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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..73d38fa --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #64724 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64724) diff --git a/old/64724-0.txt b/old/64724-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 5092871..0000000 --- a/old/64724-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2141 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Sun-Death, by Stanley Whiteside - -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 Sun-Death - -Author: Stanley Whiteside - -Release Date: March 06, 2021 [eBook #64724] - -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 SUN-DEATH *** - - - - -THE SUN-DEATH - -By STANLEY WHITESIDE - -_Captain Lodar's compelling urge to return -to Earth was like the instinct of a dying -animal for its lair ... to die with its kind. -Nothing would stop him ... nothing except -death. And the death of the soaring_ Vulcan -_would be his swan song to space_. - -[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from -Planet Stories January 1953. -Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that -the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - - _Norport, U.S.A. - November 2, 2268_ - - _Honorable Board of Space Navigation, - Section 6. - Subject: 6B-5_ - - _Gentlemen:_ - - _In support of a petition on behalf of our client, we herewith - submit a report of the Mutiny on the_ Vulcan _dramatized for your - convenience, but true in all essentials_. - - _We beg you to note the extenuating circumstances and to consider - these in rendering your decision._ - - _Respectfully yours, - Haley, Cronk, & Touchwife, - Attorneys at Law. - per Jonas Cronk, LLD., MSL., PhD._ - - * * * * * - -The Spaceship _Vulcan_ lay on a tangled mat of vegetation. A thin haze -of blue smoke drifted over it from the nearby Venusian village where -several of the grass huts were afire. Under the bulging side of the -ship twenty of the crew were boisterously herding a group of Venus -Mutes, forcing them into the entrance port of the hold. There was very -little trouble; only one of the Mutes balked, and a sting ray soon -quieted that. - -In the glittering control room of the ship Ray Burk, Navigator -Unlimited, turned from the viewport with a frown. - -"It seems a pity to burn down their shacks," he muttered. - -He was a large young man with blond hair, carelessly dressed, yet -still bearing that touch of alert authority characteristic of a crack -spaceship man. Since it was his first trip on the _Vulcan_ he was still -a little out of place--not that he and Captain Lodar didn't understand -each other. - -Lodar, pacing restlessly back and forth, made no reply. His black -eyebrows merely lifted sardonically as he continued his heavy strides. -It was typical of Lodar, whose vast energy kept him ceaselessly active, -but in the confines of a ship it was like being caged with a lion. - -Ray turned back to the viewport. The village, burning sluggishly was -desolate beneath the long column of smoke that rose in the still air. - -Lodar's strides halted at the magnaflux, he twirled the detector -impatiently. "Still clear," he muttered. Then, louder, "Fix a course -for Earth, Burk. As soon as all are aboard, we'll take off." - -Ray glanced quickly at Lodar, surprised at the sudden change of course, -but he said nothing. This was Lodar's last flight, if all went well he -was through. Perhaps that was why he was so savagely nervous. After -all, it was time he quit. Luck had been with him overlong. - -The interphone jingled and Lodar answered it. - -"All right, Campora," he said after a moment, "get set for takeoff. -Then report up here to me." He turned to Ray. "Take off, Mister. Make -it snappy!" - -Ray checked the safety lights, then signaled for power. He hoped McVane -was sober. The sad-faced little engineer just couldn't stay away from -his bottle. - -But McVane was at least sober enough, for the metal floor began to -throb gently as the converters on the lower deck groaned to life. -While the machines built up to speed Ray adjusted the drive for a sixty -degree lift. He could hear the soft grate of the Benson Plates shifting -on the outer hull. - - * * * * * - -The interphone tinkled and Ray heard McVane's broad accents. "Ye can -rip the bottom off her, Mister!" Yes, McVane was drunk again. He'd been -out in the space rays too long perhaps, but the indicators showed him -on the job. - -Ray closed the ether drive and the ship rose silently as if caught on -an elevator belt. He set the course carefully, aware of Lodar at his -elbow, watching. If the Captain would only watch McVane as he did the -others, things might be a lot better. - -Perhaps Lodar was afraid for the hoard of jewels which was rumored to -be aboard. Ray had heard whispers of this wealth, but he doubted that -Lodar would fear any man, much less the space rats aft. Why, he could -whip any ten of them! - -Still, it might explain the sudden change in plans. Originally the -_Vulcan_ was destined for Mars where the load of Mutes would be sold -to the zoos. Lodar's decision to head for Earth was unexpected, as -unexpected as so many of his brilliant moves. - -Ray had cut in the autopilot when the bulkhead door swung open to admit -Campora. The First Mate still wore his rubber marsh boots and a gun -slung on his narrow waist. - -"A fine haul, Captain." He touched his dark mustache and a grin slit -the sallow face. "About fifty Mutes." Then his grin faltered as he saw -the Captain's expression. - -Lodar faced him with huge fists balled on his hips. - -"Who the hell gave you permission to set fire to that village, Mister?" - -Campora's brown eyes darted once to Ray as if for support. His lean -hand covered the black mustache. "Just a little fun for the boys, -Captain." The Mate's voice was placating. "We--" - -"Fun, eh!" Lodar's eyes were narrow as he thrust his heavy face -forward. "If there's any fun to be dispensed, I'll do it! Do you morons -realize that the smoke will alert half the patrol ships in space?" - -"I--I'm sorry, Captain." Campora backed away. "You see--" - -"Shut up!" Lodar jerked his dark head. "Take over from Burk." - -Feeling sorry for the cowed mate, Ray relinquished his controls and -gave the course. Campora stared. - -"But--I thought we were to head for Mars!" - -"I changed that," Lodar interrupted impatiently. - -"You never told us!" Campora looked excited. "You agreed that we'd -never head for Earth without warning. You know the men won't stand for -it!" - -"Yes, they will!" Lodar eyed the mate steadily. "Tell 'em they needn't -worry, I'll look out for them." - -"There'll be trouble!" Campora snapped. - -"Is that a threat?" The big man's voice was icy. Then, as Campora -subsided mumbling, Lodar turned abruptly to Ray. - -"You can come with me, Burk, if you want to look at the cargo." - -As he headed for the exit Ray followed curiously. It was the young -navigator's first trip to Venus and he'd never seen a Mute close at -hand. Which was strange, since his own past was so inextricably tied up -with them. - -Ray had served five years with the Mars-Venus Company to earn his -unlimited navigator's ticket on the Mars passenger flights. - -This company was chartered "to develop and exploit the planets of Mars -and Venus" and most of its wealth came from the exploitation. For years -Venus Mutes had been captured and sold to zoos or to wealthy people for -pets. - -The practice was strongly condemned by humanitarian groups on Earth. -This became so vociferous that, finally, the Earth Federation halted -all flights to Venus regardless of charter. - -The Company declared such law was illegal. It would send a ship to -Venus and have matters settled in court. - -At this time Ray Burk was due to command his first ship. He was -offered the Venus flight--the breaking of law to be merely a step in -establishing precedent, so they said. It sounded like high adventure, -with himself carrying the ball. He gladly accepted. And, as expected, -he was intercepted by an Earth patrol ship. - -But in the ensuing legal battle the Company found its very charter -jeopardized. It hastily switched tactics, disclaimed all knowledge of -the flight, and said Ray had set an incorrect course. Even hardened -politicians smiled at such a thin excuse, but the Company made it -stick. Ray lost his navigator's license. He was through. - -The Company even went further in order to clear itself. It righteously -promised to limit the capture of Mutes and save them from extinction. -In fact, it offered to patrol Venus and stop illegal raids by others. - -Then the price of Mutes rose to fantastic heights. Poachers moved in to -reap fortunes from the trade. - - - II - -Lodar was one of them. Cashiered from the Earth Fleet, an ex-officer, -he was well trained to outmaneuver the patrols. It was he who offered -Ray his first job in months. - -"Get in on the gravy," he urged. "They already made you a goat, and no -one else will employ you!" - -After all, it wasn't criminal. They were only doing what the Company -had done for years. There was a thrill of adventure in the risky -smuggling, a sense of getting even with those who had disgraced him -unjustly. - -Yes, Ray was curious to see these Mutes who were at the base of his -trouble. - -He followed Lodar along the central corridor to the mid-section well, -and down to the lower deck. The surging hum of the converters wafted on -the warm air as they passed the engine room. - -In the after hold Jenkins and his Number Two Gang were bracing a large -metal cage. Entering behind Lodar, Ray stared with mingled feelings at -the captives behind the bars. - -"Why, they look like humans!" he gasped. No wonder so many people -objected to the trade! - -They were slightly smaller than humans, with paler skin, and their hair -was blond, almost ashen. They regarded their captors with large blue -eyes, but the rustling of grass and skins in which they were dressed -was the only sound they made. - -"Like our earliest type of man, perhaps," Lodar admitted. "But of a -different evolution. No vocal cords." - -"Just dummies." Jenkins spoke up from behind Ray. - -"That's a lie!" The indignant voice was a woman's. - -Gripping the bars, she stared angrily out at them. She had the small -figure of a Mute, but her bare arms were bronzed, and her hair was -dark, in long curls. - -"They can talk." She shook the bars vigorously. "Release us, you -sinners!" - -Lodar suddenly scowled. "You're no Venus Mute!" He grabbed her hand and -twisted it over. The palm was small and pink, not the bluish white of a -Mute. - -"Turn us loose, you heathen!" she raged, her large brown eyes aflame. -"The Great Zipher will pour his wrath on you!" - -"A missionary!" Lodar snorted savagely. He whirled on Jenkins. "Who -brought her in here?" he bellowed in sudden fury. - -Jenkins backed away, blinking his short-sighted eyes. "I--I don't know. -I never seen her before." - -The captain turned back to Ray. "Help me get her out," he growled. - -Ray silently guarded the door while Lodar entered the cage and dragged -the protesting girl outside. She refused to leave without the others, -but Lodar grimly hauled her out and threw her clear of the door. - -"I ought to throw you off in space!" He eyed the girl viciously. - -Ray locked the door uneasily. Kidnaping a missionary would mean plenty -of investigation. Earth zealously protected all its numerous and varied -religious workers. This one, he knew, belonged to a very small sect--a -cult founded in dim antiquity. - -"Wait till my father learns of this!" The girl was rubbing her elbows. -"He'll call down the wrath of the Great Zipher on this--this ark of -abominations! The grave will open to swallow you. Death and oblivion -shall come, and everlasting torment--" - -"Shut up!" Lodar pushed the girl away. "Why you people waste your time -on Mutes--" - -"They're not mute!" she stormed. "Woe to you, you--" - -"Shut up!" Lodar bawled. - -"Very well." She drew herself up to a full five feet, one. "I'll show -you!" She went to the bars. "Emu! Emu! Tell this heathen what the Great -Zipher says." - -One of the Mutes shuffled forward, a man with blank face. He drew a -breath and recited in singsong