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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5ec851d --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #63419 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63419) diff --git a/old/63419-h.zip b/old/63419-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 6078706..0000000 --- a/old/63419-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/63419-h/63419-h.htm b/old/63419-h/63419-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index d891ea3..0000000 --- a/old/63419-h/63419-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1060 +0,0 @@ -<!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" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=us-ascii" /> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> - <title> - The Project Gutenberg eBook of Death Star, by Tom Pace. - </title> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - - <style type="text/css"> - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - h1,h2 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; -} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 33.5%; - margin-right: 33.5%; - clear: both; -} - -hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} -hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} - -.center {text-align: center;} - -.right {text-align: right;} - -/* Images */ -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; -} - -div.titlepage { - text-align: center; - page-break-before: always; - page-break-after: always; -} - -div.titlepage p { - text-align: center; - text-indent: 0em; - font-weight: bold; - line-height: 1.5; - margin-top: 3em; -} - - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Death Star, by Tom Pace - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Death Star - -Author: Tom Pace - -Release Date: October 9, 2020 [EBook #63419] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DEATH STAR *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="titlepage"> - -<h1>DEATH STAR</h1> - -<h2>By TOM PACE</h2> - -<p>Trapped by the most feared of space pirates<br /> -Devil Garrett, Starrett Blade was fighting for<br /> -his life. Weaponless, his ship gone, he was<br /> -pinning his hopes on a girl—who wanted him dead.</p> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from<br /> -Planet Stories Spring 1945.<br /> -Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that<br /> -the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]</p> - -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>Starrett Blade crouched in the rocks by the tiny Centaurian lake. It -was only about two or three hundred feet across, but probably thousands -of feet deep. This lake, and hundreds of others like it, were the -only things to break the monotony of the flat, rocky surface of Alpha -Centauri III—called the most barren planet in space.</p> - -<p>Ten minutes ago, Star Blade's ship had spun into the stagnant waters -before him. An emergency release had flung the air-lock doors open, and -the air pressure had flung Star out. And now he was waiting for Devil -Garrett to come down to the water's edge to search for him.</p> - -<p>For eight years, Devil Garrett had been the top space pirate in the -void. For a year, Star himself had personally been hunting him. And on -a tour over Alpha III, a Barden energy-beam had stabbed up at Blade's -ship, and Star Blade had crashed into the lake.</p> - -<p>That Barden Beam had Star worried and puzzled. It took a million volts -of power for a split-second flash of the beam. Garrett didn't have an -atomics plant on Alpha III—if he had, escaping rays would point it -out, no matter how well it was camouflaged. There was no water power, -for there was no running water. There were only the lakes ... and tidal -power was out, for Alpha III had no moon.</p> - -<p>However, that could wait. Star slid the electron knife from his -water-proof sheath, gripped it firmly. He could hear quick footsteps as -a man came down the trail that led directly past his hiding place.</p> - -<p>It wasn't Garrett, which was disappointing. But it was one of his men, -and he was heavily armed. That didn't worry Star.</p> - -<p>His fighting had earned Starrett Blade the nickname of "Death Star."</p> - -<p>The man walked to the water's edge, and peered out over the pool. He -saw the bubbles that were coming up from the sinking ship, and he -nodded, grunted in satisfaction, and started to turn back.</p> - -<p>Star landed on him, knocking him sprawling on the rock. The pirate -jerked up an arm, holding the jet-gun.</p> - -<p>The stabbing lance of blue fire cracked from the electron knife, dug -into the man's heart.</p> - -<p>Star tossed the dead pirate's cloak over his shoulders, and thrust both -electron blade and jet-gun into his belt. He straightened, and saw the -leveled gun from the corner of his eye.</p> - -<p>He got the jet in his right hand, the knife in his left, and went into -a dive that flipped him behind a rock. The three actions took only a -split-second, and the blast from the jet-gun flaked rock where he had -been standing.</p> - -<p>While a jet-gun is the most deadly weapon known, you have to press a -loading stud to slide another blast-capsule into place. Death Star knew -this very well. So he knew he was safe in coming up from behind the -spur of stone to fire his own gun.</p> - -<p>If his reflexes hadn't been as quick as they were, he would have -blasted the girl.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>He stopped, and stood for a second, staring at the girl. She was -something to invite stares, too. In the moment that lasted between her -next move, he had time to register that she was about five feet five -tall, black-haired—the kind of black hair that looks like silken spun -darkness—dark-eyed, and possessing both a face and a form that would -make anyone stop and gulp.</p> - -<p>Then the moment of half-awed survey was over, and she leveled the jet -on him, and said in a trembling voice, "Drop those weapons, or I'll -blast you ... <i>pirate</i>!"</p> - -<p>Death Star said, "That jet-gun is empty. I can see the register on the -magazine. And I'm not a pirate. I'm Starrett Blade."</p> - -<p>The useless jet-gun slid out of the girl's hand, and she gave a -half-gasp. "Starrett Blade! I—I don't believe ..." she broke off -abruptly. "So you're Death Star! A fine story for a hired killer, a -pirate."</p> - -<p>Star reddened. "Look," he snapped, "I don't know who's been talking to -you, but ..." he whirled, and his hand whipped the jet-gun from his -belt. As he did so, the girl jerked up the jet-gun she had dropped, and -flung it with all her strength. The blow landed on his arm and side, -and paralyzed him long enough for the man who had leaped out behind him -to land a stunning blow against his head. As Star went down, he dizzily -cursed himself for becoming interested in the argument with the girl, -so that he did not heed his reflexes in time ... and dimly, he wondered -why it had seemed so important to convince the lovely dark-haired girl.