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diff --git a/25713-h/25713-h.htm b/25713-h/25713-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bb06004 --- /dev/null +++ b/25713-h/25713-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3488 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Judas Valley, by Gerald Vance + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + h1,h2 {text-align: center; clear: both;} + hr {width: 45%; margin: 1em auto; clear: both; visibility: hidden;} + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .blockquot {margin: 1em 15%;} + .figcenter {margin: 0 auto 2em; text-align: center; width: 600px;} + img {border: none;} + a:link {text-decoration: none;} + a:visited {text-decoration: none;} + p.cap:first-letter {float: left; margin-right: .05em; padding-top: .05em; font-size: 300%; line-height: .8em;} + .dcap {text-transform: uppercase;} + .tease {margin: 2em auto; width: 25em;} + .theend {text-align: right; margin-top: 2em;} + .rgt {text-align: right;} + .figtran {float: left; text-align: justify; border: solid 1px; margin: 3em 15%; padding: 1em;} + .figtran img {float: left; padding-right: 1em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Judas Valley, by Gerald Vance + +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: The Judas Valley + +Author: Gerald Vance + +Release Date: June 7, 2008 [EBook #25713] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE JUDAS VALLEY *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell, and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/001.png" width="600" height="428" alt="" title="" /> +<b>He had lost all sense of right or wrong. Justice and injustice<br />were the same, and his only thought was, kill—kill—kill!</b></div> + +<h1><big>THE JUDAS VALLEY</big></h1> + +<h2>By GERALD VANCE</h2> + +<div class="tease"><p><i>Why did everybody step off the ship in this strange valley +and promptly drop dead? How could a well-equipped corps of +tough spacemen become a field of rotting skeletons in this +quiet world of peace and contentment? It was a mystery Peter +and Sherri had to solve. If they could live long enough!</i></p></div> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Peter Wayne</span> took the +letter out of the machine, +broke the seal, and examined +it curiously. It was an official +communication from the Interstellar +Exploration Service. +It read:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>FROM: Lieutenant General Martin Scarborough, I.E.S.<br /> +TO: Captain Peter Wayne, Preliminary Survey Corps</p> + +<p>Report immediately to +this office for assignment +to I.E.S. <i>Lord Nelson</i>. Full +briefing will be held at +2200 hours, 14 April 2103.</p> + +<p class="rgt">By order of the Fleet Commandant.</p></div> + +<p>It was short, brief, and to +the point. And it gave no information +whatsoever. Peter +Wayne shrugged resignedly, +put the letter down on his +bed, walked over to the phone, +and dialed a number.</p> + +<p>A moment later, a girl's +face appeared—blonde-haired, +with high cheekbones, deep +blue-green eyes, and an expression +of the lips that +intriguingly combined desirability +and crisp military +bearing.</p> + +<p>"Lieutenant James speaking," +she said formally. Then, +as Wayne's image appeared +on her screen, she grinned. +"Hi, Pete. What's up?"</p> + +<p>"Listen, Sherri," Wayne +said quickly. "I'm going to +have to cancel that date we +had for tomorrow night. I +just got my orders."</p> + +<p>The girl laughed. "I was +just going to call <i>you</i>, I got a +fac-sheet too. Looks as +though we won't see each +other for a while, Pete."</p> + +<p>"What ship are you getting?"</p> + +<p>"The <i>Lord Nelson</i>."</p> + +<p>It was Wayne's turn to +laugh. "It looks as though we +<i>will</i> be seeing each other. +That's my ship too. We can +keep our date in the briefing +room."</p> + +<p>Her face brightened. +"Good! I'll see you there, +then," she said. "I've got to +get my gear packed."</p> + +<p>"Okay," Wayne said. "Let's +be on time, you know how +General Scarborough is."</p> + +<p>She smiled. "Don't worry, +Peter. I'll be there. So long +for now."</p> + +<p>"Bye, Sherri." He cut the +connection, watched the girl's +face melt away into a rainbow-colored +diamond of light, +and turned away. There were +a lot of things to do before he +would be ready to leave +Earth for an interstellar tour +of duty.</p> + +<p>He wondered briefly as he +started to pack just what was +going on. There was usually +much more notice on any big +jump of this order. Something +special was up, he +thought, as he dragged his +duffle-bag out of the closet.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>He was at the briefing room +at 2158 on the nose. The Interstellar +Exploration Service +didn't much go for tardiness, +but they didn't pay extra if +you got there a half-hour early. +Captain Peter Wayne +made it a point of being at +any appointment two minutes +early—no more, no less.</p> + +<p>The room was starting to +fill up, with men and women +Wayne knew well, had worked +with on other expeditions, +had lived with since he'd joined +the IES. They looked just +as puzzled as he probably did, +he saw; they knew they were +being called in on something +big, and in the IES big meant +<i>big</i>.</p> + +<p>At precisely 2200, Lieutenant +General Scarborough +emerged from the inner office, +strode briskly up the aisle of +the briefing room, and took +his customary stance on the +platform in front. His face +looked stern, and he held his +hands clasped behind his +back. His royal blue uniform +was neat and trim. Over his +head, the second hand of the +big clock whirled endlessly. In +the silence of the briefing room, +it seemed to be ticking +much too loudly.</p> + +<p>The general nodded curtly +and said, "Some of you are +probably wondering why the +order to report here wasn't +more specific. There are two +reasons for that. In the first +place, we have reason to believe +that we have found a +substantial deposit of double-nucleus +beryllium."</p> + +<p>There was a murmur of +sound in the briefing room. +Wayne felt his heart starting +to pound; D-N beryllium <i>was</i> +big. So big that a whole fleet +of IES ships did nothing but +search the galaxy for it, full +time.</p> + +<p>"Naturally," the general +continued, "we don't want +any of this information to +leak out, just in case it should +prove false. The prospect of +enough D-N beryllium to +make fusion power really +cheap could cause a panic if +we didn't handle it properly. +The Economics Board has +warned us that we'll have to +proceed carefully if there actually +is a big deposit on this +planet."</p> + +<p>Captain Wayne stared uneasily +at Sherri James, who +frowned and chewed her lip. +To his left, a short, stubby +private named Manetti murmured +worriedly, "That +means trouble. D-N beryllium +always means trouble. +There's a catch somewhere."</p> + +<p>General Scarborough, on +the platform, said, "There's +a second reason for secrecy. +I think it can better be explained +by a man who has the +evidence first-hand."</p> + +<p>He paused and looked +around the room. "Four +weeks ago, the Scout Ship +<i>Mavis</i> came back from Fomalhaut +V." There was a +dead silence in the briefing +room.</p> + +<p>"Lieutenant Jervis, will you +tell the crew exactly what +happened on Fomalhaut V?"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Lieutenant Jervis stepped +forward and took his place on +the platform. He was small +and wiry, with a hawk nose +and piercingly intense eyes. +He cleared his throat and +smiled a little sheepishly.</p> + +<p>"I've told this story so +many times that it doesn't +even sound real to me any +more. I've told it to the Supreme +Senate Space Committee, +to half the top brass in +the IES, and to a Board of +Physicians from the Medical +Department.</p> + +<p>"As well as I can remember +it, it goes something like +this."</p> + +<p>Laughter rippled through +the room.</p> + +<p>"We orbited around Fomalhaut +V for a Scouting +Survey," Jervis said. "The +planet is hot and rocky, but +it has a breathable atmosphere. +The detectors showed +various kinds of metals in the +crust, some of them in commercially +feasible concentration. +But the crust is so +mountainous and rocky that +there aren't very many places +to land a ship.</p> + +<p>"Then we picked up the +double-nucleus beryllium deposit +on our detectors. Nearby, +there was a small, fairly +level valley, so we brought +the ship down for a closer +check. We wanted to make +absolutely positive that it was +double-nucleus beryllium before +we made our report."</p> + +<p>He paused, as if arranging +the story he wanted to tell in +his mind, and went on. "The +D-N beryllium deposit lies at +the top of a fairly low mountain +about five miles from the +valley. We triangulated it +first, and then we decided we +ought to send up a party to +get samples of the ore if it +were at all possible.</p> + +<p>"I was chosen to go, along +with another member of the +crew, a man named Lee Bellows. +We left the ship at +about five in the morning, and +spent most of the day climbing +up to the spot where we +had detected the beryllium. +We couldn't get a sample; the +main deposit is located several +feet beneath the surface +of the mountaintop, and the +mountain is too rough and +rocky to climb without special +equipment. We got less than +halfway before we had to +stop."</p> + +<p>Wayne felt Sherri nudge +him, and turned to nod. He +knew what she was thinking. +This was where he came in; +it was a job that called for a +specialist, a trained mountaineer—such +as Captain Peter +Wayne. He frowned and +turned his attention back to +the man on the platform.