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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..2529d19 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #64173 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64173) diff --git a/old/64173-0.txt b/old/64173-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 16d18a8..0000000 --- a/old/64173-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,991 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Fatal Third, by Theodore L. Thomas - -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 -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: The Fatal Third - -Author: Theodore L. Thomas - -Release Date: December 30, 2020 [eBook #64173] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FATAL THIRD *** - - - - - THE FATAL THIRD - - By THEODORE L. THOMAS - - _Peace had had its fling in the 21st century. - Now was the time for violence ... and rugged - Third Officer Webster ... and the miserable - Uranians who knew not what they unloosed._ - - [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from - Planet Stories November 1953. - Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that - the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - -Hanford Webster, third officer of the space ship _Polaris_, was -afflicted with what would have been known in the twentieth century -as a first class jinx. However, more about the jinx later. He -wasn't thinking about that right now where he was on duty standing -his trick in the astrogation chamber. The fleet was nearing its -destination--Uranus. And then it happened. - -One instant the ten-ship Earth fleet was streaking through space. The -next moment nine of the ships broke up into small pieces, actually -disintegrating there in his visi-plate before the bulging eyes of Mr. -Webster. Twisted fragments of metal formed a cloud in space and began -to fall in a gentle arc toward the planet Uranus some fifty thousand -miles away. It was a hideous cloud, liberally sprinkled with frozen -bits of human beings who had been the pride of the space fleet only a -split second before. - -The tenth ship almost didn't get away. It was flying lookout position -four hundred miles behind and above the main fleet. Even so, it got a -severe jolt--like smashing into a solid wall. If anybody except Third -Officer Hanford Webster had been at the controls God only knew what -would have happened. - -Third Webster saw the whole thing in the visi-plate just as his own -ship gave a mighty lurch. A lesser man might have blacked out under the -shock. But Webster kept his faculties. Almost automatically he kicked -the _Polaris_ in a wide circle away from the tiny ship that had put out -from Uranus. And at the same time he started to check the damage. - -"First," he called over the intercom. "First." - -No answer. - -"Second," he called. - -"Here," came a weak answer. "What happened?" - -"I don't know yet, but we're the only ship left. Find the First and -come up." - -"Okay." - -One after another Webster checked the crew. No one dead or even -seriously hurt. Fourteen men had been knocked out. There were a few -sprains and pulled tendons and at least one bruised soul. Even disaster -seems to have a sense of humor. The Chief Machinist had been sitting in -the head when the blow struck. They found him there helpless, thrust -deep into the toilet, wildly cursing. - -The First arrived at the Control Room. The _Polaris_ by this time was -heading swiftly back to Earth. - -"Have you warned Earth?" asked the First. - -"Not yet," said the Third, "I've just finished checking. We're in good -shape." - -"I'll tell them then," said the First. "What a surprise this is going -to be. It will upset everything." - -And so the call went out to Earth. The Uranians had destroyed an Earth -Fleet at 0622 Greenwich on April 13, 2072. - -Right after the _Polaris_ grounded, its officers were summoned to -appear before the World Court. All the officials were there. Every -branch of science was well-represented. - -Third Officer Webster led off. He minutely described what he had seen. -He explained how the _Polaris_ had acted. But it had happened so fast -that his description was sketchy. No one was able to figure out how the -Uranians had done it. Webster's best guess was: - -"It looked like the ships were yanked off their course and just broke -up under the strain--like a strong magnetic field suddenly appeared -in the middle of them. But that couldn't be." - -The others agreed. Scientists long ago had found that things like death -rays and peculiar beams could never exist. It was impossible to get -enough energy in an extended beam to have any effect on anything. - -Several hypotheses were proposed and rapidly shattered. The question of -what had done it reached a blank wall. - -But even more puzzling was the question of _why_. The Uranians were -utterly incapable of bearing the malice necessary to start a war. They -were as detached and unemotional as a rock. - -Again the Court got nowhere. - -Doctor Trant stood up. - -"I don't think we can separate the two questions, _how_ and _why_. So -I recommend that we play back all the tapes we've made since we first -contacted Uranus. Most of us know the whole story already, but with all -of us listening together we might pick up something we've missed." - - * * * * * - -It was a good idea. The Court decided to start the recital the -following day in the Great Auditorium; it would take until then to get -everything organized. In the meantime the scanners continued to watch -Uranus for signs of any hostile move. - -That night the Spacemen's Bar was unusually crowded. It was mostly -due to the Uranus situation, but not entirely. Third Officer Hanford -Webster had been a Third Officer for six months now. He was due to pop -again anytime and get busted. And when he did the Spacemen didn't want -to miss it. - -Han Webster was a monster of a man, huge and ugly. He had a face like a -bottle of warts topped with a great shock of brown hair. He stood six -feet seven, barefoot, and weighed in at two-hundred and sixty-three -pounds, plus or minus five. Yet there wasn't an ounce of fat on him. -He had hands like two bales of hay and legs that were as big as most -men's waist. Despite his bulk he moved like a cat; he was beautifully -coordinated. - -None of those that knew him ever realized he was ugly. His quick laugh -and ready friendliness seemed to change his warty complexion into one -of peaches and cream. He was probably the most popular man in the -whole select group of Spacemen. There was only one thing wrong with -him; he never took the trouble to avoid trouble. - -Webster rose quickly through the ranks once he got out of Space School. -His mind was as alert as his body so he outdistanced all his peers; the -seniority system of promotion had long since been outmoded. A man rose -on his own merits. - -Webster had been a Third Officer only three months when he ran into his -first little difficulty. He was strolling down the center of the street -when a parade headed by a band started coming the other way. A burly -Space Patrolman kept just ahead of the band clearing the way. When he -saw Webster he called out: - -"Out of the way, Third." - -Somehow that didn't set right with Webster, so he just stopped and -looked at the Patrolman. The Patrolman got annoyed and made a fatal -mistake. He laid his hands on Webster. The next instant he sailed -through the air and landed at the