tones. - -"The Great Zipher say, come unto me all ye who look for work, and I -give." - -"See!" The girl turned imperiously. "Now, let them loose!" - -"A parrot!" Lodar snapped. "Come on above or do I drag you?" - -For a moment she looked rebellious, then she shrugged the skin cloak -about her slender shoulders and turned with them to the well stairs. - -McVane was leaning curiously out the engine room door, his loose jacket -flapping in the pulsing of warm air. - -"A gurrl, eh?" He shook his graying head. "That's a bad business, -Lodar." His pale blue eyes blinked owlishly. - -"Don't get ideas," Lodar snapped. "It wasn't my doing." - -"Nah?" McVane teetered solemnly as he leaned forward. "What's your -name, girlie?" - -"Ellenor." She stared at the engineer. - -McVane blinked. He scratched his whiskery chin. "Well, Ellenor, ye can -have my cabin for the while," he offered. - -"Come on, up you go!" Her dark eyes were bright with anger, but she -climbed to the upper deck without further trouble. - -They locked her in McVane's cabin. - -"Funny, Mac giving up his room for her," Ray remarked as they headed -forward to the control room. - -"Because he's a no-good drunk?" Lodar sneered. "While some of us could -be little gentlemen?" His face turned somber. "McVane is goofy. Had -a wife and two kids. They were on that spaceship, _Jeena_, that was -lost a few years back. If I didn't let him drink he wouldn't be worth -jetting!" - -So that explained the captain's easy going attitude toward the little -engineer. At least Lodar had some feelings! - -"Why not take this girl back to Venus?" Ray suggested. - -"And run into a patrol? Earth Fleet or Company ship, it makes no -difference. If we're caught it means life!" - -They were operating outside the law, and no one would listen to their -excuses. Ray felt suddenly cold as he thought that over. Unease -dampened his admiration for the captain. Lodar was too smart to be -captured, his ruthless ability would see the _Vulcan_ through all -right. But he was quite capable of murdering the girl, if necessary, as -a last resort in getting rid of her! - -Scowling, Ray followed the captain. In the control room they found -Campora studying the magnaflux. He looked nervous as Lodar headed -straight for him. - -"What about this girl we got aboard?" the captain demanded harshly. - -"Girl?" Campora looked innocent. - -"You led the raid, didn't you?" Lodar's dark eyes were dangerous. -"Maybe you were looking for some more fun?" He stepped close to the -mate. "Or are you just blind?" - -"There was a whole bunch of captives." Campora backed away. "We was in -a hurry, and--" - -"You damned liar!" Lodar seized his tunic. "You brainless idiot!" His -free hand whipped up to slash across Campora's face. - -With an oath Campora jerked free and reached for his belt. - -Before he could free his gun Lodar's heavy fist smashed into his jaw. -The mate slammed against the wall, then sagged to the floor. "Dirty -rat!" Lodar took his gun, then kicked him till he stirred. - -"Next time you draw on me," he grated, "you go out the disposal chute!" - -"That didn't solve anything." Ray stooped to help Campora up. - - * * * * * - -Probably Campora had brought the girl aboard, perhaps her presence -would hang them, but the captain could have used more proper means of -discipline. Instead he had deliberately goaded Campora to action. It -was as if Lodar had to give physical vent to his rage like a caged -animal slashing at the bars. - -Then, as Lodar turned briefly his way, Ray thought he saw an appeal for -understanding in the dark eyes that slowly lost their angry glare. A -fleeting look of the trapped lion, but it was gone in an instant. - -"Mind your own business," the captain said sourly. He turned to Campora -and growled, "Go wash your face!" - -Ray's lips tightened helplessly. After all, Lodar's word was law. It -was the only way to run a spaceship on its vast journeying through -emptiness. It was the only insurance against hysteria from taut nerves, -the fear of space rays, and claustrophobia in the little metal world. - -With a long breath he turned to the magnaflux and swung the detector -beams. The magnatoid field would instantly react to anything within -five units. There was no time lapse as with radar, a vital point when -riding on a Benson Drive. - -There was no sign of patrols. Only the dim globe of Venus behind and -the smaller points of Mars and Earth ahead. Except for the haze of star -dust space was empty of threat. - -Lodar was again pacing back and forth. Ray could hear his heavy step on -the metal plates. - -Tramp--tramp--tramp. Then, to his relief, Lodar halted. - -"You're a handsome young buck." At the captain's light tone Ray turned, -surprised, but there was no sign of mockery on the other's heavy face. -"You go talk to that blasted girl. Calm her down. If she'll keep her -mouth shut promise her we'll drop her off on Earth." - -Ray felt his anger dissipate under a surge of relief. So Lodar was -going to take a chance on the girl's silence. He was willing to protect -her from the crew and deliver her right side up. After all, it would -have been simple to drop her off in space. The crew would never blab. -In fact the crew would have urged it. - -Under his hard surface Lodar was all right! - -In more cheerful frame of mind Ray quit the control room. As he headed -along the main corridor a sudden gale of laughter echoed from the well. -There was an unpleasant tone to it that drew him, frowning, to the -lower deck. - -Several of the crew were in the after hold. They were grouped around -the cage of Mutes and one of them held a long rod. The tableau was -obvious, Ray strode in angrily. - -"That'll be all of that!" he snapped. - -Jenkins' glasses glinted as he turned, still grinning. "Captain told us -to stand guard, Sir." - -His short-sighted squint measured the young navigator. - -"Get out!" Ray clenched his fist. "All of you, except Williams, get -out!" He waited as they filed past him with sullen looks, then he -turned into the engine room. - -McVane was sitting at his little desk, drowsing in the warm, oily air. -He roused at Ray's tread and absently closed a lower drawer before he -turned. Hiding his bottle! The man would drink himself to death! - -"The girl is in your cabin," Ray said shortly. - -"Good." McVane's eyes were bleary and, for a moment, pity closed in on -Ray. After all, he had no right to condemn the little engineer for his -weakness--his whole family wiped out. - -"What do you know about these Mutes?" he asked more gently. - -"They can't talk." McVane drew into himself. "Go ask the girl if you -want to know!" His hand trembled toward the lower drawer. - -Disgusted, Ray turned away. The whole crew wore an armor plate -of callous indifference! It was like no ship Ray had ever flown. -Muttering, he climbed back to the main deck, to McVane's cabin. - -The girl was sitting on a bunk, combing her hair with angry sweeps. She -gave him one hot glance, then ignored him completely. - -"Look," he began, "I'm as anxious to get you out of here as you are. I -don't want to see you--hurt--" - -"The Great Zipher will guard me," she snapped. "He gives peace and -security in our times." - -"Sure, sure." Ray frowned impatiently. "But the rest of us want peace -and security, too. If you make trouble--" - -"Why is a young man like you consorting with these sinners?" She looked -at him with sudden curiosity. "You don't belong here!" - -Ray stared at her. What was her name? Oh, yes, Ellenor. - -"If you repent in time--" - -He laughed harshly. "Nothing doing. This may be no healthy job, maybe -I'll quit after this, but don't get ideas. What I came to--" - -"I know what you came to beg," she said scornfully. "I will make no -deal with evil. You can't harm me. You will all slay yourselves. The -ship is doomed!" - -She spoke with such certainty that for a moment Ray wondered if -she might know something. Perhaps she was aware of coming rescue. -Still, that was ridiculous. She had been caged with the rest. She was -bluffing, perhaps to allay her own fears. - -He tried another tack. Sympathy. He asked her about herself. - -She was a missionary's daughter, born on Venus, and had grown up among -the words of the Great Zipher. - -"And who is the Great Zipher?" Ray demanded, amused. There were -countless little religions flourishing under free thought. - -"No one knows. We know he saved the world from the last great plague of -Depression. People were affected by a great Gloom and saw no purpose in -life. They shrunk inside and suffered mental disease. The Great Zipher -said--only believe that ye have plenty, and spend your substance in -good things, and these shall come to pass." - -"And did they?" he prodded. - -"Are there any more plagues of Depression?" she asked tartly. - -It sounded like a cheerful religion, but Ray declined to argue. He -reverted back to his main purpose. - -"Being religious, you shouldn't demand vengeance on us," he pointed -out. "Suppose we turn you loose if you promise to keep that little -mouth shut?" - -"Your own sins will betray you anyway." - -"There's nothing wrong in capturing these Mutes," he snapped. "They're -not human. We don't mistreat them!" - -"How long do they live in captivity?" she demanded bitterly. "A few -months, a year or two, and then they die. On strange planets, cut off -from all their kind, they die miserably." - -He gave it up. - -When Lodar heard of this he shook his head and guffawed. - -"You're too easy, Burk. Perhaps Campora can do better." - -"She'll come to her senses in time," Ray urged. Above all, he didn't -want Campora turned loose on the girl. "Give me time." - -"Yea." Lodar's smile was grimly mocking. "In time she'll make a -complete sucker of you! But it might be diverting. Go ahead!" - - - III - -The very vastness of space lends a sense of security from detection. -The enormous speed required to cover the parsecs between systems gives -advantage to those who elude the patrols. - -The _Vulcan_, bound for Earth, streaked through the blackness like a -swift needle in illimitable space. Its sensitive detector beams probed -the spangled cosmos for danger. - -Inside, the crews changed shift and slept, lulled by the warm hum of -converters. It was a secure little world of glittering lights and -steel, no different from the many Company ships which Ray had flown in -the past. - -He was standing in the warm hold, staring through the bars at the -Mutes. Their large eyes turned to his, but there was no other sign of -awareness, life. They were delicately built, almost like children. No -wonder they made appealing pets, semi-slaves. - -Almost angrily Ray shook the bars. "Can't you talk," he growled. There -was an uneasy movement, but no answer. "Speak up, you dumbbells!" He -grew impatient under the silent stares. - -Impatient with himself for trying to make them talk, as if that would -solve anything! Yet, they seemed so intelligent. They were clothed, -they had some sort of local government. Surely they must be able to -communicate. But they only stared! - -He had a fleeting impression as if they were sorry for him. - -He wondered suddenly if they were telepathic. He concentrated on the -idea, but no inkling came. Only blankness. They were just animals. They -had to be. - -Abruptly he left the hold and climbed to the upper deck. In the -corridor Williams stopped him. - -"I hear we're still headed for Earth, Sir." The man's dark face held a -worried look. - -"Yes." Ray waited, but the other only shuffled his feet in -uncomfortable silence, so he turned toward the girl's cabin. - -Ellenor would know the answer. - -"Are those Mutes telepathic?" he demanded almost savagely of her. The -whole idea was unwelcome. In fact, his interest in the Mutes was like a -foolish obsession! - -"No." She stared at him a long while. "They know how people feel," she -said at last. "They know how everything feels--animals, plants, and -even the soil." - -"That's nothing. I know how people feel." - -"No, you don't." She let that sink in. "On Venus they know when the -soil wishes to grow things; they know when things are due to happen. -The moon of places tells them where to settle; where they are welcome. -Theirs is a language of--of feelings, you might