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>"We made all the readings +we could," Jervis continued. +"Then we headed back to our +temporary base."</p> + +<p>His face looked troubled. +"When we got back, every +man at the base was dead."</p> + +<p>Silence in the room. Complete, +utter, deafening silence.</p> + +<p>"There were only nine of +us in the ship," Jervis said. +He was obviously still greatly +affected by whatever had taken +place on Fomalhaut V. +"With seven of us dead, that +left only Bellows and myself. +We couldn't find out what had +killed them. They were lying +scattered over the valley floor +for several yards around the +ship. They looked as though +they had suddenly dropped +dead at whatever they were +doing."</p> + +<p>Peter Wayne made use of +his extra few inches of height +to glance around the briefing +room. He saw row on row of +tense faces—faces that reflected +the same emotions he +was feeling. Space exploration +was something still new +and mostly unknown, and +even the experienced men of +IES still knew fear occasionally. +The galaxy was a big +place; unknown terrors lurked +on planets unimaginably +distant. Every now and then, +something like this would +come up—something to give +you pause, before you ventured +into space again.</p> + +<p>"We couldn't find out what +had killed them," Jervis said +again. "They were lying scattered +every which way, with +no clues at all." The small +man's fingers were trembling +from relived fright. "Bellows +and I were pretty scared, I'll +have to admit. We couldn't +find a sign of what had killed +the men—they'd just—just +<i>died</i>."</p> + +<p>There was a quiver in his +voice. It was obvious he could +never take the story lightly, +no matter how many times he +had to tell it.</p> + +<p>Wayne heard Private Manetti +mutter, "There's always +a price for D-N beryllium."</p> + +<p>"The Scout Ship hadn't +been molested," Jervis went +on. "I went inside and checked +it over. It was untouched, +undisturbed in every way. +I checked the control panel, +the cabins, everything. All +unbothered. The ship was +empty and dead. And—outside—</p> + +<p>"When I came out, Bellows +was dead too." He took a deep +breath. "I'm afraid I panicked +then. I locked myself inside +the ship, set the autocontrols, +and headed back to +Earth at top velocity. I set +the ship in an orbit around +the moon and notified headquarters. +I was quarantined +immediately, of course, to +make sure I wasn't carrying +anything. The medics checked +me over carefully. I wasn't +and am not now carrying any +virus or bacteria unknown to +Terrestrial medicine.</p> + +<p>"Since I'm the only one +who knows exactly where this +valley is, the general has +asked me to guide the <i>Lord +Nelson</i> to the exact spot. Actually, +it could be found eventually +with the D-N beryllium +as a guide. But the <i>Mavis</i> was +in orbit around Fomalhaut V +for two weeks before we +found the D-N beryllium deposit, +and the Service feels +that we shouldn't waste any +time."</p> + +<p>The lieutenant sat down, +and General Scarborough resumed +his place on the platform.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>"That's the situation," +Scarborough said bluntly. +"You know the setup, now—and +I think some of you see +how your specialities are going +to fit into the operation. +As Lieutenant Jervis pointed +out, we don't know what killed +the crew of the <i>Mavis</i>; +therefore, we are going to +take every possible precaution. +As far as we know, +there are no inimical life +forms on Fomalhaut V—but +it's possible that there are +things we don't know about, +such as airborne viruses that +kill in a very short time. If +so, then Lieutenant Jervis is +immune to the virus and is +not a transmitter or carrier +of it.</p> + +<p>"However, to guard against +such a possibility, no one will +leave the <i>Lord Nelson</i>, once it +has landed, without wearing +a spacesuit. The air is breathable, +but we're taking no +chances. Also, no one will go +out alone; scouting parties +will always be in pairs, with +wide open communication +with the ship. And at no time +will more than ten percent of +the ship's company be outside +at any one time."</p> + +<p>Wayne made a rough mental +computation. <i>The</i> Lord +Nelson <i>holds sixty. That +means no more than six out +at any single time. They really +must be worried.</i></p> + +<p>"Aside from those orders, +which were decided on by the +Service Command, you'll be +under the direct orders of +Colonel Nels Petersen. Colonel +Petersen."</p> + +<p>Petersen was a tall, hard-faced +man with a touch of +gray at his temples. He stepped +forward and stared intently +at the assembled crew.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>"Our job is to make the +preliminary preparations for +getting D-N beryllium out of +the crust of Fomalhaut V. +We're supposed to stay alive +while we do it. Therefore, our +secondary job is to find out +what it was that killed the +scouting expedition of the +<i>Mavis</i>. There are sixty of us +going aboard the <i>Lord Nelson</i> +tomorrow, and I'd like to +have sixty aboard when we +come back. Got that?"</p> + +<p>He leaned forward, +stretched upward on his toes, +and smiled mechanically. +"Fine. Now, you all know +your jobs, but we're going to +have to work together as a +team. We're going to have to +correlate our work so that +we'll know what we're doing. +So don't think we won't have +anything to do during the two +weeks it will take us to get to +Fomalhaut V. We're going to +work it as though it were a +shakedown cruise. If anyone +doesn't work out, he'll be replaced, +even if we have to +turn around and come back to +Earth. On a planet which has +wiped out a whole scouting +expedition, we can't afford to +have any slip-ups. And that +means we can't afford to have +anyone aboard who doesn't +know what he's doing or +doesn't care. Is that clear?"</p> + +<p>It was.</p> + +<p>"All right," said the colonel. +"Let's go out and get +acquainted with the <i>Lord +Nelson</i>."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The briefing session broke +up well past midnight, and +the group that shortly would +become the crew of the <i>Lord +Nelson</i> filtered out of the +building and into the cool +spring air. Each man had a +fairly good idea of his job +and each man knew the dangers +involved. No one had +backed out.</p> + +<p>"What d'ye think of it, +Pete?" Sherri James asked, +as they left together. "Sounds +pretty mean."</p> + +<p>"I wish we knew what the +answers were beforehand," +Wayne said. He glanced +down at Sherri. The moon +was full, and its rays glinted +brightly off her golden hair. +"It's a risky deal, as Petersen +said. Nine men go out, and +eight die—of what? Just +dead, that's all."</p> + +<p>"It's the way the game +goes," Sherri said. "You +knew that when you joined +the corps." They turned down +the main road of the IES +compound and headed for the +snack bar.</p> + +<p>Wayne nodded. "I know, +kid. It's a job, and it has to +be done. But nobody likes to +walk into an empty planet +like that knowing that eight +of the last nine guys who did +didn't come back."</p> + +<p>He put his arm around her +and they entered the snack +bar that way. Most of the +other crew-members were +there already; Wayne sensed +the heightening tenseness on +their faces.</p> + +<p>"Two nuclear fizzes," he +said to the pfc at the bar. +"With all the trimmings."</p> + +<p>"What's the matter, Captain?" +said a balding, potbellied +major a few stools down, +who was nursing a beer. +"How come the soft drinks +tonight, Wayne?"</p> + +<p>Peter grinned. "I'm in +training, Major Osborne. +Gotta kill the evil green +horde from Rigel Seven, and +I don't dare drink anything +stronger than sarsaparilla."</p> + +<p>"How about the amazon, +then?" Osborne said, gesturing +at Sherri. "Her too?"</p> + +<p>"Me too," Sherri said.</p> + +<p>Osborne stared at his beer. +"You two must be in Scarborough's +new project, then." +He squinted at Peter, who +nodded almost imperceptibly.</p> + +<p>"You'll need luck," Osborne +said.</p> + +<p>"No we won't," Wayne +said. "Not luck. We'll need +more than just luck to pull us +through."</p> + +<p>The nuclear fizzes arrived. +He began to sip it quietly. A +few more members of the +crew entered the snack bar. +Their faces were drawn +tensely.</p> + +<p>He guzzled the drink and +looked up at Sherri, who was +sucking down the last of the +soda. "Let's get going, Lieutenant +James. The noncoms +are coming, and we don't +want them to make nasty remarks +about us."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The <i>Lord Nelson</i> blasted off +the next evening, after a +frenzied day of hurried preparations. +The crew of sixty +filed solemnly aboard, Colonel +Petersen last, and the great +hatch swung closed.</p> + +<p>There was the usual routine +loudspeaker-business +while everyone quickly and +efficiently strapped into his +acceleration cradle, and then +the ship leaped skyward. It +climbed rapidly, broke free of +Earth's grasp, and, out past +the moon, abruptly winked +out of normal space into overdrive. +It would spend the next +two weeks in hyperspace, +short-cutting across the galaxy +to Fomalhaut V.</p> + +<p>It was a busy two weeks +for everyone involved. Captain +Peter Wayne, as a central +part of the team, spent +much of his time planning his +attack. His job would be the +actual climbing of the mountain +where the double-nucleus +beryllium was located. It +wasn't going to be an easy +job; the terrain was rough, +the wind, according to Jervis, +whipped ragingly through the +hills, and the jagged peaks +thrust into the air like the +teeth of some mythical +dragon.