feet of the crowd that was beginning -to form at the curb. - -Webster started to leave but by that time the Drum Major was up to him. -The Drum Major didn't think Webster was moving fast enough so he gave -him a little shove. Then things began to happen. - -An assessment of the damages later showed that in the battle of Webster -versus the Band, Webster was the victor. It took a hack saw to get the -trombone player out of the wrappings of his trombone. Several other -players were wearing their instruments too. And Third Officer Webster -became Sixth Officer Webster. - -But you can't keep a good man down. In three months he was up again. - -The second incident wasn't his fault, at all. He was leaving the Post -Delicatessen one night after buying cold cuts. As he approached his -runabout he saw someone fiddling with the controls, apparently about to -drive off in it. With a roar he heaved his package at the dimly-seen -figure. The package burst open from the jet-like power of his huge -hand and various objects sped toward the intruder like a charge of -buck-shot. One of them found its mark. But Webster wasn't so proud of -his aim a moment later when he pounced on the man. Webster had conked -himself an Admiral. The Admiral struggled groggily to his feet. He had -been hit squarely in the mouth with three feet of whistling liverwurst. -It took the medics two days to make the Admiral a new set of teeth. But -it only took the Board fifteen minutes to make Webster a Fifth. - -It was along about then that Webster's friends began kidding him about -never getting beyond Third. He didn't mind--not too much. And the next -time he got up to Third he kept an eye on himself. So did half the -Fleet. But it didn't do any good. - -He was standing at the bar one night chatting with a few friends. -He'd had a couple of drinks, but nothing much. None of the Spacemen -drank much. Anyhow a group of eleven men gathered behind him and began -needling him. He good-naturedly parried their remarks for awhile. Then -one of them called him a cave man. - -Webster's great hands were resting on the bar. His muscles tightened. -He spun around and charged right through his tormentors. Since he -happened to be carrying the top of the bar at the time, the fight ended -right there. But the Board took a dim view of a man that destroyed -property. So Webster was reduced to Seventh. - -There was no doubt about it. There was a jinx riding on the Third -Officership as far as Webster was concerned. He couldn't overcome it. -Every time he got there those two drag-buckets he used for hands would -push him back. And there was no way to overcome it. He was living in -the wrong kind of world. - - * * * * * - -Webster was a man built for violent action. If he could have joined -Count Raymond IV on the First Crusade the other eight probably wouldn't -have been necessary. Or if he could have stood with the Housecarles -at Hastings that October day in 1066, Harold would have been king of -England, not William. Webster should have lived in the days when a -brilliant man with a powerful body could carve himself out an empire if -he wanted to. - -But he didn't. Instead he lived in a world that hadn't seen a war -in over a hundred years. Violence was dead. Even sports calling for -physical contact had vanished. Weapons were unknown except in museums. -The only competition to be found anywhere was in such sports as track -or swimming or tumbling. Webster excelled in those but it wasn't -enough. Something deep in his nature called for more. And unfortunately -the call always seemed to come when Webster's superiors were -considering moving him from a Third to a Second. But after surveying -the wreckage they always changed their minds and moved him the other -way. Webster was a man born a thousand years too late. And the only -place he could even begin to use his talents was with the Space Fleet. -He was almost happy there. - -The whole Fleet was rooting for him when he got his Third for the -fourth time. The seventeen-hundred men that manned Earth's seventeen -space ships were all behind Webster to help him over the fatal barrier. -Even those that bore the scars of his violence were all for him. He was -too good a man to dislike. - -But Webster's problem shrank to almost nothing after the disaster that -destroyed over half the Space Fleet and killed nine hundred of the -world's finest men. The Spacemen were in a murderous mood. All of them -had lost good friends. They were a closely-knit body and there wasn't a -man left among them that wasn't ready to blast Uranus right out of the -system. - -But with what? There was no such thing as a war weapon any more. Of -course it would be possible to assemble one of the old lithium-hydride -bombs, but there didn't seem to be any chance of getting close enough -to Uranus to do any good--not with the new weapon the Uranians had. -There was nothing to do but wait and see what turned up at the Court -tomorrow. So the Spacemen milled around the Spacemen's Bar that night, -grumbling and restless and keeping half an eye on Webster. - - * * * * * - -The recital started early. The auditorium was packed. Many of those -there had been on Uranus and knew what the Uranians were like. The -recital was old stuff to them. They heard how the rocket ships had -successively explored Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn and found them -all lifeless, even sporeless. They heard how the ships approached -Uranus with no lively hope of finding anything worth while--of -everyone's surprise to discover an advanced civilization flourishing -there. They heard the transcribed voice describe what the Uranians -looked like: - -"... about a hundred and fifty centimeters tall. They have three -legs and three arms each composed of three segments of massive bone -surrounded by a heavy layer of fat and leatherlike skin. Each limb -terminates in a small prehensile finger. The body measures forty-five -centimeters in diameter on the average. The top portion of the body -has three eyes, three nostrils, and two mouths. One mouth is used for -water, the other for food. In appearance, the Uranians seem outlandish -to Earthly eyes. They walk...." - -The experienced men smiled. Outlandish, he says. They looked like a -three-armed watermelon sitting upright on a three-legged stool. A man -could drive himself nuts trying to keep track of how they walked. Two -feet were always on the ground, the third one moving forward. Each foot -took its own turn. The end result was that each Uranian seemed to have -dozens of feet when he was in motion. And he could change direction -with the startling suddenness of an ant. His body wouldn't turn at all; -he'd just suddenly begin moving off at a tangent. - -"... no language as we know it. They communicate with one another in -short bursts of sound which verge on the supersonic. We understand -their speech only by means of instruments which graph the duration and -pitch of the sounds they make. As a consequence our intercourse with -them is limited. We have been able...." - -Frank Wadden smiled to himself, remembering the endless hours on Uranus -trying to make sense out of the shrill bleats of the Uranians. Wadden's -Group Leader had been the man that finally found the key. Like all -keys, it had been simple. The shrill bleats were a code. Each bleat of -a certain pitch and duration conveyed a concept, a word picture, in -much the same way that the Chinese language did. But the human voice -couldn't reach the high range where the Uranians conversed, so sound -machines had to be used. And they were far from satisfactory. - -"... disease among them for fifty thousand years. They now do very -little medical research since, in the absence of disease, none is -required. Those suffering from organic malfunctions are either cured by -surgery or exterminated. There is no question but that their medical -skill is of a very high order. They have arrived at a point which we -will probably never be...." - -Doctor Trask snorted. Yeah, they were great doctors all right. No -wonder. With no animals to experiment on they simply used each other. -When a Uranian doctor needed a guinea pig he merely stepped outside his -laboratory and snagged the first passerby. And many of their diseases -in the old days had been wiped out by killing off all the victims. -Medical students learned anatomy by cutting open their fellow-citizens -alive. New foods and liquids were tested by observing the reactions of -those who swallowed them. Yes, sir. Their medical skill was of a very -high order. - -"... only possible because their nervous system does not register -pain. In fact, their nervous system is such that they are completely -emotionless. There is no possibility for a Uranian to feel any of the -Earthly emotions such as love, hate, rage, or pride. They approach the -status of vegetation in that respect. They...." - -That was something that had always puzzled Johnson. He couldn't -understand how it was possible for a reasoning creature to be such -a cold fish. He remembered the day he had landed the _Vaga_. Just -before the ship settled to the surface three Uranians had blithely -strolled into the rocket's blast and fried themselves. Johnson had been -horror-struck. But it didn't bother the other Uranians in the vicinity. -They calmly disposed of their countrymen's cinders as though they were -throwing away a burned-out match. They were completely disinterested in -the whole incident. - - * * * * * - -Bolton, too, had faced that disinterestedness, but from a different -angle. Bolton had been with the Group that tried to find out if the -Uranians had wanted anything that the Earth could supply. He had tried -to show the Uranians something about Earth foods and Earth science. -But the Uranians weren't interested. Often right in the middle of a -difficult conversation the Uranian would just up and walk off. It -wasn't that he was annoyed. He wasn't capable of being annoyed. It was -just that he'd thought of something better to do. It was frustrating as -hell. - -"... science as advanced as our own along a few narrow channels. Their -rocket fuel is very similar to our Ozonile but they have never used it -to explore anything outside their planet. Their IR scanners too are -strikingly similar to ours. In the discovery of the Kant Alloy though -they have surpassed us. A pellet made out of this alloy will attain a -high velocity when it is immersed in a magnetic field. The velocity -has been known to reach the same velocity as our space ships, namely -one-ninth the speed of light. Unfortunately only a very small pellet -can be accelerated in this manner. - -"Temperature plays a very important role here. The Kant Alloy will not -accelerate except under the extremely frigid conditions as they exist -on Uranus or in space. Our latest information shows that the Uranians -have been making attempts to increase the velocity of the pellets. -Our magnetic shields will still protect our men and ships, however, -no matter how fast the pellets travel. We need not worry about future -carelessness from the way the Uranians use the Kant Alloy. They...." - -Grizzled, gray-haired, Don Hedge closed his eyes. He had been aboard -the _Altair_ the time the Uranians got careless with the Kant pellet. -He'd never forget it. He had been standing by the fuel pumps as the -_Altair_ prepared to land on Uranus. Suddenly the whole ship reeled -from a tremendous blow. Concussion stretched out half the crew. The -scream of escaping air filled the ship. Only the quick action of two -crew members saved them from asphyxiation. Everybody aboard thought -they'd been hit with a tiny meteor. But as soon as they got down to -Uranus several Uranians came over and began taking measurements of -the two holes in the _Altair_. It was so unusual for them to take an -interest in Earth ships that the crew got suspicious. A few laborious -questions brought it out. Oh, sure. The Uranians were conducting a -little experiment--had to find out what the little pellet did to an -Earth ship. There was a stunned moment's hesitation; then the Earth -crew jumped them. - -That fight brought two factors to light. One; a Uranian would fight -when he was personally attacked by a foreigner. Two; a Uranian was -just about the equal of an Earthman encased in a space suit. Don Hedge -remembered that fight proudly. He'd done well for a young fellow in -spite of the difficulty of coping with three arms. He would really have -fixed his Uranian if Jones hadn't stepped in with that spanner wrench. - -The Uranians forgot about the fight as soon as it was over. They didn't -hold a grudge; they felt no malice. But every Earth ship and every -space suit was modified to carry a gentle magnetic field over its -entire surface. And there was never any more trouble with the Uranians -and their scientific experiments. - -The recital droned on. - - * * * * * - -Third Webster stirred restlessly, not listening. Somewhere here lay the -answer. Somewhere mixed up in the Kant Alloy and magnetic fields lay -the solution they were all looking for. It couldn't be a ray; science -had shown that to be impossible. Or had it? The Uranians were good -along certain lines. It would be just like them to pop up with the -impossible. - -The recital ended toward evening. Immediately Ashdown's clean deep -voice cut in: - -"Gentlemen. One thing seems obvious. Whatever it is they've discovered, -they are only testing it out. They are not trying to destroy us. If -that's the case we need only wait until they get enough data, then it -will be safe to go near them. It might be safe now. We could send a -remote-controlled gig from one of our ships to see if they down it." - -The argument started. Some wanted to send bombs. Others wanted to -wait and see what happened. But a majority wanted to follow Ashdown's -suggestion even though it might mean the loss of one of the eight -remaining ships. A vote was taken. Ashdown won. - -At reveille the next morning volunteers were called for from among the -Spacemen. Every man was ready. So the Board sat down to pick the crew. - -Admiral Cantwell was to go as First Officer. There was some discussion -about the Second but he was soon picked. When it came to Third the -Board didn't even have to think. Webster. But as his name was being -written down one of the Board remembered something. He leaned forward -and hesitantly asked Admiral Cantwell: - -"Is Webster all right with you, Admiral?" - -"Of course. Why not? He's the best we've got." - -"I know, but--well. You and he had a run-in so...." - -"That's done with," said the Admiral. "I shouldn't have been handling -his runabout anyhow." He stopped a moment, then went on. "You know. We -could clean up this whole situation if we could only get Webster down -on Uranian soil, say right in the middle of Central City. Damn. Can you -imagine what would happen?" He fingered his mouth reminiscently. - -The others tried to