say." - -"Instinct. Well developed." - -"More than that." She assumed a kindly air of instruction. "It is -learned. I know that you, for instance, are at war with yourself. You -admire this Captain Lodar, but he is evil. Yet you are sorry for him." - -"Sorry!" The idea of feeling sorry for Lodar was startling. It had -never even vaguely occurred to him. Lodar was too self-sufficient. - -She shrugged, a dainty movement. "You are mentally blind. You don't -believe your inner senses." Her delicate face wore a frown as she -groped for words. "Lodar hopes to retire on Earth, to live in peace -on his ill-gotten gains. But Lodar knows he will never live to enjoy -that peace." Her eyes grew large as they met his. He had the uneasy -feeling as if she'd opened his mind like a book. Probably her words -had overstimulated his imagination. "And you know that, too, inside of -you," she ended. - -"I know--" - -"That Lodar will die," she completed placidly. "Better take us back to -Venus." - -Was the girl trying to bewitch him? Bog him down in a tangle of mystic -nonsense? An air of intimacy tingled his senses. He wanted to touch the -girl, to comfort her. Abruptly he stood up. - -"Better think over about that promise to keep silent." He felt as if -something very fragile had shattered. He was vaguely sorry about it, -yet determined to stick to reality. - - * * * * * - -Campora was in the control room when Ray arrived. The First Mate was -anxiously focussing the triangulation vernier on the magnaflux screen. - -"There's a ship on our tail," he muttered. "See if you can analyze it." - -Ray took over and explored the field for tensions around the black dot -on the screen. - -"Got an eight plate Benson Drive," he concluded at last. "It's a -Company ship!" - -Campora sounded a general alarm. "I told Lodar to keep off an Earth -course!" he gritted. - -There was a rush of feet in the corridor as the crew ran for their -stations. In minutes the captain himself appeared. Lodar already knew -what to expect. He brushed Campora aside after a dozen words. - -"Get the gun crews set," he told him shortly. - -"How about changing course?" the mate demanded sullenly. - -"I know what to do!" Lodar rapped. "Get going!" His eyes narrowed -angrily as he watched Campora stamp out and slam the door. Then -abruptly he turned to prowl nervously from control panel to magnaflux -and back again. - -Ray said nothing. He was wondering alertly just how this was going to -affect the girl. He hoped she'd forgotten. Under onslaught of Lodar's -driving energy human lives were nothing. Even now the captain's dark -eyes blazed with excitement, a savage delight in the approaching danger. - -The young navigator began to plot the other ship's course. It was -curving in behind them on the left. The intent was obvious; to overtake -from one side and drive the _Vulcan_ into a sheering curve. It would -take power to get away, lots of power! - -Ray called McVane on the interphone, breathed a sigh of relief as the -engineer promptly answered. "We're running into trouble. Get your -teakettle going--fast," he ordered. - -"Ay, ay," McVane mumbled. - -"Keep awake!" Ray hissed savagely. "If we're caught now it'll mean life -for us!" - -"Take it easy, I'll give ye power. If need be," McVane added morosely, -"enough to blow us all to hell!" - -The captain was studying the magnaflux when Ray turned. - -"They're cutting in." His thick finger traced a curve. The pursuer's -tactics were obvious--to drive the _Vulcan_ into an ever-tightening -spiral aided by his greater speed. - -"Why don't they radio?" Ray glanced at the silent receiver. - -"At this speed?" Lodar grunted. "No chance! There'll only be a few -seconds of contact." - -It was true. On any course, the two ships would flash past each other -with scant time for talk. If the _Vulcan_ was an innocent trader it -would haul to, if not it would travel, or surrender. There was no -chance of surrender. - -Lodar had too much at stake. He was carrying a fortune back to Earth. -His last chance at a decent life. As for the crew, most of them were -wanted by the police in half the cities of Earth. Their safety lay in -the outer planets or in space. - -"We'll take a chance." Ray glanced at Lodar for confirmation, then -tapped the magnaflux. "They've got more power, more guns, and they'll -outrun us. We've got to cut out." - -"Go ahead!" Lodar nodded tensely, like a leashed hound scenting -trouble. "Campora's got the gun crews ready." - -Ray hadn't figured on blasting at the Company ship. He had hoped for -a swift getaway. Still, this was no time for fine distinctions. After -all, he had joined the _Vulcan_ of his own free will. He couldn't -change his mind now. But, if he ever got out of this.... - -He turned to the controls, concentrating on his job. - -The Benson Plates on the outer hull shifted gratingly, turning to alter -the drive. The moan of the ether whorls pitched higher as the _Vulcan_ -creaked to swing ponderously on a new course. It made a huge figure S -curve, designed to pull it out of the threatened spiral. - -In seconds the proximity alarms shrilled. As the ship cut closer to -its pursuer Ray tightened the turn till the _Vulcan_ swung sharply to -right. There was a rattle of sound as loose objects spilled over the -decks. - -The other ship was on the ordinary visiscreen now, a black streak that -danced to one side of the _Vulcan_. Under his feet, Ray could feel the -jarring thrust of McVane's converters, he could sense the leap of the -_Vulcan_ as he closed in the last dregs of power. - -But still the other ship crept closer. - -Ray shook his head silently at Lodar who stood at the interphone. -The captain glanced hastily at the visiscreen, turned back to his -mouthpiece. - -"Got the range, Campora?" He leaned forward, hawklike. "Now!" he -bellowed. - -The _Vulcan_ shook as the broadside was fired and the thrusting drive -faltered while power surged to the weapons. - -It was a miss. Lodar swore. - -"Fire at will," he yelled, slamming down the phone. He hurried to the -visiscreen. - - * * * * * - -The other ship had shifted course to follow them, though it was still -abeam, still trying to drive them into a spiral. Ray swung the _Vulcan_ -again, cutting dangerously close. The dot on the visiscreen swelled and -centered on the beam again. - -Campora's crew were firing intermittently. A shot exploded on the -Company ship's hull, a spray of melted steel that flashed and was gone. - -"We disabled them!" Lodar exulted. - -The other ship was losing way, still holding its course, but slowing. -Then they flashed by it. Ray felt relief. The other wasn't badly hurt. -He'd get back to port. - -And, in that moment, the Company ship blasted with all its guns. The -_Vulcan_ rocked under the blow of solid energy. A vast eruption tore -out a section of rear plating. The Benson Drive quit. - -Then they were out of range. - -Lodar was on the interphone. "Get on that damage!" he roared. "Campora, -keep those guns ready. McVane! Hello, McVane!" He slammed down the -instrument. "Some day I'll kill that McVane with my own hands!" - -"Maybe he's hurt," Ray snapped. - -Lodar grunted and picked up the phone again. "Hello, Williams, get a -first aid crew out and look for casualties." - -He turned to pace the floor, aroused, thirsting now for action. Up and -down, up and down, as if the pent up energy flamed within him. - -For the present the engagement was over. Both ships were damaged. They -would drift thousands of miles apart before either could resume flight. -At least the _Vulcan_ was fairly safe. And space was a vast hiding -place. - -"They'll never take us now," Ray said, trying to divert Lodar's -ceaseless activity. The man positively burned with energy. - -"Not alive, anyway!" The captain turned. "Not for their brand of -justice! You know why I was cashiered from the Earth Fleet? I was an -upstart. I didn't belong to the right clique. So when someone stole -the club funds they refused to hold a trial. Sure, they just asked me -quietly to resign so as to avoid a scandal." He ground his teeth. "I -was no thief!" - -"That's when my wife left me," he added flatly. "Can you expect justice -from scum like that?" He glared. "Take all you can, my boy, and die -like a man when the time comes!" - -It was the same old story Ray had heard a dozen times, and he was sick -of it. Also he was sick of Lodar's ceaseless pacing. The fight had left -the man wound up like a spring! - -"I'll go look things over." Ray turned to the exit without waiting for -the other's approval. - -The corridor was strangely silent now that the vast throb of the -converters no longer boomed along it. There was a dim clatter of -men working in the after section of the ship, but Ray turned to the -mid-section well and slid down to the engine room. - -The auxiliary generator was whining briskly, but the main converters -were in bad shape. Blue, acrid smoke poured from the inspection plates, -hazed in the glaring lamplight, and there was a stinging odor of -extinguisher gases. - -McVane was lying on the metal floor. - -Ray dragged him to the well and put him on the elevator. The engineer -wasn't badly hurt, only a nasty cut on the head. In the upper passage -he halted Williams and several of the crew. - -"Where's your first aid kit?" he demanded. - -"Sorry, Sir." Williams grinned. "Captain ordered us on another job. The -kit's aft." - -Swearing, Ray hurried to the after section and retrieved the medical -supplies. Back in the corridor, he decided to let the girl look after -McVane. She might as well be of some use. - -He dragged McVane to the cabin and unlocked the door. - -The girl inside almost bowled him over in a frantic attempt to escape. - -"Here, quiet down!" He held the struggling figure, enjoying a brief -moment of her nearness. "The scrap is over. You're perfectly safe." - -"I don't care about that!" the girl flamed. "What are you doing to my -friends?" - -"Nothing." He turned her loose reluctantly. "Here, take care of -McVane." Watching her cautiously, he dragged the engineer inside. - -"Let me out!" She tried to squeeze past him. "They're doing awful -things!" - -"Calm down." He frowned uneasily. "You look after McVane. I'll take a -look at your friends." - -Despite her protests he locked her in again, then impatiently hurried -to the well to slide down and turn into the hold. - -Six of the crew were clustered by the cage which held the Mutes. - -"What--" Then he saw what had happened. The sight made him sick. - -The Mutes lay in grotesque heaps. Dead. They had been rayed! - -"Who ordered this?" he demanded thickly. His mouth felt dry. His -stomach was tying itself into knots. - -Williams' swarthy face turned his way. "Campora said it was the -captain's orders." The man spat deliberately. "A damned good idea, too, -unloading them!" - - - IV - -Abruptly Ray turned and ran for the upper deck. He burst into the -control room. - -Lodar turned from the chart file. The captain's face was white. His -eyes burned starkly. - -"So--you know they're dead." His voice was expressionless. "Are they -any worse off dead than in a zoo?" - -"You ordered those Mutes killed!" - -Lodar made a hopeless gesture. "If we're intercepted, and have to -fight, we'll all be killed, including the Mutes. So we get rid of them. -We're clean, we go to Earth!" - -"Cold-blooded murder!" Ray gritted. "A cowardly--" - -"Stop it!" Lodar's voice cracked. "They're not human. Getting -hysterical won't bring them back. Forget it. We're not playing -ring-around-the-rosy!" - -"You'll pay for this!" Rage at his own helplessness almost gagged Ray. -"When we land on Earth I'm going to have you hunted down like a dog!" - -"It takes evidence to hang a man." The captain chuckled mirthlessly. -"Do you think I'd willingly jettison a valuable cargo? We'll be -drifting for a week, at the mercy of any patrol ship that comes along. -I had to do it." - -A sudden thought iced Ray's boiling emotions. - -Ellenor! He'd have to watch out for the girl. - -With the Mutes gone, Lodar would have to reckon with the girl. - -Ray turned to the door. He had to get away from Lodar before he was -tempted to shoot the man! - -"You and I are through, Lodar." He tried to keep his voice steady, to -bottle up his fury. He'd