</p> - -<p>Then a bit of the cosmos seemed to fall on Star's head, and he was -hurled into blackness.</p> - -<p>An eternity seemed to pass.</p> - -<p>Deep in the blackness, a light was born. It leaped toward him, a -far-away comet rocketing along, coming from some far, unknown corner -of the galaxy. It became a flaming sun in a gray-green space, and -strangely, there seemed to be several odd planets circling about the -sun. Some of them were vast pieces of queer electronic machinery. Some -were vague, villainous-looking men. One was the dark-haired girl, and -there was lovely contempt in her dark-star pools of eyes.</p> - -<p>Then into the midst of this queer universe, there swam a new planet. It -was the face of a man, and the man was Devil Garrett.</p> - -<p>That brought Star up, out of his daze, onto his feet as though he had -been doused with cold water. He stood there, not staring, just looking -at Garrett.</p> - -<p>The most famous killer in the void was big. He was six feet three, and -twice as strong as he looked. He wore a huge high-velocity jet-gun, and -a set of electron knives, all of the finest workmanship. He was sitting -on a laboratory chair of steel, and the chair bent slightly under his -great weight.</p> - -<p>He smiled at Star, and there was a touch of hell in the smile. He said, -"Ah, Mr. Garrett."</p> - -<p>Star's jaw dropped. "Garrett? What do you—" he broke off. A glance at -the girl told him what the purpose was.</p> - -<p>"Look, Mr. Devil Garrett," said the pirate, still smiling softly, "Miss -Hinton is aware of your identity. There is no need to attempt to fool -us.... I've known it was you ever since I flashed that beam at your -ship. And you needn't flatter yourself that the Devil's luck is going -to hold out as far as you are concerned. For in a very short while, -I'm going to have you executed ... before a stellar vision screen, -connected with Section Void Headquarters! I wish the authorities to see -Devil Garrett die, so that I might collect the reward that is offered -on you!"</p> - -<p>Star stood quiet, and looked straight into Garrett's eyes. After a -minute of silence, Garrett's lips twisted into a smile, and he said -mockingly, "Well, pirate? What are you thinking of?"</p> - -<p>Star said, in a low, cold voice, "I'm thinking of putting an electron -fire-blade into your face, Devil Garrett!"</p> - -<p>Garrett laughed ... huge, rather evil, bluff laughter. The mirth of a -person who is both powerful and dangerous. And then the girl leaped -forward, shaking with rage.</p> - -<p>"You beast! Murderer! To accuse this man ... you fool, you might have -been able to complete any scheme of escape you had, if you hadn't -called yourself Starrett Blade! Mr. Blade...." She gestured toward -Garrett, who made a mocking, sardonic bow. "... has given me ample -proof that he is who he says! And this long before you came. He's shown -me papers giving a description and showing a tri-dimension picture of -you...."</p> - -<p>Fire leaped in Star's eyes. "Listen ..." he snapped furiously, as he -started to step forward. Then Garrett made a signal with his hand, and -someone drove a fist against the base of Star's skull.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>When Star came to, he was in a cell of sorts. A man standing by the -door told him that he was to be executed, "... after Mr. Blade and the -lady have eaten." Starrett swore at him, and the man went out, with a -mocking "Goodbye, Mr. Garrett!"</p> - -<p>Star got up. His head spun, and he almost fell at first, but the daze -left in his head from the two blows quickly cleared away. He felt for -various weapons which he had hidden about him ... and found them gone. -Garrett's men had searched carefully.</p> - -<p>Star sat down, his head spinning more now from mystery than from -physical pain. He had to keep himself in a whole skin, of course. That -was most important right now. But other things were bothering him, -tugging at his mind like waves slapping around a swamped ship, each -trying to shove it in a different direction.</p> - -<p>There was the girl. Star wondered why she always leaped into his mind -first. And there was the way Garrett was trying to leave the impression -that he was Blade, so that he could kill Blade as Garrett.</p> - -<p>Obviously, the reason for that was the girl, Miss Hinton, Garrett had -called her. She had been shown faked papers by Garrett, papers proving -that the two were ... were whatever Garrett had twisted the story into!</p> - -<p>Star clutched at his head. He was in a mess. He was going to be killed, -and he was going to die without knowing the score. And he didn't like -that. Nor did he like dying as Star Blade shouldn't die; executed as -a "wolf's-head" pirate. The girl would be watching, and he felt as if -that would make it far worse.</p> - -<p>His head came up, and he smiled flintily. He still had an ace card! One -hand felt for it, and he shook his head slowly. It was a gamble ... but -all the others had been found.</p> - -<p>Blade looked up quickly, as the door opened. Two men came into the -cell, carrying jet-guns. They motioned Blade to his feet. "Come on, -Blade." One began, when the other hit him across the mouth.</p> - -<p>"You fool!" he hissed. "You better not call him that; suppose that -girl was to hear it? Until the boss gets what he wants on Earth, that -girl has got to think that he's Blade! We're killing this guy as Devil -Garrett! And a loud-mouthed fool like you ... look out!"</p> - -<p>Blade had landed on the bickering men, and was grappling with the one -who had called him by name. As the other leaped forward, swinging a -clubbing blow with a jet-gun, Star tripped one man into the corner, and -ducked under the gun. He hit the man in the stomach, drove a shoulder -up under his arms, and smashed the man's face in with a series of sharp -blows. The man went reeling backward across the room, and Star's hand -leaped toward that "ace card" which he still held.</p> - -<p>Devil Garrett stepped in the door, and made a mock out of a courteous -bow. As he did so, Star snarled in rage, but stood very still, for the -electron knife in Garrett's hand did not waver.</p> - -<p>Garrett gestured silently toward the door, and Star, equally silent, -walked over and out, at the point of the weapon.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Star Blade stood before a transmitter, and thought about death.</p> - -<p>He was very close to it. Garrett stood five yards away, a gun in -his hand, and the muzzle trained on Blade's chest. The gun was the -universally used weapon of execution, an old projectile-firing weapon.</p> - -<p>Star did not doubt that Devil Garrett was an excellent shot with it.</p> - -<p>The girl, very round-eyed and nervous, sat by Garrett. He had explained -to her that Garrett was the type of pirate that it is law to kill, or -have executed, by anyone. Which was very true.