imagine it, and couldn't. So they got back to work -listing the crew. - -At dawn the _Sirius_ took off. A hundred thousand miles short of Uranus -she swung into an orbit around the planet. That was close enough. - -Two hours later the remote-controlled gig was ready. All hands watched -it flash away from the mother ship, gathering speed every millisecond, -set on a course that would carry it within fifty miles of the rim of -Uranus. - -Webster sat tensely at a visi-scope in the _Sirius_. Maybe he'd see -something that would crystalize the formless thought within him. More -than ever he felt he had the answer right at his fingertips. But he -couldn't drag it out. - -He saw a Uranian ship rise to meet the gig. The two drew closer -together. And when they were about ten-thousand miles apart the gig -suddenly crumbled. There was no explosion, no sign of a ray, nothing. -The gig just broke into little pieces. - -An audible gasp went up from the crew of the _Sirius_. - -Webster heard the Admiral and the Second talking behind him. - -"I didn't see a thing. Did you?" - -"No, sir." - -"How about you, Webster?" - -"No, sir," said Webster, turning around. "But they're getting something -across. There's got to be something there." - -"Yes, but even our spectroscopes didn't show anything. I don't know. -This beats me." He shook his head. "Radio Earth and tell them about it." - -Webster did so. He handed Earth's answer to Admiral Cantwell. He -grunted when he read it. - -"Return to Earth, huh. This has been some mission. Well, we've got to -obey it. Take her home." - -Webster gave a last try for the answer. His mighty body was rigid with -the tension he was under. But it wouldn't come. He was beaten. He gave -a big sigh and sat back and relaxed as the _Sirius_ swung around toward -Earth. - -Then it hit him. He had it. He leaped up with a yell that shook the -panelboards. The Admiral and Second jumped a foot in the air looking -wildly around. - -"I know how to get through," shouted Webster. "Admiral," he calmed down -a little, "Let me have the other gig. I'll take it down. I can get -through. I know...." He broke off and headed for the door. - -"Come back here," roared the Admiral. "Dammit, man, you scared ten -years off me. Settle down now. Tell me what's this all about?" - -Everybody calmed down. - - * * * * * - -"I think I know how they do it," said Webster. "If you'll let me take -the gig I can soon find out without risking the _Sirius_." - -"You're crazy," broke in the Second. "Try it with a remote-controlled -gig. It'll only take a few hours to rig it. There's no sense in your -going." - -Webster ignored him. - -"May I try it, sir?" - -The Admiral was silent, looking at the towering figure of Webster. He -spoke softly, half to himself: - -"It's a helluva world when a man can't risk his own neck trying out -some fool idea." Then louder. "No. I can't let you. Tell us about it -first so I can see if it's any good." - -Webster shook his head. - -"I'll tell you about it over the radio, sir. Then you can follow me in -the _Sirius_. That is--if I'm right. If I'm not, it won't matter." - -"In that case, forget it," said the Admiral. "I'm not going to have -you torn to shreds." - -Webster started to protest, but the Admiral cut him off. - -"No. That's final." - -Webster strode out mad enough to spit. He pulled up in front of a -bulkhead, raised a mighty fist--and stopped. He didn't even give a -second thought to the idea that crashed into his mind. He lit out down -the passageway. - -Ten minutes later the second gig took off, with Third Webster at the -controls. - -In the first few seconds Webster had a horrible thought. Suppose the -Uranians now had enough data. Suppose their experiments were over and -he just flew in, and they didn't even try to knock him down. - -He switched on the visi-scope and radio. No. The Uranian ship was -turning around and coming to meet him. Good. He reached for the -throttle and cut off his rockets. The Admiral's voice came over the -radio: - -"Webster, you'll get thrown out for this. Come back here. And for God's -sake don't slow down like that. You're a sitting duck for them." - -Webster cut in his forward rockets to slow himself even more. He turned -on the magnetic shield and then spoke to Admiral Cantwell. - -"That's the idea, Admiral. All the ships that have been knocked down -have been travelling at full speed. And that's what's done it." - -He kept his eye on the Uranian ship. It was almost within range. He -went on. - -"We knew the Uranians were trying to increase the velocity of the Kant -pellets. Well, I figure they've done it." - -"But they still can't get them through the magnetic shield," said the -Admiral, his tone growing less stern. - -It was almost time. Webster's speed was down to five thousand miles an -hour. - -"They don't have to get them through the shield," answered Webster. "I -figure the pellets now move at close to the speed of light. So when one -of them passes close by our ships going the opposite direction under -full power it sets up--" - -The gig gave a slight lurch. That was all, just a slight lurch. - -"See?" shouted Webster. "They can't knock me down when I'm going slow. -The relative velocity isn't great enough." - -The Admiral's voice took on a new note. - -"I think I see what you're driving at. Mass goes up with velocity." - -"Right." - -The gig gave another small lurch. Webster laughed and went on. - -"The relative velocity between the ship and the pellet is probably only -a few octillionths short of the velocity of light. So somewhere in the -pellet-ship system a huge mass momentarily appears. It's enough to -tear the ship apart. And our own high velocity has been what made it -possible. They don't even try to hit us; they just try to come within -some minimum distance." - -Silence from the _Sirius_. Then. - -"Well done, Webster. Well done. Go on in. We'll follow. You've got -about a twenty-minute start on us so we'll meet you in Central City." -He stopped, then went on: "I owe you something for that runabout -incident I guess, so I'll overlook this disobedience. Besides, if -you're ever going to get beyond Third somebody is going to have to -overlook something. This'll do it. Good luck, man." - -Just before Webster clicked off the radio he overheard the Admiral say -to the Second: - -"The Uranians have one thing to be thankful for. They don't have any -teeth." - -Webster grinned and happily pulled on his space suit. The jinx was -broken. Second Officer Webster coming up. There was nothing but -Uranians ahead of him. And just wait till he got his hands on _them_. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FATAL THIRD *** - -***** This file should be named 64173-0.txt or 64173-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - https://www.gutenberg.org/6/4/1/7/64173/ - -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. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. 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Thomas</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -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 <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Fatal Third</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Theodore L. Thomas</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: December 30, 2020 [eBook #64173]</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net</div> - -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FATAL THIRD ***</div> - -<div class="titlepage"> - -<h1>THE FATAL THIRD</h1> - -<h2>By THEODORE L. THOMAS</h2> - -<p><i>Peace had had its fling in the 21st century.