need all his wits to get out of this mess! His -former grudge against the Company, against Earth justice, was childish -and futile. He had been a brainless fool to fall for the romance, the -swashbuckling air of the _Vulcan_. "I'll work with you till we land," -he said through clenched teeth. "After that we're through!" - -He slammed the door behind him. He wanted to get as far away from -Lodar as possible, to the rear of the ship, where a repair crew was -blasphemously patching the hull. - -Several space-suited figures were outside, welding the plates, while -others, inside, used plastic matting to save the air. Jenkins was in -command. - -"Where are we now, Mr. Burk?" he asked Ray. - -"About halfway to Earth." Ray tried to sound normal. - -"Is the captain still insisting on going ahead?" - -Ray nodded, dislike of the other welling in him. - -"Looky." Jenkins drew him to one side. "The men don't like the idea, -see, of going to Earth. Most of us skipped out to space for a good -reason, see?" - -Ray nodded again, and his lips tightened impatiently. Jenkins was a -bully. - -"Well, sir, maybe you could persuade the captain to change his mind, -huh? We don't want trouble." - -"All right, I'll see." Ray started to turn away. - -"Campora tried to tell the captain." Jenkins' grimy paw rested on Ray's -arm, while he peered at him through his glasses. "But Lodar don't like -Campora, see?" - -Ray had paused despite his loathing for the man. - -"Sure." Jenkins moved closer. "Campora knifed a guy just before he -skipped Earth. It was his second offense. Don't let on I told you." He -looked anxious. "I was just trying to help, see?" - -"Yes." Ray turned away disgustedly. "I'll talk to Lodar." - -He was beginning to hate every man aboard the _Vulcan_. That wasn't -good. It was a sign of space hysteria. He'd have to guard against such -things. - -Vigilance was the only safety factor. - -Stay out in space too long and you begin to brood. Worse still if -you are psychologically able to stick it out long enough, you become -infected with the deadly space rays that burn you up with febrile -energy. Or you go batty with claustrophobia. - -And they had all been out too long. They were reckless and unstable. He -must get Ellenor away safely if it was the last thing he ever did. - -Before the day period was over he went to see the girl, dreading to -face her with the news of the Mutes' slaying. But she already knew. - -"You needn't tell me." Her brown eyes were dazed with pain. "I know. -They are dead." - -What was there to say? That he would have saved them if he could? That -he was sorry? Furious at Lodar? They were only fine words. He turned -silently to the bunk where McVane lay asleep, his gray head swathed in -bandages. - -"He's all right," Ellenor said. "He lost a lot of blood, but I got the -cook to bring some food. He ate it." - -Ray turned back to her. He took her arm and led her to a chair, aware -once more of that tingle of pleasure at the touch of her. - -"I'll do what I can to help you," he said earnestly. "But you've got to -promise Lodar that you'll keep quiet. If you don't I'm afraid he'll--" - -"I'm not afraid!" Her red lips curled. She had parted the long, dark -hair in two braids, which she was now tugging as if for emphasis. "If -you are my friend--" - -"I am," he interrupted swiftly. "God knows I'm sorry enough to be -tangled up in this outfit! But it'll take more than just--" - -The door opened and Lodar walked in. He glanced suspiciously at the -girl, then took a look at McVane. Evidently satisfied, he straightened -up. - -"I saw the latch open and wondered if the girl was still safe." -His dark glance rested impassively on her. "Have you decided to be -sensible?" - -"Sure she has," Ray said quickly. - -"You can't frighten me!" The girl's dark eyes were unquailing before -Lodar's. Her voice rose. "It's you who is afraid, you murderer! No -matter how you strive--" - -"Shut up!" Lodar said. - -"You'll never see Earth!" she ended recklessly. - -Lodar spun on his heels and stalked out. - -"You idiot!" Ray hissed, then hurried after Lodar. She would drive the -man to drastic action in spite of all effort to save her silly little -neck! As he locked the door, Lodar eyed him curiously. - -"Quite the spitfire, isn't she?" he remarked mildly. - -Ray wondered if he meant just that or if he was covering up a consuming -rage. He was still wondering about it as he uneasily went to his own -cabin. Of one thing he was sure, that Lodar would save his own skin at -any cost! - -That thought kept him tossing on his bunk long after he'd snapped off -the light. He could hear the captain's restless movements in his cabin -next door. He could hear the sounds of the Number Three repair crew, -his ears were straining for the hum of the converters. - -There were many noises on the _Vulcan_, softer and more furtive. The -stir of men off duty, the murmur of voices. Uneasy speculations. - -Opposition to Lodar's course seemed a material thing, a tangible force -distilled of fear. Like a cross current that moved deeply. Ray scowled -at the dark ceiling of his cabin. Of course, it was only imagination. -The unusual silences. The cessation of driving power on the _Vulcan_. -These were playing tricks with his ears. The _Vulcan_ was drifting, -slowly curving off course toward the sun. - - * * * * * - -McVane was supervising repairs on his machines. He had moaned about -feeling sick, but Lodar had refused to listen to his pleas. For one -thing, they had drifted two days now and the _Vulcan_ had inevitably -expended its momentum against the solar pull. It had begun the long -fall sunward. And, beside the threat of being broiled, there was the -deadly danger of space rays. They would burn up a man just as surely, -even though in a different way. So haste was imperative. - -It might take a week to repair the main converters. The insulation was -badly charred on the stator coils. Several were burned out completely. -So McVane was put to work. - -The rattle of chain hoists and hiss of arc welder echoed hollowly -through the drifting ship. Even so, had it not been for the comforting -hum of the auxiliary generator the silence would have been maddening. - -Ray had avoided seeing the girl since the death of the Mutes. Probably -she blamed him as much as the others for their murder, lumping him in a -general category of black infamy. And how could he prove to her that he -wasn't like Lodar, Campora, and the rest? Unless she could really sense -thoughts, as she hinted. It seemed preposterous, yet she might have -learned some such thing from the Mutes. - -She might even know what Lodar was thinking! Ray grinned at that. Even -now the captain was probably fuming like an angry bull. - -He was eating a huge meal when Ray entered his cabin to give him a -report. He continued to ladle vast quantities of hash while the young -navigator outlined the progress of repairs. Finally he threw down his -spoon and wiped his mouth. - -"Those men are deliberately stalling on the job!" he snarled. - -Ray didn't deny it. They'd both known it all along. - -"If you'd change your mind about heading for Earth--" Ray stopped. The -dishes jumped as Lodar banged the table. - -"Give in to a bunch of lousy space scum?" Lodar glared. "I know what -they're afraid of. Every one of them is a jailbird! But, by Jupiter, -I'm running this ship!" - -"No one is running the ship right now," Ray said coldly. "The _Vulcan_ -is falling faster every minute. Our distance from the sun--" - -"I'll talk to the swabs!" Lodar's jaw bulged as he pushed away his -chair. "I'll beat out their brains if I have to!" He jerked open the -door, then stared out. "What do you want?" - -Campora was standing in the corridor. At Lodar's expression he fell -back a pace, then held his ground. - -"The men asked me to represent them--" - -"Now, by hell!" Lodar roared. "I've had enough! Are you a First Mate or -a sniveling messenger boy for the crew? Get out of my way!" - -"I want to warn you--" - -"Stand aside." Lodar shoved the mate back. - -"Better listen to him." Ray's voice was harsh. Lodar deserved all he -got, but there was no sense in stirring the _Vulcan_ to a charnal house -of mob violence. He knew only too well the temper of the crew after two -days of wracking tension. - -"Listen to a coward like this?" Lodar sneered savagely and pointed at -Campora. "He's afraid for his own hide! But he wasn't scared to stick a -knife in a man's back on Earth! Oh, no! But now he's petrified at the -thought of a policeman. He's stirring up the crew. He's a traitor to -his rating!" - -"You can't handle men when your own temper blows up!" Ray snapped. -Lodar should know that. He was an ex-fleet man. - -Lodar jerked round, visibly struggling for control. "I guess you're -right," he admitted slowly, his first fury spent. He turned to the -mate, whose sallow face and slitted eyes were full of venom. "So you're -afraid of Earth and the police, the whole kit and kaboodle of you. -Well, we won't land there." - -Campora looked his utter disbelief. - -"We'll swing a thousand miles off Earth and I'll land in the escape -boat. You can go on to Mars, sell the _Vulcan_ to pay off the crew and -yourself." Lodar smiled grimly. "Now get out of my way!" - -As the captain strode down the corridor, Campora turned bitterly to -the young navigator. - -"He's lying, he's going to land on Earth. The filthy double-crosser -wants to pay us off with a stolen ship, too!" Campora grabbed Ray's -arms. "That escape boat is loaded with his takings. Thinks we're a -bunch of suckers to let him be the big shot on dear old Earth! We'll -see about that!" - -"You're a fine officer!" Ray stared at the mate. - - - V - -It was a mystery to him how Campora had ever won his position. Once -upon a time he must have had a lot of ambition, because it took a lot -of drive for a self-educated man like Campora to become an officer. -Perhaps the struggle had soured him. - -Ray knew how tough it was. He'd had to fight his way, but--He stopped -in mid-thought. Actually, he was no better. They were all in the same -boat! - -When Ray went aft a little later he found the repair crew working -furiously. Lodar paced back and forth between the two main converters, -his fists clenched and eyes alert. One of the crew lay sprawled in a -corner. A glance was enough. The man was dead. - -Ray shrugged mentally. Lodar was within his rights, as captain, to -enforce his orders even to this extent. - -Nor did Lodar relax his driving vigilance one whit as the hours dragged -by. He raged from crew to crew, hammering down all sign of opposition, -aflame with a single purpose--to repair the ship and take it to Earth. -Anger, pride, or stubbornness--it made no difference which drove -him--his mind was made up. - -There was no turning him now. - -"I'll run the _Vulcan_ where I wish if I have to kill every man of -you!" he raged. - -Ray searched the crew's quarters and removed all likely weapons. He got -a spare key for McVane's cabin and took it to the girl. - -"Better lock yourself in," he told her. "There may be trouble!" - -"I know." Her dark eyes were serious. "If you would only persuade the -captain--" - -"Nothing doing!" Again he felt an impulse to touch her, to hold her. -He wondered if it sprang from his own mind or hers--or was he just -nuts? But her smile, at least, sent a flood of warm relief coursing -through him as he left. - -He turned to his own cabin. - -As navigator, there was nothing at present for him to do. It might be -best for him to get some rest while he could. He was afraid to sleep, -but long training had taught him how to cat-nap. He relaxed, keeping an -ear trained for trouble. - -The repair work must go on or the _Vulcan_ was lost, for the sun was -perilously close. Ray had been afraid to tell the crew just how close, -because the single escape ship would hold only a fraction of them. - -He must have fallen asleep, because he was suddenly aware that the -sound of work had ceased. Instead he could hear the quavering notes of -McVane's voice, singing lugubriously. Plainly he was sad. - - "_I'd give a thousand years in hell in pain - To see my Nelly once again!