reached up and gave it a quarter turn. The locking +mechanism clamped into place. He turned his belt ventilator control on +full, and the space suit puffed out. When it was fully inflated, he +watched the pressure gauge. It was steady. No leaks in suit or helmet. +He let the pressure go down to normal. + +Koa's voice buzzed in his ears. "Hear me, sir?" + +Rip adjusted the volume of his communicator and replied, "I hear you. Am +I clear?" + +"Yessir. All men dressed and ready." + +Rip made a final check. He counted his men, then personally inspected +their suits. The boats were next. They were typical landing craft, +shaped like rectangular boxes. There was no need for streamlining in the +vacuum of space. They were not pressurized. Only men in space suits rode +in the ungainly boxes. + +He checked all blast tubes to make sure they were clear. There were small +single tubes on each side of the craft. A clogged one could explode and +blow the boat up. + +Koa, he knew, had checked everything, but the final responsibility was +his. In space, no officer took anyone's word for anything that might mean +lives. Each checked every detail personally. + +Rip looked around and saw the Planeteers watching him. There was approval +on the faces behind the clear helmets, and he knew they were satisfied +with his thoroughness. + +At last, certain that everything was in good order, he said quietly, +"Pilots, man your boats." + +Dowst got into one and a spaceman into the other. Dowst's boat would stay +with them on the asteroid. The spaceman would bring the other back to the +ship. + +Commander O'Brine stepped through the valve into the boat lock. A +spaceman handed him a hand communicator. He spoke into it. Rip couldn't +have heard him through the helmet otherwise. "All set, Foster?" + +"Ready, sir." + +"Good. The long-range screen picked up a blip a few minutes ago. It's +probably that Connie cruiser." + +Rip swallowed. The Planeteers froze, waiting for the commander's next +words. + +"Our screens are a little better than theirs, so there's a slim chance +they haven't picked us up yet. We'll drop you and get out of here. But +don't worry. We have your orbit fixed, and we'll find you when the +screens are clear." + +"Suppose they find us while you're gone?" Rip said. + +"It's a chance," O'Brine admitted. "You'll have to take spaceman's +luck on that one. But we won't be far away. We'll duck behind Vesta, +or another of the big asteroids, and hide so their screens won't pick +up our motion. Every now and then we'll sneak out for a look, if the +screen seems clear. If those high-vack vermin do find you, get on the +landing-boat radio and yell for help. We'll come blasting." + +He waved a hand, thumb and forefinger held together in the ancient symbol +for "everything right," then ordered, "Get flaming." He stepped through +the valve. + +"Clear the lock," Rip ordered. "Open outer valve when ready." + +He took a quick, final look around. The pilots were in the boats. His +Planeteers were standing by, safety lines already attached to the boats +and their belts. He moved into position and snapped his own line to a +ring on Dowst's boat. The spacemen vanished through the valve, and the +massive door slid closed. The overhead lights flicked out. Rip now +snapped on his belt light, and the others followed suit. + +In front of the boxlike landing boats a great door slid open, and air +from the lock rushed out. Rip knew it was only imagination, but he felt +as though all the heat from his suit was radiating into space, chilling +him to near absolute zero. Beyond the lights from their belts, he saw +stars and recognized the constellation for which the space cruiser was +named. A superstitious spaceman would have taken that as a good sign. +Rip admitted that it was nice to see. + +"Float 'em," he ordered. + +The Planeteers gripped handholds at the entrance with one hand and +launching rails on the boats with the other, then heaved. The boats +slid into space. As the safety lines tightened, the Planeteers were +pulled after the boat. + +Rip left his feet with a little spring and shot through the door. +Directly below him, the asteroid gleamed darkly in the light of the tiny +sun. His first reaction was "Great Cosmos! What a little chunk of rock!" +But that was because he was used to looking from the space platform at +the great curve of Terra or at the big ball of the moon. Actually the +asteroid was fair-sized, when compared with most of its kind. + +The Planeteers hauled themselves into the boats by their safety lines. +Rip waited until all were in, then pulled himself along his own line +to the black square of the door. Koa was waiting to give him a hand into +the craft. + +The Planeteers were standing, except for Dowst. Rip had never seen an +old-type railroad, or he might have likened the landing boat to a +railroad boxcar. It was about the same size and shape, but had huge +"windows" on both sides and in front of the pilot--windows that were +not enclosed. The space-suited men needed no protection. + +"Blast," Rip ordered. + +A pulse of fire spurted from the top of each boat, driving them bottom +first toward the asteroid. + +"Land at will," Rip said. + +The asteroid loomed large as he looked through an opening. It was rocky, +but there were plenty of smooth places. + +Dowst picked one. He was an expert pilot, and Rip watched him with +pleasure. The exhaust from the top lessened, and fire spurted soundlessly +from the bottom. Dowst balanced the opposite thrusts of the top and +bottom blasts with the delicacy of a woman threading a needle. In a few +moments the boat was hovering a foot above the asteroid. Dowst cut the +exhausts, and Rip stepped out onto the tiny planet. + +The Planeteers knew what to do. Corporal Pederson produced hardened steel +spikes with ring tops. Private Trudeau had a sledge. Driving the first +spike would be the hardest, because the action of swinging the hammer +would propel the Planeteer like a rocket exhaust. In space, the law that +every action has an equal and opposite reaction had to be remembered +every moment. + +Rip watched, interested in how his man would tackle the problem. He +didn't know the answer himself, because he had never driven a spike +on an airless world with almost no gravity, and no one had ever mentioned +it to him. + +Pederson searched the gray metal with his torch and found a slender spur +of thorium, perhaps two feet high, a short distance from the boat. +"Here's a hold," he said. "Come on, Frenchy. You too, Bradshaw." + +Trudeau, carrying the sledge, walked up to the spur of rock and stood +with his heels against it. Pederson sat down on the ground with his legs +on either side of the spur. He stretched, hooking his heels around +Trudeau's ankles, anchoring him. With his gloves, he grabbed the seat of +the Frenchman's space suit. + +Bradshaw took a spike and held it against the gray metal ground. The +Frenchman swung, his hammer noiseless as it drove the tough spike. A +few inches into the metal was enough. Bradshaw took a wrench from his +belt, put it on the head of the spike, and turned it. Below the surface, +teeth on the spike bit into the metal. It would hold. + +The rest was easy. The spike was used to anchor Trudeau while he drove +another, at his longest reach. Then the second spike became his anchor, +and so on, until enough spikes had been set to lace the boat down against +any sudden shock. + +The boat piloted by the spaceman was tied to the one that would remain, +and the Planeteers floated its supplies through a window. It took only a +few moments, with Planeteers forming a chain from inside the boat to a +spot a little distance away. The crates weighed almost nothing, but still +retained their mass. Once their inertia was overcome, they moved from one +man to the next like ungainly balloons. + +"All clear, sir," Koa called. + +Rip stepped inside and made a quick inspection. The box was empty except +for the spaceman pilot. He put a hand on the pilot's shoulder. "On your +way, Rocky. Thanks." + +"You're welcome, sir." The pilot added, "Watch out for high vack." + +Rip and Koa stepped out and walked a little distance away. Santos and +Pederson cast the landing boat adrift and shoved it away from the +anchored boat. In a moment fire spurted from the bottom tube, spreading +over the dull metal and licking at the feet of the Planeteers. + +Rip watched the boat rise upward to the great, sleek, dark bulk of the +_Scorpius_. The landing boat maneuvered into the air lock with brief +flares from its exhausts. In a few moments the sparkling blast of +auxiliary rocket tubes moved the spaceship away. O'Brine was putting a +little distance between his ship and the asteroid before turning on the +nuclear drive. The ship decreased in size until Rip saw it only as a +dark, oval silhouette against the Milky Way. Then the exhaust of the +nuclear drive grew into a mighty column of glowing blue, and the ship +flamed into space. + +For a moment Rip had a wild impulse to yell for the ship to come back. +He had been in vacuum before, but only as a cadet, with an officer in +charge. Now, suddenly, he was the one responsible. The job was his. He +stiffened. Planeteer officers didn't worry about things like that. +He forced his mind to the job at hand. + +The next step was to establish a base. The base would have to be on the +dark side of the asteroid, once it was in its new orbit. That meant a +temporary base now and a better one later, when they had blasted the +little planet into its new course. He estimated roughly the approximate +positions where he would place his charges, using the sun and the star +Canopus as visual guides. + +"This will do for a temporary base," he announced. "Rig the boat +compartment. While two of you are doing that, you others break out the +rocket launcher and rocket racks and assemble the cutting torch. Koa will +make assignments." + +While the sergeant major translated Rip's general instructions into +specific orders for each man, the young lieutenant walked to the edge +of the sun belt. There was no atmosphere, so the edge was a sharp line +between dark and light. There wasn't much light, either. They were too +far from the sun for that. But as they neared the sun, the darkness would +be their protection. They would get so close to Sol that the metal on the +sun side would get soft as butter. + +He bent close to the uneven surface. It was clean metal, not oxidized +at all. The thorium had never been exposed to oxygen. Here and there, +pyramids of metal thrust up from the asteroid, sometimes singly, +sometimes in clusters. They were metal crystal formations. He guessed +that once, long ages ago, the asteroid had been a part of something much +bigger, perhaps a planet. One theory said the asteroids were formed when +a planet exploded. This asteroid might have been a pocket of pure thorium +in the planet. + +There would be plenty to do in a short while, but meanwhile he enjoyed +the sensation of being on a tiny world in space with only a handful of +Planeteers for company. He smiled. "King Foster," he said to himself. +"Monarch of a thorium space speck." It was a rather nice feeling, even +though he laughed at himself for thinking it. Since he was in command of +the detachment, he could in all truth say that this was his own personal +planet. It would be a good bit of space humor to spring on the folks back +on Terra. + +"Yep, once I was boss of a whole world. Made myself king. Emperor of all +the metal molecules and king of the thorium spurs. And my subjects obeyed +my every command." He added, "Thanks to Planeteer discipline. The +detachment commander is boss." + +He reminded himself that he had better stop gathering space dust and +start acting like a detachment commander. He walked back to the landing +boat, stepping with care. With such low gravity, a false step could send +him high above the asteroid. Of course, that would not be dangerous, +since space suits were equipped with six small compressed-air bottles for +emergency propulsion. But it would be embarrassing. + +Inside the boat, Dowst and Nunez were setting up the compartment. +Sections of the rear wall swung out and locked into place against +airtight seals, forming a box at the rear end of the boat. Equipment +sealed in the stern, next to the rocket tube, supplied light, heat, and +air. It was a simple but necessary arrangement. Without it, the +Planeteers could not have eaten. + +There was no air lock for the compartment. The half of the detachment not +on duty would walk in, seal it up, turn on the equipment, wait until the +gauges registered sufficient air and heat, and then remove their space +suits. When it was time to leave, they would don suits, open the door, +and walk out, and the next shift would enter and repeat the process. +Earlier models had permanent compartments, but they took up too much room +in craft designed for carrying as many men and as much equipment as +possible. They were strictly work boats, and hard experience had dictated +the best design. + +The rocket launcher was already set up near the boat. It was a simple +affair, with three adjustable legs bolted to ground spikes. The legs +held a movable cradle in which the rocket racks were placed. High-geared +hand controls enabled the gunner to swing the cradle at high speed in +any direction except straight down. A simple, illuminated optical sight +was all the gunner needed. Since there were neither gravity nor +atmosphere in space, the missiles flashed out in a straight line, +continuing on into infinity if they missed their targets. Proximity fuses +made this a remote possibility. If the rocket got anywhere near the +target, the shell would explode. + +Rip found his astrogation instruments set carefully to one side. He +removed the data sheets from his case and examined them. Now came the +work of finding the spots in which to place his atomic charges. Since the +computer aboard ship had done all the mathematics necessary, he needed +only to take sights to determine the precise positions. + +He took a transit-like instrument from the case, pulled out the legs of +its self-contained tripod, then carried it to a spot near where he had +estimated the first charge would be placed. The instrument was equipped +with three movable rings to be set for the celestial equator, for the +zero meridian, and for the right ascension of any convenient star. Using +a regular level would have been much simpler. The instrument had one, but +with so little gravity to activate it, the thing was useless. + +The sights were specially designed for use in space, and his bubble was +no obstacle in taking observations. He merely put the clear plastic +against the curved sight and looked into it much as he would have looked +through a telescope on Earth. + +As he did so, a hint of pale pink light caught the corner of his eye. He +backed away from the instrument and turned his head quickly, looking at +the colorimeter-type radiation detector at the side of his helmet. It was +glowing. + +An icy chill sent a shiver through him. Great, gorgeous galaxies! He had +forgotten ... had Koa and the others? He turned so fast that he lost his +balance and floated above the surface like a captive balloon. Santos, who +had been standing nearby to help if requested, hooked a toe on the ground +spike, caught him, and set him upright on the ground again. + +"Get me the radiation detection instruments," he ordered. + +Koa sensed the urgency in his voice and got the instruments himself. Rip +switched them on and read the illuminated dial on the alpha counter. +Plenty high, as was natural. But no danger there--alpha particles +couldn't penetrate the space suits. Then, his hand clammy inside the +space glove, he switched on the other meter. The gamma count was far +below the alpha, but there were too many of the rays around for comfort. +Inside the helmet his face turned pale. + +There was no immediate danger. It would take many days to build up a dose +of gamma that could hurt them. But gamma was not the only radiation. They +were in space, fully exposed to equally dangerous cosmic radiation. + +The Planeteers had gathered while he read the instruments. Now they stood +watching him. + +They knew the significance of what he had found. + +"I ought to be busted to recruit," he told them. "I knew this asteroid +was thorium and that thorium is radioactive. If I had used my head, I +would have added nuclite shielding to the list of supplies the _Scorpius_ +provided. We could have had enough of it to protect us while around our +base, even if we couldn't be protected while working on the charges. That +would at least have kept our dosage down enough for safety." + +"No one else thought of it, either, sir," Koa reminded him. + +"It was my job to think of it, and I didn't. So I've put us in a time +squeeze. If the _Scorpius_ gets back soon, we can get the shielding +before our radiation dosage has built up very high. If the ship doesn't +come back, the dosage will mount." + +He looked at them grimly. "It won't kill us, and it won't even make us +very sick. I'll have the ship take us off before we build up that much +dosage." + +Santos started. "But, sir! That means--" + +"I know what it means," Rip stated bitterly. "It means the ship has got +to return in time to give us some nuclite shielding, or we'll be the +laughingstock of the Special Order Squadrons--the detachment that started +a job the spacemen had to finish!" + + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN + +Earthbound! + + +There was something else that Rip didn't add, although he knew the +Planeteers would realize it in a few minutes. Probably some of them +already had thought of it. + +To move the asteroid into a new orbit, they were going to fire nuclear +bombs. Most of the highly radioactive fission products would be blown +into space, but some would be drawn back by the asteroid's slight +gravity. The craters would be highly radioactive, and some radioactive +debris was certain to be scattered around, too. Every particle would add +to the problem. + +"Is there anything we can do, sir?" Koa asked. + +Rip shook his head inside the transparent bubble. "If you have a good +luck charm in your pocket, you might talk to it. That's about all." + +Nuclear physics had been part of his training. He read the gamma meter +again and did some quick calculations. They would be exposed for the +entire trip, at a daily dosage of-- + +Koa interrupted his train of thought. Evidently the sergeant major had +been doing some calculations of his own. "How long will we be on this +rock, sir? You've never told us just how long the trip will take." + +Rip said quietly, "With luck, it will take us a little more than three +weeks." + +He could see their faces faintly in the dim sunlight. They were shocked. +Spaceships blasted through space between the inner planets in a matter +of hours. The nuclear drive cruisers, which could approach almost half +the speed of light, had brought even distant Pluto within easy reach. +The inner planets could be covered in a matter of minutes on a straight +speed run, although to take off from one and land on the other meant +considerable time used in acceleration and deceleration. + +The Planeteers were used to such speed. Hearing that it would take over +three weeks to reach Earth had jarred them. + +"This piece of metal isn't a spaceship," Rip reminded them. "At the +moment, our speed around the sun is just slightly more than ten miles a +second. If we just shifted orbits and kept the same speed, it would take +us months to reach Terra. But we'll use one bomb for retrothrust, then +fire two to increase speed. The estimate is that we'll push up to about +forty miles a second." + +Koa spoke up. "That's not bad when you think that Mercury is the fastest +planet, and it only makes about thirty miles a second." + +"Right," Rip agreed. "After the asteroid is kicked out of orbit, it will +fall toward the sun. At our closest approach to the sun, we'll have +enough velocity to carry us past safely. Then we'll lose speed constantly +until we come into Earth's gravitational field and have to brake." + +It was just space luck that Terra was on the other side of the sun from +the asteroid's present position. By the time they approached, it would +be in a good place, just far enough from the line to the sun to avoid +changing course. Of course, Rip's planned orbit was not aiming the +asteroid at Earth, but at where Earth would be at the end of the trip. + +"That means more than three weeks of radiation, then," Corporal Santos +observed. "Can we take it, sir?" + +Rip shrugged, but the gesture couldn't be seen inside his space suit. "At +the rate we're getting radiation now, plus what I estimate we'll get from +the nuclear explosions, we'll get the maximum safety limit in just three +weeks. That leaves us no margin, even if we risk getting radiation +sickness. So we have to get shielding pretty soon. If we do, we can last +the trip." + +Private Dominico saluted and moved forward. "Sir, may I ask a question?" + +Rip turned to face the Planeteer, still worrying over the problem. He +nodded and said, "What is it, Dominico?" + +"Sir, I think we can't worry too much about this radiation, eh? You will +think of some way to take care of it. What I want to ask, sir, is when do +we let go the bombs? I do not know much about radiation, but I can set +those bombs like you want them." + +Rip was touched by the Planeteer's faith in his ability to solve the +radiation problem. That was why being an officer in the Special Order +Squadrons was so challenging. The men knew the kind of training their +officers had, and they expected them to come up with technical solutions +as the situation required. + +"You'll have a chance to set the bombs in just a short while," he said +crisply. "Let's get busy. Koa, load all bombs but one ten KT on the +landing boat. Stake the rest of the equipment down. While you're doing +that, I'll find the spots where we plant the charges. I'll need two men +now and more later." + +He went back to his instrument, putting the radiation problem out of his +mind--a rather hard thing to do with the colorimeter glowing pink next to +his shoulder. Koa detailed men to load the nuclear bombs into the landing +craft, left Pederson to supervise, and then brought Santos with him to +help Rip. + +"The bombs are being put on the boat, sir," Koa reported. + +"Fine. There isn't too much chance of the blasts setting them off, but +we'll take no chances at all. Koa, I'm going to shoot a line straight out +toward Alpha Centauri. You walk that way and turn on your belt light. +I'll tell you which way to move." + +He adjusted his sighting rings while the sergeant major glided away. +Moving around on a no-weight world was more like skating than walking. A +regular walk would have lifted Koa into space with every step. Of course, +the asteroid had some gravity, but so little that it hardly mattered. + +Rip centered the top of the instrument's vertical hairline on Alpha +Centauri, then waited until Koa was almost out of sight over the +asteroid's horizon, which was only a few hundred yards away. + +He turned up the volume on his helmet communicator. "Koa, move about ten +feet to your left." + +Koa did so. Rip sighted past the vertical hairline at the belt light. +"That's a little too far. Take a small step to the right. That's +good ... just a few inches more ... hold it. You're right in position. +Stand where you are." + +"Yessir." + +Rip turned to Santos. "Stand here, Corporal. Take a sight at Koa to get +your bearings, then hold position." + +Santos did so. Now the two lights gave Rip one of the lines he needed. He +called for two more men, and Trudeau and Nunez joined him. "Follow me," +he directed. + +Rip picked up the instrument and carried it to a point ninety degrees +from the line represented by Koa and Santos. He put the instrument down +and zeroed it on Messier 44, the Beehive star cluster in the +constellation Cancer. For the second sighting star he chose Beta Pyxis +as being closest to the line he wanted, made the slight adjustments +necessary to set the line of sight, since Pyxis wasn't exactly on it, +then directed Trudeau into position as he had Koa. Nunez took position +behind the instrument, and Rip had his cross fix. + +He called for Dowst, then carried the instrument to the center of the +cross formed by the four men. Using the instrument, he rechecked the +lines from the center out. They were within a hair or two of being +exactly on, and a slight error wouldn't hurt, anyway. He knew he would +have to correct with rocket blasts once the asteroid was in the new +orbit. + +"X marks the spot," he told Dowst. He put his toe on the place where the +crosslines met. + +Dowst used a spike to make an X in the metal ground. + +"All set," Rip announced. "You four men can move now. Let's have the +cutting equipment over here, Koa." + +The Planeteers were all waiting for instructions now. In a few moments +the equipment was ready, fuel and oxygen bottles attached. + +"Who's the champion torchman?" Rip asked. + +Koa replied, "Kemp is, sir." + +Kemp, one of the two American privates, took the torch and waited for +orders. "We need a hole six feet across and twenty feet deep," Rip told +him. "Go to it." + +"How about direction, sir?" Kemp asked. + +"Straight down. We'll take a bearing on an overhead star when you're in a +few feet." + +Dowst inscribed a circle around the X he had made and stood back. Kemp +pushed the striker button and the torch flared. "Watch your eyes," he +warned. The Planeteers reached for belt controls and turned the rheostats +that darkened the clear bubbles electronically. Kemp adjusted his flame +until it was blue-white, a knife of fire brighter by far than the light +of the sun at this distance. + +Koa stepped behind Kemp and leaned against his back, because the flame of +the torch was like an exhaust, driving Kemp backward. Kemp bent down, and +the torch sliced into the metal of the asteroid like a hot knife into +ice. The metal splintered a little as the heat raised it instantly from +almost absolute zero to many thousands of degrees. + +When the circle was completed, Kemp adjusted his torch again, and the +flame lengthened. He moved inside the circle and cut at an angle toward +the perimeter. His control was quick and certain. In a moment he stood +aside, and Koa lifted out a perfect ring of thorium. It varied from a +knife edge on the inner side to eighteen inches on the outer side. + +In the middle of the circle there was now a cone of metal. Kemp cut +around it, the torch angling toward the center. A piece shaped like +two cones set base to base came free. Since the metal cooled in the +bitter chill of space almost as fast as Kemp could cut