</p> + +<p>Study of the three-dimensional +aerial photographs +taken from the <i>Mavis</i> showed +that the best route was +probably up through one end +of the valley, through a narrow +pass that led around the +mountain, and up the west +slope, which appeared to offer +better handholds and was less +perpendicular than the other +sides of the mountain.</p> + +<p>This time, the expedition +would have the equipment to +make the climb. There were +ropes, picks, and crampons, +and sets of metamagnetic +boots and grapples. With +metamagnetic boots, Wayne +thought, they'd be able to +walk up the side of the mountain +almost as easily as if it +were flat.</p> + +<p>He studied the thick, heavy +soles of the boots for a moment, +then set to work polishing. +Wayne liked to keep his +boots mirror-bright; it wasn't +required, but it was a habit +of his nonetheless.</p> + +<p>He set to work vigorously. +Everyone aboard the ship was +working that way. Sherri +James, who was in charge of +the Correlation Section, had +noticed the same thing the +day before. Her job was to +co-ordinate all the information +from various members +of the expedition, run them +through the computers, and +record them. She had been +busy since blastoff, testing +the computers, checking and +rechecking them, being overly +efficient.</p> + +<p>"I know why we're doing +it," she said. "It keeps our +mind off the end of the trip. +When we spend the whole day +working out complicated circuits +for the computers, or +polishing mountain boots, or +cleaning the jet tubes, it's just +so we don't have to think +about Fomalhaut V. It helps +to concentrate on details."</p> + +<p>Wayne nodded and said +nothing. Sherri was right. +There was one thought in +everyone's mind: what was +the deadly secret of the valley?</p> + +<p>There was another thought, +after that:</p> + +<p><i>Will we find it out in time?</i></p> + +<hr /> + +<p>After two weeks of flight +through the vast blackness of +interstellar space, the <i>Lord +Nelson</i> came out of overdrive +and set itself in an orbit +around Fomalhaut V. Lieutenant +Jervis, the sole survivor +of the ill-fated <i>Mavis</i>, +located the small valley between +the giant crags that +covered the planet, and the +huge spherical bulk of the +spaceship settled gently to +the floor of the valley.</p> + +<p>They were gathered in the +central room of the ship +ten minutes after the <i>all-clear</i> +rang through the corridors, +informing everyone that the +landing had been safely accomplished. +From the portholes +they could see the white +bones of the <i>Mavis's</i> crew lying +on the reddish sand of +the valley bottom.</p> + +<p>"There they are," Jervis +said quietly. "Just bones. +Those were my shipmates."</p> + +<p>Wayne saw Sherri repress +a shudder. Little heaps of +bones lay here and there on +the sand, shining brightly in +the hot sun. That was the +crew of the <i>Mavis</i>—or what +was left of them.</p> + +<p>Colonel Petersen entered +the room and confronted the +crew. "We're here," he said. +"You know the schedule from +now on. No one's to leave the +ship until we've made a check +outside, and after that—assuming +it's OK to go out—no +more than six are to leave +the ship at any one time."</p> + +<p>He pointed to a row of +metal magnetic tabs clinging +to the wall nearest the corridor +that led to the airlock. +"When you go out, take one +of those tabs and touch it on +your suit. There are exactly +six tabs. If none are there, +don't go out. It's as simple as +that."</p> + +<p>Four men in spacesuits entered +the room, followed by +two others. The leader of the +group saluted. "We're ready, +sir," he said.</p> + +<p>"Go out and get a look at +the bodies," the colonel told +the men, who were Medical +Corpsmen. "You know the +procedure. Air and sand +samples too, of course."</p> + +<p>The leader saluted again, +turned, and left. Wayne +watched the six spacesuited +figures step one at a time to +the wall, withdraw one of the +metal tabs, and affix it to the +outer skin of his suit. Then +they went outside.</p> + +<p>Captain Wayne and Sherri +James stood by one of the +portholes and watched the six +medics as they bent over the +corpses outside. "I don't get +it, I just don't understand," +Wayne said quietly.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>"What don't you get?" +Sherri asked.</p> + +<p>"Those skeletons. Those +men have only been dead for +two months, and they've been +reduced to nothing but bones +already. Even the fabric of +their clothing is gone. Why? +There must be something +here that causes human flesh +to deteriorate much faster +than normal."</p> + +<p>"It does look pretty gruesome," +Sherri agreed. "I'm +glad we've been ordered to +keep our spacesuits on. I +wouldn't want to be exposed +to anything that might be out +there."</p> + +<p>"I wonder—" Wayne muttered.</p> + +<p>"What? What's the matter?"</p> + +<p>Wayne pointed to one figure +lying on the sand. "See +that? What's that over his +head?"</p> + +<p>"Why—it's a space helmet!"</p> + +<p>"Yeah," said Wayne. "The +question is: was he wearing +just the helmet, or the whole +suit? If he was wearing the +whole suit, we're not going to +be as well protected as we +thought, even with our fancy +suits."</p> + +<p>Fifteen minutes passed +slowly before the medics returned, +and five minutes more +before they had passed +through the decontamination +chambers and were allowed +into the ship proper. A ring +of tense faces surrounded +them as they made their report.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The leader, a tall, bespectacled +doctor named Stevelman, +was the spokesman. He +shrugged when Colonel Petersen +put forth the question +whose answer everyone waited +for.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," the medic +replied. "I don't know what +killed them. There's dry bones +out there, but no sign of anything +that might have done it. +It's pretty hard to make a +quick diagnosis on a skeleton, +Colonel."</p> + +<p>"What about the one skeleton +with the bubble helmet?" +Peter Wayne asked. "Did you +see any sign of a full suit on +him?"</p> + +<p>Stevelman shook his head. +"Not a sign, sir."</p> + +<p>Colonel Petersen turned +and glanced at Lieutenant +Jervis. "Do you remember +what the circumstances were, +Lieutenant?"</p> + +<p>Jervis shrugged. "I don't +recall it very clearly, sir. I +honestly couldn't tell you +whether they were wearing +suits or bubble-helmets or +anything. I was too upset at +the time to make careful observations."</p> + +<p>"I understand," Petersen +said.</p> + +<p>But the medic had a different +theory. He pointed at Jervis +and said, "That's a point +I've meant to make, Lieutenant. +You're a trained space +scout. Your psychological +records show that you're not +the sort of man given to panic +or to become confused."</p> + +<p>"Are you implying that +there's something improper +about my statement, Dr. +Stevelman?"</p> + +<p>The medic held up a hand. +"Nothing of the sort, Lieutenant. +But since you're not +the sort to panic, even in such +a crisis as the complete destruction +of the entire crew +of your scout ship, you must +have been ill—partly delirious +from fever. Not delirious +enough to cause hallucinations, +but just enough to impair +your judgment."</p> + +<p>Jervis nodded. "That is +possible," he said.</p> + +<p>"Good," said Stevelman. "I +have two tentative hypotheses, +then." He turned to +the colonel. "Should I state +them now, Colonel Petersen?"</p> + +<p>"There's to be no secrecy +aboard this ship, Doctor. I +want every man and woman +on the ship to know all the +facts at all times."</p> + +<p>"Very well," the medic said. +"I'd suggest the deaths were +caused by some unknown virus—or, +perhaps, by some +virulent poison that occurred +occasionally, a poisonous +smog of some kind that had +settled in the valley for a +time and then dissipated."</p> + +<p>Wayne frowned and shook +his head. Both hypotheses +made sense.</p> + +<p>"Do you have any suggestions, +Doctor?" Petersen said.</p> + +<p>"Since we don't have any +direct information about why +those men died, Colonel, I +can't make any definite statements. +But I can offer one bit +of advice to everyone: <i>wear +your suits and be alert</i>."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>During the week that followed, +several groups went +out without suffering any ill +effects. A short service was +held for the eight of the <i>Mavis</i> +and then the skeletons were +buried in the valley.</p> + +<p>They ran a check on the +double-nucleus beryllium toward +the end of the week, +after it had been fairly safely +established that no apparent +harm was going to come to +them. Wayne and Sherri were +both in the crew that went +outside to set up the detector.</p> + +<p>"You man the detector +plate," said Major MacDougal, +who was in charge of the +group, turning to Wayne.</p> + +<p>He put his hand on the +plate and waited for the guide +coordinates to be set. MacDougal +fumbled at the base +of the detector for a moment, +and the machine began picking +up eloptic radiations.</p> + +<p>Wayne now looked down at +the detector plate. "Here we +are," he said. "The dial's oscillating +between four and eight, +all right. The stuff's here."</p> + +<p>MacDougal whistled gently. +"It's really sending, isn't +it!" He pointed toward the +mountaintop. "From up +there, too. It's going to be a +nice climb. Okay, pack the detector +up and let's get back +inside."</p> + +<p>They entered the airlock +and passed on into the ship.</p> + +<p>"The D-N beryllium up +there, sir," Major MacDougal +said. "It's going to be a devil +of a job to get up to find the +stuff."</p> + +<p>"That's what Captain +Wayne's here for," Petersen +said. "Captain, what do you +think? Can you get up here?"</p> + +<p>"It would have been easier +to bring along a helicopter," +Wayne said wryly. "Pity the +things don't fit into spaceships. +But I think I can get +up there. I'd like to try surveying +the lay of the land, +first. I want to know all the +possible routes before I start +climbing."