</p> - -<p>A man stepped away from the transmitter, and nodded to Garrett. Star -felt a surge of hope, as he saw that it was a two-way transmitter. If -the image of an Interstellar Command headquarters was tuned in—Garrett -would undoubtedly do it, if only to show the police that he had killed -Starrett Blade—then Garrett could not kill him and cut the beam in -time to prevent one of the police from giving a cry that would echo -over the sub-space beam arriving almost instantly in this room, and let -the girl know that she had been tricked. And Garrett would not want -that. Not that it would matter to Starrett Blade.</p> - -<p>Then Star saw what kind of a transmitter it was, and he groaned. It -was not a Hineson Sub-space beamer ... it was an old-style transmitter -which had different wave speeds, because of the different space-bridger -units in it.</p> - -<p>The visual image would arrive many seconds before the sound did. Thus -the girl would not hear Garrett revealed, but would see only Blade's -death. And then ... whatever Garrett had planned, Blade wished heartily -that he could have the chance to interfere.</p> - -<p>The beam was coming in. Star saw the mists swimming on the screen -change, solidify into a figure ... the figure of District Commander -Weddel seated at a desk. He saw Weddel's eyebrows rise, saw his lips -move—then Garrett stepped over a pace, and Weddel saw him, saw the gun -in his hand....</p> - -<p>The police officer yelled, silently, and came to his feet, an -expression of shocked surprise on his face—surprise, Blade thought -desperately, that the girl might interpret as shock at seeing Devil -Garrett.</p> - -<p>Which was right, in a way.</p> - -<p>Then, as Commander Weddel leapt to his feet, as Devil Garrett's -finger tightened on the trigger, as the girl sucked in her breath -involuntarily, Star Blade scooped up a bit of metal—a fork—and flung -it at the vision transmitter.</p> - -<p>Not at the screen. But at the equipment behind the dial-board. At a -certain small unit, which was almost covered by wires and braces for -the large tubes. And the fork struck it, bit deep, and caused result.</p> - -<p>Result in the form of a burned-out set. If television equipment can -curse, that set cursed them. Its spitting of sparks and blue electric -flame mingled with a strange, high-pitched whine.</p> - -<p>It was the diversion that caused Garrett to miss Star, which gave him -time to pull three or four of Garrett's men onto the floor with him. -One of the men drove the butt of a jet-gun into the side of Star's -head, and for the third time, he went very limp. The last thing he saw -was the girl.</p> - -<p>Somehow, the expression on her face was different from what it had -been. He was searching for the difference, when the blow struck -him. Somewhere in the space that lies between consciousness and -unconsciousness, he reflected bitterly that if he kept staring at the -girl when he should be fighting, he might not recover some day. This -was the third time that he had been knocked out that way. It was not -getting monotonous. He still felt it a novelty.</p> - -<p>Star awoke in the same prison cell, facing the wall away from the door. -He wondered if he were still alive, tried to move his head, and decided -that he wasn't. He didn't even get up or look around when he dimly -heard the door being opened.</p> - -<p>But when he heard the girl's voice, he came up and around very swiftly, -despite his head.</p> - -<p>It was the girl all right. Even through the tumbled mists of his brain, -he could see that she was not a dream. And as he reeled and fell -against the wall, she was beside him in a flash, her arm supporting him.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>At first he tried to push himself erect, his head whirling with sick -dizziness, and bewilderment. Through a twisting haze, he peered up at -the girl's face. It reflected a look that, amazingly, was one of—with -no other phrase to do—compassion. Star half-sighed, and laid his head -on the girl's breast, and closed his eyes.</p> - -<p>In a minute or two, she said tensely, "Are you all right?" Star looked -up at her.</p> - -<p>"I guess so. Here—give a hand while I get my balance." She held him as -he tried a step or two, and then he straightened. "I guess I'll be all -right, now," he smiled. "My head feels like—say! How come you're doing -this? What made you change your mind? And who are you?"</p> - -<p>She said quickly, breathlessly, "I know you're Star Blade, now. That -transmission set.... I can read lips! I <i>knew</i> what that officer was -saying! It was just as if I had <i>heard</i> him say that ... that you were -Starrett Blade and that man out there is Devil Garrett!" she made a -choking sound. "And I've been here, alone, for a month! For a month!"</p> - -<p>"A month? Huh—please—you...?"</p> - -<p>Star took a breath, and started over. "You.... Who <i>are</i> you? What are -you doing here?"</p> - -<p>She said, "I'm Anne Hinton. My father is Old John Hinton. Have you -heard of him?"</p> - -<p>"Of course!" said Star. "He manufactures most of the equipment '<i>Blade -Cosmian</i>' uses. Weapons, Hineson Sub-Spacers, Star-Traveler craft ... -the ship I was in when Garrett brought me down was a Hinton craft. I -should have recognized the name. But go on. What—"</p> - -<p>"Garrett communicated with dad, secretly. He posed as Starrett -Blade, as you, and told dad that he was developing certain new power -processes. And he is! He has a new—or maybe it isn't so new—way of -electrolyzing water to liberate hydrogen and oxygen."</p> - -<p>"I think I understand," said Star quickly. "When the oxygen and -hydrogen are allowed to combine, and produce an explosion which drive -a turbine-generator. Then that could be hitched up to a cyclotron, and -even the most barren of Alpha's lake-rock planets could be...."</p> - -<p>"No," she shook her head puzzledly. "It's just electric power. He said -that atomics would release stray rays that would attract pirates."</p> - -<p>"I know," Star nodded, abstractedly. "I was thinking of another -application of it ... hmm. But say! What was Garrett after? I know that -he wouldn't do this just to get a secret process sold. He must have had -another plan behind it. Got any idea?"</p> - -<p>Anne shook her head slowly. "I don't know. I can't see...."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps I could help you?" Devil Garrett asked smoothly from the door.</p> - -<p>Star whirled, thrust Anne behind him, but there was no way out. Garrett -stood in the door, and there were men behind him. The jet in his hand -could kill both of the two at one shot. And they had no weapons to -resist with.</p> - -<p>Devil Garrett stepped them out of the room, and down the corridor, -through a large door Star had noticed at the end of the passage, and -into a huge room.</p> - -<p>It must have been a thousand feet long, and half that wide. It was at -least a hundred yards deep. And it was almost filled with gigantic -machines.