it, there was no +heat to worry about. + +Alternately cutting from the outside and the center of the hole, Kemp +worked his way downward until his head was below ground level. Rip +called a halt. Kemp gave a little jump and floated straight upward. Koa +caught him and swung him to one side. Rip stepped into the hole, and +Santos gave him a slight push to send him to the bottom. Rip knelt and +sighted upward. Kemp had done a good job. The star Rip had chosen as a +guide was straight overhead. + +He bounced out of the hole, and, as Koa caught him, he told Kemp to go +ahead. "Dominico, here's your chance. Get tools and wire. Find a timer +and connect up the ten-kiloton bomb. Nunez, bring it here while Dominico +gets what he needs." + +Kemp was burning his way into the asteroid at a good rate. Every few +moments he pushed another circle or spindle of thorium out of the hole. +Rip directed some of the men to carry them away, to the other side of the +asteroid. He didn't want chunks of thorium flying around from the blast. + +The sergeant major had a sudden thought. He cut off his communicator, +motioned to Rip to do the same, then put his helmet against Rip's for +direct communication. He didn't want the others to hear what he had to +say. His voice came like a roar from the bottom of a well. "Lieutenant, +do you suppose there's any chance the blast might break up the asteroid? +Maybe split it in two?" + +The same thought had occurred to Rip on the _Scorpius_. His calculations +had showed that the metal would do little more than compress, except +where it melted from the terrific heat of the bomb. That would be only +in and around the shaft. He was sure the men at Terra base had figured +it out before they decided that A-bombs would be necessary to throw the +asteroid into a new orbit. He wasn't worried. Cracks in the asteroid +would be dangerous, but he hadn't seen any. + +"This rock will take more nuclear blasts than we have," he assured Koa. +He turned his communicator back on and went to the edge of the hole for +a look at Kemp's progress. He was far down now. Pederson was holding one +end of a measuring tape. The other end was fastened to Kemp's shoulder +strap. + +The Swedish corporal showed Rip that he had only about eight feet of tape +left. Kemp was almost down. Rip called, "Kemp, when you reach bottom, cut +toward the center. Leave an inverted cone." + +"Got it, sir. Be up in two more cuts." + +Dominico had connected cable to the bomb terminals and was attaching a +timer to the other end. Without the wooden case, the bomb was like a fat, +oversized can. It had been shipped without a combat casing. + +"Koa, make a final check. You can untie the landing boat, except for one +line. We'll be taking off in a few minutes." + +"Right, sir." Koa glided toward the landing boat, which was moored out of +sight beyond the horizon. + +It was nearly time. Rip had a moment's misgiving. Had his figures or his +sightings been off? His scalp prickled at the thought. But the ship's +computer had done the work, and it was not capable of making a mistake. + +Kemp tossed up the last section of thorium and then came out of the hole +himself, carrying his torch. + +Rip inspected the hole, saw with satisfaction that it was in almost +perfect alignment, and ordered the bomb placed. He bent over the edge +of the hole and watched Trudeau pay out wire while Dominico pushed the +bomb to the bottom. The Italian made a last-minute check, then called +to Rip. "Ready, sir." + +Rip dropped into the hole and inspected the connections himself, then +personally pulled the safety lever. The bomb was armed. When the timer +acted, it would go off. + +Back at ground level, he turned up his communicator. "Koa, is everything +ready at the boat?" + +"Ready, sir." + +The Planeteers had already carried away the torch and its fuel and oxygen +supplies. The area was clear of pieces of thorium. + +Rip announced, "We're setting the explosion for ten minutes." He leaned +over the timer, which rested near the lip of the hole, took the dial +control in his glove, and turned it to position ten. He held it long +enough to glance at his chronometer and say, "Starting now!" Then he +let it go. + +Wasting no time, but not hurrying, he and Dominico returned to the +landing boat. The Planeteers were already aboard, except for Koa, who +stood by to cast off the remaining tie line. Rip stepped inside and +counted the men. All present. He ordered, "Cast off." As Koa did so +and stepped aboard, Rip added, "Pilot, take off. Straight up." + +The landing boat rose from the asteroid. Rip counted the men again, just +to be sure. The boat seemed a little crowded, but that was because the +rear compartment took up quite a bit of room. + +Rip watched his chronometer. They had plenty of time. When the boat +reached a point about ten miles above the asteroid, he ordered, "Stern +tube." The boat moved at an angle. He let it go until a sight at the +stars showed they were in about the right position, ninety degrees from +the line of blast and where they would be behind the asteroid as it moved +toward the new course. + +He looked at his chronometer again. "Two minutes. Line up at the side if +you want to watch, but darken your helmets to full protection. This thing +will light up like nothing you've ever seen before." + +It was a good thing space cruisers depended on their radar and not on +sight, he thought. Usually spacemen opened up visual ports only when +landing or taking a star sight for an astroplot. The clear plastic of the +domes had to be shielded from chance meteors. Besides, radar screens were +more dependable than eyes, even though they could pick up only solid +objects. If the Consops cruiser happened to be searching visually, it +would see this blast. But the chance had to be taken. It wasn't really +much of a chance. + +"One minute," he said. He faced the asteroid, then darkened his helmet, +counting to himself. + +The minute ticked off rapidly, though his count was a little slow. When +he reached five, brilliant, incandescent light lit up the interior of the +boat. Rip saw it even though his helmet was dark. The light faded slowly, +and as it did, he gradually put his helmet back on full transparent. + +A mighty column of fire now reached out from the asteroid into space. Rip +held his breath until he saw that the little planet was sheering off its +course under the great blast. Then he sighed with relief. All was well so +far. + +Someone muttered, "By Gemini! I'm glad we're out here instead of down +there!" + +The column of fire lengthened, thinned out, grew fainter, until there was +only a glow behind the asteroid. Rip took his astrogation instruments and +made a number of sights. They looked good. The first blast had worked +about as predicted, although he wouldn't be able to tell how much +correction was needed until he had taken star sights over a period of +five or six days. + +"Let's go home," he ordered. + +Back on the asteroid, a pit that glowed with radioactivity marked the +site of the first blast. Rip ordered the men to stay as far from it as +possible, to avoid increasing their radiation doses. He plotted the lines +for the second blast, found the spot, and put Kemp back to work on a new +hole. + +Two hours later the second blast threw fire into space. In another three +hours, with the asteroid now speeding on its new course, Rip set off the +explosion that blasted straight back and gave extra speed. + +Three radioactive craters marked the asteroid. Rip checked the radiation +level and didn't like it a bit. He decided to set up the landing boat and +their supplies as far away from the craters as possible, which was on the +sun side. They could move to the dark side as they approached the orbit +of Earth. By then the radioactivity from the blasts would have died down +considerably. + +He was selecting the location for a base when Dowst suddenly called, +"Lieutenant Foster!" + +There was urgency in the Planeteer's voice. "What is it, Dowst?" + +"Sir, take a look, about two degrees south of Rigel!" + +Rip found the constellation Orion and looked at bright Rigel. For a +moment he saw nothing; then, south of the star, he saw a thin, orange +line. + +Nuclear drive cruisers didn't have exhausts of that color, and there was +only one rocket-drive ship around, so far as they knew. + +Rip said softly, "Let's get our house in order, gang. Looks as if we're +going to get a visit from the Connies!" + + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT + +Duck--or Die! + + +Sergeant Major Koa's great frame loomed in front of Rip. "Think they've +spotted us, sir?" + +Rip hated to say it. "Probably. Koa, can you estimate from the exhaust +how far away they are?" + +"Not very well, Lieutenant. From the position of the streak, I'd say +they're decelerating." + +The Planeteers looked at Rip. He was in command, and they expected him to +do something about the situation. Rip didn't know what to do. The rocket +launcher, their only weapon, wasn't designed for fighting spaceships. It +was useful against snapper-boats and people, but firing at a cruiser +would be like sending mosquitoes to fight elephants. + +He sized up their position. For one thing, they were right out in the +open, exposed to anything the Connie cruiser might throw at them. If they +could get under cover, there might be a chance. At least it would take +the Connies a while to find them. + +For a moment he thought of hurrying into the landing boat and sending out +a call for help to the _Scorpius_, but he thought better of it. They +weren't certain that Connie had spotted them. He would wait until there +was no doubt. Meanwhile, they had to find cover. + +His searching eyes fell on the cutting torch. If they could use that to +cut themselves right into the asteroid.... Suddenly he knew how it could +be done. On the sun side he remembered a series of high-piled, giant +crystals of thorium. They could cut into the side of one of those. And +with Kemp's skill, they might be able to do it in time. + +He called, "Kemp, Koa, bring the torch and fuel and follow me." + +In his haste he took a misstep and flew headlong a few feet above the +metal surface. Koa, gliding along behind him, turned him upright again. +He saw that the sergeant major was grinning. Rip grinned back. It was the +second time he had lost his footing. + +They reached the peaks of thorium, and Rip looked them over. The tallest +was perhaps forty feet high. It was roughly pyramidal, with a base about +sixty feet thick. It would do. + +"Kemp." The private hurried to his side. "Take the torch and make us a +cave. Make it big enough for the entire crew and the equipment." + +Kemp was a good Planeteer. He didn't stop to ask questions. He said, +"I'll make a small entrance and open the cave out inside." He picked up +the torch and got busy. + +Rip smiled. The Planeteer was right. He should have thought of it +himself, but it was good to see increasing proof that his men were smart +as well as tough and disciplined. + +"Bring up all supplies," he told Koa. "Move the boat over here, too. We +won't be able to bury that, but we want it close by." He had an idea for +their boat. It was able to maneuver infinitely faster than the big +cruiser. They could put the supplies in the cave, then take to the boat, +depending on its ability to turn quickly and on Dowst's skill at piloting +to play hide and seek. Dowst certainly could keep the asteroid between +them and the cruiser. + +The plan would fail when the cruiser sent a landing party. They would +certainly come in snapper-boats, and those deadly little fighting craft +could blast rings around the landing boat. The snapper-boats had gotten +their name because fast acceleration and quick changes of position could +snap a man right out of his seat if he forgot to buckle his harness +tightly. + +The solution would be to keep the landing boat close to the asteroid. At +the first sign of a landing party, they would take to the cave, using the +rocket launcher as a defense. + +The supplies began to arrive. The Planeteers towed them two crates at a +time in a steady line of hurrying men. + +Kemp's torch sent an incandescent knife three feet into the metal at each +cut. He was rapidly slicing out a cave. He cut the metal out in great +triangular bars, angling the torch from first one side, then the other. + +Koa came and stood beside Rip. "I haven't seen the Connie's exhaust for a +while, sir. They've probably stopped decelerating. We can't see them at +all." + +"Meaning what?" Rip asked. He thought he knew, but he wanted Koa's +opinion. + +"They're in free fall now, sir. That could mean they're just hunting in +the area. Or it could mean that they've stopped somewhere close by. They +could be looking us over right now, for all we know." + +Rip surveyed the stars. "If that's so, they're not too close, Koa. +Otherwise they'd block out a patch of stars." + +"Well, sir--" Koa hesitated. "I mean, if you were looking over this +asteroid, and you weren't sure whether the enemy had it or not, how close +would you get?" + +"Probably about one AU," Rip said jokingly. That was one astronomical +unit, equal to about ninety-three million miles, the distance from Earth +to the sun. + +"That's a safe distance, sir," Koa agreed with a grin. + +"But let's suppose the Connie isn't as timid as I am," Rip went on. "He +might be only a few miles out. The question is, would he wait to get +closer before launching his snapper-boats?" + +The tall officer answered frankly, "I've never been in a space grab like +this. I don't know the answer." + +"We'll soon know," Rip replied grimly. A thought had just struck him. The +_Scorpius_ had trouble finding the asteroid because it was just one of +many sailing along through the belt. But now the asteroid was the only +one traveling _across_ the belt. It would make an outstanding blip on any +radarscope. It wasn't possible that the Connie cruiser had missed the +blip and its significance. + +"The Connie may be looking us over," Rip added, "but I'll tell you one +thing. He knows we've taken the asteroid." + +Koa looked wistfully at the atomic bomb which remained. "If we had a way +to throw that thing at them...." + +"But we haven't. And the thing wouldn't explode, anyway. We don't have +the outside casing with an exploder mechanism, so it has to be turned on +electrically." Rip could see no way to use the atomic bomb against the +Connies. It was too big for use against a landing party. Besides, it +would put the Planeteers themselves in danger. + +"Ever have trouble with the Connies before?" he asked Koa. + +"More'n once, sir. Sometimes it seems like I'll never get a job where +I don't have to fight Connies." + +Rip was trained in science and Planeteer techniques, and he didn't +pretend to know the ins and outs of interplanetary politics. Just the +same, he couldn't help wondering about the strange relationship between +the Consolidation of People's Governments and the Federation of Free +Nations. + +Connies and Feds, mostly Planeteers but sometimes spacemen, were +constantly skirmishing. They fought over property, over control of +ports on distant planets and moons, and over space salvage. Often there +was bloodshed. Sometimes there were pitched battles between groups of +platoon size. + +But at that point the struggle ended. The law of the Federation said that +no spaceship could fire on a Connie spaceship or on Connie land bases, +except with special permission of the Space Council. The theory was that +brief struggles between men, or even between small fighting craft like +the snapper-boats, was not war. But firing on a spaceship was considered +an act of war, and the first such act could mean the beginning of a war +throughout the entire solar system. + +It made a sort of sense to Rip when he thought about it. Little fights +here and there were better than a full war among the planets. + +Koa suddenly gripped his arm. "Sir! Look up!" + +The short hairs on the back of Rip's neck prickled. Far above, blackness +in the shape of a spaceship blotted out stars. The Connie had arrived! + +Rip ordered urgently, "Kemp! Stop cutting! The rest of you get the stuff +under cover. Ram it!" He hurried to lend a hand himself, hustling crates +into the cave. + +Kemp had made astonishing progress. There was room for the crates, if +stacked properly, and for the men, besides. Rip supervised the stacking +and then the placement of the rocket launcher at the entrance. + +"All hands inside the boat," he ordered. "Dowst, be ready to take off at +a moment's notice. You'll have to buck this box around as never before." +He explained to the pilot his plan to dodge, keeping the asteroid between +the boat and the cruiser. + +"We'll make it, sir," Dowst said. + +"I'm not worried," Rip replied--and wished it were true. He looked up at +the Connie again. It was getting larger. The cruiser was within a few +miles of the asteroid. + +As Rip watched, fire spurted from the cruiser, and it moved with +gathering speed toward the asteroid's horizon. He watched the exhaust +trail, wondering why the Connie had blasted off. + +"He has something up his sleeve," Koa muttered. "Wish we knew what." + +"Let's take no chances," Rip stated. "Come on." + +The men were already in the boat. He and Koa joined them. They stood at a +window, watching the Connie's trail. + +The trail dwindled. Koa said, "Something's up!" Suddenly new fire shot +from one side of the cruiser, and it spun. Balancing fire came from the +other side, and for an instant the three exhausts formed a cross, with +the darkness of the Connie's hull in the center. Then they could see only +the exhausts from the sides. The stern flame was out of sight. "He's made +a full turn to come back this way," Rip stated tensely. "Dowst, get +ready." + +The Connie was perhaps twenty miles away. It grew larger, and the side +jets winked out. A few seconds later, fire spurted from the nose. + +Rip figured rapidly. The cruiser had gone far enough away to make a turn. +It had straightened out, heading right for them. Now the nose tube was +blasting, slowing the cruiser down. + +He sighted, holding out one glove, and gauging the Connie's distance +above the horizon, and his heart speeded. The Connie was right on the +horizon! + +"Ram it!" Rip called. "Around the asteroid. Quick!" + +Acceleration jammed him back against his men as Dowst blasted. No sooner +had he recovered than acceleration in a different direction shoved him up +to the ceiling so hard that his bubble rang. He clawed his way to the +window as the Connie cruiser flashed by, bathing the asteroid in glowing +flame. + +There was a chorus of gasps from the men as they saw the thing Rip had +realized a moment before. The Consops cruiser was playing it safe, using +its rocket exhaust as a great blowtorch to burn the surface of the +asteroid clean of any possible life! + +The sheer inhumanity of the thing made Rip's stomach tighten into a knot. +No asking for surrender, no taking of prisoners, not even a clean fight. +The Connie was doing its arguing with fire, knowing that the exhaust +would char every man on the asteroid's surface. + +The Planeteers watched as the Connie sped away, blasted with side jets, +and turned to come back. Dowst tensed over the controls, trying to +anticipate the next move. He delicately touched the firing levers, +letting out just enough flame to maneuver. He slid the craft across the +asteroid's surface to the side away from the Connie, going slowly enough +that they could watch the enemy's every move. + +"Here he comes," Rip snapped, and braced for acceleration. The landing +craft shot to safety as the cruiser's nose jet flamed. Dowst was just in +time. Tiny sparks from the edge of the fiery column brushed past the +boat. + +Rip realized that the Connie couldn't know the Federation men were in a +boat, dodging. The cruiser would make about two more runs, just enough to +allow for hitting every bit of the asteroid. Then it would assume that +anything on it was finished and send a landing party. + +"He'll be back," he stated. "About twice more. Three at most." He +suddenly remembered the landing boat's radio. "Dowst, where is the radio +connection?" + +The pilot handed him a wire with a jack plug on the end of it. Rip +plugged it into his belt. Now his voice would be heard on the _Scorpius_. + +"Calling _Scorpius_! Calling _Scorpius_! Foster reporting. We are under +attack. Repeat, we are under attack. Over to you." + +The answer rang in his helmet. "_Scorpius_ to Foster. Hold 'em, +Planeteers. We're on our way!" + +"Here comes the Connie," Koa yelled. + +Rip braced. The landing boat shot forward, then piled the Planeteers in a +heap on the bottom as Dowst accelerated upward. + +There was a sudden wrenching crash that sent the Planeteers in a jumbled +mass into the front of the boat. It whirled crazily, then stopped. + +Rip was not hurt. He shoved at someone whose bubble was in his stomach +and cleared the way. "Turn on belt lights," he called. "Quick!" + +Lights flared on. He searched quickly, swinging his light. The Planeteers +were getting to their feet. His light focused on Private Bradshaw, and he +gasped. + +Bradshaw's face was scarlet, and his skin was flecked with drops of +blood. His eyes were closed and bulging horribly. + +Rip jumped forward, but Koa was even faster. The Hawaiian jerked a repair +strip from a belt pouch and slapped it on the crack in Bradshaw's bubble. +Rip wasted no time, either. By the time Koa had the strip in place he had +pulled the connection from his belt light. He ran the tips of the wires +over the edges of the strip. The current sealed the patch in place +instantly. + +Koa grabbed the atmosphere control on Bradshaw's belt and turned it. The +suit puffed up. Rip watched the repair anxiously in the light from Koa's +belt. It held. + +Rip reconnected his light as he asked swiftly, "Anyone else hurt? Answer +by name." + +There were quick replies. No one else had been injured. + +"Run for the cave," Rip commanded. "Follow Koa. Santos and Pederson, drag +Bradshaw." + +The Englishman's voice sounded bubbly. "I can make it." + +"Good for you!" Rip exclaimed. "Call if you need help." + +Koa was already out of the craft and leading the way. Rip went out +through a window and saw the cause of the trouble. Dowst had been a +hair too close to the asteroid. A particularly high crystal of thorium +had snagged the landing craft. + +Rip looked for the Connie and saw it make another turn. They had only a +moment or two before the next run. "Show an exhaust!" he called. The +Connie must have blasted the opposite side of the asteroid while they +were hung up. + +The cave was a quarter of the asteroid away. Rip stayed in the rear, +watching for stragglers, but even Bradshaw was moving rapidly. Koa +reached the cave well ahead of the rest, reached for a rack of rockets, +and slapped it into the launcher. + +Rip urged the men on. The Connie was squared off for another run. + +They catapulted to safety as the cruiser flamed past, the exhaust +splashing over the metal and sending sparks into the cave. + +Rip looked out. That, if he had guessed right, was the last run. He +watched the Connie's stern jet cut off, saw the nose exhaust as the +cruiser decelerated to a fast stop. + +"Check your weapons," he ordered. + +He pulled his pistol from his knee pocket and checked it carefully. There +was a clip in the magazine. Other clips were in his pocket. The clips +were loaded with high velocity shells that exploded on contact. One slug +could stop a Venusian _krel_, a mammoth beast that had been described as +a cross between a sea lion and a cactus plant. + +His knife was in place in the other knee pocket. + +The Connie cruiser decelerated, went into reverse, and came to a full +stop about a mile from the asteroid. The Planeteers saw fire in two +places along the hull, marking the exhausts of two small craft. + +"Snapper-boats," Koa said tonelessly. "Five men in each, if those are the +regular Connie kind." + +Rip made a quick decision. With only one launcher they couldn't guard the +whole asteroid. "We'll stay under cover, except for Santos and Pederson. +You two sneak out. Take advantage of every bit of cover you can find. I +don't want you spotted. When a boat lands, report its position. The +Connies operate on different communicator frequencies, so they won't +overhear. We'll let them think they've burned the asteroid clean." + +He paused. "They'll search for a while. Then, when they're pretty well +satisfied that all is quiet, we'll show up." Rip grinned at his +Planeteers. "We can have a real, old-fashioned surprise party." + +Koa slid the safety catch from his pistol. "With fireworks," he added. + + + + +CHAPTER NINE + +Repel Invaders! + + +The snapper-boats came out of the darkness of space, leaving a glowing +trail of fire. They were not graceful. Rip could see no beauty in their +lines, but to his professional eye there was plenty of deadly efficiency. + +The Connie fighting craft looked like three globes strung evenly on +a steel tube. The middle globe was larger than the end ones, and it +was transparent. From it projected the barrels of two kinds of +weapons--explosive and ultrasonic. Five men usually rode in the middle +ball. One piloted. The other four were gunners. + +The end globes were pierced by five large holes. They were blast tubes +for the rocket exhaust. Unlike the landing boats, each tube did not have +its own fuel supply. One fuel tank served each globe. The pilot could +direct the exhaust through any tube or combination of tubes he wished, by +operating valves that either sealed or opened the vents. The system gave +high maneuverability to the boats. By playing on the controls with the +skill of an organist, the pilot could shift direction with dazzling +speed. + +Snapper-boats used by the Federation operated on the same principle, but +they were of American design, and they showed the Americans' love of +clean lines. Federation fighter craft were slim and streamlined, even +though the streamlining was of no use whatever in space. With blast holes +at each end, they looked like double-ended needles. The pilot's canopy in +the center controlled guns that fired through the front only. Rear guns +were handled by a gunner, who sat with back to the pilot. + +Where Connie snapper-boats carried five men, the Federation boats carried +two. The Connies could fire in any direction. The Federation pilots aimed +by pointing the snapper-boat itself, as fighter pilots of conventional +aircraft had once aimed their guns. + +Rip watched the boats approach. He was ready to duck inside if they +decided to look the asteroid over before landing. He hoped they wouldn't +catch sight of his two scouts. He also hoped his nervousness would vanish +when the fight started. He knew what to do, at least in theory. He had +gone through combat problems on the moon during training. But this was +different. This was real. The lives of his men depended on his being +right, and he was afraid of making a wrong decision. + +Sergeant Major Koa, an experienced Planeteer with true understanding, +came and stood beside him. He said, "Guess I'll never get over being +jittery while waiting for the fight to start. I'm sweating so hard my +dehumidifier is humming like a Callistan honey lizard. But it doesn't +last long once the shooting begins. I get so busy I forget to be +jittery." + +Before Rip could reply, the snapper-boats flashed over the cave, circled +the asteroid once, and landed on the dark side, close to the bomb +craters. + +The first scout reported. "Santos, sir. I'm fifty yards beyond the stakes +where we had the first base. The snapper-boats landed between the first +two craters. Men coming out of one boat. I count six. Now they're coming +out of the other boat, but I can't see very well." + +The other scout picked up the report, his voice thick with excitement. "I +can see them, sir! By Cosmos! There are seven in this boat on my side. I +am behind a rock forty yards to sunward of the second crater." + +Rip turned up the volume of his communicator. "How are they armed? +Santos, report." + +"One has a chatter gun. The rest have nothing." + +"Pederson, report." + +"No weapons I can see, sir." + +Koa looked at Rip. "They must think the asteroid is clean. Otherwise +they'd have more than a chatter gun in sight. You can bet they have +knives and pistols, too." + +Rip had been playing with an idea. He tried it on his men. "These Connies +would be useful to us alive, if we could capture them." + +Dowst caught his meaning first. "As hostages, sir?" + +"That's it. If we could capture them, the Connie cruiser would be +helpless. We could use the snapper-boat radios to warn the ship that any +false move would mean harm to their men." + +Koa shook his head doubtfully. "I'm not sure the Connies worry about +their men, but it's worth the try. We can capture some of them if they +split up to search the asteroid. But we won't be able to sneak up on them +all." + +"We have an advantage," Rip reminded them. "We've been on the asteroid +longer. We know our way around, and we're used to space walking. They've +just come out of deceleration, and they won't have their space legs yet." + +Santos reported. "They're breaking up into groups of two. Three are +guarding the snapper-boats. One is the man with the chatter gun." + +"Are their belt lights on?" + +"Yes." + +"Then keep out of the beams. Don't let them walk into you. Keep low, and +keep moving. Stay on the dark side." + +"We'd better get to the dark side ourselves," Koa warned. He was right, +Rip knew. The Connies didn't have far to search before reaching the sun +side. "Koa, you take Trudeau and Kemp. I'll take Dowst and Dominico. +Nunez and Bradshaw stay here to guard the cave. If they arrive in twos, +let them get into the cave before you jump them. Bradshaw, how do you +feel?" + +"I'm all right, Lieutenant." + +Rip admired the Planeteer's nerve. He knew Bradshaw was in pain, +because bleeding into high vacuum was always painful. The crack in +the Englishman's helmet had let most of the air out, and his own blood +pressure had done the rest. He would carry the marks for days. A few more +moments, and all air and all heat would have been gone, with fatal +results. Fortunately, bubbles didn't shatter easily when cracked. To +destroy them took a good blow. + +"All right. Let's travel. Koa, go right. I'll go the other way, and we'll +work around the asteroid until we meet." + +Rip led the way, gliding as rapidly as he could toward the edge of +darkness. He called, "Santos. Anyone coming in the direction of the +cave?" + +"Two pairs. About fifty yards apart. They will be out of my sight in a +few seconds." + +That meant they would be within sight of Rip and the others. He knew Koa +had heard the message, too. Both groups put on more speed and reached the +safety of darkness. "Get down," Rip ordered. They could still be seen, if +silhouetted against the edge of sunlight. + +Starlight gave a little light, but it was too faint to help much. Rip's +plan was that the Connies would supply the light needed for an attack. + +In a few seconds, as Santos had predicted, belt light beams cut sharp +paths through the darkness. Rip sized up the possibilities. There were +two teams of two men each, and they were getting farther apart with each +step. One team was coming almost directly toward them. The other two men +slanted away from them and would soon be out of sight behind the thorium +crystals in which the cave was located. Fortunately, the Connies were +going away from the cave. + +A Connie from the nearby team swung his beam back and forth, and it cut +space over their heads. Rip saw a few low pyramids of thorium a few rods +away. Quickly he ordered, "Dowst, hang on to my boots. Dominico, hang on +to Dowst's boots." + +He lay face down on the metal ground until he felt hands grip his boots, +then he asked, "All set?" + +Two voices answered, "Ready." + +Rip put his gloves on the ground, then heaved forward and slightly upward +to overcome his inertia and that of his men. The trio moved slowly, +almost parallel with the surface. Once or twice Rip reached down to a +convenient crystal and put his strength into changing course and +altitude. Those were the only times when he felt the tug of his men. + +He reached the first pyramid of thorium and directed, "Get behind these +rocks and stay down. Feel your way. Use me for a guide. I'll hold on +until you're under cover." He gripped a crystal. "Come on." + +Dominico pulled himself along Dowst's prone form and then along Rip's. +When Dominico had reached the shelter of the crystals, Dowst crawled +along, with Rip's body for his guide, passed over him, and reached cover. +Rip followed. + +The belt lights of the two Connies were almost abreast of them. Far to +their left, Rip saw another pair of lights. That was a pair he hadn't +seen before. + +"We'll wait until they pass," he told his men. "Then we'll get up and +rush them from behind. They can't hear us coming. Dowst, you take the +near one. I'll take the far one. Dominico, you help as needed, but +concentrate on cutting off their equipment. The first thing we must do is +cut their communicators; otherwise they'll warn the rest. Then turn off +their air supplies and collapse their suits." + +One thing was in their favor. The space suits worn by the Connies were +almost the same as theirs. The controls were of the same kind. The only +way to know a Connie was by his bubble, which was a little more tubular +than the round bubbles of the Federation. + +Rip suddenly realized that he wasn't nervous anymore. He grinned. After +all, this was what he was trained for. + +The Connies came abreast and passed. "Let's go," Rip said, and as he rose +he heard Koa's voice. + +The sergeant major said, "Kemp, kneel on their right side. Trudeau and +I will hit them from the left and tumble them over you. Get their +communicators first." + +Koa had his own methods and they sounded good. + +Rip started slowly. He wanted to get directly behind the Connies. He +stayed down low until he was sure they couldn't see him unless they +turned. + +Dowst and Dominico were right with him. "Come on," he said, and started +gliding after the helmeted figures. He kept his eyes on the one he had +selected, and he called on all the myriad stars of space to give him +luck. If the men turned, his plan for quick victory would fail. + +He sensed his Planeteers beside him as the figures loomed ahead. He gave +a final spring that sent him through space with knees bent and outthrust, +his hands reaching. + +His knees connected solidly with the Connie's thighs, and his hands +groped around the bulky space suit. He felt a rheostat control and +twisted savagely, then groped for the distinctive star-shaped button +of the air supply. + +The Connie wrenched violently and threw them both upward. Rip felt the +star shape and twisted. If he could only deflate the Connie's suit! But +the man was writhing from his grip, clawing for a weapon. + +Then Rip stopped reaching for the deflation valve. He grabbed his knife, +jerked it free, and thrust it against the middle of the Connie's back. +Then he clanged his bubble against the man's helmet for direct +communication and shouted, "Grab some space, or I'll let vack into +you!" + +The Connie understood English. Most earthlings did. But even better was +his understanding of the pressure on his back. He stopped struggling; his +arms shot starward. + +Rip breathed freely for the first time since he had leaped, and +exultation grew in him. He had his first man! His first hand-to-hand +fight had ended in victory so easily that he could hardly believe it. + +He took time to look around him and saw that he was a good five feet +above the asteroid. + +Below him, a Connie belt light sent its shaft parallel with the ground, +and he knew the second man was down. + +The question was, had either of them shouted before their communicators +were cut off? + +"Dowst," he called urgently. "All okay?" + +"No," Dowst said grimly. "We got the Connie, but he got Dominico. Cut his +leg with a space knife. I'm putting a patch on it. You okay?" + +"Yes. When you can, pull me down." + +"Right you are." + +Dominico spoke up. "Don't worry about me, sir. Nothing bad. I don't lose +much air." + +"Fine, Dominico. Glad it wasn't worse." + +But Rip knew it wasn't good, either. A cut with a space knife let air out +of the suit and created at least a partial vacuum. If it also cut flesh, +the vacuum let the blood pressure force out blood and tissue to turn a +minor wound into an ugly one. + +They would have to bring this space flap with the Connies to a quick end, +Rip thought. He had to get his men into air somehow, to take a look at +their wounds. Bradshaw needed attention immediately, and now so did +Dominico. + +Dowst reached up, took Rip's ankle, and pulled him down. Rip held on to +his captive. Then the private bound the Connie's hands, jerked his +communicator control completely off, and turned his air back on. Since +Rip had been unable to collapse the suit, the Connie was comfortable +enough. The reason for collapsing the suit was to deprive the enemy of +air instantly, so that he could be tied up while helpless from lack of +oxygen. There was enough air in the suit for only a few breaths once the +supply was cut off. + +The Connie on the ground was neatly trussed. Rip's prisoner joined him. +Dowst switched off his belt light. "Now what, sir?" + +Dominico was standing patiently nearby. He said nothing. Rip knew that no +more could be done for the Italian at present. "Go back to the cave, +Dominico," he ordered. + +"I can stay with you, sir." + +"No, Dominico. Thanks for the offer, but we'll get along. Go back to the +cave." + +"Yes, sir." + +Rip was a little worried. He had heard nothing from Koa since that first +exchange. He told Dowst as much. But Koa himself heard and answered. + +"Lieutenant, we're all right. Got two Connies, and I don't think they had +a chance to yell. But I'm sorry about one, sir. Kemp had to swing at him +and busted his bubble." + +"Fatal?" + +"No, we patched it in time. But worse than Bradshaw." + +"Tough." Rip couldn't feel too sympathetic. + +After all, it was the Connie cruiser's fault Bradshaw had felt high vack. +"All right. We have four. That leaves nine." + +Santos came on the circuit. "Sir, this is Santos. Only three men are at +the snapper-boats. If you could get here without being seen, maybe we +could knock them off. The rest wouldn't be much good if we had their +boats." + +"You're right, Santos," Rip replied instantly. Why hadn't he seen that +for himself? He knew how he and Dowst could approach the craters without +being spotted, now that they had removed two teams of Connies. "We're on +our way. Koa, make it if you can." + +"Yes, sir." + +Dominico was already making his way back to the cave. Rip and Dowst +started for the horizon at a good walk, not afraid now to use their +lights, at least for a few yards. If any of the remaining Connie search +teams saw the lights, they would think they were their own men's. + +Rip remembered the lay of the ground and Santos' description of the +snapper-boats' position. He circled almost to the horizon, then told +Dowst to cut his light. He cut his own. In a moment they topped the +horizon and, standing with only helmets visible from the snapper-boats, +looked the situation over. + +The three Connies were standing between them and the boats. To the left +of the boats was the second crater. Rip studied the ground as best he +could in the Connie belt lights and decided on a plan of action. Calling +to Dowst, he circled again. Presently they were approaching the crater. +The Connies were just about twenty-five yards from the crater's opposite +rim. + +Rip said, "I hate to do this, Dowst, but I can't see any way out. We have +to go into the crater." + +Dowst merely said, "Yes, sir." + +The extra radiation might put both of them well over the safety limits +long before Earth was reached, and they both knew it. He reached the +crater's edge and walked right down into it. + +They were out of sight of the Connies now. Rip walked up the other side +of the crater until his bubble was just below ground level. The chunks of +thorium he had ordered thrown in to block some of the radiation made +walking a little difficult. + +"Santos," he said, "we're in the second crater." + +"Sir, I'm beyond the first, between two crystals. Pederson is near you +somewhere." + +"Good. When I give the word, turn up your helmet light until they can see +a pretty good glow. Keep watching them." The bubbles were equipped with +lights, but they were seldom used. He outlined his plan swiftly. Both +Santos and Dowst acknowledged. + +Koa reported in. "We're after two more Connies near the wreck of the +landing boat, sir." + +"Be careful. Pederson, go help Koa. Nunez, how are things at the cave?" + +"Nunez reporting, sir. Two Connies in sight, but they haven't seen us +yet." + +"Let me know when they spot the cave." + +"Yes, sir." + +"Santos, go ahead." + +For long moments there was silence. Rip felt for a solid foothold, found +one, and flexed his knees. He kept his back straight and his eyes on the +crater rim. His hands were occupied with two air bottles taken from his +belt, and his thumbs were on their valve releases. He waited patiently +for word from Santos that his helmet glow had been seen. + +Santos yelled, "Now!" + +Rip's legs straightened with a mighty thrust. He flashed into space +headfirst, at an angle that took him over the crater's rim and fifty feet +above the ground. He caught a glimpse of Santos' helmet, glowing like a +pink balloon, and of the three Connies facing it. + +Rip's arms flashed above his head. His thumbs compressed. Air spurted +from the two bottles, driving him downward feetfirst, directly at the +heads of the Connies! + + + + +CHAPTER TEN + +Get the Scorpion! + + +From the corner of his eye, Rip saw Dowst's heavy space boots and knew +the private was right with him. As they drove down, one of the Connies +stepped a little distance away from the others, probably to get a better +look at Santos. The Connie sensed something and turned, just as Rip and +Dowst flashed downward on his two mates. + +Rip's boots caught one Connie where his bubble joined his suit, and the +impact drove the man downward to the unyielding surface of the asteroid +with a soundless smash. Rip threw up his arms to cushion his helmet as he +struck the ground beyond his enemy. He threw the air bottles away. He +fought to keep his feet under him and almost succeeded, but his knees hit +the ground, and pistol and knife bit into them painfully. + +Two figures came into his view, locked tightly together, arms flailing. +It was Dowst and the second Connie. He got to his feet and was moving to +the Planeteer's aid when Santos' voice shrilled in his helmet. "Sir! Look +left!" + +Rip whirled. The Connie who had stepped aside was advancing, pistol in +hand. His light caught Rip full in the face. + +The young officer thought quickly. The Connie hadn't fired. Why? Suddenly +he had it. The man hadn't fired for fear of hitting his friend, who was +battling with Dowst. Rip was in front of them. Quickly he dropped to one +knee, reaching for his own pistol. The Connie wouldn't dare fire now. The +high-velocity slug would go right through him, to explode in one of the +struggling figures behind--and the wrong one might get it. + +The Connie saw Rip's action and tossed his pistol aside. He, too, knew he +couldn't fire. He reached into a knee pouch and drew out his space knife. +He leaped for the Planeteer. + +Rip pulled frantically at his pistol. It was stuck fast, probably caught +in the fabric by his knee landing. The space knife wouldn't be caught. It +was smooth, with no projections to catch. He shifted knees and jerked it +out. + +The Connie's flying body hit him, and a powerful arm circled his waist. +Rip thrust upward with his knees, one hand reaching for the Connie's +suit valve. But the Connie had one arm free, too. He drove his glove up +under Rip's heart. Rip let go of the valve and used his elbow to lever +away, just as the Connie pressed his knife's release valve. The blade +slammed outward and drove into the inside of Rip's right arm, just above +the elbow. + +Pain lanced through him, and he felt the blood rush to the wound as air +poured through the gap in his suit. He gritted his teeth and smashed at +the Connie with his own knife. It rammed home, and he squeezed the +release. The blade connected solidly. He was suddenly free. + +He pressed the wounded arm to his side, stopping the outpouring of +air. The cut hurt like all the devils of space. With his other hand he +increased the air in his suit, then looked swiftly around. The Connie was +on his knees, both gloves pressed tightly to his side. + +Dowst was just finishing a knot in the safety line that bound a second +enemy's hands. The Connie Rip had rocketed down on was still lying where +he had fallen. And Corporal Santos, the enemy's pneumatic chatter gun at +the ready, was standing guard. + +Rip turned up the volume in his communicator. He tried to sound calm, +but the shakiness of triumph and excitement was in his voice. "All +Planeteers. We have the Connie snapper-boats. Koa, bring your men here." + +He felt someone working on his arm and turned to see Corporal Pederson, +his face one vast grin in the glare from Dowst's belt light. "Koa didn't +need me," he said. + +Rip grinned back. "Nunez," he called, "how are things at the cave?" + +"Sir, this is Nunez. Two Connies were prowling around, but they didn't +see the entrance. Then, a minute ago, they hurried away." + +Rip considered. "Koa, how many Connies have you?" + +"Four, sir." + +With the five he and Dowst had taken, that meant four sill at large, and +from Nunex's report, some Connie yelling had been going on. The four +certainly knew by this time that there were Federal men on the asteroid. +Unless something were done quickly the four Connies would be shooting at +them from the darkness. He ordered, "All Planeteers, kill your belt +lights." + +The lights on the Connies they had just taken still glowed. Dowst was +putting a patch on the Connie Rip had stabbed. He waited until the +private had finished, then said, "Turn out the Connies' lights, too." + +If he could get in touch with the Connies, he could tell them they were +finished. But using the snapper-boat radios was out, because the enemy +cruiser would hear. The cruiser couldn't hear the helmet communications, +though, because they carried only a short distance. The cruiser was close +enough so that a helmet communicator turned on full volume might barely +be heard, although it was unlikely. + +He couldn't stick his head in a Connie helmet, but he could talk to a +Connie by direct communication and have him give instructions. + +There was complete darkness with all belt lights out, but he groped his +way to the Connie Dowst had been patching, felt for his helmet, and put +his own against it. He yelled, "Do you hear me?" + +"Yes." Then he asked, "Why did you patch me?" + +It was a perfect opening. "Because we don't want to kill you. Listen. We +have all but four of you. Understand?" + +"Yes. What will you do with us?" + +"Treat you as prisoners--if you behave. Get on your communicator and tell +those four men to surrender. Tell them to come to the boats, with lights +on. Tell them we'll give them five minutes. If they don't come, we'll +hunt them with rockets. Make that clear." + +"They will come," the Connie said. "They don't want to die. I will do +it." + +Rip kept his helmet against the Connie's, but the man spoke in another +language, which Rip identified as the main Consops tongue. When he had +finished, Rip told his Planeteers to have weapons ready and to keep +lights off. Time enough for light when the Connies were all disarmed. + +It didn't take five minutes. The Connie teams came quickly and willingly, +and they seemed almost glad to give up their pistols and knives. This was +not unusual. Rip had seen many Planeteer reports that spoke of the same +thing. Many Connies, it seemed, were glad to get away from the iron +Consops rule, even if it meant becoming Federation prisoners. + +Inside one of the snapper-boats a light glowed. Rip put his helmet +against that of the man who had given the surrender order and demanded, +"What's that light?" + +"The cruiser wants us." + +Rip considered demanding that the Connie answer, then thought better of +it. He would do it himself. After all, they had hostages. The cruiser +wouldn't take any further action. He climbed into the snapper-boat and +hunted for the plug-in terminal. It fitted his own belt jack. He plugged +in and said, "Go ahead." + +There was an instant of silence, then an accented voice demanded, "Why +are you speaking English?" + +Rip replied formally, "This is Lieutenant Foster, Federation Special +Order Squadrons, in charge on the asteroid. Your landing party is in +our hands, as prisoners, two wounded, none dead. If you agree to +withdraw, we will send the wounded men back to you in one boat. The rest +will remain here as hostages for your good behavior." + +"Stand by," the voice said. There was silence for several moments, then a +new voice said, "This is the cruiser commander. We make a counteroffer. +If you release our men and surrender to them, we will spare the lives of +you and your men." + +Rip listened incredulously. The commanding officer didn't understand. He, +Rip, held the whip hand, because the lives of the Connie prisoners were +in his hands. He repeated his offer. + +"And I repeat," the commander retorted. "Surrender or die. Choose now." + +"I refuse," Rip stated flatly. "Try anything, and your men will suffer, +not us." + +"You are mistaken," the harsh voice said. "We will sweep the asteroid +clean with our exhaust, but this time we will be more thorough. When +we have finished, we will hammer you with guided missiles. Then we will +send snapper-boats with rockets to hunt down any who remain. We intend to +have that thorium. You had better surrender." + +Rip couldn't believe it. The cruiser commander had no hesitation in +sacrificing his own men! And it was not a bluff. He knew instinctively +that the Connie commander meant it. Instantly he unplugged the radio +connection from his belt and spoke urgently. "Koa, get everyone under +cover in the cave. Hurry! Collect all the Connies and take them with +you." + +Then he plugged in again. "Commander, I must have time to think this +over." + +"You have one minute." + +He watched his chronometer, planning the next move. When the minute +ended, he asked, "Commander, how do we know you will spare our lives if +we surrender?" Through the transparent shell of the snapper-boat he saw +lights moving toward the horizon and knew Koa was following orders. + +"You don't know," the cruiser answered. "You must take our word for it. +But if you surrender, we have no reason to wish you harm." + +Rip remained silent. The seconds ticked past until the commander snapped, +"Quickly! You have no more time." + +"Sir," Rip said plaintively, "two of my men do not wish to surrender." + +"Shoot them, fool! Are you in command or not?" + +Rip grinned. He made his voice whine. "But, sir, it is against the law of +the Federation to shoot men without a trial." + +The commander lapsed into his own language, caught himself, then barked, +"You are no longer under Federation law. You are under the Consolidation +of People's Governments. Do you surrender or not? Answer at once, or we +take action anyway. Quick!" + +Rip knew he could stall no longer. He said coolly, "If you had brains +in your head instead of high vacuum, you'd know that Planeteers never +surrender. Blast away, you filthy space pirate!" + +He jerked the plug loose, hesitated for a second over whether or not to +take the snapper-boat, and decided against it. He wasn't familiar with +Connie controls, and there wasn't time to experiment. He headed for the +cave. + +The Connie cruiser lost no time. Its stern tubes flamed, then its +steering tubes. It was going to drive directly at the asteroid without +making a long run! Rip estimated quickly and realized that the Connie +would get to the asteroid at the same time that he reached the cave--if +he made it. + +He speeded up as fast as he dared. With little gravity on the asteroid, +he couldn't fall, but a false step could lift him into space and make +him lose time while he got out an air bottle to propel him down again. +The thought gave him an idea. Without slowing he took two bottles from +his belt, turned them so the openings pointed backward, squeezed the +release valves. + +The Connie was gaining speed, blasting straight toward him. Rip sped +forward and crossed to the sun side, intent on the cave entrance but no +longer sure he would make it. The Connie's nose tube shot a cylinder of +flame forward, reaching for the asteroid. He saw the fire lick downward +and sweep toward him with appalling speed as he put everything he had +into a frantic dive for the cave entrance. The flaming rocket exhaust +seemed to snatch at him as a dozen hands pulled him to safety, then beat +the sparks from his suit. + +He was safe. He leaned against Koa, his heart thumping wildly. For a +moment or two he couldn't speak; then he managed, "Thanks." + +Koa spoke for the Planeteers. "We're the ones to say thanks, sir. If you +hadn't thought of stalling the cruiser, and if you hadn't stayed behind +to give us time, we'd have some casualties, and