<br /> -Now was the time for violence ... and rugged<br /> -Third Officer Webster ... and the miserable<br /> -Uranians who knew not what they unloosed.</i></p> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from<br /> -Planet Stories November 1953.<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>Hanford Webster, third officer of the space ship <i>Polaris</i>, was -afflicted with what would have been known in the twentieth century -as a first class jinx. However, more about the jinx later. He -wasn't thinking about that right now where he was on duty standing -his trick in the astrogation chamber. The fleet was nearing its -destination—Uranus. And then it happened.</p> - -<p>One instant the ten-ship Earth fleet was streaking through space. The -next moment nine of the ships broke up into small pieces, actually -disintegrating there in his visi-plate before the bulging eyes of Mr. -Webster. Twisted fragments of metal formed a cloud in space and began -to fall in a gentle arc toward the planet Uranus some fifty thousand -miles away. It was a hideous cloud, liberally sprinkled with frozen -bits of human beings who had been the pride of the space fleet only a -split second before.</p> - -<p>The tenth ship almost didn't get away. It was flying lookout position -four hundred miles behind and above the main fleet. Even so, it got a -severe jolt—like smashing into a solid wall. If anybody except Third -Officer Hanford Webster had been at the controls God only knew what -would have happened.</p> - -<p>Third Webster saw the whole thing in the visi-plate just as his own -ship gave a mighty lurch. A lesser man might have blacked out under the -shock. But Webster kept his faculties. Almost automatically he kicked -the <i>Polaris</i> in a wide circle away from the tiny ship that had put out -from Uranus. And at the same time he started to check the damage.</p> - -<p>"First," he called over the intercom. "First."</p> - -<p>No answer.</p> - -<p>"Second," he called.</p> - -<p>"Here," came a weak answer. "What happened?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know yet, but we're the only ship left. Find the First and -come up."</p> - -<p>"Okay."</p> - -<p>One after another Webster checked the crew. No one dead or even -seriously hurt. Fourteen men had been knocked out. There were a few -sprains and pulled tendons and at least one bruised soul. Even disaster -seems to have a sense of humor. The Chief Machinist had been sitting in -the head when the blow struck. They found him there helpless, thrust -deep into the toilet, wildly cursing.</p> - -<p>The First arrived at the Control Room. The <i>Polaris</i> by this time was -heading swiftly back to Earth.</p> - -<p>"Have you warned Earth?" asked the First.</p> - -<p>"Not yet," said the Third, "I've just finished checking. We're in good -shape."</p> - -<p>"I'll tell them then," said the First. "What a surprise this is going -to be. It will upset everything."</p> - -<p>And so the call went out to Earth. The Uranians had destroyed an Earth -Fleet at 0622 Greenwich on April 13, 2072.</p> - -<p>Right after the <i>Polaris</i> grounded, its officers were summoned to -appear before the World Court. All the officials were there. Every -branch of science was well-represented.</p> - -<p>Third Officer Webster led off. He minutely described what he had seen. -He explained how the <i>Polaris</i> had acted. But it had happened so fast -that his description was sketchy. No one was able to figure out how the -Uranians had done it. Webster's best guess was:</p> - -<p>"It looked like the ships were yanked off their course and just broke -up under the strain—like a strong magnetic field suddenly appeared -in the middle of them. But that couldn't be."</p> - -<p>The others agreed. Scientists long ago had found that things like death -rays and peculiar beams could never exist. It was impossible to get -enough energy in an extended beam to have any effect on anything.</p> - -<p>Several hypotheses were proposed and rapidly shattered. The question of -what had done it reached a blank wall.</p> - -<p>But even more puzzling was the question of <i>why</i>. The Uranians were -utterly incapable of bearing the malice necessary to start a war. They -were as detached and unemotional as a rock.</p> - -<p>Again the Court got nowhere.</p> - -<p>Doctor Trant stood up.</p> - -<p>"I don't think we can separate the two questions, <i>how</i> and <i>why</i>. So -I recommend that we play back all the tapes we've made since we first -contacted Uranus. Most of us know the whole story already, but with all -of us listening together we might pick up something we've missed."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>It was a good idea. The Court decided to start the recital the -following day in the Great Auditorium; it would take until then to get -everything organized. In the meantime the scanners continued to watch -Uranus for signs of any hostile move.</p> - -<p>That night the Spacemen's Bar was unusually crowded. It was mostly -due to the Uranus situation, but not entirely. Third Officer Hanford -Webster had been a Third Officer for six months now. He was due to pop -again anytime and get busted. And when he did the Spacemen didn't want -to miss it.</p> - -<p>Han Webster was a monster of a man, huge and ugly. He had a face like a -bottle of warts topped with a great shock of brown hair. He stood six -feet seven, barefoot, and weighed in at two-hundred and sixty-three -pounds, plus or minus five. Yet there wasn't an ounce of fat on him. -He had hands like two bales of hay and legs that were as big as most -men's waist. Despite his bulk he moved like a cat; he was beautifully -coordinated.</p> - -<p>None of those that knew him ever realized he was ugly. His quick laugh -and ready friendliness seemed to change his warty complexion into one -of peaches and cream. He was probably the most popular man in the -whole select group of Spacemen. There was only one thing wrong with -him; he never took the trouble to avoid trouble.</p> - -<p>Webster rose quickly through the ranks once he got out of Space School. -His mind was as alert as his body so he outdistanced all his peers; the -seniority system of promotion had long since been outmoded. A man rose -on his own merits.</p> - -<p>Webster had been a Third Officer only three months when he ran into his -first little difficulty. He was strolling down the center of the street -when a parade headed by a band started coming the other way. A burly -Space Patrolman kept just ahead of the band clearing the way. When he -saw Webster he called out:</p> - -<p>"Out of the way, Third."</p> - -<p>Somehow that didn't set right with Webster, so he just stopped and -looked at the Patrolman. The Patrolman got annoyed and made a fatal -mistake. He laid his hands on Webster. The next instant he sailed -through the air and landed at the feet of the crowd that was beginning -to form at the curb.</p> - -<p>Webster started to leave but by that time the Drum Major was up to him. -The Drum Major didn't think Webster was moving fast enough so he gave -him a little shove. Then things began to happen.</p> - -<p>An assessment of the damages later showed that in the battle of Webster -versus the Band, Webster was the victor. It took a hack saw to get the -trombone player out of the wrappings of his trombone. Several other -players were wearing their instruments too. And Third Officer Webster -became Sixth Officer Webster.