</p> + +<p>"Good idea," Petersen said. +"I'll send you out with three +men to do some preliminary +exploring. Boggs! Manetti! +MacPherson! Suit up and get +with it!"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Wayne strode toward the +spacesuit locker, took out his +suit, and donned it. Instead +of the normal space boots, he +put on the special metamagnetic +boots for mountain +climbing. The little reactors +in the back of the calf activated +the thick metal sole of +each boot so that it would +cling tightly to the metallic +rock of the mountain. Unlike +ordinary magnetism, the metamagnetic +field acted on all +metals, even when they were +in combination with other +elements.</p> + +<p>His team of three stood before +him in the airlock room. +He knew all three of them +fairly well from Earthside; +they were capable, level-headed +men, and at least one—Boggs—had +already been out +in the valley surveying once, +and so knew the area pretty +well.</p> + +<p>He pulled on the boots and +looked up. "We're not going +to climb the mountain this +time, men. We'll just take a +look around it to decide which +is the best way."</p> + +<p>"You have any ideas, sir?" +Sergeant Boggs asked.</p> + +<p>"From looking at the photographs, +I'd guess that the +western approach is the best. +But I may be wrong. Little +details are hard to see from +five hundred miles up, even +with the best of instruments, +and there may be things in +our way that will make the +west slope impassible. If so, +we'll try the southern side. It +looks pretty steep, but it also +seems rough enough to offer +plenty of handholds."</p> + +<p>"Too bad we couldn't have +had that helicopter you were +talking about," said Boggs.</p> + +<p>Wayne grinned. "With +these winds? They'd smash us +against the side of the mountain +before we'd get up fifty +feet. You ought to know, Sergeant—you've +been out in +them once already."</p> + +<p>"They're not so bad down +in this valley, sir," Boggs +said. "The only time you really +notice them is when you +climb the escarpment at the +northern end. They get pretty +rough up there."</p> + +<p>Wayne nodded. "You can +see what kind of a job we'll +have. Even with metamagnetic +boots and grapples, we'll +still have to use the old standbys." +He looked at the men. +"Okay; we're all ready. Let's +go."</p> + +<p>They unhooked four of the +six tabs from the wall and +donned them. Then they moved +on into the airlock and +closed the inner door. The air +was pumped out, just as +though the ship were in space +or on a planet with a poisonous +atmosphere. As far as +anyone knew, the atmosphere +of Fomalhaut V actually was +poisonous. Some of the tension +had relaxed after a week +spent in safety, but there was +always the first expedition to +consider; no one took chances.</p> + +<p>When all the air had been +removed, a bleeder valve allowed +the outer air to come +into the chamber. Then the +outer door opened, and the +four men went down the ladder +to the valley floor.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Wayne led the way across +the sand in silence. The four +men made their way toward +the slope on the western side +of the valley. Overhead, the +bright globe of Fomalhaut +shed its orange light over the +rugged landscape.</p> + +<p>When they reached the beginning +of the slope, Wayne +stopped and looked upwards. +"Doesn't look easy," he grunted. +"Damned rough hill, matter +of fact. MacPherson, do +you think you could make it +to the top?"</p> + +<p>Corporal MacPherson was +a small, wiry man who had +the reputation of being a +first-rank mountaineer. He +had been a member of the +eighteenth Mount Everest +Party, and had been the second +of that party to reach the +summit of the towering peak.</p> + +<p>"Sure I can, sir," he said +confidently. "Shall I take the +rope?"</p> + +<p>"Go ahead. You and Manetti +get the rope to the top, +and Sergeant Boggs and I +will follow up."</p> + +<p>"Righto, sir."</p> + +<p>Corporal MacPherson +reached his gloved hands forward +and contracted his fingers. +The tiny microswitches +in his gloves actuated the relays, +and his hands clung to +the rock. Then he put his +boots against the wall and began +to move up the steep escarpment.</p> + +<p>Private Manetti followed +after him. The two men were +lashed together by the light +plastisteel cable. The sergeant +held the end of the cable in +his hands, waiting for the coil +to be paid out.</p> + +<p>Wayne watched the two +men climb, while a chill wind +whipped down out of the +mountains and raised the +sand in the valley. It was less +than eighty feet to the precipice +edge above, but it was +almost perpendicular, and as +they climbed, the buffeting +winds began to press against +their bodies with ever-increasing +force.</p> + +<p>They reached the top and +secured the rope, and then +they peered over the edge and +signalled that Wayne and the +sergeant should start up.</p> + +<p>"We're coming," Wayne +shouted, and returned the signal. +It was at that instant +that he felt something slam +against the sole of his heavy +metamagnetic boot. It was as +though something had kicked +him savagely on the sole of +his right foot.</p> + +<p>He winced sharply at the +impact. Then, somewhat puzzled +he looked down at the +boot. He felt something move +under the sand. He tried to +step back, and almost tripped. +It was as though his right +foot were stuck firmly to the +sand!</p> + +<p>He pushed himself back, +and with a tremendous heave +managed to pull himself free. +He braced his body against +the cliff, lifted his foot, and +looked at it.</p> + +<p>Hanging from his boot sole +was one of the ugliest monstrosities +he had ever seen, +unusually grotesque.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>It was about the size and +shape of a regulation football, +and was covered with a +wrinkled, reddish hide. At one +end was a bright red gash of +a mouth studded with greenish, +gnashing teeth. From the +other end of the creature's +body protruded a long, needle-like +projection which had imbedded +itself in the metal sole +of Wayne's boot.</p> + +<p>"Good God! If I'd been +wearing ordinary boots, that +thing would have stuck clear +into my foot!"</p> + +<p>He hefted the weighted +pick with one hand and +swung, catching the monster +with the point. It sank in and +ripped through the creature, +spilling red-orange blood over +the sand. Shuddering a little, +Wayne put his other foot on +the dead thing and pulled his +right boot free of the needle +beak.</p> + +<p>He started to say something, +but he had a sudden +premonition that made him +look up in time. Sergeant +Boggs put both hands against +the Captain's shoulder and +pushed.</p> + +<p>"What the hell?" Wayne +asked in surprise as he felt +the shove. He almost fell to +the sand, but he had had just +enough warning to allow him +to keep his balance. He put +out a foot and staggered +wildly.</p> + +<p>A sudden strange noise +caused him to turn and look +back. Five needles were jabbing +viciously up out of the +sand in the spot where he +would have fallen.</p> + +<p>"You out of your head, +Boggs?" he started to ask—but +before the last word was +out of his mouth, the sergeant +charged in madly and tried to +push him over again. He was +fighting like a man gone berserk—which +he was.</p> + +<p>Wayne grabbed him by the +wrist and flipped him desperately +aside. The sergeant fell, +sprawled out for a moment +on the sand, then bounced to +his feet again. His eyes were +alight with a strange, terrifying +flame.</p> + +<p>Silently, he leaped for +Wayne. The captain slammed +his fist forward, sending it +crashing into Boggs's midsection. +The sergeant came back +with a jab to the stomach that +pushed Wayne backward. +Again the deadly needles +flicked up from the ground, +but they did not strike home.</p> + +<p>Wayne gasped for breath +and reached out for Boggs. +Boggs leaped on him, trying +to push Wayne down where +the beaks could get to him. +Wayne sidestepped, threw +Boggs off balance, and clubbed +down hard with his fist.</p> + +<p>Boggs wandered dizzily for +a second before Wayne's other +fist came blasting in, knocking +the breath out of him. A +third blow, and the sergeant +collapsed on the sand.</p> + +<p>Wayne paused and caught +his breath. The sergeant remained +unconscious. Wayne +shook his head uncertainly, +wondering what had come +over the mild-mannered +Boggs. A chilling thought +struck him: <i>was this what +happened to the crew of the +Mavis?</i></p> + +<hr /> + +<p>He looked up the cliff, +where the other two men +were still peering over the +edge.</p> + +<p>"MacPherson! Manetti! +Come down! We're going +back to the ship!"</p> + +<p>He heaved the unconscious +body of Sergeant Boggs over +his shoulder like a potato-sack, +and waited for the two +men to come down. They +drew near.</p> + +<p>"Boggs must have gone out +of his head," Wayne said. "He +jumped me like a madman."</p> + +<p>They had nothing to say, so +he turned and began to trudge +back to the <i>Lord Nelson</i>, trying +to assemble the facts in +his mind. They followed +alongside.</p> + +<p>What was behind the attack? +After seeing the monster, +why had Boggs attempted +to push his superior officer +over into the sand? There +were other little beasts under +that sand; why would Boggs +want one of them—there +seemed to be dozens—to jab +him with its needle of a beak?</p> + +<p>And what were the beastly +little animals, anyway?</p> + +<p>There were no answers. +But the answers would have +to come, soon.</p> + +<p>He tossed Boggs into the +airlock and waited for the +others to catch up. They +climbed up the ladder and +said nothing as the airlock +went through its cycle and +the antibacterial spray covered +them.