so would the Connies we +captured." + +"There wasn't anything else I could do," Rip replied. "Come on, Koa. +Let's see what the cruiser is doing." + +They stepped outside. The metal was already cold again. Things didn't +stay hot in the vacuum of space. + +They didn't see the Connie until the fire of its exhaust suddenly blasted +above the horizon, and then they ducked for cover. The cruiser had taken +a swing at the other side of the asteroid. They peered out again and saw +it turning. + +"He won't get us," Rip said confidently. "Our tough time will come when +he sends a fleet of snapper-boats." + +"We'll get a few," Koa replied grimly. "Wait! What's he doing?" + +The cruiser had started for the asteroid. Suddenly jets flamed from every +quarter of the ship. He was using all steering jets at once! Rip watched, +bewildered, as the great ship spun slowly, advanced, then settled to a +stop just at the horizon. + +"He can't be launching boats already," he said worriedly. "What's he up +to?" + +They ran forward a short distance until they could see below the cave's +horizon level. The cruiser released exhausts from both sides of the ship, +the outer ones the slightest bit stronger. Rip exclaimed, "Great Cosmos, +he's cuddling right up to the asteroid! Why?" + +"Hiding," Koa said. "By Gemini! Come on, sir!" + +Rip saw his meaning instantly, and they raced to the side of the asteroid +away from the ship. As they crossed into the dark half, Rip looked back. +He couldn't see the cruiser from here. But he looked out into space, +across the horizon, and knew that Koa's guess had been right. The +distinctive glow of a nuclear drive cruiser was clear among the stars. + +The _Scorpius_ had returned! + +"The Connie saw it," Rip said worriedly, "but didn't blast away. That +means he's intending to ambush the _Scorpius_. Koa, if he does, that +means war." + +The tall officer shook his head. "Sir, the Connie has guided missiles +with atomic warheads, just as our ship has. If he can launch one from +ambush and hit our ship, that's the end of it. The _Scorpius_ will be +nothing but space junk. Commander O'Brine will never have time to get +off a message, because he'll be dead before he knows there is danger." + +The logic of it sent a chill down Rip's spine. The Connie could get the +_Scorpius_ with one nuclear blast and then clean up the asteroid at +leisure. The Federation would suspect, but it would be unable to prove +anything, because there would be no witnesses. If the Connie took time to +tow the remains of the _Scorpius_ deep into the asteroid belt, it likely +would never be found, no matter how the Federation searched. + +They had to warn the ship. But how? Their helmet communicators wouldn't +reach it until it was right at the asteroid, and that would be too late. +They had no other radio. If only the radios in the snapper-boats were on +a Federation frequency.... Hey! They could take one of the boats and +intercept the cruiser! + +He was hurrying toward them before Koa understood what he was saying. He +tried to make his legs go faster, but they were unsteady. He knew he was +losing blood. He had lost plenty. He gritted his teeth and kept going. + +The snapper-boats seemed miles away to Rip, but he plugged ahead until +his belt light picked them up. He took a long look, then turned away, +heartsick. The Connie's exhaust had charred them into wreckage. + +"Now what?" he asked. + +"I don't know, sir," Koa answered somberly. + +They went back to the cave, not hurrying because Rip no longer had the +strength to hurry. Weakness and a deep desire to sleep almost overcame +him, and he knew that he was finished, anyway. His wound must be too deep +to clot, which meant it would bleed until he bled to death. Whether he +warned the _Scorpius_ or not, his end was the same. + +Back in the cave, he leaned against the wall and asked tiredly. "How is +Dominico?" + +"I am fine, sir. My wound stopped bleeding." + +"How is the Connie I got?" + +"Unconscious, sir," Santos replied. "He must be bleeding badly, but we +can't tell. The one you landed on is all right now, but he may have a +broken rib or two." + +Because his voice was weak, Rip had to turn up the volume on his +communicator to tell the Planeteers about the _Scorpius_. They were +silent when he finished. Then Dowst spoke up. + +"Looks like they have us, sir. But we'll take plenty of them with us +before we're finished." + +"That's the spirit," Rip told them. "I won't last much longer. When I get +too weak, Koa will take over. Meanwhile, I want to get outside. Bring the +rocket launcher outside, too. Who's the gunner? Santos? Stand by, then. +We'll need you, in case the Connie decides to send a few snappers before +it goes after the Scorpius." + +The cruiser's glow was plain above the horizon now. It was so close that +they could make out its form against the background of stars. O'Brine was +decelerating, and Rip was certain he was watching his screens for a sign +of the enemy. He would see nothing, because the enemy was in the shadow +of the asteroid. He would think the coast was clear and would come to a +stop nearby while he asked why Rip had called for help. Failing to get a +reply, since the landing boat was wrecked, he would send a landing party, +and the Connie would attack while he was launching boats, off guard. + +Rip watched the prediction come true. The nuclear cruiser slowed +gradually, its great bulk nearing the asteroid. O'Brine was operating as +expected. + +Rip was having trouble keeping his vision from blurring. He leaned +against the rocket launcher, and his glove caressed one of the sharp +noses in the rack. + +He heard his own voice before the idea had even taken full form. "Santos! +Do you hear me? Santos! Get the _Scorpius_! Fire before it comes to a +stop. And don't miss!" + +Santos started to protest, but Koa bellowed, "Do it! The lieutenant's +right. It's the only chance we've got to warn the ship. Get the scorpion, +Santos. Dead amidships!" + +The young corporal swung into action. His space gloves flew as he cranked +the launcher around, turned on the illuminated sight, and bent low over +it. Rip stood behind the corporal. He saw the cruiser's shape stand out +in the glow of the sight, saw the sighting rings move as Santos corrected +for its speed. + +The corporal fired. Fire flared back past his shoulder. The rocket +flashed away, its trail dwindling as it sped toward the great bulk +above. It reached _Brennschluss_, and there was darkness. Rip held his +breath for long seconds, then gave a weak cry of victory. + +A blossom of orange fire marked a perfect hit. + + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN + +Hard Words + + +The _Scorpius_ could have taken direct hits with little or no major +damage from a hundred rockets of the kind Rip had used, but Commander +O'Brine took no chances. When the alarm bell signaled that the outer hull +had been hit, the commander acted instantly with a bellowed order. + +The Planeteers on the asteroid blinked at the speed of the cruiser's +getaway. Fire flamed from the stern tubes for an instant, and then there +was nothing but a fading glow where the _Scorpius_ had been. + +Rip had a mental image of everything movable in the ship crashing against +bulkheads with the terrific acceleration. + +And in the same moment, the Consops cruiser reacted. The Connie commander +was ready to fire guided missiles, when his target suddenly, +mysteriously, blasted into space at optimum acceleration. There was only +one reason the Connie could imagine: His cruiser had been spotted. The +ambush had failed. It was one thing for the Connie to lie in ambush for +a single, deadly surprise blast at the Federation cruiser. It was quite +another to face the nuclear drive ship with its missile ports cleared for +action. The Connie knew he had lost. + +Rip and the Planeteers saw the Consops ship suddenly flame away, then +turn and dive for low space below the asteroid belt, in a direction +opposite to the one the _Scorpius_ had taken. The Planeteers' helmet +communicators rang with their cheers. + +The young officer clapped Santos on the shoulder and exclaimed weakly, +"Good shooting!" + +The corporal turned anxiously to Koa. "The lieutenant's pretty weak. +Can't we do something?" + +"Forget it," Rip said. There was nothing anyone could do. He was trapped +inside his space suit. There was nothing anyone could do for his wound +until he got into air. + +Koa untied his safety line and moved to Rip's side. "Sir, this is +dangerous, but there's just as much danger without it. I'm going to tie +off that arm." + +Rip knew what Koa meant. He stood quietly as the big sergeant major put +the line around his arm above the wound, then put his massive strength +into the task of pulling the line tight. + +The heavy fabric of the suit was stiff, and the air pressure gave further +resistance that had to be overcome. Rip let most of the air out of the +suit, then fought for breath until the pain in his arm told him that Koa +had succeeded. He inflated the suit again and thanked the sergeant major +weakly. + +The tight line stopped the bleeding, but it also cut off the air +circulation. Without the air, the heating system couldn't operate +efficiently. It was only a matter of time before the arm froze. + +"Stand easy," Rip told his men. "Nothing to do now but wait. The +_Scorpius_ will be back." He set an example by leaning against the +thorium crystal in which the cave was located. It was a natural but +rather meaningless gesture. With virtually no gravity pulling at them, +they could remain standing almost indefinitely, sleeping upright. + +Rip closed his eyes and relaxed. The pain in his arm was less now, and he +knew the cold was setting in. He was getting lightheaded, and, most of +all, he wanted to sleep. Well, why not? He slumped a little inside the +suit. + +He awoke with Koa shaking him violently. Rip stood upright and shook his +head to clear his vision. "What is it?" + +"Sir, the _Scorpius_ has returned." + +Rip blinked as he stared out into space to where Koa was pointing. He had +trouble focusing his eyes at first, and then he saw the glow of the +cruiser. + +"Good," he said. "They'll send a landing boat first thing." + +"I hope so," Koa replied. + +Rip wanted to ask why the big Planeteer was dubious, but he was too tired +to phrase the question. He contented himself with watching the cruiser. + +In a short time the _Scorpius_ was balanced, with nose tubes +counteracting the thrust of stern tubes, ready to flash into space again +at a second's notice. + +Rip watched, puzzled. The cruiser was miles away. Why didn't it come any +closer? Then suddenly it erupted a dozen fiery streaks. + +"Snapper-boats!" someone gasped. + +Rip jerked fully awake. In the ruddy glow of the fighting rockets' tubes, +he had seen that the cruiser's missile ports were yawning wide, ready to +spew forth their deadly nuclear charges in an instant. + +The snapper-boats flashed toward the asteroid in a group, sheered off, +and broke formation. They came back in pairs, streaking space with the +sparks of their exhausts. + +"Into the cave," Koa shouted. + +The Planeteers obeyed instantly. Koa took Rip's arm to lead him inside, +but the young officer shook him off. "No, Koa. I'll take my chances out +here. I want to see what they're up to." + +"Great Cosmos, sir! They'll go over this rock like Martian beetles. +You'll get it, for sure." + +"Get inside," Rip ordered. He gathered strength enough to make his voice +firm. "I'm staying here until I figure out some way to call them off. We +can't just stand here and let them blast us. They're our own men." + +"Then I'm staying, too," Koa stated. + +A pair of snapper-boats flashed overhead and vanished below the horizon. +Two more swept past from another direction. + +Rip watched, curious. What were they up to? Another pair quartered past +them at high speed, then two more. The boats seemed to be crisscrossing +the asteroid in a definite pattern. + +A pair streaked past, and something sped downward from one of them, +trailing yellow flame. It exploded in a ball of molten fire that licked +across the asteroid in waves. Rip tensed, then saw that the chemical +would burn out before it reached them. + +"Fire bomb," Koa muttered. + +Rip nodded. He had recognized it. The Planeteers were trained in the use +of fire bombs, tanks of chemicals that burned even in an airless world. +They were equipped with simple jets for use in space. + +The snapper-boats drew off, back toward the _Scorpius_. Rip watched, +searching for some reason for their actions. Then one of the boats +pulled away from the others. It returned to the asteroid, with stern jet +burning fitfully. + +"Is he landing?" Koa asked. + +Rip didn't know. The snapper-boat was moving slowly enough to make a +landing. + +Directly above the asteroid it changed direction, circled, and returned +over their heads. Rip could almost have picked it off with a pistol shot. +Santos could have blasted it into space dust with one rocket. + +The snapper-boat changed direction, and for a fraction of a second stern +and side tubes "fought" each other, making the boat yaw wildly. Then it +straightened out on a new course. + +Koa exclaimed, "That's a drone!" + +Rip got it then. A pilotless snapper-boat! That's why its actions were a +little uneven. Only one thing could explain its deliberate slowness. It +was bait. The _Scorpius_ had sent piloted snapper-boats over the asteroid +at high speed, crisscrossing in order to cover the thorium world +completely, expecting to have the unknown rocketeer fire at them. Then a +fire bomb had been dropped as a further means of getting the asteroid to +fire. But no rockets had been fired from the asteroid, so the pilot in +control of the drone had sent it at low speed, a perfect target. + +That meant O'Brine wasn't sure of what was going on. He must have seen +the blip on his screen as the Connie cruiser flamed off, Kip reasoned. +But the commander probably suspected that the Connies had overcome +the Planeteers and were in control of the asteroid. He had sent the +snapper-boats to try to draw fire, in an attempt to find out more surely +whether Planeteers or Connies had the thorium rock. + +"The _Scorpius_ doesn't know what's going on," Rip told his Planeteers. +"O'Brine didn't know the cruiser was waiting to ambush him, so the rocket +we fired made him think the Connies had taken us over." + +He put himself in O'Brine's place. What would his next step be? The +snapper-boats hadn't drawn fire, even when a drone was sent over at low +speed. The next thing would be to send a piloted boat over slowly enough +to take a look. + +Rip hoped O'Brine would hurry. There was no longer any feeling in his arm +below Koa's safety line. That meant the arm had frozen. He had to get +medical attention from the _Scorpius_ pretty soon. + +He gritted his teeth. At least he was no longer losing blood. He wasn't +getting any weaker. But every now and then his vision fogged, and he had +to shake his head to clear it. + +The pilotless snapper-boat made another slow run, then put on speed +and flashed back to the group of boats near the cruiser. Another boat +detached itself from the squadron and moved toward the asteroid. + +Rip wished for a communicator powerful enough to reach the _Scorpius_, +but he knew it was useless to try with his helmet circuit. The carrier +waves of the snapper-boats were on the same frequency, and they would +smother the faint signal from his bubble. + +But the boats might be able to hear if they got close enough! He had a +swift memory of the communications circuits. The pilots were plugged into +their boat communicators. If a boat got near enough, he could turn up his +bubble to full volume and yell. Not only would the boat pilot hear him, +but also his voice would go through the pilot's circuit and be heard in +the ship! + +Rip grabbed Koa's arm. "Let's move away from the cave a little farther." + +The two of them stepped away from the cave and stood in full view as the +snapper-boat moved cautiously down toward the asteroid. Rip planned what +he would say. "Commander O'Brine, this is Foster!" + +No, that wouldn't do. Connies would know that Kevin O'Brine commanded the +_Scorpius_, and if they had taken over the Planeteers on the asteroid, +they would also have learned Rip's name. He had to say something that +would immediately identify him beyond the shadow of a doubt. + +The snapper-boat was closing in slowly. Rip knew the pilot and gunner +must be tense, frightened, ready to blast with their guns at the first +wrong move on the asteroid. He groped with his good arm and turned up his +helmet communicator to full volume. + +The fighting rocket drew closer, cut in its nose tube, and hovered only a +few hundred feet above the Planeteers. + +Rip summoned enough strength to make his voice sharp and clear. His words +sped through space into the bubble of the pilot, echoed in the helmet, +were picked up by the pilot's microphone, and then were hurled through +the snapper-boat circuit and through space to the cruiser's control room. + +O'Brine stiffened as the speaker threw Rip's voice at him, amplified and +hollow-sounding from reverberations in the snapper-boat pilot's helmet. + +"_O'Brine is so ugly he won't look at his face in a clean blast tube! +That no-good Irishman wouldn't know what to do with an asteroid if he had +one!_" + +The commander turned purple with rage. He bellowed, "Foster!" + +A junior space officer hid a grin and murmured, "Looks like the +Planeteers still have the asteroid." + +O'Brine bent over the communicator and yelled, "Deputy commander! Launch +landing boats. Get those Planeteers and bring them here under armed +guard. Ram it!" + +The snapper-boat pilot through whose circuit Rip had yelled turned to +look wide-eyed at his gunner. "Did you hear that? Throw a light down on +the asteroid. It must have come from there." + +The gunner threw a switch, and a searchlight port opened in the boat's +belly. Its beam searched downward, swept past, then steadied on two +space-suited figures. + +"It worked," Rip said tiredly. He closed his eyes to guard them against +the brilliant glare, then waved his good arm. + +Santos called from the cave entrance. "Sir, landing boats are being +launched!" + +"Bring out the prisoners," Rip ordered. "Line them up. Planeteers fall in +behind them." + +The landing boats, with snapper-boats in watchful attendance, blasted +down to the surface of the asteroid. Spacemen jumped out, awkward at +first on the no-weight surface. An officer glided to meet Rip, and he had +a pistol in his hand. + +"It's all right," Rip told him. "The Connies are our prisoners. You won't +need guns." + +The spaceman snapped, "You're under arrest." + +Rip stared incredulously. "What for?" + +"The commander's orders. Don't give me any arguments. Just get aboard." + +"I can't argue with a loaded gun," Rip said wearily. He called to his +men. "We're under arrest. I don't know why. Don't try to resist. Do as +the spacemen order." + +Rip got aboard the nearest landing boat, his head spinning. O'Brine had +made a mistake of some kind. + +The landing boats, loaded with Planeteers and Connies, lifted from the +asteroid to the cruiser. They slid smoothly into the air locks and +settled. The massive lock doors slid closed and lights flickered on. Rip +waited, trying to keep consciousness from slipping away. + +The lock gauges registered normal air, and the inner valves slid open. +Commander O'Brine stepped through, his square jaw outthrust and his face +flushed with anger. He bellowed, "Where's Foster?" + +His voice was so loud that Rip heard him even through the bubble. He +stepped out of the boat and faced the irate commander. + +O'Brine ordered, "Get him out of that suit." + +Two spacemen jumped forward. One twisted Rip's bubble free and lifted it +off. The heavy air of the ship hit him with physical force. + +O'Brine grated, "You're under arrest, Foster, for firing on the +_Scorpius_, for insubordination, and for conduct unbecoming an officer. +Get out of that suit and get flaming. It's the space pot for you." + +Rip had to grin. He couldn't help it. He started to reply, but the heavy +air of the cruiser, so much richer and denser than that of the suits, was +too much. He fell, unconscious. + +There was no gravity to pull him to the floor, but the action of his +relaxing muscles swung him slowly until he lay facedown in the air a +few feet above the floor. + +Commander O'Brine stared for a moment, then took the unconscious +Planeteer and swung him upright. His quick eyes took in the patch +on the arm, the safety line tied tightly. He roared, "Quick! Get him +to the wound ward!" + + * * * * * + +Rip came back to consciousness on the operating table. The wound in his +arm had been neatly repaired, and below the wound, where his arm had +frozen, a plastic temperature bag was slowly bringing the cold flesh back +to normal. On his other side, a pulsing pressure pump forced new blood +from the ship's supplies into his veins. + +A senior space officer, with the golden lancet of the medical service on +his tunic, bent over him. "How do you feel?" + +Rip's voice surprised him. It was as full and strong as ever. "I feel +wonderful. Can I get up?" + +"When we get enough blood into you, and your arm is fully restored." + +Commander O'Brine appeared in the door frame. "Can he talk?" + +"Yes. He's fine, sir." + +O'Brine glared down at Rip. "Can you give me a good reason why I +shouldn't have you treated for space madness and then toss you in the +space pot until we reach Earth?" + +"Best reason in the galaxy," Rip said cheerfully. "But before we talk +about it, I want to know how my men are. One got cut, and another had his +bubble cracked. Also, one of the Connies got badly cut, another had some +broken bones, and a third one bled into high vack when Koa cracked his +bubble." + +The doctor answered Rip's question. "Your men are all right. We put the +one with the cracked bubble into high compression for a while, just to +relieve his pain a little. The other one didn't bleed much. He's back in +the squad room right now. Two of the prisoners are patched up, but the +third one is in the other operating room. I don't know whether we can +save him or not. We're trying." + +O'Brine nodded. "Thanks, Doctor. Now, Foster, start talking. You fired +on this ship, scored a hit, and broke the air seal. No casualties, +fortunately. But by forcing us to accelerate at optimum speed, you caused +so much breakage of ship's stores that we'll have to put into Marsport +for new stocks. And on top of all that, you insulted me within the +hearing of every man on the ship. I don't mind being insulted by +Planeteers. I'm used to it. But when it's done over the communications +system, it's bad for discipline." + +Rip tried to keep a straight face. He said mildly, "Sir, I'm surprised +you even give me a chance to explain." + +"I wouldn't have," O'Brine said frankly. "I would have shot off a special +message to Earth, relieving you of command and asking for Discipline +Board action. But when I saw those Connie prisoners, I knew there was +more to this than just a young space pup going vack-wacky." + +"There was, Commander." Rip recited the events of the past few hours +while the Irishman listened with growing amazement. "I had to convince +you in a hurry that we still held the asteroid, so I used some insulting +phrases that would let you know, without any doubt, who was talking. And +you did know, didn't you, sir?" + +O'Brine flushed. For a long moment his glance locked with Rip's, then he +roared with laughter. + +Rip grinned his relief. "My apologies, sir." + +"Accepted," O'Brine chuckled. "I'm rather sorry I don't have an excuse +for dumping you in the space pot, though, Foster. Your explanation is +acceptable, but I have a suspicion that you enjoyed calling me names." + +"I might have," Rip admitted, "but I wasn't in very good shape. The only +thing I could think of was getting into air so I could have my arm +treated. Commander, we've moved the asteroid. Now we have to correct +course. And we have to get some new equipment, including nuclite +shielding. Also, sir, I'd appreciate it if you'd let my men clean up and +eat. They haven't been in air since we left the cruiser." + +For answer, O'Brine strode to the operating-room communicator. "Get it," +he called. "The deputy commander will prepare landing boat one and issue +new space suits and helmets for all Planeteers with damaged equipment. +Put in two rolls of nuclite. Sergeant Major Koa will see that all +Planeteers have an opportunity to clean up and eat. They will return to +the asteroid in one hour." + +Rip asked, "Will I be able to go into space by then?" + +The doctor replied, "Your arm will be normal in about twenty minutes. It +will ache some, but you'll have full use of it. We'll bring you back to +the ship in about twenty-four hours for another look at it, just to be +sure." + +Sixty minutes later, clean, fed, and contented, the Planeteers were again +on the thorium planet, while the _Scorpius_, riding the same orbit, stood +by a few miles out in space. + +The asteroid and the great cruiser arched high above the belt of tiny +worlds in the orbit Rip had set, traveling together toward distant Mars. + + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE + +Mercury Transit + + +The long hours passed, and only Rip's chronometer told him when the end +of a day was reached. The Planeteers alternately worked on the surface +and rested in the air of the landing boat compartment, while the asteroid +sped steadily on its way. + +When a series of sightings over several days gave Rip enough exact data +to work on, he recalculated the orbit, found the amount that the course +had to be corrected, and supervised the cutting of new holes in the +metal. + +Tubes of ordinary rocket fuel were placed in these and fired, and the +thrust moved the asteroid slightly, just enough to make the corrections +Rip needed. It was not necessary to take to the landing boat for these +blasts. The Planeteers retired to their cave, which was now lined with +nuclite as a protection against radiation. + +Rip watched his dosimeter climb steadily as the radiation dosage mounted. +Then he took the landing boat to the Scorpius, talked the problem over +with the ship's medical department, and arranged for his men to take +injections that would keep them from getting radiation sickness. + +They left the asteroid belt far behind and passed within ten thousand +miles of Mars. The _Scorpius_ sent its entire complement of snapper-boats +to the asteroid for protection, in case Consops made another try, then +flamed off to Marsport to put in new supplies to replace those damaged +when Rip had forced sudden and