</p> - -<p>But you can't keep a good man down. In three months he was up again.</p> - -<p>The second incident wasn't his fault, at all. He was leaving the Post -Delicatessen one night after buying cold cuts. As he approached his -runabout he saw someone fiddling with the controls, apparently about to -drive off in it. With a roar he heaved his package at the dimly-seen -figure. The package burst open from the jet-like power of his huge -hand and various objects sped toward the intruder like a charge of -buck-shot. One of them found its mark. But Webster wasn't so proud of -his aim a moment later when he pounced on the man. Webster had conked -himself an Admiral. The Admiral struggled groggily to his feet. He had -been hit squarely in the mouth with three feet of whistling liverwurst. -It took the medics two days to make the Admiral a new set of teeth. But -it only took the Board fifteen minutes to make Webster a Fifth.</p> - -<p>It was along about then that Webster's friends began kidding him about -never getting beyond Third. He didn't mind—not too much. And the next -time he got up to Third he kept an eye on himself. So did half the -Fleet. But it didn't do any good.</p> - -<p>He was standing at the bar one night chatting with a few friends. -He'd had a couple of drinks, but nothing much. None of the Spacemen -drank much. Anyhow a group of eleven men gathered behind him and began -needling him. He good-naturedly parried their remarks for awhile. Then -one of them called him a cave man.</p> - -<p>Webster's great hands were resting on the bar. His muscles tightened. -He spun around and charged right through his tormentors. Since he -happened to be carrying the top of the bar at the time, the fight ended -right there. But the Board took a dim view of a man that destroyed -property. So Webster was reduced to Seventh.</p> - -<p>There was no doubt about it. There was a jinx riding on the Third -Officership as far as Webster was concerned. He couldn't overcome it. -Every time he got there those two drag-buckets he used for hands would -push him back. And there was no way to overcome it. He was living in -the wrong kind of world.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Webster was a man built for violent action. If he could have joined -Count Raymond IV on the First Crusade the other eight probably wouldn't -have been necessary. Or if he could have stood with the Housecarles -at Hastings that October day in 1066, Harold would have been king of -England, not William. Webster should have lived in the days when a -brilliant man with a powerful body could carve himself out an empire if -he wanted to.</p> - -<p>But he didn't. Instead he lived in a world that hadn't seen a war -in over a hundred years. Violence was dead. Even sports calling for -physical contact had vanished. Weapons were unknown except in museums. -The only competition to be found anywhere was in such sports as track -or swimming or tumbling. Webster excelled in those but it wasn't -enough. Something deep in his nature called for more. And unfortunately -the call always seemed to come when Webster's superiors were -considering moving him from a Third to a Second. But after surveying -the wreckage they always changed their minds and moved him the other -way. Webster was a man born a thousand years too late. And the only -place he could even begin to use his talents was with the Space Fleet. -He was almost happy there.</p> - -<p>The whole Fleet was rooting for him when he got his Third for the -fourth time. The seventeen-hundred men that manned Earth's seventeen -space ships were all behind Webster to help him over the fatal barrier. -Even those that bore the scars of his violence were all for him. He was -too good a man to dislike.</p> - -<p>But Webster's problem shrank to almost nothing after the disaster that -destroyed over half the Space Fleet and killed nine hundred of the -world's finest men. The Spacemen were in a murderous mood. All of them -had lost good friends. They were a closely-knit body and there wasn't a -man left among them that wasn't ready to blast Uranus right out of the -system.</p> - -<p>But with what? There was no such thing as a war weapon any more. Of -course it would be possible to assemble one of the old lithium-hydride -bombs, but there didn't seem to be any chance of getting close enough -to Uranus to do any good—not with the new weapon the Uranians had. -There was nothing to do but wait and see what turned up at the Court -tomorrow. So the Spacemen milled around the Spacemen's Bar that night, -grumbling and restless and keeping half an eye on Webster.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The recital started early. The auditorium was packed. Many of those -there had been on Uranus and knew what the Uranians were like. The -recital was old stuff to them. They heard how the rocket ships had -successively explored Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn and found them -all lifeless, even sporeless. They heard how the ships approached -Uranus with no lively hope of finding anything worth while—of -everyone's surprise to discover an advanced civilization flourishing -there. They heard the transcribed voice describe what the Uranians -looked like:</p> - -<p>"... about a hundred and fifty centimeters tall. They have three -legs and three arms each composed of three segments of massive bone -surrounded by a heavy layer of fat and leatherlike skin. Each limb -terminates in a small prehensile finger. The body measures forty-five -centimeters in diameter on the average. The top portion of the body -has three eyes, three nostrils, and two mouths. One mouth is used for -water, the other for food. In appearance, the Uranians seem outlandish -to Earthly eyes. They walk...."</p> - -<p>The experienced men smiled. Outlandish, he says. They looked like a -three-armed watermelon sitting upright on a three-legged stool. A man -could drive himself nuts trying to keep track of how they walked. Two -feet were always on the ground, the third one moving forward. Each foot -took its own turn. The end result was that each Uranian seemed to have -dozens of feet when he was in motion. And he could change direction -with the startling suddenness of an ant. His body wouldn't turn at all; -he'd just suddenly begin moving off at a tangent.</p> - -<p>"... no language as we know it. They communicate with one another in -short bursts of sound which verge on the supersonic. We understand -their speech only by means of instruments which graph the duration and -pitch of the sounds they make. As a consequence our intercourse with -them is limited. We have been able...."</p> - -<p>Frank Wadden smiled to himself, remembering the endless hours on Uranus -trying to make sense out of the shrill bleats of the Uranians. Wadden's -Group Leader had been the man that finally found the key. Like all -keys, it had been simple. The shrill bleats were a code. Each bleat of -a certain pitch and duration conveyed a concept, a word picture, in -much the same way that the Chinese language did. But the human voice -couldn't reach the high range where the Uranians conversed, so sound -machines had to be used. And they were far from satisfactory.