</p> - -<p>Between the machinery, the spaces were almost filled with steel ladders -and cat-walks. Crews of men swarmed over them. It was the largest mass -of equipment Starrett had ever seen.</p> - -<p>His eyes began to pick out details. Those huge vat-like things down -at the far end, with the large cables running into them, and the -mighty pumps connected to them ... they were probably the electrolysis -chambers.</p> - -<p>And those great pipes, they must carry the hydrogen and oxygen from -the electro chambers to the large replicas of engines, which could be -nothing else but the explosion chambers, where the gases were allowed -to re-unite, and explode. And there by the giant engines, those must be -turbines, which in turn connected with the vast-sized generators just -under the platforms on which they stood.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Star Blade whistled softly through his teeth. A huge enterprise! It -could be ... but for a moment he had forgotten Devil Garrett.</p> - -<p>The girl standing by his side, Star turned toward Garrett. "Well?"</p> - -<p>Garrett smiled his mocking grin. "You grasp the principle, of course. -But let me show you ... you see those pipes that run from the turbines -after the wheels?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. They carry the gases off. Where do they lead?"</p> - -<p>"Into giant subterranean caverns beneath the surface!" Garrett said. -"Now look over there, on the platforms across from us. Can you -recognize a Barden energy-beamer, Blade? Run by power from my little -plant here, which is run by water from a thousand lakes!</p> - -<p>"Just imagine, if you can, hundreds of those plants all over Alpha -III. And each one with dozens of high-powered Barden beams to protect -it! And Hinton ray screens to protect us from radio-controlled rocket -shells from space, or Barden Rays, or any other weapon of offence, or -to warn if anyone lands on this planet!" Garrett leaned forward, his -eyes aglow.</p> - -<p>"Blade, I'll take over the few governing posts on this little planet, -and I'll rule an entire world, a whole planet to myself! It'll be the -first time in history! And it won't be the last. With the Hinton secret -patents, the plans of all John Hinton's inventions and processes...."</p> - -<p>Star twisted, and got his "ace card" out of its hiding place.</p> - -<p>It was a jet weapon, little more than a jet-blast capsule for a -jet-gun. The sides were thicker and stronger, and there was a device -fixed on it so it could be fired. Altogether, it was somewhat smaller -than an old-style fountain pen.</p> - -<p>He twisted up from the floor, and moved faster than he had moved ever -before. Star was famous for his speed and the quickness and alertness -of his reflexes. He earned his fame a score of times over in that one -instant.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus.jpg" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>And Devil Garrett died.</p> - -<p>There was perhaps an eighth of a second between the staff of blue white -fire from the tiny jet in Star's hand and the huge broadsword of fire -from Garrett's gun. But in the split-second Star's fire knifed into -Garrett's vitals, and Garrett gave a convulsive jerk, and fired even as -his muscles started the jerking movement.</p> - -<p>And the flame went over Star's head, singeing his scalp.</p> - -<p>Of the four men with Garrett, one let go of the struggling Anne, and -swore as he snatched at an electron knife in his belt. Anne's hand -had already whipped the knife out, and without bothering to press the -electron stud, she buried the knife in his back.</p> - -<p>Two of the remaining men whirled, and went for the door as though a -devil was after them. The other tried to get a jet-gun out. It was his -final mistake. A blue lance from Anne's knife whipped close enough to -him to make him dodge, and then Star got his hand on Garrett's jet.</p> - -<p>The other two men had, in their flight, taken a door which led, not -into the large corridor, but into a small room at one side, a room -filled with instruments and recording devices for the machinery in the -room below. Star leaped to the side of the door, and called, "Are you -going to come out, or am I coming in to get you?"</p> - -<p>There was a short silence, in which Anne heard one say hoarsely, "He -can't get us ... we could get him if he came in the door."</p> - -<p>"Oh, yes?" was the answer. "Do you know who that guy is? He's the one -they call 'Death Star.' I'm not facing Starrett Blade in a gun fight. -You can do what you like, but I'm leaving." Then he lifted his voice. -"Hey, Blade! I'm coming out. Don't shoot."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"Okay," threw back Star and the man appeared in the doorway, empty -hands held high. After a second, the other joined him.</p> - -<p>Anne turned to Star. "Now I know why they call you 'Death Star' Blade," -she said, and gestured toward the men who had surrendered, and the two -whom Starrett had shot down.</p> - -<p>He mused there for a minute. Then Anne broke the silence with, "Star, -what are we going to do now? Garrett's men will be up here in a little -while. We can't get to a sub-space beam. What are we going to do when -they come up to investigate?"</p> - -<p>Starrett Blade laughed. "Do? Well, we could turn them over to Commander -Weddel!"</p> - -<p>"<i>What?</i>"</p> - -<p>Grinning broadly, Star pointed, with a flourish, at the door. Anne -spun about, and found Commander Weddel grinning in the door from the -corridor.</p> - -<p>"Very simple," said Star across the lounge to Anne. "When I smashed -the vision set with that dinner fork, I broke a small unit which is -included in all sets. You know, a direction finder doesn't work, except -in the liner-beam principle, in space, because of the diffusing effect -of unrestricted cosmic rays."</p> - -<p>"Yes, I knew that," said Anne. "But how—"</p> - -<p>Starrett grinned again. "A type of beam has been found which it is -impossible for cosmics to disturb. But you can't send messages on -it, so it is made in a little unit on every set. If that unit is -broken, the set automatically releases a signal beam. This is a -distress signal, and the location of the set that sent out the signal -is recorded at the Section Headquarters. When Commander Weddel saw -me throw something at the set, and it went dead, he looked at the -automatic record, and found out that a signal had been sent in from -a location on Alpha Cen's third planet. Then he had a high-velocity -cruiser brought out and dropped in, in time to pick up some pieces." He -stopped, and idly toyed with a sheaf of papers, then held them up. "See -these papers?"</p> - -<p>"Uh-huh. What are they, Star?"</p> - -<p>"They are the main plans of Devil Garrett's power plant, and they're -the one good thing he's ever done. These plans are going to bring the -barren, rocky Centauri planets to life!"