disastrous acceleration. + +The asteroid had reached Earth's solar orbit before the cruiser returned, +though Earth itself was on the other side of the sun. Rip ordered a +survey and found the best place on the dark side to make a new base. The +Planeteers cut out a cave with the torch, lined it with nuclite, and +moved in the supplies. It would be their base to the end of the trip. + +The sun was very hot now. On the sunny side of the asteroid the +temperature had soared far past the boiling point of water. But on the +dark side, Rip measured temperatures close to absolute zero. + +When the _Scorpius_ returned, he arranged with Commander O'Brine for the +Planeteers to take turns going to the cruiser for showers and decent +meals. + +The asteroid approached the orbit of Venus, but the bright planet was +some distance away, at its greatest elongation to the east of the sun. +Mercury, however, loomed larger and larger. They would pass close to the +hot planet. + +O'Brine recalled Rip to the _Scorpius_ and handed him a message. + + Asteroid now within protection reach of Mercury and Terra bases. Your + escort no longer required. Proceed immediately Titan, take on cargo and + personnel. + +The commander sighed. "Looks like I'll never get to Earth long enough to +see my family." + +Rip sympathized. "Tough, sir. Perhaps the cargo from Titan will be +scheduled for Terra." + +"That's what I hope," O'Brine agreed. "Well, here's where we part. Is +there anything you need?" + +Rip made a mental check on supplies. He had more than enough. "The only +thing we need is a long-range communicator, sir. We'll need one to +contact the planet bases." + +"I'll see that you get one." The Irishman thrust out his hand. "Stay +out of high vack, Foster. Too bad you didn't join us instead of the +Planeteers. I might have made a decent officer out of you." + +Rip grinned. "That's a real compliment, sir. I might return it by saying +that you have the makings of a Planeteer officer yourself." + +O'Brine chuckled. "All right. Let's declare a truce, Planeteer. We'll +meet again. Space isn't very big." + +A short time later Rip stood in front of his asteroid base and watched +the great cruiser drive into space. A short distance away a snapper-boat +was lashed to the landing boat. O'Brine had left it, with a word of +warning. + +"These Connies are plenty smart. I don't like leaving you unprotected, +even within reach of Mercury and Terra, but orders are orders. Keep the +snapper-boat, and you'll at least be able to put up a fight if you bump +into trouble." + +The asteroid sped on its lonely way for two days, and then a cruiser came +out of space, its nuclear drive glowing. The Planeteers manned the rocket +launcher, and Rip and Santos stood by the snapper-boat, just in case, but +the cruiser was the _Sagittarius_, out of Mercury. + +Capt. Go Sian-tek, a Chinese Planeteer officer, arrived in one of the +cruiser's boats with three enlisted men. + +Captain Go greeted Rip and his men, then handed over a plastic stylus +plate ordering Rip to deliver six cubic meters of thorium for use on +Mercury. While Koa supervised the cutting of the block, Rip and the +captain chatted. + +The Mercurian Planeteer base was in the twilight zone, but the Planeteers +always worked on the sun side, wearing special alloy suits to mine the +precious nuclite that only the hot planet provided. + +At some time during its first years, Mercury had been so close to the +sun that its temperature was driven high enough to permit a subatomic +thermonuclear reaction. The reaction had shorn some elements of their +electrons and left a thin coating of material composed almost entirely +of neutrons. The nuclite was incredibly dense. It could be handled only +in low gravity because of its weight. But nothing else provided the +shielding against radiation and meteors half so well, and it was in great +demand. + +"Things aren't so bad," Go told Rip. "The base is comfortable, and we +only work a two-hour shift out of each ten. We've had a plague of silly +dillies recently. They got into one man's suit while we were working, but +mostly they're just a nuisance." + +Rip had heard of the creatures. They were like Earth armadillos, except +that they were silicon animals and not carbon like those of Earth. They +were drawn to oxygen like iron to a magnet, and their diamond-hard +tongues, used for drilling rock in order to get the minerals on which +they lived, could drive right through a space suit. Or, if these animals +worked undetected for a while, they could drill through the shell of a +space station. + +_Scralabus primus_ was the scientific name of the creature, but the fact +that it looked like a silicon armadillo had given it the popular name of +"silly dilly." Apart from its desire for oxygen, it was harmless. + +Koa reported, "Sir, the block of thorium is ready. We've hung it on a +line behind the landing-boat. The blast won't hurt it, and it's too big +to get inside the boat." + +"Fine, Koa. Well, Captain, that does it." + +The Mercurian Planeteers got into their craft and blasted off, trailing +the block of thorium in their exhaust. Rip watched the cruiser take the +craft and thorium aboard, then drive toward Mercury, brilliant sunlight +reflecting from its sleek sides. The planet was only a short distance +away by spaceship. It was the largest thing in space, except for the sun, +as seen from the asteroid. + +Past the orbit of Mercury, the sun side of the asteroid grew dangerously +hot for men in space suits. Rip and the Planeteers stayed in the bitter +cold of the dark side, which ceased to be entirely dark. The temperature +rose somewhat. They were close enough to the sun that the prominences, +great flaming tongues of hydrogen that sped many thousands of miles into +space, gave them light and enough heat to register on Rip's instruments. + +Mercury was left far behind, and Earth could not be seen because of the +sun. There was nothing to do now but ride out the rest of the trip as +comfortably as possible, until it was time to throw the asteroid into +a series of ever-tightening elliptical orbits around Earth, known as +braking ellipses. The method would use Earth's gravity to slow them down +to the proper speed. A single atomic bomb and a half dozen tubes of +rocket fuel remained. + +Then, as Rip was enjoying the comfort of air during his off-watch hour in +the boat compartment, Koa beat an alarm on the door. + +Rip and the Planeteers got into suits and opened up. + +"It's Terra base calling on the communicator, sir," Koa reported. "Urgent +message, they said, and they want to talk to you personally." + +Rip hurried to the cave. The communicator indicator light was glowing +bright red. He plugged in his helmet circuit and said, "This is +Lieutenant Foster. Go ahead." + +A voice crackled across space from Earth. "This is Terra base. Foster, +a Consops cruiser has apparently been hiding behind the sun waiting for +you. Our screens just picked it up, heading your way. We've sent orders +to the _Sagittarius_ on Mercury to give you cover, and the _Aquila_ has +taken off from here. But get this, Foster. The Consops cruiser will reach +you first. You have about one hour. Do you understand?" + +Rip understood all right. He understood too well. "Got you," he said +shortly. "Now what?" + +The communicator buzzed. "Take any appropriate action. You're on your +own. Sorry. Sending the cruisers is all we can do. We'll stand by for +word from you. If you think of any way we can help, let us know." + +Rip asked, "How long before the cruisers arrive?" + +"You're too close to us for them to move fast. They'll have to use time +accelerating and decelerating. The _Sagittarius_ should arrive in +something less than two hours and the _Aquila_ a few minutes later." + +The communicator paused, then continued. "One thing more, Foster. The +Connies know how badly we want that asteroid, but they also know we don't +want it enough to start a war. Got that?" + +"Got it," Rip stated wryly. "I got it good. Thanks for the warning, Terra +base. Foster off." + +"Terra base off. Stay out of high vack." + +Fine advice, if it could be taken. Rip stared up at the brilliant stars, +thinking fast. The Connie would have almost an hour's lead on the +space-patrol cruisers. In that hour, if the Connie were willing to pay +the price in blasted snapper-boats, Consops would have the asteroid. And +Terra base had made it clear that the space patrol would not try to blast +the Connie cruiser, because that would mean war. + +Added together, the facts said just one thing: They had one hour in which +to think of some way to hold off the Connies for an additional hour. + +The Planeteers were clustered around him. Rip asked grimly, "Any of you +ever study the ancient art of magic?" + +The Planeteers remained silent and tense. + +"Magic is what we need," Rip told them. "We have to make the whole +asteroid disappear, or else we have to conjure up a space cruiser out +of the thorium. Otherwise, we have barely an hour till we're either +prisoners or dead!" + + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN + +Peril! + + +Sergeant major Koa asked thoughtfully, "Sir, would it do the Connie much +good to launch boats this close to the sun? They'd have to use too much +fuel just keeping position." + +"You could be right," Rip said slowly. Koa had a point! To counter +gravitational attraction took velocity, which meant consumption of fuel. +Maneuvering boats meant rapid velocity changes. Against the sun's +terrific gravity at this distance, it also meant maximum thrust and +maximum fuel flow most of the time. The asteroid, in a planned orbit with +the correct velocity, was safe enough, and the Connie cruiser would +simply match the asteroid's orbit. But boats, which had to maneuver, were +another matter. + +Rip figured quickly. In accordance with Newton's Law, gravitational +attraction increased rapidly on approaching a body. If he could put the +asteroid even closer to the sun, the boat problem would become worse, +until even a small velocity change in the wrong direction could leave +a boat in the terrible position of not having enough thrust for a long +enough time to keep from being drawn into the sun. + +But to change the asteroid's orbit was dangerous! It meant losing just +enough velocity to be drawn closer to the sun, and then picking up a much +higher velocity to get free again! + +Rip got his instruments and pulled out a special slide rule designed for +use in space. He had Koa stand by with stylus and computation board and +take down his figures. + +He recalculated the safety factor he had used when deciding how close +to the sun to put the asteroid, then took quick star sights to determine +their exact position. They were within a few miles of perihelion, the +point at which they would be closest to Sol. + +Rip tapped gloved fingers on his helmet absently. If they could blast out +of the orbit and drive into the sun.... He estimated the result. A few +miles per second of less speed would let them be pulled so far within the +sun's field of gravity that, within an hour or so, small boats would +venture into space only at their peril. + +He reviewed the equipment. They had tubes of rocket fuel, but the tubes +wouldn't give the powerful thrust needed for this job. They had one +atomic bomb. One wasn't enough. Not only must they drive toward the sun, +but also they must keep reserve power to blast free again. If only they +had a pair of nuclear charges! + +He called his Planeteers together and outlined the problem. Perhaps +one of them would have an idea. But no useful suggestions were +forth-coming--until Dominico spoke up. "Sir, why don't we make two +bombs from one?" + +"I wish we could," Rip said. "Do you know how?" + +"No, Lieutenant. If we had parts, I could put bombs together. I can take +them apart, but I don't know how to make two out of one." The Italian +Planeteer looked accusingly at Rip. "I thought maybe you knew, sir." + +Rip grunted. If they had parts, he could assemble nuclear bombs, too. +Part of his physics training had been concerned with fission and its +various applications. But no one had taught him how to make two bombs +out of one. + +The theory behind this particular bomb design was simple. Two or more +correctly sized pieces of plutonium or uranium isotope, when brought +together, formed what was known as a critical mass, which would fission. +The fissioning released energy and produced the explosion. + +But there was a wide gap between theory and practice. A nuclear bomb was +actually pretty complicated. It had to be complicated to keep the pieces +of the fissionable material apart until a chemical explosion drove them +together fast and hard enough to create a fission explosion. If the +pieces weren't brought together rapidly enough, the mass would fission +in a slow chain reaction with no explosion. + +Rip was trained in scientific analysis. He tackled the problem logically, +considering the design of a nuclear bomb and the reasons for it. + +Atomic bombs had to be carried. That meant an outer casing was necessary. +The casing had a lot to do with the design. Suppose no casing were +required? What would be needed? + +He took the stylus and computation board from Koa and jotted down the +parts required. First, two or more pieces of plutonium large enough to +form a critical mass. Second, a neutron source--the type of radioactivity +that produced neutrons--to accelerate the reaction. Third, some kind of +neutron reflector. And fourth, explosive to drive the pieces together. + +Did they have all those items? He checked them off. Their single five KT +bomb contained at least enough plutonium for two critical masses, if +brought together inside a good neutron reflector. Each mass should give +about a two kiloton explosion. And they did have a good neutron +reflector--nuclite. There wasn't anything better. + +"What have we got for a neutron source?" he asked aloud. He was really +asking himself, but he got a quick answer from Koa. + +"Sir, some of the stuff left in the craters from the other explosions +gives off neutrons." + +"You're right," Rip agreed instantly. A small piece from one of the +craters, when combined with half of the neutron source in the bomb, +should be enough. As for the explosive, they had exploding heads on their +attack rockets. + +In other words, he had what he needed--except for a method of putting all +the pieces together to create a bomb. + +If only they had a tube of some sort that would withstand the chemical +explosion--the one that brought the critical mass together! + +He told the Planeteers what he had been thinking, then asked, "Any ideas +for a tube?" + +"How about a tube from the snapper-boat?" Santos suggested. + +Rip shook his head. "Not strong enough. They're designed to withstand the +slow push of rocket fuel, not the fast rap of an explosion. When I say +slow, I mean slow-burning when compared with explosive. Any more ideas?" + +Kemp, the expert torchman, said, "Sir, I can burn you a tube into the +asteroid." + +Rip grabbed the Planeteer so hard they both floated upward. "Kemp, that's +wonderful! That's it!" The details took form in his mind even as he +called orders. "Dominico, tear down that bomb. Santos, remove two heads +from your rockets and wire them to explode on electrical impulse. Kemp, +we'll want the tube just a fraction of an inch wider than a rocket head. +Get your torch ready." + +He took the stylus and began calculating. He talked as he worked, telling +the Planeteers exactly what they were up against. "I'm figuring out where +to put the charge so it will do the most good, but my data isn't +complete. If our homemade bomb goes off, I don't know exactly how much +power it will give. If it gives too much, we'll be driven so close to the +sun we'll never get free of its gravity." + +Bradshaw, the English Planeteer, said mildly, "Don't worry, Lieutenant. +If it isn't the solar frying pan, it's Connie fire." + +A chorus of agreement came from the other Planeteers. "What a crew!" Rip +thought. "What a great gang of space pirates!" + +He finished his calculations and found the exact place where Kemp would +cut. A few feet away from the spot was a thick pyramid of thorium. That +would do, and they could cut into it horizontally instead of drilling +straight down. He pointed to it. "Let's have a hole straight in for six +feet. And keep it straight, Kemp. Allow enough room for a lining of +nuclite. Koa, cut a sheet of nuclite to size." + +Kemp's torch already was slicing into the metal. Rip asked, "Can you weld +with that thing, Kemp?" + +"Just show me what you want, sir." + +"Good." Rip motioned to Trudeau. "Frenchy, we'll need a strong rod at +least eight feet long." + +The French Planeteer hurried off. Rip consulted his chronometer. Less +than ten minutes had passed since the call from Terra base. + +He went over his plan again. It had to work! If it didn't, asteroid and +Planeteers would end up as subatomic particles in the sun's photosphere, +because he had calculated his blast to drive the asteroid past the limit +of safety. It was the only way he could be sure of putting them beyond +danger from Connie landing boats or snapper-boats. The Connie would have +only one chance--to bring his cruiser down. + +If he tried that, Rip thought grimly, he would get a surprise. The second +nuclear charge would be set, ready to be fired. The Connie cruiser was +so big that no matter how it pulled up to the asteroid, some part of it +would be close enough to the charge to be blown into space dust. No +cruiser could survive an atomic explosion within five hundred yards, and +the Connie would have to get closer to the nuclear charge than that. + +Dominico reported that the bomb had been dismantled. Rip went to it and +examined the raw plutonium, being careful to keep the pieces widely +separated. + +This particular bomb design used five pieces of plutonium which were +driven together to form a ball. Rip made a quick estimate. Two were +enough to form a critical mass. He would use two to blast into the sun +and three to blast out again. He would need the extra kick. + +There was only one trouble. The pieces were wedge shaped. They would have +to be mounted in thorium in order to keep them rigid. Only Kemp could do +that. They had no cutting tool but the torch. + +Santos appeared, carrying a rocket head under each arm. They had wires +wound around them, ready to be attached to an electrical source. + +Rip hurried back to where Kemp was at work. The private was using a +cutting nozzle that threw an almost invisible flame five feet long. +In air, the nozzle wouldn't have worked effectively beyond two feet, but +in space it cut right down to the end of the flame. Kemp had his arm +inside the hole and was peering past it as he finished the cut. + +"Done, sir," he said, and adjusted the flame to a spout of red fire. He +thrust the torch into the hole and quickly withdrew it as pieces of +thorium flew out. A stream of water hosed into the tube would have worked +the same way. + +Rip took a block of plutonium from Dominico and handed it to Kemp. "Cut +a plug and fit this into it. Then cut a second plug for the other piece. +They have to match perfectly, and you can't put them together to try out +the fit. If you do, we'll have fission right here in the open." + +Kemp searched and found a piece he had cut in making the tube. It was +perfectly round, ideal for the purpose. He sliced off the inner side +where it tapered to a cone, then, working only by eye estimate, cut out a +hole in which the wedge of fission material would fit. He wasn't off by a +thirty-second of an inch. Skillful application of the torch melted the +thorium around the wedge and sealed it tightly. + +Koa was ready with a sheet of nuclite. Trudeau arrived with a pole made +by lashing two crate sticks together. + +Rip gave directions as they formed a cylinder of nuclite. Kemp +spot-welded it, and they pushed it into the hole. + +Nunez found a small piece of material in one of the earlier craters. It +would provide some neutrons to start the chain reaction. Rip added it to +the front of the plutonium wedge, along with a piece of beryllium from +the bomb, and Kemp welded it in place. + +They put the thorium block which contained the plutonium into the hole, +the plutonium facing outward. Trudeau rammed it to the bottom with his +pole. The neutron source, the neutron reflector, and one piece of +fissionable material were in place. + +Kemp sliced another round block of thorium out of a nearby crystal and +fitted the second wedge of plutonium into it. At first Rip had worried +about the two pieces of plutonium making a good enough contact, but +Kemp's skillful hand and precision eye removed that worry. + +The torchman finished fitting the plutonium and carried the block to the +tube opening. He tried it, removed a slight irregularity with his torch, +then said quietly, "Finished, sir." + +Rip took over. He slid the thorium-plutonium block into the tube, took a +rocket head from Santos, and used it to push the block in farther. When +the rocket head was about four inches inside the tube, its wires trailing +out, Rip called Kemp. At his direction, the torchman sliced a thin slot +up the face of the crystal. Rip fitted the wires into it and held them in +place with a small wedge of thorium. + +Kemp cut a plug, fitted it into the hole, and welded the seams closed. +The tube was sealed. When electric current fired the rocket head, the +thorium carrying the plutonium wedge would be driven forward to meet the +wedge in the back. And, unless Rip had miscalculated the mass of the two +pieces, they would have their nuclear blast. Rip surveyed the crystal +with some anxiety. It looked right. + +Dominico already had rigged the timer from the atomic bomb. He connected +the wires. "Do I set it, sir?" + +"Load the communicator, the extra bomb parts, the rocket launcher and +rockets, the cutting equipment, my instruments, and the tubes of fuel," +Rip ordered. "Leave everything else in the cave." + +The Planeteers ran to obey. Rip waited until the landing boat was nearly +loaded, then told Dominico to set the timer for five minutes. He wondered +how they would explode the second charge, since they had only the one +timer left, then forgot about it. Time enough to worry when faced with +the problem. + +"I'll take the snapper-boat," he stated. "Santos in the gunner's seat. +Koa in charge in the landing boat. Dowst pilot. Let's show an exhaust." + +He fitted himself into the tight pilot seat of the snapper-boat while +Santos climbed in behind. Then, handling the controls with the skill +of long practice, he lifted the tiny fighting rocket above the asteroid +and waited for the landing boat. When it joined up, Rip led the way to +safety. As he cut his exhaust to wait for the explosion, he sighted past +the snapper-boat's nose to the asteroid. + +Even though both boats had been careful to match velocity with the +asteroid as closely as possible, the slight difference remaining caused +them to drift sunward. Rip cut his jets in to compensate, and saw Dowst +do the same. + +Another few miles toward the sun, and the landing boat wouldn't have the +power to get away from Sol's gravity. A few miles beyond that, even the +powerful little snapper-boat would be caught. + +Below, the timer reached zero. A mighty fan of fire shot into space. The +asteroid shuddered from the blast, then swerved gradually, picking up +speed as well as new direction. + +Rip swallowed hard. Now they were committed. They would reach a new +perihelion far beyond the limits of safety. _P_ for perihelion and _P_ for +peril. In this case, they were the same thing! + + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN + +Between Two Fires + + +Back on the asteroid, the Planeteers started laying the second atomic +charge. Rip selected the spot, found a nearby crystal that would serve to +house the bomb, and Kemp started cutting. + +The Planeteers knew what to do now, and the work went rapidly. Rip kept +an eye on his chronometer. According to the message from Terra base, he +had about fifteen minutes before the Consops cruiser arrived. + +"We have one advantage we didn't have back in the asteroid belt," he +remarked to Koa. "Back there they could have landed anywhere on the +rock. Now they have to stick to the dark side. Snapper-boats could last +on the sun side, but men in ordinary space suits couldn't." + +"That's good," Koa agreed. "We have only one side to defend. Why don't we +put the rocket launcher right in the middle of the dark side?" + +"Go ahead. And have all men check their pistols and knives. We don't know +what's likely to happen when that Connie flames in." + +Rip walked over to the communicator and plugged his suit into the +circuit. "This is the asteroid calling Terra base. Over." + +"This is Terra base. Go ahead, Foster. How are you doing?" + +"If you need anything cooked, send it to us," Rip replied. "We have heat +enough to cook anything, including tungsten alloy." He explained briefly +what action they had taken. + +A new voice came on the communicator. "Foster, this is Colonel Stevens." + +Rip responded swiftly, "Yes, sir!" Stevens was the top Planeteer, +commanding officer of all the Special Order Squadrons. + +"We've piped this circuit into every channel in the system," the colonel +said. "Every Planeteer in the Squadrons is listening and rooting for you. +Is there anything we can do?" + +"Yes, sir," Rip replied. "Do you know if Terra base has been plotting our +course this far?" + +There was a brief silence, then the colonel answered, "Yes, Foster. We +have a complete track from the time you started showing on the Terra +screens, about halfway between the orbits of Mars and Earth." + +"Did you just get our change of direction?" + +"Yes. We're following you on the screens." + +"Then, sir, I'd appreciate it if you'd put the calculators to work and +make a time-distance plot for the next few hours. The blast we're saving +to push to escape velocity is about three kilotons. Let us know the last +moment when we can fire." + +"You will have it within fifteen minutes. Anything else, Foster?" + +"Nothing else I can think of, sir." + +"Then, good luck. We'll be standing by." + +"Yes, sir. Foster off." + +Rip disconnected and turned up his helmet communicator, repeating the +conversation to his men. Koa came and stood beside him. "Lieutenant, +how do we set off this next charge?" + +There was only one way. When the time came to blast, they would be too +close to the sun to take to the boats. The blast had to be set off +from the asteroid. + +"We'll get underground as far away from the bomb as we can," Rip said. He +surveyed the dark side, which was rapidly growing less dark. "I think the +second