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Colonel Petersen looked at +him across the desk and put +the palms of his hands together. +"Then, as I understand +it, Captain, Sergeant +Boggs tried to push you over +into the sand when this—ah—<i>monster</i> +jabbed you in the +foot?"</p> + +<p>"That's right, sir," Wayne +said. He felt uncomfortable. +This wasn't a formal court-martial; +it was simply an inquiry +into the sergeant's +actions. Charges would be +preferred later, if there were +any to be preferred.</p> + +<p>Sergeant Boggs stood +stolidly on the far side of the +room. A livid bruise along his +jaw testified to the struggle +that had taken place. One eye +was puffed, and his expression +was an unhappy one. +Near him, MacPherson and +Private Manetti stood stiffly +at attention.</p> + +<p>The colonel looked at +Boggs. "What's your side of +the story, Sergeant?"</p> + +<p>The non-com's face didn't +change. "Sir, the captain's +statement isn't true."</p> + +<p>"<i>What's that?</i>" Wayne +asked angrily.</p> + +<p>"Quiet, Captain," Petersen +said. "Go ahead, Boggs."</p> + +<p>The sergeant licked his +bruised lips. "I was about to +start up the rope when, for +no reason at all, he struck +me in the stomach. Then he +hit me again a few more +times, and I passed out."</p> + +<p>"Did he say anything when +he did this?" the Colonel +asked.</p> + +<p>"No, sir."</p> + +<p>Wayne frowned. What was +the sergeant trying to do? +What the devil was he up to?</p> + +<p>"Corporal MacPherson," +the colonel said, "Did +you witness the fight?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," the small man +said, stepping a pace forward.</p> + +<p>"Describe it."</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, we were up on +top of the cliff, and we called—or +rather, <i>I</i> called for the +captain and the sergeant to +come on up. Sergeant Boggs +took a hold of the rope and +then the captain hit him in +the belly, sir. He hit him +twice more and the sergeant +fell down. Then the captain +told us to come down, which +we did, sir. That was all." He +gestured with his hands to indicate +he had no more to say.</p> + +<p>Wayne could hardly believe +his ears. Making an effort, he +managed to restrain himself.</p> + +<p>"Private Manetti, do you +have anything to add to +that?" the colonel asked.</p> + +<p>"No, sir. It happened just +like that, sir. We both seen +the entire thing. That's the +way it happened. The captain +hauled off and let him +have it."</p> + +<p>The colonel swivelled +around and let his cold eyes +rest on Wayne. "Captain, you +have stated that Sergeant +Boggs did not talk to either +of these two men after you +struck him. That eliminates +any collusion."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," Wayne said +stonily.</p> + +<p>"I talked to both men separately, +and they tell substantially +the same story. The +records of all three of these +men are excellent. The sergeant +claims he never saw +any monster of the type you +describe, and the group I sent +out to check says that there +is no body of any alien animal +anywhere near the spot. How +do you explain the discrepancies +between your story and +theirs?"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Wayne glared angrily at +the three men. "They're lying, +sir," he said evenly. "I +don't know why they're doing +it. The whole thing took place +exactly as I told you."</p> + +<p>"I find that very difficult to +believe, Captain."</p> + +<p>"Is that a formal accusation, +sir?"</p> + +<p>Petersen shrugged and +rubbed his hands against his +iron-grey temples. "Captain," +he said finally, "you have a +very fine record. You have +never before been known to +strike an enlisted man for +any cause whatever. I hold +that in your favor."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir."</p> + +<p>"On the other hand, the +evidence here definitely indicates +that your story is not +quite true. Now, we know +that Lieutenant Jervis acted +peculiarly after the crew of +the <i>Mavis</i> met its mysterious +end, and the Medical Corps +thinks that whatever is causing +the deaths could also +cause mental confusion. +Therefore, I am remanding +you to the custody of the +Medical Corps for observation. +You'll be kept in close +confinement until this thing +is cleared up."</p> + +<p>Wayne frowned bitterly. +"Yes, sir," he said.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Peter Wayne sat in his cell +in the hospital sector and +stared at the wall in confusion. +What in blazes was going +on? What possible motive +would three enlisted men +have to frame him in this +way? It didn't make any +sense.</p> + +<p>Was it possible that he +really <i>had</i> gone off his rocker? +Had he imagined the little +beast under the sand?</p> + +<p>He lifted his foot and looked +again at the sole. There it +was: a little pit about an +eighth of an inch deep.</p> + +<p>The colonel had explained +it away easily enough, saying +that he might possibly have +stepped on a sharp rock. +Wayne shook his head. He +knew he wasn't nuts. But +what the hell was going on?</p> + +<p>There were no answers. +But he knew that the eventual +answer, when it came, +would have something to do +with the mystery of the +<i>Mavis's</i> eight corpses.</p> + +<p>It was late that afternoon +when Sherri James came +storming into the hospital +sector. She was wearing a +spacesuit, and she was brandishing +a pass countersigned +by Colonel Petersen himself. +She was determined to enter.</p> + +<p>"The medics didn't want to +let me in," she explained. +"But I told them I'd wear a +spacesuit if it would make +them any happier."</p> + +<p>"Sherri! What the devil are +you doing here?"</p> + +<p>"I just wanted to check on +you," she said. Her voice +sounded oddly distorted coming +over the speaker in the +helmet. "You're supposed to +have blown your wig or something. +Did you?"</p> + +<p>"No. Of course not."</p> + +<p>"I didn't think so." She unscrewed +her helmet quickly. +"Listen, Peter, there's something +funny going on aboard +this ship."</p> + +<p>"I've known that a long +time," he said.</p> + +<p>"I think Boggs and those +other two are trying to frame +you," she said, her voice low. +"Do you know of anyone +aboard named Masters?"</p> + +<p>"Masters?" Wayne repeated. +"Not that I know of—why?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I overheard Boggs +talking to one of the other +men. I didn't hear very clearly, +but it sounded as though +he said: 'We've got to get +Moore out and turn him over +to Masters.' Bill Moore is one +of my computermen—tall, +skinny fellow."</p> + +<p>Wayne nodded, frowning. +"Yeah, but who is Masters? +This is the queerest thing I +ever heard of."</p> + +<p>Footsteps sounded in the +corridor outside.</p> + +<p>"Better put your helmet +on," Wayne advised. "Whoever's +coming might not like +to see you this way."</p> + +<p>Quickly, she slipped the +helmet back on. "I don't know +what's going on," she said. +"But I intend to find out."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>One of the medics entered +the cell without knocking and +came up to Sherri. "You'll +have to go now, Lieutenant," +he said. "We're going to perform +some tests on the captain +now."</p> + +<p>Sherri bristled. "Tests? +What kind of tests?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing very serious," the +medic said. "Just a routine +checkup to clarify some +points we're interested in."</p> + +<p>"All right," Sherri said. +"You won't find anything the +matter with him." She left.</p> + +<p>"Come with me, Captain," +said the medic politely. He +unlocked the cell door and, +equally politely, drew a +needle-beam pistol. "Don't try +anything, please, sir. I have +my orders."</p> + +<p>Silently, Wayne followed +the medic into the lab. Several +other medics were standing +around watching him, +with Stevelman, the head +man, in the back.</p> + +<p>"Over this way, Captain," +Stevelman called.</p> + +<p>There was a box sitting on +a table in the middle of the +room. It was full of sand.</p> + +<p>"Give me your hand, please, +Captain," the medic said tonelessly.</p> + +<p>In a sudden flash of insight, +Wayne realized what was in +the box. He thought fast but +moved slowly. He held out his +hand, but just as the medic +took it, he twisted suddenly +away.</p> + +<p>His hand flashed out and +grasped the other's wrist in +a steely grip. The medic's fingers +tightened on the needle-beam, +and managed to pull +the trigger. A bright beam +flared briefly against the lab's +plastalloy floor, doing nothing +but scorching it slightly. +Wayne's other hand balled into +a fist and came up hard +against the medic's jaw.</p> + +<p>He grabbed the needle-beam +pistol from the collapsing +man's limp hand and had +the other three men covered +before the slugged medic had +finished sagging to the floor.</p> + +<p>"All of you! Raise your +hands!"</p> + +<p>They paid no attention to +him. Instead of standing +where they were, they began +to move toward him. Wayne +swore and, with a quick flip +of his thumb, turned the +beam down to low power and +pulled the trigger three times +in quick succession.</p> + +<p>The three men fell as +though they'd been pole-axed, +knocked out by the low-power +beam.</p> + +<p>"The whole ship's gone +crazy," he murmured softly, +looking at the three men +slumped together on the lab +floor. "Stark, staring, raving +nuts."</p> + +<p>He took one step and someone +jumped him from behind. +The needle-beam pistol spun +from his hand and slithered +across the floor as Wayne fell +under the impact of the heavy +body. Apparently the whole +Medical Corps was out to +knock him down today.