_" - -And drunk! - -Ray jerked on his tunic and hurried out. - -In the corridor he paused at Lodar's cabin and tried the door. It was -locked. So, Lodar had gone to bed, contemptuously certain that he'd -licked the crew into shape. Which meant that Campora should be in -charge. - -But there was an air of unease, of impending disaster, in the driveless -ship. Perhaps it was a result of McVane's doleful song, but Ray found -himself suddenly tense. - -The ship was too quiet. No sound came from below as he went to the -well. Even McVane had quit his lament. Momentarily Ray was tempted to -see if Ellenor was all right. He decided against it, hurried along the -corridor to the crew's quarters, aft. - -As soon as he stepped inside the mess room, suspicion froze him. At his -step the huddle of men had suddenly broken. The faces which turned his -way all wore the same tense look. - -It was time for the payoff! - - * * * * * - -There would be no more talk. Their faces told him that. - -Jenkins peered at Ray through his glasses. Without preamble, he -demanded, "Are you in with us or Lodar?" - -It was a ridiculous question. All of Ray's training had conditioned him -to meet such emergency in only one way. Right or wrong, there was only -one answer. - -He leaped back through the door and slammed it, then swung the -emergency latch and spun the sealing wheel. It would hold them for a -while--till they burned it down. - -He dashed for the central well, slid down the pole in a mad spiral, and -jumped for the engine room. McVane was alone at his desk, a shrunken -figure in the glaring lights, his head slumped down on his chest. - -Ray kicked the chair from under him and hauled him erect. "Get to the -control room!" he panted. - -McVane's lean hand closed on his bottle, then his feet were dragging -as Ray hauled him to the well. His head wobbled as he took up the song -again. - - "_She's gone and never will I see - My sweetheart, dear to me._" - -"You fool!" Ray shook him violently. "There's mutiny! Up, quick!" -He propelled the smaller man up the stairs. In the main corridor he -stopped at the girl's cabin. - -"Here." He shook McVane again, then handed him the keys. "Get that girl -to the control room." - -While McVane fumbled at the lock Ray hammered on Lodar's cabin. It was -an age before the captain appeared. His dark eyes took in McVane and -the girl, then swept back to Ray. - -"Trouble, eh?" Without waiting to hear more he reached for his gun and -joined them. - -It was vital to hold the front of the ship. In any other section they -would be merely prisoners. Lodar ran swiftly past McVane and the girl, -while Ray brought up the rear, alert for attack. - -So Lodar was first to enter the control room. - -Ray didn't see what happened, but a moment later came the zing of ray -guns, a scream. Campora stumbled from the room. He ran past Ray, still -screaming, headed aft, waving an arm which was blasted to a stump. - -Ray went on, gritting his teeth. - -"Didn't expect us so soon," Lodar said grimly as they gathered in -the control room. "He figured on holding this place, but he got too -excited!" He pointed to the splatter of burned metal where Campora's -shot had missed him. - -He turned to McVane who was looking sick. "Here, take this gun and -stand by." Then, as he shoved the weapon in the other's shaking hand, -"We'll jump 'em before they organize." He faced Ray. "Coming?" - -Ray nodded grimly. He was playing a travesty of an officer's duty, but -it was the only way. - -The two went down the passage, peering into cabins as they headed for -the well. Here Lodar slammed down the fire hatch, thus blocking off the -lower deck. He had just snapped the last wedge when Ray heard the clang -of metal aft, and the patter of feet. The crew had burned out of their -prison. - -"Let's hold them here," Ray said. "I took their guns yesterday." - -"Good!" Lodar stood beside him, legs outspread. - -But as the first man, Williams, appeared and sighted Lodar, there was -the vicious zing of a ray gun. The wall beside Lodar erupted sizzling -metal as he ducked. - -"So you took their guns!" he snarled, firing at the same time as Ray. - -With yells, their attackers retreated, blasting wildly. The corridor -filled with acid smoke and red-hot metal. Half the lights were gone, -the rest were hazed by the stinking fumes. The mutineers were firing -blindly from behind a corner, depending upon mere volume rather than -any sort of aiming. - -"Back up!" Lodar gasped. "Campora gave them all those weapons." - -They retreated to the control room and bolted the door, while McVane -and the girl stared. - -"We're in a spot," Lodar admitted. - -"And we can thank you for it," Ray snapped. "This crew will have no -more compunction over killing us than they had over bumping off those -Mutes!" - -"Well, now." McVane shifted his feet restlessly. "Let's not squabble. -Anyway, 'twas Campora persuaded the captain to get rid of the Mutes." - -They all tensed at a sudden sound outside--metal dragging the floor and -voices. Then suddenly the smell of burning paint. - -The door panel turned red, the paint peeled off, and dropped to the -deck. Within seconds a hole blazed through. - -Lodar aimed his gun at the opening and fired. He grinned as a yelp -sounded, then moved beside the door to trigger several bursts along the -corridor beyond. There were horrible yells, the scurry of retreat, then -silence. Lodar stooped to peer. - -"Got four of 'em," he announced. "That'll cool 'em off!" - -He crossed swiftly to the chart case, heaved it aside, and slid open a -small hidden panel. He reached inside to close a switch. "This'll help -too," he added grimly. "Gas!" - -"What a monster!" the girl said. - - * * * * * - -Lodar ignored her. He was looking at McVane. The engineer had taken a -bottle from his pocket, was stretching his scraggy neck to gurgle it. - -"Can't you stay sober?" With a stride Lodar swept the bottle away and -smashed it on the deck. - -"What for?" McVane slumped against the wall. - -Lodar raised his hands angrily, but Ellenor moved swiftly and swung him -away from the groggy engineer. - -"Let him alone!" she raged. "He doesn't care any more. You can't beat -that out of him!" - -Lodar's eyes glittered. "You know too much about everything," he said -tightly. - -Her chin tilted defiantly. "I know that you'll never see Earth again!" - -"Damn you!" He lashed out suddenly. His slap sent her sprawling against -the wall. - -With a snarl Ray hurled himself at Lodar. His fist slammed a shoulder -as Lodar spun to meet the infuriated charge. A second blow, that -crunched Ray's knuckles on the other's head, never even jarred the -larger man. - -Growling, he reached out. His huge hands closed on Ray's neck, the -thumbs dug into his windpipe. - -"You dumb fool!" Lodar's clenched teeth lay bare between tight drawn -lips. Convulsively his strangling grip tightened. - -Ray's fist slammed the grinning lips, with savage joy he felt the smash -of teeth. He hammered at Lodar's face, beating it in frenzied rage -while his lungs strained for air. His back jolted the wall and Lodar -was slamming his head on the plates. - -His lungs were jerking, the room blurred with pulsing darkness. He saw -only Lodar's blazing eyes, felt the power of his viselike grip. The man -was made of steel, driven by raw violence. - -And, in that flashing moment, Ray guessed Lodar's secret, the why of -his driving energy, cagelike pacings, and burning eyes! - -Space Rays! Ray heaved convulsively, trying to break the strangling -grip. - -Lodar had been too long in space. The days were killing him, burning -him up inside. He would go on with roaring metabolism, like an -overdriven jet, till his heart burst! - -And that would be soon now. Lodar's compelling urge to return to Earth -was the instinct of a dying animal for its lair, to die with its kind. -Nothing would stop him. Nothing except death! - -The pounding in Ray's head flashed streams of light through the -blackness. Only faintly could he feel his own hands beating for air. - -Then suddenly his tortured lungs heaved, sucking in life. The grinding -clutch dropped from his throat. For a moment he could only gulp, rub -his agonized neck. Then slowly sight returned. - -McVane stood holding a gun. There was a foolish, startled look on his -lined face as he stared at Lodar. The captain, gritting his teeth and -leaning on the control board, held a hand to his shoulder. It was a -mass of blood and rags. - -"You--you fool!" Lodar swayed, starting at the engineer. "You -bleary-eyed little Sir Galahad!" - -The girl was pressing a cup of water to Ray's lips. He drank, still -gagging, staring at her bruised face. He was conscious of her arm -around him, of the pleasure her nearness lent. He shook his throbbing -head. - -McVane was speaking petulantly. "Let's--let's have no more arguments." -The little man's eyes were pleading. "I had to do it, Lodar. And -you're the only real friend I had!" - -"Some friend!" Lodar ground his teeth in pain, then grimaced as blood -dripped from the smashed gums. "Here, help me patch up this shoulder." - -Obediently McVane hunted up bandages. Lodar's eyes were somber as the -engineer and Ellenor tied up his burned shoulder and put the useless -arm in a sling. - -"I lost my temper," he muttered at last. "Forget it." - -He probably meant it for a declaration of peace. Ray's own fury had -cooled now he knew what lay behind the other's violence. - -After all, the girl's words must have stung Lodar to a hopeless frenzy. -She had blasted at his innermost longing to see Earth for the last -time. Deep in his own heart he'd known all along that he would die like -a dog in space. Her words had only drawn the searing truth from his own -subconscious hell. - -They all jumped as the interphone shrilled. - -Ray switched on the speaker. There was a medley of sound, smashing -glass, shouts, and laughter. - -"They've got into McVane's liquor." Lodar crossed the room painfully -till he stood beside Ray. - -"Ay--and the gas didn't stop them," the engineer added. "They plugged -the lines." - -Suddenly Jenkins' voice cut shrilly above the background din on the -speaker. "Can you hear me, Lodar?" - -"I hear you." Lodar's eyes were slitted with pain. - -"Okay." There was a fumbling sound. "We're going on to Mars. Take it or -leave it. You set the course and we'll get your damned engines going." - -"You can rot!" - -"Better think it over, Captain. If you monkey around too long, the boys -will get impatient. We'll wreck the engines!" - -"You wreck those engines and none of you will see Mars or any other -place," Lodar said heavily. "There's only one escape boat and the only -way to it is through this control room. I'll leave you stranded!" - -Jenkins' laughter rattled the speaker. "We'll shoot you down with the -broadsides if you try!" There was a rustling, then, "Hang on, Lodar, a -friend of yours wants to talk!" - - - VI - -There was a hiss of breath, then Campora's voice cut in. The low tones -were shaken by fury. "I'll be waiting, Lodar. No matter where we land, -I'll kill you!" His voice rose higher. "So help me, Lodar, if I have to -burn while I do it, I'll kill you!" - -His voice had cracked hysterically while a shout of approval from the -others welled over the receiver. - -Lodar snapped off the speaker. "I should have burned off both his -arms!" he rumbled. He went to the medical kit and took another pain -killer. - -If there had been any chance of talking Lodar into a compromise Ray -would have tried, but he knew it was useless. Lodar was hag-ridden by -that compulsion to head for Earth. Like a dying elephant he was blind -to all else. If necessary, the death of the _Vulcan_ would be his swan -song. - -As for the crew, liquor had flamed their hatred of the captain beyond -all reason. Campora would certainly never back down now. Nor would it -do any good to tell them of their peril from the sun. They'd think he -was lying! - -Had there been time, there was air and food enough for a siege, but the -sun was too close now. A lengthy deadlock would be fatal. - -The only other solution was to flee on the escape ship. Leave the crew -to their doom. Ray tried not to think what that would be like--the -slow roasting to death for the crew. But, even as the thought kept -recurring, he knew escape that way was hopeless. As soon as the escape -boat took off the crew would blast it with the broadside guns. Anything -within miles of their blast would be shriveled! - -Nor did Ray like the way in which McVane and Lodar were now whispering -on the other side of the room. - -Lodar had unearthed a bottle of Terran Whiskey in the emergency kit and -had given it to McVane. They'd had a drink together. A peace offering. -Now the engineer was adjusting Lodar's bandages, whispering in urgent -tones. - -The captain's eyes, pin-pointed with pain, rested somberly on Ray, -then shifted as the young navigator returned the stare. Lodar muttered -something, his expression setting purposefully. As he stood up, -twisting his lips, Ray moved closer to the girl. - -He knew Lodar well enough to expect anything. And McVane, after all, -was Lodar's man. They'd traveled together too long to split in a pinch. - -As the two now crossed the room toward him Ray's hand closed on his -gun. At the suspicious move, Lodar's eyes gleamed sardonically. - -"Mac and I were talking it over," he said. "Even if we lick the crew -there's no time left to repair the _Vulcan_. She's going to take the -sun-dive." - -Ray nodded silently. Ellenor's hand was resting on his gun arm and -it bothered him. He tried to shake her off, but she seemed intent on -holding onto him. At any other time he would have been thrilled, but -not now. - -Lodar went on carefully. The escape boat would hold all four of them -but it couldn't make a getaway. Their only alternative was a diversion. - -"Two of us stay on the _Vulcan_ and engage the crew," Lodar concluded. -"The other two get away." - -The proposal was an obvious solution, but, coming from Lodar, it could -hide black treachery. The captain's overwhelming desire to see Earth -again had already precipitated disaster. The man was blind to all but -the one great yearning. - -"Ellenor wouldn't be any good in a scrap," Ray countered slowly, trying -to find a hitch in the plan. "She takes off with one of us." - -Lodar argued bitterly. The girl had given enough trouble, she rated no -better break than the rest. The lucky ones should be chosen by chance, -and chance alone. - -Ray flatly refused to budge. - -When Ellenor tried to enter the argument it deteriorated into a wrangle -between the captain and herself. By this time McVane had almost reached -the singing stage again, plainly endeavoring to drown his fright now -that the chips were down. Finally the girl took his bottle from him. - -"All right!" Lodar growled at last. "I'm in no shape to argue forever. -One of us goes with the girl. We'll choose by lot." - - * * * * * - -He turned to rummage in the emergency kit again. "Ah!" He found a tin -of wooden matches and clumsily broke it open. "We'll use three of -these. I'll break two, leave one whole. The man who picks the whole one -goes with the girl. Right?" - -Ray frowned. He trusted neither Lodar nor McVane, but there was no -other way to decide the issue unless they resorted to a free-for-all. - -"All right," he agreed slowly. "Let Ellenor hold the matches." - -Lodar sneered. - -"Now wouldn't that be nice for you!" he snarled. "I'll hold them. I'm -still giving orders. Or do you want to argue about that, too?" His hand -rested on his gun belt. - -Ray hesitated. It wasn't so much that he was afraid to die. Only he -didn't want to be suckered into it. On the other hand, Lodar had an -equal right to be suspicious. "All right," he agreed slowly. - -"Don't do it!" Ellenor protested sharply. "There must be another way." -But no one paid any attention. - -Lodar turned his back and they heard him break two of the matches. When -he faced them again there were three little sticks in his large fist. -Only the tops showed. - -He extended his arm to McVane. "You first. It was your idea!" - -McVane blinked, biting his lip, then slowly chose one of the little -bits of wood. His hand closed over it, felt it blindly, then he sat -down licking his lips. As an afterthought he reached for the bottle. - -Lodar grunted, a satisfied grin distorted his split lips. - -"You next." His black eyes burned on Ray. - -The younger man took one of the two remaining matches. He exhaled -sharply as he drew out a whole one. - -Lodar rasped an oath, drew the remaining match across the room. "You -win!" he ground out. - -Ray relaxed slowly. A faint surprise tinged his relief. He had -misjudged Lodar, expecting him at the last moment to renege. Instead, -the big man had merely turned to McVane. - -"So you and I are the hostages, eh, Mac?" A grim smile lit his face, -while his hand rested briefly on the other's narrow shoulder. "Come on, -let's get going." - -The three men prepared the escape boat. As they loaded the little ship -with extra provisions, Ray was alert for treachery, but the captain -seemed to have taken his fate philosophically. He even tried to cheer -up McVane, though his heavy witticisms only made the little man look -sadder. - -"Get that girl in," he growled at last. - -Ellenor paused briefly as she entered the escape port. Her eyes sought -Lodar's. "I'm sorry about the things I said," she offered gently. "I--" - -"Go on, get in!" Lodar shoved her, then turned to Ray. "You too. Get -set for takeoff. When McVane and I tackle the crew I'll toss a signal -bomb into the corridor. You'll hear it explode. Take off, fast!" - -Ray nodded. He shook hands with McVane, hesitated briefly, then offered -his hand to Lodar. - -"Go on!" Lodar snarled. "Get out before I get some sense and change my -mind!" - -Before Ray closed the inner lock, McVane passed him an envelope. "Give -it to the girlie," he muttered. - -Inside the escape ship, Ray closed the little hatch, then touched the -emergency button which swung open the outer port on the _Vulcan's_ -hull. With the butt of his gun he hammered a signal. They were ready. - -Neither he nor Ellenor spoke as they waited. The seconds dragged in -silence except for the sound of their breathing. - -Suddenly a hollow boom resounded, followed by the sharp rattle of metal. - -"That's it!" Ray gunned the little escape ship clear. - -They were out in space. The black shape of the _Vulcan_ swung behind -them, dwindling. It looked inert and ghostly. It looked a dead ship, -with no sign of the conflict that was raging inside. - -Ray turned the escape boat sharply left, away from the sun, and set the -drive for Earth. Behind them the _Vulcan_ was fading into blackness off -to one side of Sol. Now and then a pale gleam touched the dark sides as -it swung sluggishly. - - * * * * * - -It was all the escape ship could do to gain steady acceleration against -the mighty pull behind them. For a while Ray nursed the tiny converter -along, till he was sure the drive was winning. Then he joined Ellenor -in the cramped little mid-section. - -Her brown hair was combed back, starkly outlining the pale face. Her -brown eyes were large, underneath one of them was the ugly bruise from -Lodar's hand. - -"We're loaded down with loot," Ray growled disgustedly. "Let's hope -there's grub enough to see us to Earth." - -He stared sharply as she remained huddled silently. She was holding the -envelope which McVane had given. As he sat down beside her she passed -him a sheet of paper. He recognized McVane's untidy scrawl. - -"Lodar always wanted to end in a blaze of glory," he read, "so this -idea was O.K. with him, too." Ray stared, puzzled. - -The girl raised her hand, showing him the two matches that had been -wrapped in the note. They were both unbroken! - -"Why," Ray gasped, "that means--" - -"Lodar cheated," she said softly. - -Ray stared back at the _Vulcan_. His hand was on the controls, poised -to turn back the little ship. It was unthinkable to leave Lodar now! - -"It won't do any good," Ellenor said. "Lodar's life was spent anyway. -But McVane--" Suddenly she was crying. - -Ray's arm was around her. "He was a hesitant little hero, wasn't he?" -He smiled gently down on the girl. They knew that McVane had never -loved life, was only drinking himself to the grave, but a deep sense of -pity smote him. - -Perhaps the fight inside the _Vulcan_ would be over swiftly as Lodar -had his moment of glorious battle. Perhaps McVane would die quite -happily beside his friend. - -It wouldn't be entirely in vain. - -Ray felt a new purpose in his own life. Lodar's wealth would fight for -the right of the Mutes to life, and Ray would join Ellenor, see that -she was protected, helped in the battle to come with the powers that -sought to enslave her Venus. - -It seemed his fate was always to be inextricably tangled with that of -the Mutes. - - * * * * * - - _Recommendations by the Board of Space Navigators, entered this 3rd - day of November, 2268._ - - 1. _That Navigator Ray Burk be severely reprimanded for_: - - _a. Failure to prevent a mutiny._ - - _b. Failure to prevent the_ Vulcan's _attack on the Company Ship_ - Elixir, _which was damaged_. - - _2. That the wealth of Captain Lodar be turned over to Ray Burk - according to the laws of salvage, but minus_ - - _a. 25% Federal Tax._ - - _b. A fine of 10 credits assessed for each Mute killed._ - - _3. That Ray Burk be reinstated to rank of Navigator, Unlimited._ - - _4. That he be assigned the task of investigating conditions on the - planet, Venus._ - - _5. That the young woman known as Ellenor be transported freely to - her home on Venus._ - - _Entered into record by Carter A. Pringle._ - - _Reprimands (a) and (b) delivered. Witness, Carter A. Pringle._ - - _Probate court to deliver funds of Lodar (deceased)._ - - _per Carter A. Pringle._ - - _Addendum: Section five, (5) above, cancelled as not necessary; - Ellenor having contracted for matrimony with Ray Burk, Navigator - Unlimited, and being no longer a public charge._ - - _Annotated by Carter A. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="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 Sun-Death</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Stanley Whiteside</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: March 06, 2021 [eBook #64724]</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 SUN-DEATH ***</div> - -<div class="titlepage"> - -<h1>THE SUN-DEATH</h1> - -<h2>By STANLEY WHITESIDE</h2> - -<p><i>Captain Lodar's compelling urge to return<br /> -to Earth was like the instinct of a dying<br /> -animal for its lair ... to die with its kind.<br /> -Nothing would stop him ... nothing except<br /> -death. And the death of the soaring</i> Vulcan<br /> -<i>would be his swan song to space</i>.</p> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from<br /> -Planet Stories January 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" /> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p><i>Norport, U.S.A.<br /> -November 2, 2268</i></p> - -<p><i>Honorable Board of Space Navigation,<br /> -Section 6.<br /> -Subject: 6B-5</i></p> - -<p><i>Gentlemen:</i></p> - -<p><i>In support of a petition on behalf of our client, we herewith -submit a report of the Mutiny on the</i> Vulcan <i>dramatized for your -convenience, but true in all essentials</i>.</p> - -<p><i>We beg you to note the extenuating circumstances and to consider -these in rendering your decision.</i></p> - -<p class="ph2"><i>Respectfully yours,<br /> -Haley, Cronk, & Touchwife,<br /> -Attorneys at Law.<br /> -per Jonas Cronk, LLD., MSL., PhD.</i></p></div> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The Spaceship <i>Vulcan</i> lay on a tangled mat of vegetation. A thin haze -of blue smoke drifted over it from the nearby Venusian village where -several of the grass huts were afire. Under the bulging side of the -ship twenty of the crew were boisterously herding a group of Venus -Mutes, forcing them into the entrance port of the hold. There was very -little trouble; only one of the Mutes balked, and a sting ray soon -quieted that.</p> - -<p>In the glittering control room of the ship Ray Burk, Navigator -Unlimited, turned from the viewport with a frown.</p> - -<p>"It seems a pity to burn down their shacks," he muttered.</p> - -<p>He was a large young man with blond hair, carelessly dressed, yet -still bearing that touch of alert authority characteristic of a crack -spaceship man. Since it was his first trip on the <i>Vulcan</i> he was still -a little out of place—not that he and Captain Lodar didn't understand -each other.