crater will do. Kemp can square it off on the side toward the +blast to give us a vertical wall to hide behind." + +Koa looked doubtful. "Plenty of radiation left in those holes, sir." + +Rip grinned mirthlessly. "Radiation is the least of our problems. I'd +rather get an overdose of gamma then get blasted into space." + +A yell rang in his helmet. "Here comes the Connie!" + +Rip looked up, startled. The Consops cruiser passed directly overhead, +about ten miles away. It was decelerating rapidly. Rip wondered why they +hadn't spotted it earlier, then realized the Connie had come from the +direction of the hot side. + +The enemy cruiser was probably the same one that had attacked them +before. He must have lain in wait for days, keeping between the sun +and Terra. That way, the screens wouldn't pick him up, since very few +observatories scanned the sun with regularity. To the observatories, +the cruiser would have been only a tiny speck, too small to be noticed. +Or, if they had noticed it, the astronomers probably decided it was just +a very tiny sunspot. + +The Planeteers worked with increased speed. Kemp welded the final plug +into place, then hurried to the crater from which they would set off +the charge. Dominico and Dowst connected wires from the rocket head to +a reel of wire and rolled it toward the crater. Nunez got a hand-driven +dynamo from the supplies and tested it for use in setting off the charge. +Santos stood by the rocket launcher, with Pederson ready to put another +rack of rockets into the device when necessary. + +Rip and Koa watched the Connie cruiser. It decelerated to a stop for a +brief second, then started moving again, with no jets showing. + +"That's the sun pulling," Rip said exultantly. + +"They'll have to keep blasting to maintain position." + +The Consops commander didn't wait to trim ship against the sun's drag. +His air locks opened, clearly visible to Rip and Koa because that side of +the cruiser was brilliant with sunlight. Ten snapper-boats sped forth. +Rip was certain now that this was the enemy cruiser they had fought off +back in the asteroid belt. Two Connie snapper-boats had been destroyed in +that clash, which explained why the commander was sending out only ten +boats instead of a full quota of twelve. + +The squadron instantly formed a V, like a strange space letter made up of +globes. The sun's gravity pulled at them, dragging them off course. Rip +watched as flames poured from their stern tubes. They were firing full +speed ahead, but the drag of the sun distorted their line of flight into +a great arc. + +Rip saw the strategy instantly. The Connie commander knew the situation +exactly, and he was staking everything on one great gamble, sending his +snapper-boats to land on the asteroid--to crash-land if necessary. + +The asteroid was so close to the sun that even the powerful fighting +rockets would use most of their fuel in simply combating its gravity. + +"All hands stand by to repel Connies," Rip shouted, and he drew his +pistol. He looked into the magazine, saw that the clip was full, and +then charged the weapon. + +Santos was crouched over the rocket launcher, his space gloves working +rapidly as he kept the rockets pointed at the enemy. + +Rip called, "Santos, fire at will." + +The Planeteers formed a skirmish line which pivoted on the launcher. Only +Kemp remained at work. His torch flared, slicing through the thorium as +he prepared their firing position. + +The atomic charge was ready. The wires had been laid up to the rim of the +crater in which Kemp worked, and the dynamo was attached. + +Rip was everywhere, checking on the launcher, on Kemp, on the pistols of +his men. And Santos, hunched over his illuminated sight, watched the +Connie snapper-boats draw near. + +"Here we go," the corporal muttered. He pressed the trigger. + +The first rocket sped outward in a sweeping curve, and for a moment Rip +opened his mouth to yell at Santos. The sun's gravity affected the attack +rockets, too! Then he saw that the corporal had allowed for the sun's +pull. + +The rocket curved into the squadron of on-coming boats, and they all +tried to dodge at once. Two of them met in a sideways crash, then a third +staggered as its stern globe flared and exploded. Santos had scored a +hit! + +Rip called, "Good shooting!" + +The corporal's reply was rueful. "Sir, that wasn't the one I aimed at. +The sun's pull is worse than I figured." + +The damaged snapper-boat instantly blasted from its nose tubes, +decelerated, and went into reverse, flipping through space crabwise as it +tried to regain the safety of the cruiser. The two boats that had crashed +while trying to dodge were blasting in great spurts of flame, following +the example of their damaged companion. + +"Seven left," Rip called, and another rocket flashed on its way. He +followed its trail as it curved away from the asteroid and into the +squadron. Its proximity fuse detonated in the exhaust of a Connie boat, +blowing the tube out of position. The boat yawed wildly, cut its stern +tubes, and blasted to a stop from the bow tube. Then it, too, started +backward toward the cruiser. Six left! + +Flame blossomed a few yards from Rip. He was picked up bodily and flung +into space, whirling end over end. Koa's voice rang in his helmet. + +"Watch it! They're firing back!" + +Rip tugged frantically at an air bottle in his belt. He pulled it out and +used it to whirl him upright again; then its air blast drove him back to +the surface of the asteroid. Sweat poured from his forehead, and the suit +ventilator whined as it picked up the extra moisture. Great Cosmos! That +was close! + +Santos fired again, twice, in rapid succession. The Connie snapper-boats +scattered as the proximity fuses produced flowers of fire among them. Two +near misses, but they threw the enemy off course. Rip watched tensely as +the boats fought to regain their course. He knew asteroid, cruiser, and +boats were speeding toward the sun at close to fifty miles a second, +and the drag was getting terrific. The Connies knew it, too. + +There was an exultant yell from the Planeteers as two of the boats gave +up and turned back, using full power to regain the safety of the mother +ship. Four left! + +Santos scored a direct hit on the nose of the nearest one, but +its momentum drove it to within a few yards of the asteroid. Five +space-suited figures erupted from it, holding hand propulsion units, +tubes of rocket fuel used for hand combat in empty space. + +The Connies lit their propulsion tubes and drove feet first for the +asteroid. The Planeteers estimated where the enemy would land, and +they were there waiting, with aimed handguns. The Connies had their hands +over their heads, holding the propulsion tubes. They took one look at the +gleaming Planeteer guns, and their hands stayed upright. + +The Planeteers lashed the Connies' hands behind them with their own +safety lines and, at Rip's orders, dumped all but one of them into the +crater where Kemp was just finishing his cutting. + +Three snapper-boats remained. Rip watched, holding tightly to the arm of +the Connie he had kept at his side. The man wore the insignia of an +officer. + +The remaining snapper-boats were going to make it. Santos threw rockets +among them and scored hits, but the boats kept coming. The Connies were +too far away from the cruiser to return, and they knew it. Getting to the +asteroid was their only chance. + +Rip called, "Santos! Cease fire. Set the launcher for ground level. Let +them land, but don't fire until I give the word." + +He put his helmet against his prisoner's for direct communication. "You +speak English?" + +The man shouted back, "Yes." + +"Good. We're going to let your friends land. As soon as they do, I want +you to yell to them. Say we have assault rockets trained on them. Tell +them to surrender, or they'll be killed in their tracks. Got that?" + +The Connie replied, "Suppose I refuse?" + +Rip put his space knife against the man's stomach. "Then we'll get them +with rockets. But you won't care, because you won't know it." + +The truth was that Santos couldn't hope to get them all with his rockets. +They might overcome the Connies in hand-to-hand fighting, but there would +be a cost to pay in Planeteer casualties. Rip hoped the Connie wouldn't +call his bluff, because that's all it was. He couldn't use a space knife +on an unarmed prisoner. + +The Connie didn't know that. In Rip's place he would have no compunctions +about using the knife, so instead of calling Rip's bluff, he agreed. + +The snapper-boats blew their front tubes, decelerating, and squashed down +to the asteroid in a roar of exhaust flames, sending the Planeteers +running out of the way. Rip thrust harder with his space knife and +yelled, "Tell them!" + +The Connie officer nodded. "Turn up my communicator." + +Rip turned it on full, and the Connie barked quick instructions. The +exhausts died, and five men filed out of each boat, with hands held high. +Rip blew a drop of perspiration from the tip of his nose. Empty space! +It was a good thing Connie morale was bad. The enemy's willingness to +surrender had saved them a costly fight. + +The Planeteers rounded up the prisoners and secured them, while Rip took +an anxious look at the communicator. It was about time he heard from +Terra base. + +The light was glowing. For all he knew, it might have been glowing for +many minutes. He plugged into the circuit. + +"This is Foster on the asteroid." + +"Terra base to Foster. Listen. You will reach optimum position on the +time-distance curve at twenty-three-oh-six." + +"Got it. We will reach optimum position at twenty-three-oh-six." He +looked at his chronometer, and his pulse stopped. It was 22:58! They +had just eight minutes before the sun caught them forever, atomic blast +or no! + +And the Connie cruiser was still overhead, with no friendly cruisers in +sight. He looked up, white-faced. Not only was the Connie still there, +but its main air lock was sliding open to disclose a new danger. + +In the opening, ready to launch, an assault boat waited. The assault +boats were something only the Connies used. They were about four times +the size of a snapper-boat, less maneuverable but more powerful. They +carried twenty men and a pair of guided missiles with atomic warheads! + + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN + +The Rocketeers + + +Rip ran for the snapper-boat, feet moving as rapidly as lack of gravity +would permit. He called instructions. "Santos! Turn the launcher over to +Pederson and come with me. Koa, take over. Start throwing rockets at that +boat, and don't stop until you run out of ammunition." + +He reached the snapper-boat and squeezed in, Santos close behind him. As +he strapped himself into the seat he called, "Koa! Get this, and get it +straight. At twenty-three-oh-five, fire the bomb. Fire it whether I'm +back or not." + +Koa replied, "Got it, sir." + +That would give the Planeteers a minute's leeway. Not much of a safety +margin, especially when he wasn't sure how much power the atomic charge +would produce. + +He plugged into the snapper-boat's communicator and called, "Ready, +Santos?" + +"Ready, Lieutenant." + +He braced himself against acceleration and flipped the speed control to +full power. The fighting rocket rammed out from the asteroid, snapping +him back against the seat. He made a quick check. Gunsight on, fuel tanks +almost full, propulsion tubes racked handy to his hand. + +They drove toward the enemy cruiser at top speed, swerving in a great arc +as the sun pulled at them. The enemy's big boat was out of the ship, its +jets firing. + +Rip leaned over his illuminated gunsight. The boat showed up clearly, the +rings of the sight framing it. He estimated distance and the pull of the +sun, then squeezed the trigger on the speed control handle. The cannon up +in the nose spat fire. He watched tensely and saw the charge explode on +the hull of the Connie cruiser. He had underestimated the sun's drag. He +compensated and tried again. + +He missed. Now that he was closer and the charge had less distance to +travel, he had overestimated the sun's effect. He gritted his teeth. +The next shot would be at close range. + +The fighting rocket closed space, and the landing boat loomed large in +the sight. He fired again, and the shot blew metal loose from the top of +the boat's hull. A hit, but not good enough. He leaned over the sight to +fire again, but before he had sighted, an explosion blew the assault boat +completely around. + +Koa and Pederson had scored a hit from the asteroid! + +The big boat fired its side jets and spun around on course again. Flame +bloomed from its side as Connie gunners tried to get the range on the +snapper-boat. + +Rip was within reach now. He fired at point-blank range and flashed over +the boat as its front end exploded. Santos, firing from the rear, hit it +again. + +Rip threw the rocket into a turn that rammed him against the top of his +harness. He steadied on a line with the crippled Connie craft. It was +hard hit. The bow jets flickered fitfully, and the stern tubes were dead. +He sighted, fired. A charge hit the boat aft and blew its stern tubes off +completely. + +And at the same moment, a Connie gunner got a perfect bead on the +snapper-boat. + +Space blew up in Rip's face. The snapper-boat slewed wildly as the Connie +shot took effect. Rip worked his controls frantically, trying to +straighten the rocket out more by instinct than anything else. + +His eyes recovered from the blinding flash, and he gulped as he saw the +raw, twisted metal where the boat's nose had been. He managed to correct +the boat's twisting by using the stern tubes, but he lost full control of +the ship. + +For a moment panic gripped him. Without full control he couldn't get back +to the asteroid! Then he forced himself to calm down. He sized up the +situation. They were still underway, the stern tubes pushing, but their +trajectory would take them right under the crippled Connie boat. + +There was nothing he could do but pass close to the Connie. The enemy +gunners would fire, but he had to take his chances. He looked down at the +asteroid and saw an orange trail as Koa launched another rocket. + +The shot from the asteroid ticked the bottom of the Connie boat and +exploded. The Connie rolled violently. Tubes flared as the pilot fought +to correct the roll. He slowed the spinning as Rip and Santos passed, +just long enough for a Connie gunner to get in a final shot. + +The shell struck directly under Rip. He felt himself pushed violently +upward, and, at the same moment, he reacted--by hunch and not by reason. +He rammed the controls full ahead, and the dying rocket cut space, +curving slowly as flaming fuel spurted from the ruptured tanks. + +Rip yelled, "Santos! You all right?" + +"I think so. Lieutenant, we're on fire!" + +"I know it. Get ready to abandon ship." + +When the main mass of fuel caught, the rocket would become an inferno. +Rip smashed at the escape hatch above his head, grabbed propulsion tubes +from the rack, and called, "Now!" + +He pulled the release on his harness, stood up on the seat, and thrust +with all his leg power. He catapulted out of the burning snapper-boat +into space. + +Santos followed a second later, and the crippled rocket twisted wildly +under the two Planeteers. + +"Don't use the propulsion tubes," Rip called. "Slow down with your air +bottles." He thrust the tubes into his belt, found his air bottles, and +pointed two of them in the direction they had been traveling. He wanted +to come to a stop, to let the wild snapper-boat get away from them. + +The compressed-air bottles did the trick. He and Santos slowed down as +the little jets overcame the inertia that was taking them along with the +burning boat. The boat was spiraling now, burning freely. It moved away +from them, its stern jets still firing weakly. + +Rip took a look toward the enemy cruiser. The assault boat was no longer +showing an exhaust. Instead, it was being dragged rapidly away from the +Connie cruiser by the pull of the sun. At least it was hit in time to +prevent launching of the atomic guided missiles. Or, he thought, perhaps +the enemy had never intended using them. The principal effect, besides +killing the Planeteers, would have been to drive the asteroid into the +sun at an even faster rate. + +The enemy assault boat was no longer a menace. Its occupants would be +lucky if they succeeded in saving their own lives. + +Rip wondered what the Connie cruiser commander would try now. Only one +thing remained, and that was to set the cruiser down on the asteroid. +If the Connie tried, he would arrive at just about the time set for +releasing the nuclear charge. And that would be the end of the +cruiser--and probably of the Planeteers as well. + +Santos asked coolly, "Lieutenant, wouldn't you say we're in a sort of bad +spot?" + +Rip had been so busy sizing up the situation that he hadn't thought about +his own predicament. Now he looked down and suddenly realized that he was +floating free in space, a considerable distance above the asteroid, and +with only small propulsion tubes for power. + +He gasped, "Great space! We're in a mess, Santos." + +The corporal asked, still in a calm voice, "How long will it be before +we're dragged into the sun, sir?" + +Rip stared. Santos had used the same tone he might have used in asking +for a piece of Venusian _chru_. An officer couldn't be less calm, so +Rip replied in a voice he hoped was casual, "I wouldn't worry, Santos. We +won't know it. The heat will get through our suits long before then." + +In fact, the heat should be overloading their ventilating systems +right now. In a few minutes the cooling elements would break down, and +that would be the end. He listened for the accelerated whine as the +ventilating systems struggled under the increased heat load but heard +nothing. + +Funny. Had it overloaded and given out already? No, that was impossible. +He would be feeling the heat on his body if that were the case. + +He looked for an explanation and realized for the first time that they +weren't in the sunlight at all. They were in darkness. His searching +glance told him they were in the cone of shadow stretching out from +behind the asteroid. The thorium rock was between them and the sun! + +His lips moved soundlessly. Maj. Joe Barris had been right. _In a jam, +trust your hunch._ He had acted instinctively, not even thinking as he +used the last full power of the stern tubes to throw them into the shadow +cone. + +And he knew in the same moment that it could save their lives. The sun's +pull would only accelerate their fall toward the asteroid. He said +exultantly, "We're staying out of high vac, Santos. Light off a +propulsion tube. Let's get back to the asteroid." + +He pulled a tube from his belt, held it above his head, and thumbed the +striker mechanism. The tube flared, pushing downward on his hand. + +He held steady and plummeted feet first toward the rock. + +Santos was only a few seconds behind him. Rip saw the corporal's tube +flare and knew that everything was all right, at least for the moment, +even though the asteroid was still a long way down. + +He looked upward at the Connie cruiser and saw that it was moving. Its +exhaust increased in length and deepened slightly in color as Rip +watched. + +Then he saw side jets flare out from the projecting control tubes and +knew the ship was maneuvering. Rip realized suddenly that the cruiser was +going to pick up the crippled assault boat. + +He hadn't expected such a humane move, after his first meeting with the +Connie cruiser when the commander had been willing to sacrifice his own +men. This time, however, there was a difference, he saw. The commander +would lose nothing by picking up the assault boat, and he would save a +few men. Rip supposed that manpower meant something, even to Consops. + +His propulsion tube reached _Brennschluss_, and for a few moments he +watched, checking his speed and direction. Then, before he lit off +another tube, he checked his chronometer. The illuminated dial registered +23:01. They had just four minutes to get to the asteroid! + +He spoke swiftly. "Waste no time in lighting off, Santos. That nuclear +charge goes in four minutes!" + +Rip pulled a tube from his belt, held it overhead, and triggered it. His +flight through space speeded up, but he wasn't at all sure they would +make it. He turned up his helmet communicator to full power and called, +"Koa, can you hear me?" + +The sergeant major's reply was faint in his helmet. "I hear you weakly. +Do you hear me?" + +"Same way," Rip replied. "Get this, Koa. Don't fail to explode that +charge at twenty-three-oh-five. Can you see us?" + +The reply was very slightly stronger. "I will explode the charge as +ordered, Lieutenant. We can see a pair of rocket exhausts, but no boats. +Is that you?" + +"Yes. We're coming in on propulsion tubes." + +Koa waited for a long moment, then asked, "Sir, what if you're not with +us by twenty-three-oh-five?" + +"You know the answer," Rip retorted crisply. + +Of course Koa knew. The nuclear blast would send Rip and Santos spinning +into outer space, perhaps crippled, burned, or completely irradiated. +But the lives of two men couldn't delay the blast that would save the +lives of eight others, not counting prisoners. + +Rip estimated his speed and course and the distance to the asteroid. He +was increasingly sure that they wouldn't make it, and the knowledge was +like the cold of space in his stomach. It would be close but not close +enough. A minute would make all the difference. + +For a few heartbeats he almost called Koa and told him to wait that extra +minute, to explode the nuclear charge at 23:06, at the very last second. +But even Planeteer chronometers could be off by a few seconds, and he +couldn't risk it. His men had to be given some leeway. + +He surveyed the asteroid. The nuclear charge was on his left side, pretty +close to the sun line. At least he and Santos could angle to the right, +to get as far away as possible. + +The edge of the asteroid's shadow was barely visible. That it was visible +at all was due to the minute particles of matter and gas that surrounded +the sun, even millions of miles out into space. He reduced helmet power +and told Santos, "Angle to the right. Get as close to the edge of shadow +as you can without being cooked." + +As an afterthought, he asked, "How many tubes do you have?" + +"One after this, sir. I had three." + +"Save the one you have left." + +Rip didn't know yet what use they would be, but it was always a good idea +to have some kind of reserve. + +The Connie cruiser was sliding up to the crippled assault boat. Rip took +a quick look, then shifted his hands and angled toward the edge of +shadow. When he was within a few feet, he reversed the direction of the +tube to keep from shooting out into the sunlight. A second or two later +the tube burned out. + +Santos was several yards away and slightly above him. Rip saw that the +Planeteer was all right and turned his attention back to the cruiser. It +was close enough to the assault boat to haul it in with grappling hooks. +The hooks emerged and engaged the torn metal of the boat, then drew it +into the waiting port. The massive air door slid closed. + +The question was, would the Connie try to set his ship down on the +asteroid? Rip grinned without mirth. Now would be a fine time. His +chronometer showed a minute and a half to blast time. + +He took another look at his own situation. He and Santos were getting +close to the asteroid, but there was still over a half mile of Earth +distance to go. They would cover perhaps three-fourths of that distance +before Koa fired the charge. + +He had a daring idea. How long could he and Santos last in direct +sunlight? The effect of the sun in the open was powerful enough to +make lead run like water. Their suits could absorb some heat, and the +ventilating system could take care of quite a lot. They might last +as much as three minutes, with luck. + +They had to take a risk with the full knowledge that the odds were +against them. But if they didn't take the risk, the blast would push +them outward from the asteroid--into full sunlight. The end result would +be the same. + +"We're not going to make it, Santos," he began. + +"I know it, sir," Santos replied. + +Rip thought anyone with that much coolness and sheer nerve rated some +kind of special treatment. And the young corporal had shown his ability +time and time again. He said, "I should have known you knew, _Sergeant_ +Santos. We still have a slight chance. When I give the word, use an air +bottle to push yourself into the sunlight. When I give the word again, +light off your remaining tube." + +"Yessir," Santos replied. "Thank you for the promotion. I hope I live to +collect the extra rating." + +"Same here," Rip agreed fervently. His eyes were on his chronometer, and +with his free hand he took another air bottle. When the chronometer +registered exactly one minute before blast time, he called, "Now!" He +triggered the bottle and moved from shadow into glaring sunlight. A +slight motion of the bottle turned him so his back was to the sun; then +he used the remaining compressed air to push himself downward along the +edge of shadow. The sun's gravity tugged at him. + +He pulled the last tube from his belt and held it ready while he watched +his chronometer creep around. With five seconds to go, he called to +Santos and fired it. Acceleration pushed at him. + +In the same moment, the nuclear charge exploded. + + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN + +Ride the Planet! + + +A mighty hand reached out and shoved Rip, sweeping him through space like +a dust mote. He clutched his propulsion tube with both hands and fought +to hold it steady. He swiveled his head quickly, searching for Santos, +and saw the corporal a dozen rods away. + +From the far horizon of the asteroid the incandescent fire of the nuclear +blast stretched into space, turning from silver to orange to red as it +cooled. + +Rip knew they had escaped the heat and blast of the explosion, but now +there was a question of how much prompt radiation they had absorbed. +During the first few seconds, a nuclear blast sprayed gamma radiation and +neutrons in all directions. He and Santos certainly had gotten plenty. +But how much? His lower-level colorimeter had long since reached maximum +red, and his high-level dosimeter could be read only on a measuring +device. + +Meanwhile, he had other worries. Radiation had no immediate effect. At +worst, it would be a few hours before he felt any symptoms. + +As he sized up his position and that of the asteroid, he let out a yell +of triumph. His gamble would succeed! He had