</p> + +<p>He twisted rapidly as an +arm encircled his neck, and +rammed an elbow into the +newcomer's midsection. Then +he jerked his head back, +smashing the back of his skull +into his opponent's nose.</p> + +<p>The hold around his neck +weakened, and Wayne tore +himself loose from the other's +grasp. He jumped to his feet, +but the other man was a long +way from being unconscious. +A stinging right smashed into +Wayne's mouth, and he felt +the taste of blood. Hastily he +wiped the trickle away with +the back of his hand.</p> + +<p>With his nose pouring +blood, Wayne's antagonist +charged in. His eyes burned +with the strange flame that +had been gleaming in Boggs's +face out on the desert in the +valley. He ploughed into +Wayne's stomach with a savage +blow that rocked Wayne +back.</p> + +<p>He grunted and drove back +with a flurry of blows. The +other aimed a wild blow at +Wayne's head; Wayne seized +the wrist as the arm flew past +his ear, and twisted, hard. +The medic flipped through the +air and came to rest against +the wall with a brief crunching +impact. He moaned and +then lapsed into silence.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Quickly, Wayne grabbed +the gun off the floor and +planted his back to the wall, +looking around for new antagonists. +But there was evidently +no one left who cared +to tangle with him, and the +four medics strewn out on the +floor didn't seem to have much +fight left in them.</p> + +<p>Wayne crossed the room in +a couple of strides and bolted +the door. Then he walked over +to the box of sand. If it contained +what he suspected—</p> + +<p>He stepped over to the lab +bench and picked out a long +steel support rod from the +equipment drawer. He placed +the rod gently against the +sand, and pushed downward, +hard. There was a tinny +scream, and a six-inch needle +shot up instantly through the +surface.</p> + +<p>"Just what I thought," +Wayne murmured. "Can you +talk, you nasty little brute?" +He prodded into the sand—more +viciously this time. +There was a flurry of sand, +and the football-shaped thing +came to the surface, clashing +its teeth and screaming +shrilly.</p> + +<p>Wayne cursed. Then he +turned the needle gun back up +to full power and calmly +burned the thing to a crisp. +An odor of singed flesh drifted +up from the ashes on the +sand.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>He stooped and fumbled in +Stevelman's pocket, pulling +out a ring of keys.</p> + +<p>"They better be the right +ones," he told the unconscious +medic. Holstering the needle +gun, he walked over to the +medical stores cabinet, hoping +that the things he needed +would be inside. He knew exactly +what he was facing +now, and what he would have +to do.</p> + +<p>He checked over the labels, +peering through the neatly-arranged +racks for the substance +he was searching for.</p> + +<p>Finally he picked a large +plastine container filled with +a white, crystalline powder. +Then he selected a couple of +bottles filled with a clear, +faintly yellow liquid, and took +a hypodermic gun from the +rack. He relocked the cabinet.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a knock sounded. +He stiffened, sucked in his +breath, and turned to face the +door.</p> + +<p>"Who's there?" he asked +cautiously, trying to counterfeit +Stevelman's voice.</p> + +<p>"Harrenburg," said a rumbling +voice. "I'm on guard +duty. Heard some noise coming +from in there a while +back, and thought I'd look in. +Everything all right, Dr. +Stevelman? I mean—"</p> + +<p>"Everything's fine, Harrenburg," +Wayne said, imitating +the medic's thin, dry +voice. "We're running some +tests on Captain Wayne. +They're pretty complicated +affairs, and I'd appreciate it +if you didn't interrupt again."</p> + +<p>"Sure, sir," the guard said. +"Just a routine check, sir. +Colonel Petersen's orders. +Sorry if I've caused any +trouble, sir."</p> + +<p>"That's all right," Wayne +said. "Just go away and let us +continue, will you?"</p> + +<p>There was the sound of the +guard's footsteps retreating +down the corridor. Wayne +counted to ten and turned +back to the things he had +taken from the cabinet.</p> + +<p>The bottles of liquid and +the hypo gun went into his +belt pouch. He tucked the big +bottle of white powder under +his left arm and cautiously +unbolted and opened the door. +There was no sign of anyone +in the corridor. <i>Good</i>, he +thought. It was a lucky thing +Harrenburg had blundered +along just then, and not two +minutes later.</p> + +<p>He stepped outside the +Medic Section and locked the +door behind him with the key +he'd taken from Stevelman. +After turning the needle gun +back to low power again in +order to keep from killing +anyone, he started on tiptoe +toward the stairway that led +into the bowels of the ship.</p> + +<p>After about ten paces, he +saw a shadow on the stairway, +and cowered in a dark +recess while two crewmen +passed, talking volubly. Once +they were gone, he came out +and continued on his way.</p> + +<p>It took quite a while to get +where he was going, since it +involved hiding and ducking +two or three more times along +the way, but he finally reached +the big compartment where +the water repurifiers were. +He climbed up the ladder to +the top of the reserve tank, +opened the hatch, and emptied +the contents of the jar into +the ship's water supply.</p> + +<p>"That ought to do it," he +said to himself. Smiling, he +carefully smashed the jar and +dropped the fragments down +the waste chute. He surveyed +his handiwork for a moment, +then turned and headed back.</p> + +<p>He hadn't been seen going +down, and he didn't want to +be seen going out. If anyone +even suspected that he had +tampered with the water supply, +all they would have to do +would be to run the water +through the purifiers. That +would undo everything Wayne +had been carefully preparing.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>He made his way safely +back up to the main deck and +headed through the quiet ship +toward the airlock. He wasn't +so lucky this time; a guard +saw him.</p> + +<p>"Where you goin', Captain?" +the guard demanded, +starting to lift his gun. +"Seems to me you ought to be +in the brig, and—"</p> + +<p>Wayne made no reply. He +brought his gun up in a rapid +motion and beamed the man +down. The guard toppled, a +hurt expression on his face.</p> + +<p>Wayne raced to the airlock. +He didn't bother with a spacesuit—not +<i>now</i>, when he knew +that the air was perfectly +harmless outside. He opened +the inner door, closed it, and +opened the outer door.</p> + +<p>Then, grinning gleefully, +he pressed the button that +would start the pumping +cycle. The outer door started +to close automatically, and +Wayne just barely managed +to get outside and onto the +ladder before it clanged shut. +As soon as the great hatch +had sealed itself, the pumps +started exhausting the air +from the airlock. No one could +open the doors until the +pumping cycle was over.</p> + +<p>He climbed down the ladder +and began walking over +toward the western wall. He +would have to keep away +from the ship for a while, and +the rocks were as good a place +as any to hide out.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>It was dark. Fomalhaut +had set, leaving the moonless +planet in utter blackness, +broken only by the cold gleam +of the stars. The lights +streaming from the portholes +of the <i>Lord Nelson</i> gave a +small degree of illumination +to the valley.</p> + +<p>The valley. It was spread +out before him, calm and +peaceful, rippling dunes of +sand curling out toward the +mountains. The valley, he +knew, was a betrayer—calm +and quiet above, alive with an +army of hideous vermin a few +feet below its surface.</p> + +<p>He started to walk, and +moistened his lips. He knew +he was going to get awfully +thirsty in the next few hours, +but there was not the slightest +help for it. There hadn't been +any way to carry water from +the ship.</p> + +<p>"I can wait," he told himself. +He stared back at the +circular bulk of the <i>Lord Nelson</i> +behind him, and his fingers +trembled a little. He had +known, when he joined the +Corps, that space was full of +traps like this one—but this +was the first time he had actually +experienced anything +like this. It was foul.</p> + +<p>Something slammed into +his boot sole, and this time +Wayne knew what it was.</p> + +<p>"Persistent, aren't you!" +He jerked his foot up. This +monster hadn't stuck as the +other one had, but he saw the +tip of the needle-beak thrashing +around wildly in the loose +sand. Wayne thumbed the +gun up to full power, and +there was a piercing shriek +as the gun burned into the +sand. There was a sharp +shrill sound, and the odor of +something burning. He spat.</p> + +<p>The little beasts must be all +over the floor of the valley! +Scurrying frantically, like +blood-red giant crabs, sidling +up and down beneath the valley, +searching upward for +things to strike at. How they +must hate his metamagnetic +boots, he thought!</p> + +<p>He kept on walking, expecting +to feel the impact of +another thrust momentarily, +but he was not molested +again. <i>They must be getting +wise</i>, he thought. <i>They know +they can't get through my +boots, and so they're leaving +me alone. That way they don't +call attention to themselves.</i></p> + +<p>A new, more chilling question +struck him:</p> + +<p><i>Just how smart are they?</i></p> + +<p>He had made it to the wall +and was climbing up the +treacherous slope when the +airlock door opened, and +someone stood outlined in the +bright circle of light that cut +into the inky blackness. An +amplified voice filled the valley +and ricocheted back off +the walls of the mountains, +casting eerie echoes down on +the lone man on the desert.