</p> - -<p>Lodar, pacing restlessly back and forth, made no reply. His black -eyebrows merely lifted sardonically as he continued his heavy strides. -It was typical of Lodar, whose vast energy kept him ceaselessly active, -but in the confines of a ship it was like being caged with a lion.</p> - -<p>Ray turned back to the viewport. The village, burning sluggishly was -desolate beneath the long column of smoke that rose in the still air.</p> - -<p>Lodar's strides halted at the magnaflux, he twirled the detector -impatiently. "Still clear," he muttered. Then, louder, "Fix a course -for Earth, Burk. As soon as all are aboard, we'll take off."</p> - -<p>Ray glanced quickly at Lodar, surprised at the sudden change of course, -but he said nothing. This was Lodar's last flight, if all went well he -was through. Perhaps that was why he was so savagely nervous. After -all, it was time he quit. Luck had been with him overlong.</p> - -<p>The interphone jingled and Lodar answered it.</p> - -<p>"All right, Campora," he said after a moment, "get set for takeoff. -Then report up here to me." He turned to Ray. "Take off, Mister. Make -it snappy!"</p> - -<p>Ray checked the safety lights, then signaled for power. He hoped McVane -was sober. The sad-faced little engineer just couldn't stay away from -his bottle.</p> - -<p>But McVane was at least sober enough, for the metal floor began to -throb gently as the converters on the lower deck groaned to life. -While the machines built up to speed Ray adjusted the drive for a sixty -degree lift. He could hear the soft grate of the Benson Plates shifting -on the outer hull.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The interphone tinkled and Ray heard McVane's broad accents. "Ye can -rip the bottom off her, Mister!" Yes, McVane was drunk again. He'd been -out in the space rays too long perhaps, but the indicators showed him -on the job.</p> - -<p>Ray closed the ether drive and the ship rose silently as if caught on -an elevator belt. He set the course carefully, aware of Lodar at his -elbow, watching. If the Captain would only watch McVane as he did the -others, things might be a lot better.</p> - -<p>Perhaps Lodar was afraid for the hoard of jewels which was rumored to -be aboard. Ray had heard whispers of this wealth, but he doubted that -Lodar would fear any man, much less the space rats aft. Why, he could -whip any ten of them!</p> - -<p>Still, it might explain the sudden change in plans. Originally the -<i>Vulcan</i> was destined for Mars where the load of Mutes would be sold -to the zoos. Lodar's decision to head for Earth was unexpected, as -unexpected as so many of his brilliant moves.</p> - -<p>Ray had cut in the autopilot when the bulkhead door swung open to admit -Campora. The First Mate still wore his rubber marsh boots and a gun -slung on his narrow waist.</p> - -<p>"A fine haul, Captain." He touched his dark mustache and a grin slit -the sallow face. "About fifty Mutes." Then his grin faltered as he saw -the Captain's expression.</p> - -<p>Lodar faced him with huge fists balled on his hips.</p> - -<p>"Who the hell gave you permission to set fire to that village, Mister?"</p> - -<p>Campora's brown eyes darted once to Ray as if for support. His lean -hand covered the black mustache. "Just a little fun for the boys, -Captain." The Mate's voice was placating. "We—"</p> - -<p>"Fun, eh!" Lodar's eyes were narrow as he thrust his heavy face -forward. "If there's any fun to be dispensed, I'll do it! Do you morons -realize that the smoke will alert half the patrol ships in space?"</p> - -<p>"I—I'm sorry, Captain." Campora backed away. "You see—"</p> - -<p>"Shut up!" Lodar jerked his dark head. "Take over from Burk."</p> - -<p>Feeling sorry for the cowed mate, Ray relinquished his controls and -gave the course. Campora stared.</p> - -<p>"But—I thought we were to head for Mars!"</p> - -<p>"I changed that," Lodar interrupted impatiently.</p> - -<p>"You never told us!" Campora looked excited. "You agreed that we'd -never head for Earth without warning. You know the men won't stand for -it!"</p> - -<p>"Yes, they will!" Lodar eyed the mate steadily. "Tell 'em they needn't -worry, I'll look out for them."</p> - -<p>"There'll be trouble!" Campora snapped.</p> - -<p>"Is that a threat?" The big man's voice was icy. Then, as Campora -subsided mumbling, Lodar turned abruptly to Ray.</p> - -<p>"You can come with me, Burk, if you want to look at the cargo."</p> - -<p>As he headed for the exit Ray followed curiously. It was the young -navigator's first trip to Venus and he'd never seen a Mute close at -hand. Which was strange, since his own past was so inextricably tied up -with them.</p> - -<p>Ray had served five years with the Mars-Venus Company to earn his -unlimited navigator's ticket on the Mars passenger flights.</p> - -<p>This company was chartered "to develop and exploit the planets of Mars -and Venus" and most of its wealth came from the exploitation. For years -Venus Mutes had been captured and sold to zoos or to wealthy people for -pets.</p> - -<p>The practice was strongly condemned by humanitarian groups on Earth. -This became so vociferous that, finally, the Earth Federation halted -all flights to Venus regardless of charter.</p> - -<p>The Company declared such law was illegal. It would send a ship to -Venus and have matters settled in court.</p> - -<p>At this time Ray Burk was due to command his first ship. He was -offered the Venus flight—the breaking of law to be merely a step in -establishing precedent, so they said. It sounded like high adventure, -with himself carrying the ball. He gladly accepted. And, as expected, -he was intercepted by an Earth patrol ship.</p> - -<p>But in the ensuing legal battle the Company found its very charter -jeopardized. It hastily switched tactics, disclaimed all knowledge of -the flight, and said Ray had set an incorrect course. Even hardened -politicians smiled at such a thin excuse, but the Company made it -stick. Ray lost his navigator's license. He was through.</p> - -<p>The Company even went further in order to clear itself. It righteously -promised to limit the capture of Mutes and save them from extinction. -In fact, it offered to patrol Venus and stop illegal raids by others.</p> - -<p>Then the price of Mutes rose to fantastic heights. Poachers moved in to -reap fortunes from the trade.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph1">II</p> - -<p>Lodar was one of them. Cashiered from the Earth Fleet, an ex-officer, -he was well trained to outmaneuver the patrols. It was he who offered -Ray his first job in months.</p> - -<p>"Get in on the gravy," he urged. "They already made you a goat, and no -one else will employ you!"</p> - -<p>After all, it wasn't criminal. They were only doing what the Company -had done for years. There was a thrill of adventure in the risky -smuggling, a sense of getting even with those who had disgraced him -unjustly.</p> - -<p>Yes, Ray was curious to see these Mutes who were at the base of his -trouble.</p> - -<p>He followed Lodar along the central corridor to the mid-section well, -and down to the lower deck. The surging hum of the converters wafted on -the warm air as they passed the engine room.</p> - -<p>In the after hold Jenkins and his Number Two Gang were bracing a large -metal cage. Entering behind Lodar, Ray stared with mingled feelings at -the captives behind the bars.</p> - -<p>"Why, they look like humans!" he gasped. No wonder so many people -objected to the trade!</p> - -<p>They were slightly smaller than humans, with paler skin, and their hair -was blond, almost ashen. They regarded their captors with large blue -eyes, but the rustling of grass and skins in which they were dressed -was the only sound they made.</p> - -<p>"Like our earliest type of man, perhaps," Lodar admitted. "But of a -different evolution. No vocal cords."</p> - -<p>"Just dummies." Jenkins spoke up from behind Ray.</p> - -<p>"That's a lie!" The indignant voice was a woman's.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus.jpg" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>Gripping the bars, she stared angrily out at them. She had the small -figure of a Mute, but her bare arms were bronzed, and her hair was -dark, in long curls.</p> - -<p>"They can talk." She shook the bars vigorously. "Release us, you -sinners!"</p> - -<p>Lodar suddenly scowled. "You're no Venus Mute!" He grabbed her hand and -twisted it over. The palm was small and pink, not the bluish white of a -Mute.</p> - -<p>"Turn us loose, you heathen!" she raged, her large brown eyes aflame. -"The Great Zipher will pour his wrath on you!"</p> - -<p>"A missionary!" Lodar snorted savagely. He whirled on Jenkins. "Who -brought her in here?" he bellowed in sudden fury.</p> - -<p>Jenkins backed away, blinking his short-sighted eyes. "I—I don't know. -I never seen her before."</p> - -<p>The captain turned back to Ray. "Help me get her out," he growled.</p> - -<p>Ray silently guarded the door while Lodar entered the cage and dragged -the protesting girl outside. She refused to leave without the others, -but Lodar grimly hauled her out and threw her clear of the door.</p> - -<p>"I ought to throw you off in space!" He eyed the girl viciously.</p> - -<p>Ray locked the door uneasily. Kidnaping a missionary would mean plenty -of investigation. Earth zealously protected all its numerous and varied -religious workers. This one, he knew, belonged to a very small sect—a -cult founded in dim antiquity.</p> - -<p>"Wait till my father learns of this!" The girl was rubbing her elbows. -"He'll call down the wrath of the Great Zipher on this—this ark of -abominations! The grave will open to swallow you. Death and oblivion -shall come, and everlasting torment—"</p> - -<p>"Shut up!" Lodar pushed the girl away. "Why you people waste your time -on Mutes—"</p> - -<p>"They're not mute!" she stormed. "Woe to you, you—"</p> - -<p>"Shut up!" Lodar bawled.</p> - -<p>"Very well." She drew herself up to a full five feet, one. "I'll show -you!" She went to the bars. "Emu! Emu! Tell this heathen what the Great -Zipher says."</p> - -<p>One of the Mutes shuffled forward, a man with blank face. He drew a -breath and recited in singsong tones.</p> - -<p>"The Great Zipher say, come unto me all ye who look for work, and I -give."</p> - -<p>"See!" The girl turned imperiously. "Now, let them loose!"</p> - -<p>"A parrot!" Lodar snapped. "Come on above or do I drag you?"</p> - -<p>For a moment she looked rebellious, then she shrugged the skin cloak -about her slender shoulders and turned with them to the well stairs.</p> - -<p>McVane was leaning curiously out the engine room door, his loose jacket -flapping in the pulsing of warm air.</p> - -<p>"A gurrl, eh?" He shook his graying head. "That's a bad business, -Lodar." His pale blue eyes blinked owlishly.</p> - -<p>"Don't get ideas," Lodar snapped. "It wasn't my doing."</p> - -<p>"Nah?" McVane teetered solemnly as he leaned forward. "What's your -name, girlie?"</p> - -<p>"Ellenor." She stared at the engineer.</p> - -<p>McVane blinked. He scratched his whiskery chin. "Well, Ellenor, ye can -have my cabin for the while," he offered.</p> - -<p>"Come on, up you go!" Her dark eyes were bright with anger, but she -climbed to the upper deck without further trouble.</p> - -<p>They locked her in McVane's cabin.</p> - -<p>"Funny, Mac giving up his room for her," Ray remarked as they headed -forward to the control room.</p> - -<p>"Because he's a no-good drunk?" Lodar sneered. "While some of us could -be little gentlemen?" His face turned somber. "McVane is goofy. Had -a wife and two kids. They were on that spaceship, <i>Jeena</i>, that was -lost a few years back. If I didn't let him drink he wouldn't be worth -jetting!"</p> - -<p>So that explained the captain's easy going attitude toward the little -engineer. At least Lodar had some feelings!</p> - -<p>"Why not take this girl back to Venus?" Ray suggested.</p> - -<p>"And run into a patrol? Earth Fleet or Company ship, it makes no -difference. If we're caught it means life!"