estimated that going into +the direct gravity pull of the sun at the proper moment and lighting off +their last tubes would put them into a landing position. The asteroid was +moving rapidly, into a new orbit that would intersect the course he and +Santos were on. He had planned on the asteroid's change of orbit. In a +minute at most they would be back on the rock. + +His propulsion tube flared out, and he released it. It would travel along +with him, but his hands would be free. + +Then he saw something else. The blast had started the asteroid turning! + +He reacted instantly. Turning up his communicator he yelled, "Koa! The +rock is spinning! Cut the prisoners loose, grab the equipment, and run +for it! You'll have to keep running to stay in the shadow. If sunlight +hits those fuel tanks or the rocket tubes, they'll explode!" + +Koa replied tersely, "Got it. We're moving." + +At least the Connie cruiser couldn't harm them now, Rip thought grimly. +He looked for the cruiser and failed to find it for several seconds. It +had moved. He finally saw its exhausts some distance away. + +He forgot his own predicament and grinned. The Connie cruiser had moved, +but not because its commander had wanted to. It had been right in the +path of the nuclear blast and had been literally shoved away. + +Then Rip forgot the cruiser. His suit ventilator was whining in the +terrific heat, and his whole body was now bathed in perspiration. The sun +was getting them. It would be only a short time until the ventilator +overloaded and burned out. They had to reach the asteroid before then. +The trouble was that there was nothing further he could do about it. He +had only air bottles left, and their blast was so weak that the effect +wouldn't speed him up much. Nevertheless, he called to Santos and +directed him to use his bottles. + +Santos spoke up. "Sir, we're going to make it." + +In the same instant, Rip saw that they would land on the dark side. The +asteroid was turning over and over. For a second he had the impression +that he was looking at a turning globe of the earth, the kind used in +elementary school back home. But this gray planet was scarcely bigger +than the giant globe at the Space Council building on Terra. + +He knew he was going to hit hard. The way to keep from being hurt was to +turn the vertical energy of his arrival into motion in another direction. +As he swept down to the metal surface he started running, his legs +pumping wildly in space. He hit with a bone-jarring thud, lost his +footing and fell sideways, both hands cradling his helmet. He got to his +feet instantly and looked for Santos. + +"You all right, sir?" Santos called anxiously. "I think the others are +over there." He pointed. + +"We'll find them," Rip said. His hip hurt like fury from smashing against +the unyielding metal, and the worst part was that he couldn't rub it. The +blow had been strong enough to hurt through the heavy fabric and air +pressure, but his hand wasn't strong enough to compress the suit. Just +the same, he tried. + +And while he was trying, he found himself in direct sunlight! + +He had forgotten to run. Standing still on the asteroid meant turning +with it, from darkness into sunlight and back again. He yelled at Santos +and legged it out of there, moving in long, gliding steps. He regained +the shadow and kept going. + +The first order of business was to stop the rock from turning. Otherwise +they couldn't live on it. + +Rip knew that they had only one means of stopping the spin. That was to +use the tubes of rocket fuel left over from correcting the course. They +had three tubes left, but he didn't know if that was enough to do the +job. + +Moving rapidly, he and Santos caught up to Koa and the Planeteers. + +The Connie prisoners were pretty well bunched up, gliding along like a +herd of fantastic sheep. Their shepherds were Pederson, Nunez, and Dowst. +The three Planeteers had a pistol in each hand. The spares were probably +those taken from prisoners. + +The Planeteers were loaded down with equipment. A few Connie prisoners +carried equipment, too. + +Trudeau had the rocket launcher and the remaining rockets. Kemp had his +torch and two tanks of oxygen. Bradshaw had tied his safety line to the +squat containers of chemical fuel for the torch and was towing them +behind like strange balloons. The only trouble with that system, Rip +thought, was that Bradshaw could stop, but the fuel would have a tendency +to keep going. Unless the Englishman was skillful, his burden would drag +him off his feet. + +Dominico had a tube of rocket fuel under each arm. The Italian was small, +and the tubes were bulky. Each was about ten feet long and two feet in +diameter. With any gravity or air resistance at all, the Italian couldn't +have carried even one. + +Santos took the radiation detection instruments and the case with the +astrogation equipment from Koa. Rip greeted his men briefly, then took +his computing board and began figuring. He knew the men were glad he and +Santos had made it. But they kept their greetings short. A spinning +asteroid was no place for long and sentimental speeches. + +He remembered the dimensions of the asteroid and its mass. He computed +its inertia, then figured out what it would take to overcome the inertia +of the spin. + +The mathematics would have been simpler under normal conditions, but +doing them on the run, trying to watch his step at the same time, made +things a little complicated. He had to hold the board under his arm, run +alongside Santos while the new sergeant held the case open, select the +book he wanted, open it and try to read the tables by his belt light, and +then transfer the data to the board. + +His ventilator had quieted down once he got into the darkness, but now it +started whining slightly again because he was sweating profusely. Finally +he figured out the thrust needed to stop the spin. Now all he had to do +was compute how much fuel it would take. + +He had figures on the amount of thrust given by the kind of rocket fuel +in the tubes. He also knew how much fuel each tube contained. But the +figures were not in his head. They were on reference sheets. + +He collected the data on the fly, slowing down now and then to read +something, until a yell from Santos or Koa warned that the sun line was +creeping close. When he had all data noted on the board, he started his +mathematics. He was right in the middle of a laborious equation when he +stumbled over a thorium crystal. He went headlong, shooting like a rocket +three feet above the ground. His board flew away at a tangent. His stylus +sped out of his glove like a miniature projectile, and the slide rule +clanged against his bubble. + +It happened so fast that neither Koa nor Santos had time to grab him. The +action had given him extra speed, and he saw with horror that he was +going to crash into Trudeau. He yelled, "Frenchy! Watch out!" Then he put +both hands before him to protect his helmet. His hands caught the French +Planeteer between the shoulders. + + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN + +Visitors! + + +Trudeau held tight to the launcher, but the rocket racks opened and +spilled attack rockets into space. They flew in a dozen different +directions. Trudeau gave vent to his feelings in colorful French. + +Koa and Santos laughed so hard they had trouble collecting the scattered +equipment. Rip, slowed by his crash with Trudeau, got his feet under him +again. + +When the asteroid turned into the sun, they still had not collected Rip's +stylus and five of the attack rockets. The space pencil was the only +thing that could write on the computing board. It had to be found. "Next +time around," Rip called to the others. He then led the way full speed +ahead until they reached the safety of shadow again. + +Rip suspected the stylus was somewhere above the rock and probably +wouldn't return to the surface for some minutes. While he was wondering +what to do, there was a chorus of yells. A rocket sped between the +Planeteers and shot off into space. + +"Our own rockets are after us," Trudeau gasped. There hadn't been time +to collect them all after Rip's unwilling attack on the Frenchman had +scattered them. Now the sun was setting them off. Another flashed past, +fortunately over their heads. The sun's heat was causing them to fire +unevenly. + +"Three more to go," Koa called. "Watch out!" + +Only two went, and they were far enough away to offer no danger. + +Santos had been fishing around in the instrument case. Suddenly he +produced another stylus. "It was under the sextant," he explained +triumphantly. + +"If we get through this, I'll propose you for ten more stripes," Rip +vowed. "We'll make you the highest ranking sergeant that ever made a +private's life miserable." + +Working slowly but more safely, Rip figured that slightly more than two +and a half tubes would do the trick. + +Now to fire them. That meant finding a thorium crystal properly placed +and big enough. There were plenty of crystals, so that was no problem. +The next step was for Kemp to cut holes with his torch, so that the +thrust of the rocket fuel would be counter to the direction in which the +asteroid was spinning. + +Rip explained to all hands what had to be done. The burden would fall on +Kemp, who would need a helper. Rip took that job himself. He took one +oxygen tank from Kemp. Koa took the other, leaving the torchman with only +his torch. + +Then Rip took a container of chemical fuel from Bradshaw. Working while +running, he lashed the two containers together with his safety line. Then +he improvised a rope sling so they could hang on his back. + +Kemp, meanwhile, assembled his torch and put the proper cutting nozzle in +place. When he was ready, he moved over to Rip's side and connected the +torch hoses to the tanks the lieutenant carried. Kemp had the torch +mechanism strapped to his own back. It was essentially a high-pressure +pump that drew oxygen and fuel from the tanks and forced them through +the nozzle, under terrific pressure. + +When he had finished, he pressed the trigger that started the cutting +torch going. The fuel ignited about a half inch in front of the nozzle. +The nozzle had two holes in it, one for oxygen and the other for fuel. +The holes were placed and angled to keep the flame always a half inch +away, otherwise the nozzle itself would melt. + +"How do we work this?" Kemp asked. + +"We'll get ahead of the others," Rip explained. "Keep up speed until +we're running at the forward sun line. Then, when the crystal we want +comes around into the shadow, we stop running and work until it spins +back into the sunshine again." + +Rip estimated the axis on which the asteroid was spinning and selected +a crystal in the right position. He had to be careful, otherwise their +counterblast might do nothing more than start the gray planet wobbling. + +He and Kemp ran ahead of the others. The Planeteers and their prisoners +were running at a speed that kept them right in the middle of the dark +area. + +It was like running on a treadmill. The Planeteers were making good +speed, but were actually staying in the same place relative to the sun's +position, keeping the turning asteroid between them and the sun. + +Rip and Kemp ran forward until they were right at the sun line. Then they +slowed down, holding position and waiting for the crystal they had chosen +to reach them. As it came across the sun line into darkness, they stopped +running and rode the crystal through the shadow until it reached the sun +again. Then the two Planeteers ran back across the dark zone to meet the +crystal as it came around again. There was only a few minutes' working +time each revolution. + +Kemp worked fast, and the first hole deepened. Rip helped as best he +could by pushing away the chunks of thorium that Kemp cut free, but it +was essentially a one-man job. + +As Kemp neared the bottom of the first hole, Rip reviewed his plan and +realized he had overlooked something. These weren't nuclear bombs; they +were simple tubes of chemical fuel. The tubes wouldn't destroy the hole +Kemp was cutting. + +He reached a quick decision and called Koa to join them. Koa appeared as +Kemp pulled his torch from the hole and started running again to avoid +the sun. Rip and Koa ran right along with him, crossing the dark zone to +meet the crystal as it came around again. + +"There's no reason to drill three holes," Rip explained as they ran. +"We'll use one hole for all three charges. They don't have to be fired +all at once." + +"How do we fire them?" Koa asked. + +"Electrically. Who has the igniters and the hand dynamo?" + +"Dowst has the igniters. One of the Connies is carrying the dynamo." + +Speaking of the Connies--Rip hadn't seen the Consops cruiser recently. He +looked up, searching for its exhaust, and finally found it, some distance +away. + +The Connie commander was stalemated for the time being. He couldn't land +his cruiser on a spinning asteroid, and he had no more boats. Rip thought +he probably was just waiting around for any opportunity that might +present itself. + +The Federation cruisers should be arriving. He studied his chronometer. +No, the nearest one, the _Sagittarius_ from Mercury, wasn't due for +another ten minutes or so. He turned up his helmet communicator and +ordered all hands to watch for the exhaust of a nuclear drive cruiser, +then turned it down again and gave Koa instructions. + +"Have Trudeau turn his load over to a Connie and collect the igniters and +the dynamo. We'll need wire, too. Who has that?" + +"Another Connie." + +"Get a reel. Cut off a few hundred feet and connect the dynamo to one end +and an igniter to the other." + +The crystal came around again, and Kemp got to work. Rip stood by, again +reviewing all steps. They couldn't afford to make a mistake. He had no +margin for error. + +Kemp finished the hole a few seconds before the crystal turned into the +sunlight again. Rip told him to keep the torch going. There might be some +last minute cutting to do. Then the lieutenant hurried off at an angle to +where Dominico was plodding along with the fuel tubes. + +Koa had turned the tube he carried over to a Connie. Rip got it and told +Dominico to follow him. Then he angled back across the asteroid to where +Kemp was holding position. + +The asteroid turned twice before Koa arrived. He had a coil of wire slung +over his arm, and he carried the dynamo in one hand and an igniter in the +other, the two connected by the wire. + +Rip took the igniter. "Uncoil the wire," he directed. "Go to its full +length at right angles to the hole. We have to time this exactly right. +When the crystal comes around again, I'll shove the tube into the hole, +then scurry for cover. When I'm clear I'll yell, and you pump the dynamo. +Dominico and Kemp stay with Koa. Make sure no one is in the way of the +blast." + +Koa unreeled the wire, moving away from Rip. The lieutenant pushed the +igniter into one end of the fuel tube and crimped it tightly with his +gloved hand. + +Koa and the others were as far away as they could get now, the wire +stretching between them and Rip. Kemp had made sure no one was running +near the line of blast. + +Rip watched for the crystal. It would be coming around any second now. He +held the tube with the igniter projecting behind him, ready for the hole +to appear. + +Koa's voice echoed in his helmet. "All set, Lieutenant." + +The crystal appeared across the sun line and moved toward him. He met it, +slowed his speed, put the end of the tube into the hole, and shoved. Kemp +had allowed enough clearance. The tube slid into place. Rip turned and +angled off as fast as he could glide. When he was far enough away from +the blast line he called, "Fire!" + +Koa squeezed the dynamo handle. The machine whined, and current shot +through the wire. A column of orange fire spurted from the crystal. + +Rip watched the stars instead of the exhaust. He kept running as it +burned soundlessly. In air, the noise would have deafened him. In airless +space, there was nothing to carry the sound. + +The apparent motion of the stars was definitely slowing. The spinning +wouldn't cease entirely, but it would slow down enough to give them more +time to work. + +The tube reached _Brennschluss_, and Rip called orders. "Same process. +Get ready to repeat." + +While Koa was connecting another igniter to the wire, Rip took a tube +from Dominico. "Take your space knife and saw through the tube you have +left. We'll need about three-fifths of it. Keep both pieces." + +Dominico pulled his knife, pressed the release, and the gas capsule shot +the blade out. He got to work. + +Koa called that he was ready. Rip took the wired igniter from him and +thrust it into the tube Dominico had given him. + +As the crystal came around again, the process was repeated. The hole was +undamaged. + +There was more time to get clear because of the asteroid's slower speed. +The second tube slowed the rock even more, so that they had to wait long +minutes while the crystal came around again. + +Rip did some estimating. He wanted to be sure the next charge would do +nothing more than slow the asteroid to a stop. If the charge were too +heavy, it would reverse the spin. He didn't want to make a career of +running on the asteroid. He was tired, and he knew his men were getting +weary, too. He could see it in their strides. + +He decided it would be best to use a little less fuel rather than a +little more. If the asteroid failed to stop its spin completely, they +could always set off a small charge or two. + +"Hold it," he ordered. "We'll use the small end of Dominico's tube and +save the big one." + +The fuel was a solid mass, so cutting the tube in two sections caused no +difficulty. Rip pushed the igniter into the small section, seated it in +the hole, and hurried to cover. As he watched the fuel burn, he wondered +why the last nuclear charge had started the spin. He had made a mistake +somewhere. The earlier blasts had been set so they wouldn't cause a spin. +He made a mental note to look at the place where the charge had exploded. + +The rocket fuel slowed the asteroid down to a point where it was barely +turning, and Rip was glad he had been cautious. The heavier charge would +have reversed it a little. He directed the placing of a very small charge +and was moving away from it so Koa could set it off when Santos suddenly +yelled, "Sir! The Connie is coming!" + +Rip called, "Fire the charge, Koa," then looked up. The Consops cruiser +was moving slowly toward them. The canny Connie had been waiting for +something to happen on the asteroid, Rip guessed. When the spinning +slowed and then stopped, the Connie probably had decided that now was +the time for a final try. + +"Where is the communicator?" Rip asked the sergeant major. + +"One of the Connies has it." + +"Get it. I'll notify Terra base of what happened." + +Koa found the Connie with the communicator, tested it to be sure the +prisoner hadn't sabotaged it, and brought it to Rip. + +"This is Foster to Terra base. Over." + +"Come in, Foster." + +Rip explained briefly what had happened and asked, "How is our orbit? +I haven't had time to take sightings." + +"You're free of the sun," Terra base answered. "Your orbit will have to +be corrected sometime within the next few hours. The last blast pushed +you off course." + +"That's a small matter," Rip stated. "Unless we can think of something +fast, this will be a Connie asteroid by then. The Consops cruiser is +moving in on us. He's careful, because he isn't sure of the situation. +But even at his present speed he'll be here in ten minutes." + +"Stand by." Terra base was silent for a few moments, then the voice +replied, "I think we have an answer for you, Foster. Terra base off. +Go ahead, MacFife." + +A Scottish burr thick enough to saw boards came out of the communicator. +"Foster, this is MacFife, commander on the _Aquila_. Y'can't see me on +account of I'm on yer sunny side. But, lad, I'm closer to ye than the +Connie. We did it this way to keep the asteroid between us and him. Also, +lad, if ye'll take a look up at Gemini, ye'll see somethin' ye'll like. +Look at Alhena, in the Twins' feet. Then, lad, if ye'll be patient the +while, ye'll have a grandstand seat for a real big show." + +Rip tilted his bubble back and stared upward at the constellation of the +Twins. He said softly, "By Gemini!" For there, a half degree south of +the star Alhena, was the clean line of a nuclear cruiser's exhaust. The +_Sagittarius_, out of Mercury, had arrived. + +He cut the communicator off for a moment and spoke exultantly to his men. +"Stand easy, you hairy Planeteers. Forget the Connie. He doesn't know it, +but he's caught. He's caught between the Archer and the Eagle!" + + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN + +Courtesy--With Claws + + +Sagittarius, constellation of the Archer, and Aquila, constellation of +the Eagle, had given the two Federation patrol cruisers their names. The +Eagle was commanded by a tough Scotsman, and the Archer by a Frenchman. + +Commander MacFife spoke through the communicator. "Switch bands to +universal, lad. Me'n Galliene are goin' to talk this Connie into a braw +mess. MacFife off." + +Rip guessed that the two cruiser commanders had been in communication +while enroute to the asteroid and had cooked up some kind of plan. He +turned the band switch to the universal frequency with which all +long-range communicators were equipped. Each of the Earth groups had its +own frequency, and so did the Martians and Jovians. But all could meet +and talk on the universal band. + +Special scrambling devices prevented eavesdropping on regular +frequencies, so there was no danger that the Connie had overheard the +plan. Rip wondered what it was. He knew the cruisers had to be careful +not to cross the thin line that might lead to war. + +The _Sagittarius_ loomed closer, decelerating with a tremendous exhaust. +The Connie couldn't have failed to see it, Rip knew. He was right. The +Consops cruiser suddenly blasted more heavily, rushing in the direction +away from the Federation ship. The direction was toward the asteroid. + +At the same moment, the _Aquila_ flashed above the horizon, also +decelerating. The Connie was caught squarely. + +A suave voice spoke on the universal band. "This is Federation SCN +_Sagittarius_, calling the Consolidation cruiser near the asteroid. +Please reply." + +Rip waited anxiously. The Connie would hear, because every control room +monitored the universal band. + +A heavy, reluctant voice replied after a pause of over a minute. + +"This is Consolidation cruiser Sixteen. You are breaking the law, +_Sagittarius_. Your missile ports are open, and they are pointing at me. +Close them at once, or I will report this." + +The suave voice, with its hint of French accent, replied, "Ah, my friend! +Do not be alarmed. We have had a slight accident to our control circuit, +and the ports are jammed open. We are trying to repair the situation. But +I assure you that we have only the friendliest of intentions." + +Rip grinned. This was about the same as a man holding a cocked pistol at +another man's head and assuring him that it was nothing but a nervous arm +that kept the gun so steady. + +The Connie demanded, "What do you want?" + +The two friendly cruisers were within a few miles of the Connie now, and +their blasts were just strong enough to keep them edging closer, while +still counteracting the sun's pull. + +The French spaceman spoke reassuringly. "My friend, we want only +the courtesy of space to which the law entitles us. We have had an +unfortunate accident to our astrogation instruments, and we wish to +come aboard to compare them with yours." + +Rip laughed outright. Every cruiser carried at least four sets of +instruments. There was as much chance of all of them being knocked off +scale at once as there was of his biting a cruiser in half with bare +teeth. + +MacFife's voice came on the air. "Foster, switch to Federation +frequency." + +Rip did so. "This is Foster, Commander." + +"Lad, it's a pity for ye to miss the show. I'm sending a boat for ye." + +"The sun will get it!" Rip exclaimed. + +"Never fear, lad. It won't get this one. Now, switch back to universal +and listen in." + +Rip did so in time to catch the Connie commander's voice. "... and I +refuse to believe such a story! Great Cosmos, do you think I am a fool?" + +"Of course not," the Frenchman replied. "You are not such a fool as to +refuse a simple request to check our instruments." + +The _Sagittarius_ commander was right. Rip understood the strategy. +Equipment sometimes did go out of operation in space, and Connies had +no hesitation in asking Federation cruisers for help, or the other way +around. Such help was always given, because no commander could be +sure when he might need help himself. + +"I agree," the Connie commander said with obvious reluctance. "You may +send a boat." + +MacFife's Scotch burr broke in. "Federation SCN _Aquila_ to Consolidation +Sixteen. Mister, my instruments are off scale, too. I'll just send them +along to ye, and ye can check them while ye're doing the _Sagittarius_!" + +"I object!" the Connie bellowed. + +"Come, now," MacFife burred soothingly. "Checking a few instruments won't +hurt ye." + +A small rocket exhaust appeared, leaving the _Aquila_. The exhaust grew +rapidly, more rapidly than that of any snapper-boat. Rip watched it, +while keeping his ears tuned to the space conversation. + +"Surely sending boats is too much of a nuisance," the French commander +said winningly. "We will come alongside." + +"It's a trick," the Connie growled. "You want me to open my valves, and +then your men will board us and try to take over my ship!" + +"My friend, you have a suspicious mind," Galliene replied smoothly. "If +you wish, arm your men. Ours will have no weapons. Train launchers on the +valves, so our men will be annihilated before they can board if you see a +single weapon." + +This was going a little far, Rip thought, but it was not his affair, and +he didn't know exactly what MacFife and Galliene had in mind. + +The _Aquila's_ boat arrived with astonishing speed. Rip saw it flash in +the sunlight and knew he had never seen one like it before. It was a +perfect globe, about twenty feet in diameter. Blast holes covered the +globe at intervals of six feet. + +The boat settled to the asteroid, and a new voice called over the helmet +circuit, "Where's Foster? Show an exhaust! We're in a rush." + +"Yes, sir." + +He hurried to the boat and stood there, bewildered. He didn't know how to +get in. + +"Up here," the voice called. He looked up and saw a hatch. He jumped, and +a space-suited figure pulled him inside. The door shut, and the boat +blasted off. Acceleration