</p> - -<p>He got up, and paced to the window, and stood there, looking out, and -up through the plastic port. "The planets of Centauri!" he murmured -softly. "Seven circling Alpha alone. And all seven are barren, rocky, -level except for the thousands of lakes ... lakes that are going to be -the life of Centauri!"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>He turned back to the window. "And all because a pirate named Devil -Garrett built a vast power plant to use to garner more power!"</p> - -<p>"You know, Anne, as a mockery, and a warning, I think I'll propose that -this planet be officially named ... 'Garrett'!"</p> - -<p>She looked up at him, and there was laughter bright in her eyes, and -tugging at her mouth. "Yes, there ought to be a reason," she murmured. -Star wavered. She was so darn close.</p> - -<p>After a minute, she turned her head, and looked up at him. "Star, how -soon will there be those gardens and woods you described? I mean, -how long before Garrett can be turned into that kind of world you -described?"</p> - -<p>"Why ... under pressure, we can do it in six months. Why?"</p> - -<p>"Not half quick enough," she murmured happily, "but it'll have to do, -Star." Laughing, she turned her face up to his. "Have you ever thought -that planet Garrett will be wonderful for a honeymoon?"</p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Death Star, by Tom Pace - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DEATH STAR *** - -***** This file should be named 63419-h.htm or 63419-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/3/4/1/63419/ - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Death Star - -Author: Tom Pace - -Release Date: October 9, 2020 [EBook #63419] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DEATH STAR *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - DEATH STAR - - By TOM PACE - - Trapped by the most feared of space pirates - Devil Garrett, Starrett Blade was fighting for - his life. Weaponless, his ship gone, he was - pinning his hopes on a girl--who wanted him dead. - - [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from - Planet Stories Spring 1945. - Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that - the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - -Starrett Blade crouched in the rocks by the tiny Centaurian lake. It -was only about two or three hundred feet across, but probably thousands -of feet deep. This lake, and hundreds of others like it, were the -only things to break the monotony of the flat, rocky surface of Alpha -Centauri III--called the most barren planet in space. - -Ten minutes ago, Star Blade's ship had spun into the stagnant waters -before him. An emergency release had flung the air-lock doors open, and -the air pressure had flung Star out. And now he was waiting for Devil -Garrett to come down to the water's edge to search for him. - -For eight years, Devil Garrett had been the top space pirate in the -void. For a year, Star himself had personally been hunting him. And on -a tour over Alpha III, a Barden energy-beam had stabbed up at Blade's -ship, and Star Blade had crashed into the lake. - -That Barden Beam had Star worried and puzzled. It took a million volts -of power for a split-second flash of the beam. Garrett didn't have an -atomics plant on Alpha III--if he had, escaping rays would point it -out, no matter how well it was camouflaged. There was no water power, -for there was no running water. There were only the lakes ... and tidal -power was out, for Alpha III had no moon. - -However, that could wait. Star slid the electron knife from his -water-proof sheath, gripped it firmly. He could hear quick footsteps as -a man came down the trail that led directly past his hiding place. - -It wasn't Garrett, which was disappointing. But it was one of his men, -and he was heavily armed. That didn't worry Star. - -His fighting had earned Starrett Blade the nickname of "Death Star." - -The man walked to the water's edge, and peered out over the pool. He -saw the bubbles that were coming up from the sinking ship, and he -nodded, grunted in satisfaction, and started to turn back. - -Star landed on him, knocking him sprawling on the rock. The pirate -jerked up an arm, holding the jet-gun. - -The stabbing lance of blue fire cracked from the electron knife, dug -into the man's heart. - -Star tossed the dead pirate's cloak over his shoulders, and thrust both -electron blade and jet-gun into his belt. He straightened, and saw the -leveled gun from the corner of his eye. - -He got the jet in his right hand, the knife in his left, and went into -a dive that flipped him behind a rock. The three actions took only a -split-second, and the blast from the jet-gun flaked rock where he had -been standing. - -While a jet-gun is the most deadly weapon known, you have to press a -loading stud to slide another blast-capsule into place. Death Star knew -this very well. So he knew he was safe in coming up from behind the -spur of stone to fire his own gun. - -If his reflexes hadn't been as quick as they were, he would have -blasted the girl. - - * * * * * - -He stopped, and stood for a second, staring at the girl. She was -something to invite stares, too. In the moment that lasted between her -next move, he had time to register that she was about five feet five -tall, black-haired--the kind of black hair that looks like silken spun -darkness--dark-eyed, and possessing both a face and a form that would -make anyone stop and gulp. - -Then the moment of half-awed survey was over, and she leveled the jet -on him, and said in a trembling voice, "Drop those weapons, or I'll -blast you ... _pirate_!" - -Death Star said, "That jet-gun is empty. I can see the register on the -magazine. And I'm not a pirate. I'm Starrett Blade." - -The useless jet-gun slid out of the girl's hand, and she gave a -half-gasp. "Starrett Blade! I--I don't believe ..." she broke off -abruptly. "So you're Death Star! A fine story for a hired killer, a -pirate." - -Star reddened. "Look," he snapped, "I don't know who's been talking to -you, but ..." he whirled, and his hand whipped the jet-gun from his -belt. As he did so, the girl jerked up the jet-gun she had dropped, and -flung it with all her strength. The blow landed on his arm and side, -and paralyzed him long enough for the man who had leaped out behind him -to land a stunning blow against his head. As Star went down, he dizzily -cursed himself for becoming interested in the argument with the girl, -so that he did not heed his reflexes in time ... and dimly, he wondered -why it had seemed so important to convince the lovely dark-haired girl. - -Then a bit of the cosmos seemed to fall on Star's head, and he was -hurled into blackness. - -An eternity seemed to pass. - -Deep in the blackness, a light was born. It leaped toward him, a -far-away comet rocketing along, coming from some far, unknown corner -of the galaxy. It became a flaming sun in a gray-green space, and -strangely, there seemed to be several odd planets circling about the -sun. Some of them were vast pieces of queer electronic machinery. Some -were vague, villainous-looking men. One