</p> - -<p>"... disease among them for fifty thousand years. They now do very -little medical research since, in the absence of disease, none is -required. Those suffering from organic malfunctions are either cured by -surgery or exterminated. There is no question but that their medical -skill is of a very high order. They have arrived at a point which we -will probably never be...."</p> - -<p>Doctor Trask snorted. Yeah, they were great doctors all right. No -wonder. With no animals to experiment on they simply used each other. -When a Uranian doctor needed a guinea pig he merely stepped outside his -laboratory and snagged the first passerby. And many of their diseases -in the old days had been wiped out by killing off all the victims. -Medical students learned anatomy by cutting open their fellow-citizens -alive. New foods and liquids were tested by observing the reactions of -those who swallowed them. Yes, sir. Their medical skill was of a very -high order.</p> - -<p>"... only possible because their nervous system does not register -pain. In fact, their nervous system is such that they are completely -emotionless. There is no possibility for a Uranian to feel any of the -Earthly emotions such as love, hate, rage, or pride. They approach the -status of vegetation in that respect. They...."</p> - -<p>That was something that had always puzzled Johnson. He couldn't -understand how it was possible for a reasoning creature to be such -a cold fish. He remembered the day he had landed the <i>Vaga</i>. Just -before the ship settled to the surface three Uranians had blithely -strolled into the rocket's blast and fried themselves. Johnson had been -horror-struck. But it didn't bother the other Uranians in the vicinity. -They calmly disposed of their countrymen's cinders as though they were -throwing away a burned-out match. They were completely disinterested in -the whole incident.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Bolton, too, had faced that disinterestedness, but from a different -angle. Bolton had been with the Group that tried to find out if the -Uranians had wanted anything that the Earth could supply. He had tried -to show the Uranians something about Earth foods and Earth science. -But the Uranians weren't interested. Often right in the middle of a -difficult conversation the Uranian would just up and walk off. It -wasn't that he was annoyed. He wasn't capable of being annoyed. It was -just that he'd thought of something better to do. It was frustrating as -hell.</p> - -<p>"... science as advanced as our own along a few narrow channels. Their -rocket fuel is very similar to our Ozonile but they have never used it -to explore anything outside their planet. Their IR scanners too are -strikingly similar to ours. In the discovery of the Kant Alloy though -they have surpassed us. A pellet made out of this alloy will attain a -high velocity when it is immersed in a magnetic field. The velocity -has been known to reach the same velocity as our space ships, namely -one-ninth the speed of light. Unfortunately only a very small pellet -can be accelerated in this manner.</p> - -<p>"Temperature plays a very important role here. The Kant Alloy will not -accelerate except under the extremely frigid conditions as they exist -on Uranus or in space. Our latest information shows that the Uranians -have been making attempts to increase the velocity of the pellets. -Our magnetic shields will still protect our men and ships, however, -no matter how fast the pellets travel. We need not worry about future -carelessness from the way the Uranians use the Kant Alloy. They...."</p> - -<p>Grizzled, gray-haired, Don Hedge closed his eyes. He had been aboard -the <i>Altair</i> the time the Uranians got careless with the Kant pellet. -He'd never forget it. He had been standing by the fuel pumps as the -<i>Altair</i> prepared to land on Uranus. Suddenly the whole ship reeled -from a tremendous blow. Concussion stretched out half the crew. The -scream of escaping air filled the ship. Only the quick action of two -crew members saved them from asphyxiation. Everybody aboard thought -they'd been hit with a tiny meteor. But as soon as they got down to -Uranus several Uranians came over and began taking measurements of -the two holes in the <i>Altair</i>. It was so unusual for them to take an -interest in Earth ships that the crew got suspicious. A few laborious -questions brought it out. Oh, sure. The Uranians were conducting a -little experiment—had to find out what the little pellet did to an -Earth ship. There was a stunned moment's hesitation; then the Earth -crew jumped them.</p> - -<p>That fight brought two factors to light. One; a Uranian would fight -when he was personally attacked by a foreigner. Two; a Uranian was -just about the equal of an Earthman encased in a space suit. Don Hedge -remembered that fight proudly. He'd done well for a young fellow in -spite of the difficulty of coping with three arms. He would really have -fixed his Uranian if Jones hadn't stepped in with that spanner wrench.</p> - -<p>The Uranians forgot about the fight as soon as it was over. They didn't -hold a grudge; they felt no malice. But every Earth ship and every -space suit was modified to carry a gentle magnetic field over its -entire surface. And there was never any more trouble with the Uranians -and their scientific experiments.</p> - -<p>The recital droned on.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Third Webster stirred restlessly, not listening. Somewhere here lay the -answer. Somewhere mixed up in the Kant Alloy and magnetic fields lay -the solution they were all looking for. It couldn't be a ray; science -had shown that to be impossible. Or had it? The Uranians were good -along certain lines. It would be just like them to pop up with the -impossible.</p> - -<p>The recital ended toward evening. Immediately Ashdown's clean deep -voice cut in:</p> - -<p>"Gentlemen. One thing seems obvious. Whatever it is they've discovered, -they are only testing it out. They are not trying to destroy us. If -that's the case we need only wait until they get enough data, then it -will be safe to go near them. It might be safe now. We could send a -remote-controlled gig from one of our ships to see if they down it."</p> - -<p>The argument started. Some wanted to send bombs. Others wanted to -wait and see what happened. But a majority wanted to follow Ashdown's -suggestion even though it might mean the loss of one of the eight -remaining ships. A vote was taken. Ashdown won.</p> - -<p>At reveille the next morning volunteers were called for from among the -Spacemen. Every man was ready. So the Board sat down to pick the crew.</p> - -<p>Admiral Cantwell was to go as First Officer. There was some discussion -about the Second but he was soon picked. When it came to Third the -Board didn't even have to think. Webster. But as his name was being -written down one of the Board remembered something. He leaned forward -and hesitantly asked Admiral Cantwell:</p> - -<p>"Is Webster all right with you, Admiral?"</p> - -<p>"Of course. Why not? He's the best we've got."</p> - -<p>"I know, but—well. You and he had a run-in so...."</p> - -<p>"That's done with," said the Admiral. "I shouldn't have been handling -his runabout anyhow." He stopped a moment, then went on. "You know. We -could clean up this whole situation if we could only get Webster down -on Uranian soil, say right in the middle of Central City. Damn. Can you -imagine what would happen?" He fingered his mouth reminiscently.</p> - -<p>The others tried to imagine it, and couldn't. So they got back to work -listing the crew.