shoved him backward, but the spaceman snapped a +line to his belt, then motioned him to a seat. Rip pulled himself up the +line and got into the seat, snapping the harness in place. + +"I'm Hawkins, senior space officer," the spaceman said. "Welcome, Foster. +We've been losing weight wondering if we'd get here in time." + +"I was never so glad to see spacemen in my life," Rip said truthfully. +"What kind of craft is this, sir?" + +"Experimental," the space officer answered. "It has a number, but we call +it the ball-bat because it's shaped like a ball and goes like a bat. We +were about to take off for some test runs around the space platform when +we got a hurry call to come here. The _Aquila_ has two of these. If they +prove out, they'll replace the snapper-boats. More power, greater +maneuverability, heavier weapons, and they carry more men." + +Rip looked out through the port and saw the two Federation cruisers +closing in on the Connie. Apparently the Connie commander had agreed +to let the cruisers come alongside. + +The ball-bat blasted to the _Aquila_, paused at an open port, then slid +inside. The valve was shut before Rip could unbuckle his harness. Air +flooded into the chamber, and the lights flicked on. The space officer +gave Rip a hand out of the harness, and the young Planeteer went through +the hatch to the deck. + +The inner valve opened, and a lean, sandy-haired officer in space blue, +with the insignia of a commander, stepped through. Grinning, he hurried +to Rip's side and twisted his bubble, lifting it off. + +"Hurry, lad," he greeted Rip. "I'm MacFife. Get out of that suit quick, +because ye don't want to miss what's aboot to happen." With his own hands +he unlocked the complicated belt with its gadgets and equipment. + +Rip slipped the upper part over his head and stepped out of the bottom. +"Thanks, Commander. I'm one grateful Planeteer, believe me!" + +"Come on. We'll hurry right across ship to the opposite valve. Lad, +I've a son in the Planeteers, and he's just about your own age. He's +on Ganymede. He and the others will be proud of what ye've done." + +MacFife was pulling himself along rapidly by the convenient handholds. +Rip followed, his breathing a little rapid in the heavier air of the +ship. He followed the Scottish commander through the maze of passages +that crossed the ship. They stopped at a valve where spacemen were +waiting. With them was an officer who carried a big case. + +"The instruments," MacFife said, pointing. "We've tinkered with them a +bit, just to make it look real." + +"But why do you want to board the Connie?" + +MacFife's eye closed in a wink. "Ye'll see." + +There was a slight bump as the cruiser touched the Connie. The waiting +group recovered balance and faced the valve. Rip knew that spacemen in +the inner lock were making fast to the Connie, setting up the airtight +seal. + +It wasn't long before a bell sounded, and a spaceman opened the inner +valve. Two men in space suits were waiting, and beyond them the outer +valve was joined by a tube to the outer valve of the Connie ship. Rip +stared at the Connie spacemen in their red tunics and gray trousers. +One, an officer with two pistols in his belt, stepped forward. + +Rip noted that the other Connies were heavy with weapons, too. None of +his group had any. + +"I'm the commander," the scowling Connie said. "Bring your instruments +in. We'll check them; then you get out." + +"Ye're no verra friendly," MacFife said, his burr even more pronounced. +He led Rip and the officer with the instruments into the Connie ship. + +A handsome Federation spaceman with a moustache, the first Rip had ever +seen, stepped into the room from a passageway on the opposite side. The +spaceman bowed with exquisite grace. "I have the honor of making myself +known," he proclaimed. "Commander Remy Galliene of the _Sagittarius_." + +The Connie commander grunted. He was afraid, Rip realized. The Connie +suspected a trick, and he had no idea what it might be. + +Galliene saw Rip's black uniform and hurried to shake his hand. "So +this is the young lieutenant who is responsible! Lieutenant, today the +spacemen honor the Planeteers because of you. Most days we fight each +other, but today we fight together, eh? I am glad to meet you!" + +"And I'm glad to meet you, sir," Rip returned. He liked the twinkle in +the Frenchman's eye. He would have given a lot to know what scheme +Galliene and MacFife had cooked up. + +The Connie had overheard Galliene's greeting. He glared at Rip. The +Frenchman saw the look and smiled happily. "Ah, you do not know each +other? Commander, I have the honor to make known Lieutenant Foster of the +Federation Special Order Squadrons. He is in command on the asteroid." + +The Connie blurted, "So! I send boats to help you, and you fire on them!" + +So that was to be the Consops story! Rip thought quickly, then held +up his hand in a shocked gesture that would have done credit to the +Frenchman. "Oh, no, Commander! You misunderstand. We had no way of +communicating by radio, so I did the only thing we could do. I fired +rockets as a warning. We didn't want your boats to get caught in a +nuclear explosion." + +He shrugged. "It was very unlucky for us that the sun threw my gunner's +aim off and he hit your boats--quite by accident." + +MacFife coughed to cover up a chuckle. Galliene hid a smile by stroking +his moustache. + +The Connie commander growled, "And I suppose it was accident that you +took my men prisoner?" + +"Prisoner?" Rip looked bewildered. "We took no prisoners. When your boats +arrived, the men asked if they might not join us. They claimed refuge, +which we had to give them under interplanetary law." + +"I will take them back," the Connie stated. + +"You will not," Galliene replied with equal positiveness. "The law is +very clear, my friend. Your men may return willingly, but you cannot +force them. When we reach Terra we will give them a choice. Those who +wish to return to the Consolidation will be given transportation to the +nearest border." + +The Connie commander motioned to a heavily armed officer. "Take their +instruments. Check them quickly." He put his lips together in a straight +line and stared at the Federation men. They stared back with equal +coldness. + +The minutes ticked by. Rip wondered again what kind of plan MacFife and +Galliene had. + +Additional minutes passed, and the officer returned with the cases. +Wordlessly he handed them to Galliene and MacFife. The Connie commander +snapped, "There. Now get out of my ship." + +Galliene bowed. "You have been a most courteous and gracious host," +he said. "Your conversation has been stimulating, inspiring, and +informative. Our profound thanks." + +He shook hands with Rip and MacFife, bowed to the Connie commander again, +and went out the way he had come. There wasn't anything to say after the +Frenchman's sarcastic farewell speech. MacFife, Rip, and the officer with +the instruments went back through the valves into their own ship. + +Once inside, MacFife called, "Come with me. Hurry." He led the way +through passages and up ladders, to the very top of the ship, to the +hatch where the astrogators took their star sights. The protective shield +of nuclite had been rolled back, and they could see into space through +the clear-vision port. + +Rip and MacFife hurried to the side where they were connected to the +Connie. Rip looked down along the length of the ship. The valve +connection was in the middle of each ship, at the point of greatest +diameter. From that point each ship grew more slender. + +MacFife pointed to the Connie's nose. Projecting from it like great horns +were the ship's steering tubes. Unlike the Federation cruiser, which +blasted steam through internal tubes that did not project, the Connie +used chemical fuel. + +"Watch," MacFife said. + +There were similar tubes on the Connie's stern, Rip knew. He wondered +what they had to do with the plan. + +MacFife walked to a wall communicator. "Follow instructions." + +He turned to Rip. "Remember, lad, the _Sagittarius_ is on the other side +of the Connie, about to do the same thing." + +Rip waited in silence, wondering. + +Then the voice horn called. "Valve closed!" + +A second voice yelled, "Blast!" + +A tremor jarred its way through the entire ship, making the deck throb +under Rip's feet. He saw that the ship's nose had swung away from the +Connie. What in space-- + +"Blast!" + +The nose swung into the Connie again, with a jar that sent Rip sliding +into the clear plastic of the astrodome. His nose jammed into the +plastic, but he didn't even wince, because he saw the Connie cruiser's +steering tubes buckle under the _Aquila's_ sudden shove. + +And suddenly the picture was clear. The two Federation cruisers hadn't +cared about getting into the Connie ship. They had only wanted an excuse +to tie up to it so they could do what had just been done. + +They had sheared off the enemy's steering tubes, first at the stern, then +at the bow, leaving him helpless, able to go only forward or back in the +direction in which he happened to be pointing! + +MacFife had a broad grin on his face. As Rip started to speak, he held up +his hand and pointed at a wall speaker. + +The Connie commander came on the circuit. He screamed, "You planned that! +You--you--" + +Galliene's voice spoke soothingly. "But my dear commander! How can I +apologize? Believe me, the man responsible will be reward--I mean, the +man responsible will be disciplined. You may rest assured of it. How +unfortunate! I am overcome with shame." + +MacFife picked up a microphone. "Same here, Connie. A terrible accident. +Aye, the man who did it will hear from me." + +"It was no accident," the Connie screamed. + +"Ah," Galliene replied, "but you cannot prove otherwise. Commander, do +you realize what this means? You are helpless. Interplanetary law says +that a helpless space ship must be salvaged and taken in tow by the +nearest cruiser, no matter what its nationality. We will do this jointly, +the _Aquila_ and the _Sagittarius_. We will take turns towing you, my +friend. We will haul you to Terra--like any other piece of space junk." + +MacFife could remain quiet no longer. "Yes, mister. And that's no' the +end o' it. We will collect the salvage fee. One half the value of the +salvaged vessel. Aye! My men will like that, since we share and share +alike on salvage. Now, put out a cable from your nose tube. I'll take ye +in tow first." + +He cut the communicator off and met Rip's grin. + +The two spacemen had figured out the one way to repay the Connie for his +attempts on the asteroid. They couldn't fire on him, but they could fake +an accident that would cripple him and cost Consops millions of dollars +in salvage fees. + +Nor would Consops refuse to pay. Salvage law was clear. Whoever performed +the salvage was not required to turn the ship back to its owners until +the fee had been paid. + +And there was another angle. The cruisers would tow the Connie into +the Federation spaceport in New Mexico. If past experience was any +indication, the Connie would lose about half its crew, perhaps more. +They would claim sanctuary in the Federation. + +Rip shook hands solemnly with the grinning Scotchman. It would be a long +time before Consops tried piracy again. + +"We'll be back at our family fight again tomorrow," MacFife said, "but +today we celebrate together. Ah, lad, this is pure joy to me. I've had +a score to settle with yon Connies for years. Now I've done it." + +He put an arm around Rip's shoulders. "While I'm in a givin' mood, which +is not the way of us Scots, is there anything ye'd like?" + +Rip could think of only one thing. "A hot shower. For me and my men. And +will you take the prisoners off our hands?" + +"Yes to both. Anything else?" + +"We'll need some rocket fuel. Terra says we have to correct course. Also, +we'll need a nuclear charge to throw us into a braking ellipse. And we +need a new landing boat. The sun baked the equipment out of ours." + +MacFife nodded. "So be it. I'll send men to the asteroid to bring back +the prisoners and your Planeteers." He smiled. "We'll let yon rock go by +itself while hot showers and a good meal are had by all. Ye've earned it, +lad." + +Rip started to thank the Scot, but his stomach suddenly turned over, and +black dizziness flooded in on him. He heard MacFife's sudden exclamation, +felt hands on him. + +White light blinded him. He shook his head and tried to keep his stomach +from acting up. A voice asked, "Were you shielded from those nuclear +blasts?" + +"No," he said past a constricted throat. "Not from the last. We got some +prompt radiation." + +"When was that? The exact time?" + +Rip tried to remember. He felt horrible. "It was twenty-three-oh-five." + +"Bad," the voice said. "He must have taken enough roentgens of gamma and +neutrons to reach or exceed the median-lethal dose." + +Rip found his voice again. "Santos," he said urgently. "On the asteroid. +He got it, too. The rest were shielded." + +MacFife snapped orders. The ball-bat would have Santos in the ship within +minutes. Being sick in a space suit was about the most unpleasant thing +that could happen. + +A hypospray tingled against Rip's arm. The drug penetrated, caught +a quick lift to all parts of his body through the bloodstream. +Consciousness slid away. + + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN + +Spacefall + + +Rip was never more eloquent. He argued, he begged, and he wheedled. + +The _Aquila's_ chief physician listened with polite interest, but he +shook his head. "Lieutenant, you simply are not aware of the close call +you've had. Another two hours without treatment, and we might not have +been able to save you." + +"I appreciate that," Rip assured him. "But I'm fine now, sir." + +"You are not fine. You are anything but fine. We've loaded you with +antibiotics and blood cell regenerator, and we've given you a total +transfusion. You feel fine, but you're not." + +The doctor looked at Rip's red hair. "That's a fine thatch of hair you +have. In a week or two it will be gone, and you'll have no more hair +than an egg. A well person doesn't lose hair. Your head will shine like +a space helmet." + +The ship's radiation safety officer had put both Rip's and Santos' +dosimeters into his measuring equipment. They had taken over a hundred +roentgens of hard radiation above the tolerance limit. This was the +result of being caught unshielded when the last nuclear charge went +off. + +"Sir," Rip pleaded, "you can load us with suppressives. It's only a few +days more before we reach Terra. You can keep us going until then. We'll +both turn in for full treatment as soon as we get to the space platform. +But we have to finish the job; can't you see that, sir?" + +The doctor shook his head. "You're a fool, even for a Planeteer. Before +you get over this, you'll be sicker than you've ever been. You have a +month in bed waiting for you. If I let you go back to the asteroid, I'll +only be delaying the time when you start full treatment." + +"But the delay won't hurt if you inject us with suppressives, will it?" +Rip asked quickly. "Don't they keep the sickness checked?" + +"Yes, for a maximum of about ten days. Then they no longer have +sufficient effect, and you come down with it." + +"But it won't take ten days," Rip pointed out. "It will only take a +couple, and it won't hurt us." + +MacFife had arrived to hear the last exchange. He nodded sympathetically. +"Doctor, I can appreciate how the lad feels. He started something, and he +wants to finish it. If y'can let him, safely, I think ye should." + +The doctor shrugged. "I can let him. There's a nine to one chance it will +do him no harm. But the one chance is what I don't like." + +"I'll know it if the suppressives start to wear off, won't I?" Rip asked. + +"You certainly will. You'll get weaker rapidly." + +"How rapidly?" + +"Perhaps six hours. Perhaps more." + +Rip nodded. "That's what I thought. Doctor, we're less than six hours +from Terra by ship. If the stuff wears off, we can be in the hospital +within a couple of hours. Once we go into a braking ellipse, we can reach +a hospital in less than an hour by snapper-boat." + +"Let him go," MacFife said. + +The doctor wasn't happy about it, but he had run out of arguments. "All +right, Commander--if you'll assume responsibility for getting him off the +asteroid and into a Terra or space platform hospital in time." + +"I'll do that," MacFife assured him. "Now get your hyposprays and fill +him full of that stuff you use. The corporal, too." + +"Sergeant," Rip corrected. His first action on getting back to the +asteroid would be to recommend Santos' promotion to Terra base. He +intended to recommend Kemp for corporal, too. He was sure the Planeteers +at Terra would make the promotions. + +The two Federation cruisers were still holding course along with the +asteroid, the Connie cruiser between them. + +Within an hour, Rip and Santos, both in false good health, thanks to +medical magic, were on their way back to the asteroid in a ball-bat boat. + +The remaining time passed quickly. The sun receded. The Planeteers +corrected course. Rip sent in his recommendations for promotions and +looked over the last nuclear crater to see why the blast had started the +asteroid spinning. + +The reason could only be guessed. The blast probably had opened a fault +in the crystal, allowing the explosion to escape partially in the wrong +direction. + +Once the course was corrected, Rip calculated the position for the final +nuclear charge. When the asteroid reached the correct position relative +to Earth, the charge would not change its course but only slow its speed +somewhat. The asteroid would go around Earth in a series of ever +tightening ellipses, using Terra's gravity, plus rocket fuel, to slow +it down to orbital speed. + +When it reached the proper position, tubes of rocket fuel would change +the course again, putting it into an orbit around Earth, close to the +space platform. It wasn't practical to take the thorium rock in for a +landing. They would lose control, and the asteroid would flame to Earth +like the greatest meteor ever to hit the planet. + +Putting the asteroid into orbit around Earth was actually the most +delicate part of the whole trip, but Rip wasn't worried. He had the +facilities of Terra base within easy reach by communicator. He dictated +his data and let them do the mathematics on the giant electronic +computers. + +He and his men rode the gray planet past the moon, so close they could +almost see the Planeteer lunar base, circled Terra in a series of +ellipses, and finally blasted the asteroid into its final orbit within +sight of the space platform. + +Landing craft and snapper-boats swarmed to meet them, and within an hour +after their arrival the Planeteers were surrounded by spacemen, cadets +from the platform, and officers and men wearing Planeteer black. + +A cadet approached Rip and looked at him with awe. "Sir, I don't know how +you ever did it!" + +And Rip, his eyes on the great curve of Earth, answered casually, +"There's one thing every space chick has to learn if he's going to be a +Planeteer. There's always a way to do anything. To be a Planeteer, you +have to be able to figure out the way." + +A new voice said, "Now, that's real wisdom!" + +Rip turned quickly and looked through a helmet at the grinning face of +Maj. Joe Barris. + +Barris spoke as though to himself, but Rip turned red as his hair. "Funny +how fast a man ages in space," the Planeteer major remarked. "Take +Foster. A few weeks ago he was just a cadet, a raw recruit who had never +met high vack. Now he's talking like the grandfather of all space. I +don't know how the Special Order Squadrons ever got along before he +became an officer." + +Rip had been feeling a little too proud of himself. + +"It's good to get back," Rip said. + + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY + +On the Platform + + +There were two things Rip could see from his hospital bed on the space +platform. One was the great curve of Earth. He was anxious to get out +of the hospital and back to Terra. + +The second thing was the asteroid. Spacemen were at work on it, slowly +cutting it to pieces. The pieces were small enough to be carried back to +Earth in supply rockets. It would be a long time before the asteroid was +completely cut up and transported to Terra base. + +Sergeant Major Koa came into the hospital ward and sat on Rip's bed. The +plastifoam mattress compressed under his weight. "How are you feeling, +sir?" + +"Pretty good," Rip replied. The worst of the radiation sickness was over, +and he was mending fast. Here and there were little bloodstains, just +below the surface of his skin, and he had no more hair than a plastic +ball. Otherwise he looked normal. The stains would go away, and his hair +would grow back in a few weeks. + +Santos, now officially a sergeant, was in the same condition. The rest of +Rip's Planeteers had resumed duties on the space platform. He saw them +frequently, because they made a point of dropping in whenever they were +near the hospital area. + +Koa looked out at the asteroid. "I sort of hate to see that rock cut up. +There isn't much about a chunk of thorium to get sentimental over, but +after fighting for it the way we did, it doesn't seem right to cut it +into blocks." + +"I know how you feel," Rip admitted, "but, after all, that's what we +brought it back for." + +He studied Koa's dark face. The sergeant major had something on his mind. +"Got vack worms chewing at you?" he asked. Vack worms were a spaceman's +equivalent of "the blues." + +"Not exactly, sir. I happened to overhear the doctor talking today. +You're due for a leave in a week." + +"That's good news!" Rip exclaimed. "You're not unhappy about it, are +you?" + +Koa shrugged. "We were all hoping we'd be together on our next +assignment. The gang liked serving under you. But we're overdue for +shipment to somewhere, and if you take eight weeks' leave, we'll be gone +by the time you come back to the platform." + +"I liked serving with all of you, too," Rip replied. "I watched the way +you all behaved when the space flap was getting tough, and it made me +proud to be a Planeteer." + +Maj. Joe Barris came in. He was carrying an envelope in his hand. + +"Hello, Rip. How are you, Koa? Am I interrupting a private talk?" + +"No, Major," Koa replied. "We're just passing the time. Want me to +leave?" + +"Stay here," Barris said. "This concerns you, too. I've been reassigned. +My eight years on the platform are up, and that's all an instructor gets. +Now I'm off for space on another job." + +Rip knew that instructors were assigned for eight-year periods. And he +knew that the major's specialty was the Planeteer science of exploration, +a specialty which required him to be an expert in biology, zoology, +anthropology, navigation and astrogation, and land fighting--not to +mention a half dozen lesser things. Only ten Planeteers rated expert in +exploration, and all were captains or majors. + +"Where are you going?" Rip asked. "Off to explore something?" + +"That's it." Major Barris smiled. "Remember once I said that when they +gave me the job of cleaning up the goopies on Ganymede, I'd ask for you +as a platoon leader?" + +Rip stared. "Don't tell me that's your assignment!" + +"Almost. Tell me, would you recommend any more of your men for promotion? +I'll need a new sergeant and two more corporals." + +Rip thought it over. "Koa can check me on this. I'd suggest making +Pederson a sergeant and Dowst and Dominico corporals. Kemp and Santos +already have promotions." + +"That would be my choice, too," Koa agreed. + +"Fine." Barris tapped the envelope. "I'll correct the orders in here +and recommend the promotions. We'll get sixteen new recruits from the +graduating class at Luna, and that will complete the platoon I'm supposed +to organize. Two full platoons are waiting, and the new platoon will give +me a full-strength squadron, except for new officers. How about Flip +Villa for a platoon commander, Rip?" + +Rip knew the Mexican officer was among the best of his own graduating +class. "I have to admit prejudice," he warned. "Flip is a pal of mine. +But I don't think you could do better." His curiosity got the better of +him, and he asked "Can you tell me what this is all about?" + +Joe Barris reached over and rubbed Rip's bald head. "By the time fur +grows back on that irradiated dome of yours, I'll be on my way with +Koa, Pederson, and the new recruits. Santos and the rest of your crew +will report to Terra base. Flip Villa will join them there. You'll be +on Earth leave for eight weeks, but it will take about that much time for +Flip and the men to assemble the supplies and equipment we'll need." + +He pulled a sheaf of papers out of the envelope. "Koa, here are orders +for you and your men. They say you're to report to Special Order Squadron +Seven, on Ganymede. SOS Seven is a new squadron, the first one organized +exclusively for exploration duties, and I'm its commanding officer. Koa, +you'll be my senior noncommissioned officer. I want you and Pederson with +me, because you can organize the new recruits en route. They have a lot +more to learn from you than they got in their two years of training. +You'll make real Planeteers out of 'em." + +He picked a paper from the sheaf and waived it at Rip. "This is for you, +Lieutenant Foster." He read, "Foster, R. I. P., Lieutenant, SOS. Serial +seven-nine-four-three. Authorized eight weeks' leave upon discharge from +hospital. Upon completion of leave, subject officer will report to Terra +base for transportation to SOS Seven on Ganymede." + +Joe Barris handed Rip his new orders. "You'll be on the same ship with +Flip Villa and your men. Flip will be another of my platoon leaders. +I'll be waiting for you on Ganymede. The moons of Jupiter are going to be +our home for quite a while, Rip. Our first assignment is to explore +Callisto from pole to pole." + +Rip didn't know what to say. To serve under Barris, to have his own men +in a regular squadron platoon, to have Flip Villa in the same outfit, +and to be assigned to exploration duty--dirtiest but most exciting of all +Planeteer jobs--was just too much. He couldn't say anything. He could +only grin. + +Maj. Joe Barris looked at Rip's shiny head and chuckled. "From what I +hear of Callisto, we're in for a rough time. Your hair will probably +grow back just in time to turn gray!" + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RIP FOSTER IN RIDE THE GRAY PLANET*** + + +******* This file should be named 18139.txt or 18139.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/1/3/18139 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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