was the dark-haired girl, and -there was lovely contempt in her dark-star pools of eyes. - -Then into the midst of this queer universe, there swam a new planet. It -was the face of a man, and the man was Devil Garrett. - -That brought Star up, out of his daze, onto his feet as though he had -been doused with cold water. He stood there, not staring, just looking -at Garrett. - -The most famous killer in the void was big. He was six feet three, and -twice as strong as he looked. He wore a huge high-velocity jet-gun, and -a set of electron knives, all of the finest workmanship. He was sitting -on a laboratory chair of steel, and the chair bent slightly under his -great weight. - -He smiled at Star, and there was a touch of hell in the smile. He said, -"Ah, Mr. Garrett." - -Star's jaw dropped. "Garrett? What do you--" he broke off. A glance at -the girl told him what the purpose was. - -"Look, Mr. Devil Garrett," said the pirate, still smiling softly, "Miss -Hinton is aware of your identity. There is no need to attempt to fool -us.... I've known it was you ever since I flashed that beam at your -ship. And you needn't flatter yourself that the Devil's luck is going -to hold out as far as you are concerned. For in a very short while, -I'm going to have you executed ... before a stellar vision screen, -connected with Section Void Headquarters! I wish the authorities to see -Devil Garrett die, so that I might collect the reward that is offered -on you!" - -Star stood quiet, and looked straight into Garrett's eyes. After a -minute of silence, Garrett's lips twisted into a smile, and he said -mockingly, "Well, pirate? What are you thinking of?" - -Star said, in a low, cold voice, "I'm thinking of putting an electron -fire-blade into your face, Devil Garrett!" - -Garrett laughed ... huge, rather evil, bluff laughter. The mirth of a -person who is both powerful and dangerous. And then the girl leaped -forward, shaking with rage. - -"You beast! Murderer! To accuse this man ... you fool, you might have -been able to complete any scheme of escape you had, if you hadn't -called yourself Starrett Blade! Mr. Blade...." She gestured toward -Garrett, who made a mocking, sardonic bow. "... has given me ample -proof that he is who he says! And this long before you came. He's shown -me papers giving a description and showing a tri-dimension picture of -you...." - -Fire leaped in Star's eyes. "Listen ..." he snapped furiously, as he -started to step forward. Then Garrett made a signal with his hand, and -someone drove a fist against the base of Star's skull. - - * * * * * - -When Star came to, he was in a cell of sorts. A man standing by the -door told him that he was to be executed, "... after Mr. Blade and the -lady have eaten." Starrett swore at him, and the man went out, with a -mocking "Goodbye, Mr. Garrett!" - -Star got up. His head spun, and he almost fell at first, but the daze -left in his head from the two blows quickly cleared away. He felt for -various weapons which he had hidden about him ... and found them gone. -Garrett's men had searched carefully. - -Star sat down, his head spinning more now from mystery than from -physical pain. He had to keep himself in a whole skin, of course. That -was most important right now. But other things were bothering him, -tugging at his mind like waves slapping around a swamped ship, each -trying to shove it in a different direction. - -There was the girl. Star wondered why she always leaped into his mind -first. And there was the way Garrett was trying to leave the impression -that he was Blade, so that he could kill Blade as Garrett. - -Obviously, the reason for that was the girl, Miss Hinton, Garrett had -called her. She had been shown faked papers by Garrett, papers proving -that the two were ... were whatever Garrett had twisted the story into! - -Star clutched at his head. He was in a mess. He was going to be killed, -and he was going to die without knowing the score. And he didn't like -that. Nor did he like dying as Star Blade shouldn't die; executed as -a "wolf's-head" pirate. The girl would be watching, and he felt as if -that would make it far worse. - -His head came up, and he smiled flintily. He still had an ace card! One -hand felt for it, and he shook his head slowly. It was a gamble ... but -all the others had been found. - -Blade looked up quickly, as the door opened. Two men came into the -cell, carrying jet-guns. They motioned Blade to his feet. "Come on, -Blade." One began, when the other hit him across the mouth. - -"You fool!" he hissed. "You better not call him that; suppose that -girl was to hear it? Until the boss gets what he wants on Earth, that -girl has got to think that he's Blade! We're killing this guy as Devil -Garrett! And a loud-mouthed fool like you ... look out!" - -Blade had landed on the bickering men, and was grappling with the one -who had called him by name. As the other leaped forward, swinging a -clubbing blow with a jet-gun, Star tripped one man into the corner, and -ducked under the gun. He hit the man in the stomach, drove a shoulder -up under his arms, and smashed the man's face in with a series of sharp -blows. The man went reeling backward across the room, and Star's hand -leaped toward that "ace card" which he still held. - -Devil Garrett stepped in the door, and made a mock out of a courteous -bow. As he did so, Star snarled in rage, but stood very still, for the -electron knife in Garrett's hand did not waver. - -Garrett gestured silently toward the door, and Star, equally silent, -walked over and out, at the point of the weapon. - - * * * * * - -Star Blade stood before a transmitter, and thought about death. - -He was very close to it. Garrett stood five yards away, a gun in -his hand, and the muzzle trained on Blade's chest. The gun was the -universally used weapon of execution, an old projectile-firing weapon. - -Star did not doubt that Devil Garrett was an excellent shot with it. - -The girl, very round-eyed and nervous, sat by Garrett. He had explained -to her that Garrett was the type of pirate that it is law to kill, or -have executed, by anyone. Which was very true. - -A man stepped away from the transmitter, and nodded to Garrett. Star -felt a surge of hope, as he saw that it was a two-way transmitter. If -the image of an Interstellar Command headquarters was tuned in--Garrett -would undoubtedly do it, if only to show the police that he had killed -Starrett Blade--then Garrett could not kill him and cut the beam in -time to prevent one of the police from giving a cry that would echo -over the sub-space beam arriving almost instantly in this room, and let -the girl know that she had been tricked. And Garrett would not want -that. Not that it would matter to Starrett Blade. - -Then Star saw what kind of a transmitter it was, and he groaned. It -was not a Hineson Sub-space beamer ... it was an old-style transmitter -which had different wave speeds, because of the different space-bridger -units in it. - -The visual image would arrive