</p> + +<p>"CAPTAIN WAYNE! +THIS IS COLONEL PETERSEN +SPEAKING. DON'T +YOU REALIZE THAT +YOU'RE A SICK MAN? +YOU MAY DIE OUT +THERE. COME BACK. +THAT'S AN ORDER, CAPTAIN. +REPEAT: COME +BACK. THAT'S AN +ORDER!"</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid an order from +you just doesn't hold much +weight for me right now, +Colonel," Wayne said quietly, +to himself. Silently he +went on climbing the escarpment, +digging into the rough +rock.</p> + +<p>He kept on climbing until +he found the niche for which +he had been heading. He +dragged himself in and sat +down, as comfortably as possible. +He began to wait.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Dawn came in less than +three hours, as Fomalhaut +burst up over the horizon and +exploded in radiance over the +valley. With dawn came a +patrol of men, slinking surreptitiously +across the valley, +probably with orders to bring +him in. Wayne was ensconced +comfortably in his little rock +niche, hidden from the men in +the valley below, but with a +perfect view of everything +that went on. The wind +whistled around the cliffs, +ceaselessly moaning a tuneless +song. He felt like standing +up and shouting wildly, +"Here I am! Here I am!" but +he repressed the perverse +urge.</p> + +<p>The patrol group stood in a +small clump in the valley below, +seemingly waiting for +something. Moments passed, +and then it became apparent +what that something was. +Hollingwood, the metallurgist, +appeared, dragging with +him the detector. They were +going to look for Captain +Wayne with it, just as they +had searched out the double-nucleus +beryllium.</p> + +<p>Wayne frowned. It was a +possibility he hadn't thought +about. They could easily detect +the metal in his boots! +And he didn't dare take them +off; he'd never make it back +across that hellish stretch of +sand without them. He glanced +uneasily at his watch. <i>How +much longer do I have to keep +evading them?</i> he wondered. +It was a wearing task.</p> + +<p>It looked as though it would +be much too long.</p> + +<p>The muzzle of the detector +began to swing back and forth +slowly and precisely, covering +the valley inch by inch. He +heard their whispered consultations +drifting up from below, +though he couldn't make +out what they were saying.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>They finished with the valley, +evidently concluding he +wasn't there, and started +searching the walls. Wayne +decided it was time to get out +while the getting was good. +He crawled slowly out of the +niche and wriggled along the +escarpment, heading south, +keeping low so the men in the +valley wouldn't see him.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately, he couldn't +see them either. He kept moving, +hoping they wouldn't +spot him with the detector. +He wished he had the metamagnetic +hand grapples with +him. For one thing, the sharp +rock outcroppings sliced +his hands like so much meat. +For another, he could have +dropped the grapples somewhere +as a decoy.</p> + +<p><i>Oh, well, you can't think of +everything</i>, Wayne told himself. +He glanced at his watch. +How long was it going to +take?</p> + +<p>He heard the scrape of +boot leather on a rock somewhere +ahead of him. He +glanced up sharply, seeing +nothing, and scowled. They +had spotted him.</p> + +<p>They were laying a trap.</p> + +<p>Cautiously, he climbed over +a huge boulder, making no +sound. There was one man +standing behind it, waiting, +apparently, for Wayne to step +around into view. He peered +down, trying to see who it +was. It seemed to be Hollingwood, +the dignified, austere +metallurgist.</p> + +<p>Wayne smiled grimly, picked +up a heavy rock, and dropped +it straight down, square +on the man's helmet. The +plexalloy rang like a bell +through the clear early-morning +air, and the man dropped +to his knees, dazed by the +shock.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Knowing he had just a moment +to finish the job, Wayne +pushed off against the side of +the rock and plummeted +down, landing neatly on the +metallurgist's shoulders. The +man reeled and fell flat. +Wayne spun him over and delivered +a hard punch to the +solar plexus. "Sorry, Dave," +he said softly. The metallurgist +gasped and curled up in a +tight ball. Wayne stood up. It +was brutal, but it was the only +place you could hit a man +wearing a space helmet.</p> + +<p><i>One down</i>, Wayne thought. +<i>Fifty-eight to go.</i> He was +alone against the crew—and, +for all he knew, against all +fifty-nine of them.</p> + +<p>Hollingwood groaned and +stretched. Wayne bent and, +for good measure, took off the +man's helmet and tapped him +none too gently on the skull.</p> + +<p>There was the sound of +footsteps, the harsh <i>chitch-chitch</i> +of feet against the +rock. "He's up that way," he +heard a deep voice boom.</p> + +<p>That meant the others had +heard the rock hitting Hollingwood's +plexalloy helmet. +They were coming toward +him.</p> + +<p>Wayne sprang back defensively +and glanced around. He +hoped there were only five of +them, that the rule of six was +still being maintained. Otherwise +things could become +really complicated, as they +hunted him relentlessly +through the twisted gulleys.</p> + +<p>He hated to have to knock +out too many of the men; it +just meant more trouble later. +Still, there was no help for it, +if he wanted there to be any +later. He thought of the +bleached bones of the crew of +the <i>Mavis</i>, and shuddered.</p> + +<p>It was something of an advantage +not to be wearing a +helmet. Even with the best of +acoustical systems, hearing +inside a helmet tended to be +distorted and dimmed. The +men couldn't hear him as well +as he could hear them. And +since they couldn't hear themselves +too well, they made a +little more noise than he did.</p> + +<p>A space boot came into +view around a big rock, and +Wayne aimed his needle-beam +at the spot where the man's +head would appear.</p> + +<p>When the head came +around the rock, Wayne fired. +The man dropped instantly. +<i>Sorry, friend</i>, Wayne apologized +mentally. <i>Two down. +Fifty-seven to go.</i> The odds +were still pretty heavy.</p> + +<p>He knew he had to move +quickly now; the others had +seen the man drop, and by +now they should have a pretty +good idea exactly where +Wayne was.</p> + +<p>He picked up a rock and +lobbed it over a nearby boulder, +then started moving cat-like +in the other direction. He +climbed up onto another boulder +and watched two men +move away from him. They +were stepping warily, their +beam guns in their hands. +Wayne wiped away a bead of +perspiration, aimed carefully, +and squeezed the firing stud +twice.</p> + +<p><i>Four down. Fifty-five to go.</i></p> + +<hr /> + +<p>A moment later, something +hissed near his ear. Without +waiting, he spun and rolled +off the boulder, landing cat-like +on his feet. Another +crewman was standing on top +of a nearby boulder. Wayne +began to sweat; this pursuit +seemed to be indefinitely prolonged, +and it was beginning +to look unlikely that he could +avoid them forever.</p> + +<p>He had dropped his pistol +during the fall; it was wedged +between a couple of rocks +several feet away.</p> + +<p>He heard someone call: "I +got him. He fell off the rock. +We'll take him back down below."</p> + +<p>Then another voice—ominously. +"He won't mind. He'll +be glad we did it for him—afterwards."</p> + +<p>"I'll go get him," said the +first voice. The man stepped +around the side of the boulder—just +in time to have a +hard-pitched rock come +thunking into his midsection.</p> + +<p>"Oof!" he grunted, took a +couple of steps backwards, +and collapsed.</p> + +<p><i>Five down. Fifty-four to +go.</i> It could go on forever this +way.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked +the man who had replied +to the first one with those +chilling words.</p> + +<p>"Nothing," said Wayne, in +a fair imitation of the prostrate +crewman's voice. "He's +heavy. Come help me."</p> + +<p>Then he reached down and +picked up the fallen man's +beam gun. He took careful +aim.</p> + +<p>When the sixth man stepped +around the rock, he fired. +The beam went wide of the +mark, slowing the other +down, and Wayne charged +forward. He pounded two +swift punches into the amazed +crewman, who responded +with a woozy, wild blow. +Wayne ducked and let the +fist glide past his ear, then +came in hard with a solid +body-blow and let the man +sag to the ground. He took a +deep breath.</p> + +<p><i>Six down and only fifty-three +to go.</i></p> + +<hr /> + +<p>He crawled back to the +edge of the precipice and +peered down into the valley. +There was no one to be seen. +It was obvious that Colonel +Petersen was still enforcing +the six-man rule.</p> + +<p>As he watched, he saw the +airlock door open. A spacesuited +figure scrambled down +the ladder and sprinted across +the deadly sand of the valley +floor.</p> + +<p>It was Sherri! Wayne held +his breath, expecting at any +moment that one of the little +monsters beneath the sand +would sink its vicious needle +upward into Sherri's foot. +But her stride never faltered.</p> + +<p>As she neared the precipice, +another figure appeared at +the airlock door and took aim +with a gun.</p> + +<p>Wayne thumbed his own +needle-beam pistol up to full +and fired hastily at the distant +figure. At that distance, even +the full beam would only +stun. The figure collapsed +backwards into the airlock, +and Wayne grinned in satisfaction.</p> + +<p><i>Seven down. Fifty-two to +go.</i></p> + +<p>He kept an eye on the airlock +door and a finger on his +firing stud, waiting to see if +anyone else would come out. +No one else did.</p> + +<p>As soon as Sherri was safely +up to the top of the precipice, +Wayne ran to meet her.</p> + +<p>"Sherri! What the devil did +you come out here for?"