</p> - -<p>At dawn the <i>Sirius</i> took off. A hundred thousand miles short of Uranus -she swung into an orbit around the planet. That was close enough.</p> - -<p>Two hours later the remote-controlled gig was ready. All hands watched -it flash away from the mother ship, gathering speed every millisecond, -set on a course that would carry it within fifty miles of the rim of -Uranus.</p> - -<p>Webster sat tensely at a visi-scope in the <i>Sirius</i>. Maybe he'd see -something that would crystalize the formless thought within him. More -than ever he felt he had the answer right at his fingertips. But he -couldn't drag it out.</p> - -<p>He saw a Uranian ship rise to meet the gig. The two drew closer -together. And when they were about ten-thousand miles apart the gig -suddenly crumbled. There was no explosion, no sign of a ray, nothing. -The gig just broke into little pieces.</p> - -<p>An audible gasp went up from the crew of the <i>Sirius</i>.</p> - -<p>Webster heard the Admiral and the Second talking behind him.</p> - -<p>"I didn't see a thing. Did you?"</p> - -<p>"No, sir."</p> - -<p>"How about you, Webster?"</p> - -<p>"No, sir," said Webster, turning around. "But they're getting something -across. There's got to be something there."</p> - -<p>"Yes, but even our spectroscopes didn't show anything. I don't know. -This beats me." He shook his head. "Radio Earth and tell them about it."</p> - -<p>Webster did so. He handed Earth's answer to Admiral Cantwell. He -grunted when he read it.</p> - -<p>"Return to Earth, huh. This has been some mission. Well, we've got to -obey it. Take her home."</p> - -<p>Webster gave a last try for the answer. His mighty body was rigid with -the tension he was under. But it wouldn't come. He was beaten. He gave -a big sigh and sat back and relaxed as the <i>Sirius</i> swung around toward -Earth.</p> - -<p>Then it hit him. He had it. He leaped up with a yell that shook the -panelboards. The Admiral and Second jumped a foot in the air looking -wildly around.</p> - -<p>"I know how to get through," shouted Webster. "Admiral," he calmed down -a little, "Let me have the other gig. I'll take it down. I can get -through. I know...." He broke off and headed for the door.</p> - -<p>"Come back here," roared the Admiral. "Dammit, man, you scared ten -years off me. Settle down now. Tell me what's this all about?"</p> - -<p>Everybody calmed down.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"I think I know how they do it," said Webster. "If you'll let me take -the gig I can soon find out without risking the <i>Sirius</i>."</p> - -<p>"You're crazy," broke in the Second. "Try it with a remote-controlled -gig. It'll only take a few hours to rig it. There's no sense in your -going."</p> - -<p>Webster ignored him.</p> - -<p>"May I try it, sir?"</p> - -<p>The Admiral was silent, looking at the towering figure of Webster. He -spoke softly, half to himself:</p> - -<p>"It's a helluva world when a man can't risk his own neck trying out -some fool idea." Then louder. "No. I can't let you. Tell us about it -first so I can see if it's any good."</p> - -<p>Webster shook his head.</p> - -<p>"I'll tell you about it over the radio, sir. Then you can follow me in -the <i>Sirius</i>. That is—if I'm right. If I'm not, it won't matter."</p> - -<p>"In that case, forget it," said the Admiral. "I'm not going to have -you torn to shreds."</p> - -<p>Webster started to protest, but the Admiral cut him off.</p> - -<p>"No. That's final."</p> - -<p>Webster strode out mad enough to spit. He pulled up in front of a -bulkhead, raised a mighty fist—and stopped. He didn't even give a -second thought to the idea that crashed into his mind. He lit out down -the passageway.</p> - -<p>Ten minutes later the second gig took off, with Third Webster at the -controls.</p> - -<p>In the first few seconds Webster had a horrible thought. Suppose the -Uranians now had enough data. Suppose their experiments were over and -he just flew in, and they didn't even try to knock him down.</p> - -<p>He switched on the visi-scope and radio. No. The Uranian ship was -turning around and coming to meet him. Good. He reached for the -throttle and cut off his rockets. The Admiral's voice came over the -radio:</p> - -<p>"Webster, you'll get thrown out for this. Come back here. And for God's -sake don't slow down like that. You're a sitting duck for them."</p> - -<p>Webster cut in his forward rockets to slow himself even more. He turned -on the magnetic shield and then spoke to Admiral Cantwell.</p> - -<p>"That's the idea, Admiral. All the ships that have been knocked down -have been travelling at full speed. And that's what's done it."</p> - -<p>He kept his eye on the Uranian ship. It was almost within range. He -went on.</p> - -<p>"We knew the Uranians were trying to increase the velocity of the Kant -pellets. Well, I figure they've done it."</p> - -<p>"But they still can't get them through the magnetic shield," said the -Admiral, his tone growing less stern.</p> - -<p>It was almost time. Webster's speed was down to five thousand miles an -hour.</p> - -<p>"They don't have to get them through the shield," answered Webster. "I -figure the pellets now move at close to the speed of light. So when one -of them passes close by our ships going the opposite direction under -full power it sets up—"</p> - -<p>The gig gave a slight lurch. That was all, just a slight lurch.</p> - -<p>"See?" shouted Webster. "They can't knock me down when I'm going slow. -The relative velocity isn't great enough."</p> - -<p>The Admiral's voice took on a new note.</p> - -<p>"I think I see what you're driving at. Mass goes up with velocity."</p> - -<p>"Right."</p> - -<p>The gig gave another small lurch. Webster laughed and went on.</p> - -<p>"The relative velocity between the ship and the pellet is probably only -a few octillionths short of the velocity of light. So somewhere in the -pellet-ship system a huge mass momentarily appears. It's enough to -tear the ship apart. And our own high velocity has been what made it -possible. They don't even try to hit us; they just try to come within -some minimum distance."</p> - -<p>Silence from the <i>Sirius</i>. Then.</p> - -<p>"Well done, Webster. Well done. Go on in. We'll follow. You've got -about a twenty-minute start on us so we'll meet you in Central City." -He stopped, then went on: "I owe you something for that runabout -incident I guess, so I'll overlook this disobedience. Besides, if -you're ever going to get beyond Third somebody is going to have to -overlook something. This'll do it. Good luck, man."</p> - -<p>Just before Webster clicked off the radio he overheard the Admiral say -to the Second:</p> - -<p>"The Uranians have one thing to be thankful for. They don't have any -teeth."</p> - -<p>Webster grinned and happily pulled on his space suit. The jinx was -broken. Second Officer Webster coming up. There was nothing but -Uranians ahead of him. And just wait till he got his hands on <i>them</i>.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus.jpg" alt=""/> -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FATAL THIRD ***</div> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>This file should be named 64173-h.htm or 64173-h.zip</div> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in https://www.gutenberg.org/6/4/1/7/64173/</div> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -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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