many seconds before the sound did. Thus -the girl would not hear Garrett revealed, but would see only Blade's -death. And then ... whatever Garrett had planned, Blade wished heartily -that he could have the chance to interfere. - -The beam was coming in. Star saw the mists swimming on the screen -change, solidify into a figure ... the figure of District Commander -Weddel seated at a desk. He saw Weddel's eyebrows rise, saw his lips -move--then Garrett stepped over a pace, and Weddel saw him, saw the gun -in his hand.... - -The police officer yelled, silently, and came to his feet, an -expression of shocked surprise on his face--surprise, Blade thought -desperately, that the girl might interpret as shock at seeing Devil -Garrett. - -Which was right, in a way. - -Then, as Commander Weddel leapt to his feet, as Devil Garrett's -finger tightened on the trigger, as the girl sucked in her breath -involuntarily, Star Blade scooped up a bit of metal--a fork--and flung -it at the vision transmitter. - -Not at the screen. But at the equipment behind the dial-board. At a -certain small unit, which was almost covered by wires and braces for -the large tubes. And the fork struck it, bit deep, and caused result. - -Result in the form of a burned-out set. If television equipment can -curse, that set cursed them. Its spitting of sparks and blue electric -flame mingled with a strange, high-pitched whine. - -It was the diversion that caused Garrett to miss Star, which gave him -time to pull three or four of Garrett's men onto the floor with him. -One of the men drove the butt of a jet-gun into the side of Star's -head, and for the third time, he went very limp. The last thing he saw -was the girl. - -Somehow, the expression on her face was different from what it had -been. He was searching for the difference, when the blow struck -him. Somewhere in the space that lies between consciousness and -unconsciousness, he reflected bitterly that if he kept staring at the -girl when he should be fighting, he might not recover some day. This -was the third time that he had been knocked out that way. It was not -getting monotonous. He still felt it a novelty. - -Star awoke in the same prison cell, facing the wall away from the door. -He wondered if he were still alive, tried to move his head, and decided -that he wasn't. He didn't even get up or look around when he dimly -heard the door being opened. - -But when he heard the girl's voice, he came up and around very swiftly, -despite his head. - -It was the girl all right. Even through the tumbled mists of his brain, -he could see that she was not a dream. And as he reeled and fell -against the wall, she was beside him in a flash, her arm supporting him. - - * * * * * - -At first he tried to push himself erect, his head whirling with sick -dizziness, and bewilderment. Through a twisting haze, he peered up at -the girl's face. It reflected a look that, amazingly, was one of--with -no other phrase to do--compassion. Star half-sighed, and laid his head -on the girl's breast, and closed his eyes. - -In a minute or two, she said tensely, "Are you all right?" Star looked -up at her. - -"I guess so. Here--give a hand while I get my balance." She held him as -he tried a step or two, and then he straightened. "I guess I'll be all -right, now," he smiled. "My head feels like--say! How come you're doing -this? What made you change your mind? And who are you?" - -She said quickly, breathlessly, "I know you're Star Blade, now. That -transmission set.... I can read lips! I _knew_ what that officer was -saying! It was just as if I had _heard_ him say that ... that you were -Starrett Blade and that man out there is Devil Garrett!" she made a -choking sound. "And I've been here, alone, for a month! For a month!" - -"A month? Huh--please--you...?" - -Star took a breath, and started over. "You.... Who _are_ you? What are -you doing here?" - -She said, "I'm Anne Hinton. My father is Old John Hinton. Have you -heard of him?" - -"Of course!" said Star. "He manufactures most of the equipment '_Blade -Cosmian_' uses. Weapons, Hineson Sub-Spacers, Star-Traveler craft ... -the ship I was in when Garrett brought me down was a Hinton craft. I -should have recognized the name. But go on. What--" - -"Garrett communicated with dad, secretly. He posed as Starrett -Blade, as you, and told dad that he was developing certain new power -processes. And he is! He has a new--or maybe it isn't so new--way of -electrolyzing water to liberate hydrogen and oxygen." - -"I think I understand," said Star quickly. "When the oxygen and -hydrogen are allowed to combine, and produce an explosion which drive -a turbine-generator. Then that could be hitched up to a cyclotron, and -even the most barren of Alpha's lake-rock planets could be...." - -"No," she shook her head puzzledly. "It's just electric power. He said -that atomics would release stray rays that would attract pirates." - -"I know," Star nodded, abstractedly. "I was thinking of another -application of it ... hmm. But say! What was Garrett after? I know that -he wouldn't do this just to get a secret process sold. He must have had -another plan behind it. Got any idea?" - -Anne shook her head slowly. "I don't know. I can't see...." - -"Perhaps I could help you?" Devil Garrett asked smoothly from the door. - -Star whirled, thrust Anne behind him, but there was no way out. Garrett -stood in the door, and there were men behind him. The jet in his hand -could kill both of the two at one shot. And they had no weapons to -resist with. - -Devil Garrett stepped them out of the room, and down the corridor, -through a large door Star had noticed at the end of the passage, and -into a huge room. - -It must have been a thousand feet long, and half that wide. It was at -least a hundred yards deep. And it was almost filled with gigantic -machines. - -Between the machinery, the spaces were almost filled with steel ladders -and cat-walks. Crews of men swarmed over them. It was the largest mass -of equipment Starrett had ever seen. - -His eyes began to pick out details. Those huge vat-like things down -at the far end, with the large cables running into them, and the -mighty pumps connected to them ... they were probably the electrolysis -chambers. - -And those great pipes, they must carry the hydrogen and oxygen from -the electro chambers to the large replicas of engines, which could be -nothing else but the explosion chambers, where the gases were allowed -to re-unite, and explode. And there by the giant engines, those must be -turbines, which in turn connected with the vast-sized generators just -under the platforms on which they stood. - - * * * * * - -Star Blade whistled softly through his teeth. A huge enterprise! It -could be ... but for a moment he had forgotten Devil Garrett. - -The girl standing by his side, Star turned toward Garrett. "Well?" - -Garrett smiled his mocking grin. "You grasp the principle, of course. -But let me show you ... you see those pipes that run from the turbines -after