</p> + +<p>"I had to see you," she said, +panting for breath. "If you'll +come back to the ship before +they beam you down, we can +prove to Colonel Petersen that +you're all right. We can show +them that the Masters—"</p> + +<p>She realized suddenly what +she said and uttered a little +gasp. She had her pistol out +before the surprised Wayne +could move.</p> + +<p>He stared coldly at the pistol, +thinking bitterly that this +was a hell of a way for it all +to finish. "So they got you +too," he said. "That little display +at the airlock was a +phony. You were sent out +here to lure me back into the +ship. Just another Judas."</p> + +<p>She nodded slowly. "That's +right," she said. "We all have +to go to the Masters. It is—it—is—is—"</p> + +<p>Her eyes glazed, and she +swayed on her feet. The pistol +wavered and swung in a +feeble spiral, no longer pointed +at Wayne. Gently, he took +it from her nerveless fingers +and caught her supple body +as she fell.</p> + +<p>He wiped his forehead dry. +Up above, the sun was climbing +toward the top of the sky, +and its beams raked the planet +below, pouring down heat.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>He glanced at his wristwatch +while waiting for his +nerves to stop tingling. Sherri +must have been the last one—the +drug must have taken +effect at last, and not a moment +too soon. He decided to +wait another half hour before +he tried to get into the spaceship, +just the same.</p> + +<p>The huge globe of the <i>Lord +Nelson</i> stood forlornly in the +center of the valley. The airlock +door stayed open; no one +tried to close it.</p> + +<p>Wayne's mouth was growing +dry; his tongue felt like +sandpaper. Nevertheless, he +forced himself to sit quietly, +watching the ship closely for +the full half hour, before he +picked up Sherri, tied his +rope around her waist, and +lowered her to the valley +floor. Then he wandered +around the rocks, collecting +the six unconscious men, and +did the same for them.</p> + +<p>He carried them all, one by +one, across the sand, burning +a path before him with the +needle beam.</p> + +<p>Long before he had finished +his task, the sand was churning +loathsomely with the +needles of hundreds and +thousands of the monstrous +little beasts. They were trying +frantically to bring down +the being that was so effectively +thwarting their plans, +jabbing viciously with their +upthrust beaks. The expanse +of sand that was the valley +looked like a pincushion, with +the writhing needles ploughing +through the ground one +after another. Wayne kept the +orifice of his beam pistol hot +as he cut his way back and +forth from the base of the +cliff to the ship.</p> + +<p>When he had dumped the +seven unconscious ones all inside +the airlock, he closed the +outer door and opened the inner +one. There was not a +sound from within.</p> + +<p><i>Fifty-nine down</i>, he +thought, <i>and none to go</i>.</p> + +<p>He entered the ship and +dashed down the winding +staircase to the water purifiers +to change the water in the +reservoir tanks. Thirsty as he +was, he was not going to take +a drink until the water had +been cleared of the knockout +drug he had dropped into the +tanks.</p> + +<p>After that came the laborious +job of getting everyone +in the ship strapped into their +bunks for the takeoff. It took +the better part of an hour to +get all sixty of them up—they +had fallen all over the ship—and +nestled in the acceleration +cradles. When the job +was done, he went to the main +control room and set the +autopilot to lift the spaceship +high into the ionosphere.</p> + +<p>Then, sighting carefully on +the valley far below, he dropped +a flare bomb.</p> + +<p>"Goodbye, little monsters," +he said exultantly.</p> + +<p>For a short space of time, +nothing happened. Then the +viewplate was filled with a +deadly blue-white glare. Unlike +an ordinary atomic bomb, +the flare bomb would not explode +violently; it simply +burned, sending out a brilliant +flare of deadly radiation +that would crisp all life +dozens of feet below the +ground.</p> + +<p>He watched the radiation +blazing below. Then it began +to die down, and when the +glare cleared away, all was +quiet below.</p> + +<p>The valley was dead.</p> + +<p>When it was all over, +Wayne took the hypodermic +gun from his pouch, filled it +with the anti-hypnotic drug +that he had taken from the +medical cabinet, and began +to make his rounds. He fired +a shot into each and every +one aboard. He had no way of +knowing who had been injected +by the small monsters and +who had not, so he was taking +no chances.</p> + +<p>Then he went to the colonel's +room. He wanted to be +there when the Commanding +Officer awoke.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The entire crew of the <i>Lord +Nelson</i> was gathered in the +big mess hall. Wayne stared +down at the tired, frightened +faces of the puzzled people +looking up at him, and continued +his explanation.</p> + +<p>"Those of you who were +under the control of the monsters +know what it was like. +They had the ability to inject +a hypnotic drug into a human +being through a normal space +boot with those stingers of +theirs. The drug takes effect +so fast that the victim hardly +has any idea of what has happened +to him."</p> + +<p>"But why do they do it?" +It was Hollingwood, the metallurgist, +looking unhappy +with a tremendous bruise on +his head where Wayne had +clobbered him.</p> + +<p>"Why does a wasp sting a +spider? It doesn't kill the +spider, it simply stuns it. That +way, the spider remains alive +and fresh so that young wasps +can feed upon it at their leisure."</p> + +<p>Wayne glanced over to his +right. "Lieutenant Jervis, +you've been under the effect +of the drug longer than any +of us. Would you explain what +<i>really</i> happened when the +<i>Mavis</i> landed?"</p> + +<p>The young officer stood up. +He was pale and shaken, but +his voice was clear and +steady.</p> + +<p>"Just about the same thing +that almost happened here," +Jervis said. "We all walked +around the valley floor and +got stung one at a time. The +things did it so quietly that +none of us knew what was going +on until we got hit ourselves. +When we had all been +enslaved, we were ready to +do their bidding. They can't +talk, but they can communicate +by means of nerve messages +when that needle is +stuck into you."</p> + +<p>Nearly half the crew +nodded in sympathy. Wayne +studied them, wondering what +it must have been like. They +<i>knew</i>; he could only guess.</p> + +<p>"Naturally," Jervis went +on, "those who have already +been injected with the drug +try to get others injected. +When everyone aboard the +<i>Mavis</i> had been stung, they +ordered me to take the ship +home and get another load of +Earthmen. Apparently they +like our taste. I had to obey; +I was completely under their +power. You know what it's +like."</p> + +<p>"And what happened to the +others—the eight men you +left behind?" asked Colonel +Petersen.</p> + +<p>Jervis clenched his teeth +bitterly. "They just laid down +on the sand—and waited."</p> + +<p>"Horrible!" Sherri said.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Jervis fell silent. Wayne +was picturing the sight, and +knew everyone else was, too—the +sight of hordes of carnivorous +little aliens burrowing +up through the sand +and approaching the eight +Earthmen who lay there, +alive but helpless. Approaching +them—and beginning to +feed.</p> + +<p>Just when the atmosphere +began to grow too depressing, +Wayne decided to break the +spell. "I'd like to point out +that the valley's been completely +cauterized," he said. +"The aliens have been wiped +out. And I propose to lead a +mission out to reconnoitre for +the double-nucleus beryllium."</p> + +<p>He looked around. "MacPherson? +Boggs? Manetti? +You three want to start over +where we left off the last +time?"</p> + +<p>Sergeant Boggs came up to +him. "Sir, I want you to understand +that—"</p> + +<p>"I know, Boggs," Wayne +said. "Let's forget all about +it. There's work to be done."</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry I misjudged you, +Wayne. If it hadn't been for +your quick action, this crew +would have gone the way of +the <i>Mavis</i>."</p> + +<p>"Just luck, Colonel," +Wayne said. "If it hadn't been +for those heavy-soled climbing +boots, I'd probably be lying +out there with the rest of +you right now."</p> + +<p>Colonel Petersen grinned. +"Thanks to your boots, then."</p> + +<p>Wayne turned to his team +of three. "Let's get moving, +fellows. We've wasted enough +time already."</p> + +<p>"Do we need spacesuits, +sir?" Manetti asked.</p> + +<p>"No, Manetti. The air's +perfectly fine out there," +Wayne said. "But I'd suggest +you wear your climbing +boots." He grinned. "You +never can tell when they'll +come in handy."</p> + +<p class="theend"><b>THE END</b></p> + +<div class="figtran"> +<a href="images/002-2.jpg"><img src="images/002-1.jpg" width="145" height="200" alt="" title="" /></a> +<b><big>Transcriber's Note:</big></b><br /><br /> +This etext was produced from <i>Amazing Stories</i> October 1956. +Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. +copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and +typographical errors have been corrected without note.</div> + +<hr /> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Judas Valley, by Gerald Vance + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE JUDAS VALLEY *** + +***** This file should be named 25713-h.htm or 25713-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/7/1/25713/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell, and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +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. 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