the wheels?" - -"Yes. They carry the gases off. Where do they lead?" - -"Into giant subterranean caverns beneath the surface!" Garrett said. -"Now look over there, on the platforms across from us. Can you -recognize a Barden energy-beamer, Blade? Run by power from my little -plant here, which is run by water from a thousand lakes! - -"Just imagine, if you can, hundreds of those plants all over Alpha -III. And each one with dozens of high-powered Barden beams to protect -it! And Hinton ray screens to protect us from radio-controlled rocket -shells from space, or Barden Rays, or any other weapon of offence, or -to warn if anyone lands on this planet!" Garrett leaned forward, his -eyes aglow. - -"Blade, I'll take over the few governing posts on this little planet, -and I'll rule an entire world, a whole planet to myself! It'll be the -first time in history! And it won't be the last. With the Hinton secret -patents, the plans of all John Hinton's inventions and processes...." - -Star twisted, and got his "ace card" out of its hiding place. - -It was a jet weapon, little more than a jet-blast capsule for a -jet-gun. The sides were thicker and stronger, and there was a device -fixed on it so it could be fired. Altogether, it was somewhat smaller -than an old-style fountain pen. - -He twisted up from the floor, and moved faster than he had moved ever -before. Star was famous for his speed and the quickness and alertness -of his reflexes. He earned his fame a score of times over in that one -instant. - -And Devil Garrett died. - -There was perhaps an eighth of a second between the staff of blue white -fire from the tiny jet in Star's hand and the huge broadsword of fire -from Garrett's gun. But in the split-second Star's fire knifed into -Garrett's vitals, and Garrett gave a convulsive jerk, and fired even as -his muscles started the jerking movement. - -And the flame went over Star's head, singeing his scalp. - -Of the four men with Garrett, one let go of the struggling Anne, and -swore as he snatched at an electron knife in his belt. Anne's hand -had already whipped the knife out, and without bothering to press the -electron stud, she buried the knife in his back. - -Two of the remaining men whirled, and went for the door as though a -devil was after them. The other tried to get a jet-gun out. It was his -final mistake. A blue lance from Anne's knife whipped close enough to -him to make him dodge, and then Star got his hand on Garrett's jet. - -The other two men had, in their flight, taken a door which led, not -into the large corridor, but into a small room at one side, a room -filled with instruments and recording devices for the machinery in the -room below. Star leaped to the side of the door, and called, "Are you -going to come out, or am I coming in to get you?" - -There was a short silence, in which Anne heard one say hoarsely, "He -can't get us ... we could get him if he came in the door." - -"Oh, yes?" was the answer. "Do you know who that guy is? He's the one -they call 'Death Star.' I'm not facing Starrett Blade in a gun fight. -You can do what you like, but I'm leaving." Then he lifted his voice. -"Hey, Blade! I'm coming out. Don't shoot." - - * * * * * - -"Okay," threw back Star and the man appeared in the doorway, empty -hands held high. After a second, the other joined him. - -Anne turned to Star. "Now I know why they call you 'Death Star' Blade," -she said, and gestured toward the men who had surrendered, and the two -whom Starrett had shot down. - -He mused there for a minute. Then Anne broke the silence with, "Star, -what are we going to do now? Garrett's men will be up here in a little -while. We can't get to a sub-space beam. What are we going to do when -they come up to investigate?" - -Starrett Blade laughed. "Do? Well, we could turn them over to Commander -Weddel!" - -"_What?_" - -Grinning broadly, Star pointed, with a flourish, at the door. Anne -spun about, and found Commander Weddel grinning in the door from the -corridor. - -"Very simple," said Star across the lounge to Anne. "When I smashed -the vision set with that dinner fork, I broke a small unit which is -included in all sets. You know, a direction finder doesn't work, except -in the liner-beam principle, in space, because of the diffusing effect -of unrestricted cosmic rays." - -"Yes, I knew that," said Anne. "But how--" - -Starrett grinned again. "A type of beam has been found which it is -impossible for cosmics to disturb. But you can't send messages on -it, so it is made in a little unit on every set. If that unit is -broken, the set automatically releases a signal beam. This is a -distress signal, and the location of the set that sent out the signal -is recorded at the Section Headquarters. When Commander Weddel saw -me throw something at the set, and it went dead, he looked at the -automatic record, and found out that a signal had been sent in from -a location on Alpha Cen's third planet. Then he had a high-velocity -cruiser brought out and dropped in, in time to pick up some pieces." He -stopped, and idly toyed with a sheaf of papers, then held them up. "See -these papers?" - -"Uh-huh. What are they, Star?" - -"They are the main plans of Devil Garrett's power plant, and they're -the one good thing he's ever done. These plans are going to bring the -barren, rocky Centauri planets to life!" - -He got up, and paced to the window, and stood there, looking out, and -up through the plastic port. "The planets of Centauri!" he murmured -softly. "Seven circling Alpha alone. And all seven are barren, rocky, -level except for the thousands of lakes ... lakes that are going to be -the life of Centauri!" - - * * * * * - -He turned back to the window. "And all because a pirate named Devil -Garrett built a vast power plant to use to garner more power!" - -"You know, Anne, as a mockery, and a warning, I think I'll propose that -this planet be officially named ... 'Garrett'!" - -She looked up at him, and there was laughter bright in her eyes, and -tugging at her mouth. "Yes, there ought to be a reason," she murmured. -Star wavered. She was so darn close. - -After a minute, she turned her head, and looked up at him. "Star, how -soon will there be those gardens and woods you described? I mean, -how long before Garrett can be turned into that kind of world you -described?" - -"Why ... under pressure, we can do it in six months. Why?" - -"Not half quick enough," she murmured happily, "but it'll have to do, -Star." Laughing, she turned her face up to his. "Have you ever thought -that planet Garrett will be wonderful for a honeymoon?" - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Death Star, by Tom Pace - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DEATH STAR *** - -***** This file should be named 63419.txt or 63419.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/3/4/1/63419/ - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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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