</p> - -<p>They were operating outside the law, and no one would listen to their -excuses. Ray felt suddenly cold as he thought that over. Unease -dampened his admiration for the captain. Lodar was too smart to be -captured, his ruthless ability would see the <i>Vulcan</i> through all -right. But he was quite capable of murdering the girl, if necessary, as -a last resort in getting rid of her!</p> - -<p>Scowling, Ray followed the captain. In the control room they found -Campora studying the magnaflux. He looked nervous as Lodar headed -straight for him.</p> - -<p>"What about this girl we got aboard?" the captain demanded harshly.</p> - -<p>"Girl?" Campora looked innocent.</p> - -<p>"You led the raid, didn't you?" Lodar's dark eyes were dangerous. -"Maybe you were looking for some more fun?" He stepped close to the -mate. "Or are you just blind?"</p> - -<p>"There was a whole bunch of captives." Campora backed away. "We was in -a hurry, and—"</p> - -<p>"You damned liar!" Lodar seized his tunic. "You brainless idiot!" His -free hand whipped up to slash across Campora's face.</p> - -<p>With an oath Campora jerked free and reached for his belt.</p> - -<p>Before he could free his gun Lodar's heavy fist smashed into his jaw. -The mate slammed against the wall, then sagged to the floor. "Dirty -rat!" Lodar took his gun, then kicked him till he stirred.</p> - -<p>"Next time you draw on me," he grated, "you go out the disposal chute!"</p> - -<p>"That didn't solve anything." Ray stooped to help Campora up.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Probably Campora had brought the girl aboard, perhaps her presence -would hang them, but the captain could have used more proper means of -discipline. Instead he had deliberately goaded Campora to action. It -was as if Lodar had to give physical vent to his rage like a caged -animal slashing at the bars.</p> - -<p>Then, as Lodar turned briefly his way, Ray thought he saw an appeal for -understanding in the dark eyes that slowly lost their angry glare. A -fleeting look of the trapped lion, but it was gone in an instant.</p> - -<p>"Mind your own business," the captain said sourly. He turned to Campora -and growled, "Go wash your face!"</p> - -<p>Ray's lips tightened helplessly. After all, Lodar's word was law. It -was the only way to run a spaceship on its vast journeying through -emptiness. It was the only insurance against hysteria from taut nerves, -the fear of space rays, and claustrophobia in the little metal world.</p> - -<p>With a long breath he turned to the magnaflux and swung the detector -beams. The magnatoid field would instantly react to anything within -five units. There was no time lapse as with radar, a vital point when -riding on a Benson Drive.</p> - -<p>There was no sign of patrols. Only the dim globe of Venus behind and -the smaller points of Mars and Earth ahead. Except for the haze of star -dust space was empty of threat.</p> - -<p>Lodar was again pacing back and forth. Ray could hear his heavy step on -the metal plates.</p> - -<p>Tramp—tramp—tramp. Then, to his relief, Lodar halted.</p> - -<p>"You're a handsome young buck." At the captain's light tone Ray turned, -surprised, but there was no sign of mockery on the other's heavy face. -"You go talk to that blasted girl. Calm her down. If she'll keep her -mouth shut promise her we'll drop her off on Earth."</p> - -<p>Ray felt his anger dissipate under a surge of relief. So Lodar was -going to take a chance on the girl's silence. He was willing to protect -her from the crew and deliver her right side up. After all, it would -have been simple to drop her off in space. The crew would never blab. -In fact the crew would have urged it.</p> - -<p>Under his hard surface Lodar was all right!</p> - -<p>In more cheerful frame of mind Ray quit the control room. As he headed -along the main corridor a sudden gale of laughter echoed from the well. -There was an unpleasant tone to it that drew him, frowning, to the -lower deck.</p> - -<p>Several of the crew were in the after hold. They were grouped around -the cage of Mutes and one of them held a long rod. The tableau was -obvious, Ray strode in angrily.</p> - -<p>"That'll be all of that!" he snapped.</p> - -<p>Jenkins' glasses glinted as he turned, still grinning. "Captain told us -to stand guard, Sir."</p> - -<p>His short-sighted squint measured the young navigator.</p> - -<p>"Get out!" Ray clenched his fist. "All of you, except Williams, get -out!" He waited as they filed past him with sullen looks, then he -turned into the engine room.</p> - -<p>McVane was sitting at his little desk, drowsing in the warm, oily air. -He roused at Ray's tread and absently closed a lower drawer before he -turned. Hiding his bottle! The man would drink himself to death!</p> - -<p>"The girl is in your cabin," Ray said shortly.</p> - -<p>"Good." McVane's eyes were bleary and, for a moment, pity closed in on -Ray. After all, he had no right to condemn the little engineer for his -weakness—his whole family wiped out.</p> - -<p>"What do you know about these Mutes?" he asked more gently.</p> - -<p>"They can't talk." McVane drew into himself. "Go ask the girl if you -want to know!" His hand trembled toward the lower drawer.</p> - -<p>Disgusted, Ray turned away. The whole crew wore an armor plate -of callous indifference! It was like no ship Ray had ever flown. -Muttering, he climbed back to the main deck, to McVane's cabin.</p> - -<p>The girl was sitting on a bunk, combing her hair with angry sweeps. She -gave him one hot glance, then ignored him completely.</p> - -<p>"Look," he began, "I'm as anxious to get you out of here as you are. I -don't want to see you—hurt—"</p> - -<p>"The Great Zipher will guard me," she snapped. "He gives peace and -security in our times."</p> - -<p>"Sure, sure." Ray frowned impatiently. "But the rest of us want peace -and security, too. If you make trouble—"</p> - -<p>"Why is a young man like you consorting with these sinners?" She looked -at him with sudden curiosity. "You don't belong here!"</p> - -<p>Ray stared at her. What was her name? Oh, yes, Ellenor.</p> - -<p>"If you repent in time—"</p> - -<p>He laughed harshly. "Nothing doing. This may be no healthy job, maybe -I'll quit after this, but don't get ideas. What I came to—"</p> - -<p>"I know what you came to beg," she said scornfully. "I will make no -deal with evil. You can't harm me. You will all slay yourselves. The -ship is doomed!"</p> - -<p>She spoke with such certainty that for a moment Ray wondered if -she might know something. Perhaps she was aware of coming rescue. -Still, that was ridiculous. She had been caged with the rest. She was -bluffing, perhaps to allay her own fears.</p> - -<p>He tried another tack. Sympathy. He asked her about herself.</p> - -<p>She was a missionary's daughter, born on Venus, and had grown up among -the words of the Great Zipher.</p> - -<p>"And who is the Great Zipher?" Ray demanded, amused. There were -countless little religions flourishing under free thought.</p> - -<p>"No one knows. We know he saved the world from the last great plague of -Depression. People were affected by a great Gloom and saw no purpose in -life. They shrunk inside and suffered mental disease. The Great Zipher -said—only believe that ye have plenty, and spend your substance in -good things, and these shall come to pass."</p> - -<p>"And did they?" he prodded.</p> - -<p>"Are there any more plagues of Depression?" she asked tartly.</p> - -<p>It sounded like a cheerful religion, but Ray declined to argue. He -reverted back to his main purpose.</p> - -<p>"Being religious, you shouldn't demand vengeance on us," he pointed -out. "Suppose we turn you loose if you promise to keep that little -mouth shut?"</p> - -<p>"Your own sins will betray you anyway."</p> - -<p>"There's nothing wrong in capturing these Mutes," he snapped. "They're -not human. We don't mistreat them!"</p> - -<p>"How long do they live in captivity?" she demanded bitterly. "A few -months, a year or two, and then they die. On strange planets, cut off -from all their kind, they die miserably."</p> - -<p>He gave it up.</p> - -<p>When Lodar heard of this he shook his head and guffawed.</p> - -<p>"You're too easy, Burk. Perhaps Campora can do better."</p> - -<p>"She'll come to her senses in time," Ray urged. Above all, he didn't -want Campora turned loose on the girl. "Give me time."</p> - -<p>"Yea." Lodar's smile was grimly mocking. "In time she'll make a -complete sucker of you! But it might be diverting. Go ahead!"</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph1">III</p> - -<p>The very vastness of space lends a sense of security from detection. -The enormous speed required to cover the parsecs between systems gives -advantage to those who elude the patrols.</p> - -<p>The <i>Vulcan</i>, bound for Earth, streaked through the blackness like a -swift needle in illimitable space. Its sensitive detector beams probed -the spangled cosmos for danger.</p> - -<p>Inside, the crews changed shift and slept, lulled by the warm hum of -converters. It was a secure little world of glittering lights and -steel, no different from the many Company ships which Ray had flown in -the past.</p> - -<p>He was standing in the warm hold, staring through the bars at the -Mutes. Their large eyes turned to his, but there was no other sign of -awareness, life. They were delicately built, almost like children. No -wonder they made appealing pets, semi-slaves.</p> - -<p>Almost angrily Ray shook the bars. "Can't you talk," he growled. There -was an uneasy movement, but no answer. "Speak up, you dumbbells!" He -grew impatient under the silent stares.</p> - -<p>Impatient with himself for trying to make them talk, as if that would -solve anything! Yet, they seemed so intelligent. They were clothed, -they had some sort of local government. Surely they must be able to -communicate. But they only stared!</p> - -<p>He had a fleeting impression as if they were sorry for him.</p> - -<p>He wondered suddenly if they were telepathic. He concentrated on the -idea, but no inkling came. Only blankness. They were just animals. They -had to be.</p> - -<p>Abruptly he left the hold and climbed to the upper deck. In the -corridor Williams stopped him.</p> - -<p>"I hear we're still headed for Earth, Sir." The man's dark face held a -worried look.</p> - -<p>"Yes." Ray waited, but the other only shuffled his feet in -uncomfortable silence, so he turned toward the girl's cabin.</p> - -<p>Ellenor would know the answer.</p> - -<p>"Are those Mutes telepathic?" he demanded almost savagely of her. The -whole idea was unwelcome. In fact, his interest in the Mutes was like a -foolish obsession!</p> - -<p>"No." She stared at him a long while. "They know how people feel," she -said at last. "They know how everything feels—animals, plants, and -even the soil."</p> - -<p>"That's nothing. I know how people feel."</p> - -<p>"No, you don't." She let that sink in. "On Venus they know when the -soil wishes to grow things; they know when things are due to happen. -The moon of places tells them where to settle; where they are welcome. -Theirs is a language of—of feelings, you might say."</p> - -<p>"Instinct. Well developed."</p> - -<p>"More than that." She assumed a kindly air of instruction. "It is -learned. I know that you, for instance, are at war with yourself. You -admire this Captain Lodar, but he is evil. Yet you are sorry for him."</p> - -<p>"Sorry!" The idea of feeling sorry for Lodar was startling. It had -never even vaguely occurred to him. Lodar was too self-sufficient.</p> - -<p>She shrugged, a dainty movement. "You are mentally blind. You don't -believe your inner senses." Her delicate face wore a frown as she -groped for words. "Lodar hopes to retire on Earth, to live in peace -on his ill-gotten gains. But Lodar knows he will never live to enjoy -that peace." Her eyes grew large as they met his. He had the uneasy -feeling as if she'd opened his mind like a book. Probably her words -had overstimulated his imagination. "And you know that, too, inside of -you," she ended.</p> - -<p>"I know—"</p> - -<p>"That Lodar will die," she completed placidly. "Better take us back to -Venus."</p> - -<p>Was the girl trying to bewitch him? Bog him down in a tangle of mystic -nonsense? An air of intimacy tingled his senses. He wanted to touch the -girl, to comfort her. Abruptly he stood up.</p> - -<p>"Better think over about that promise to keep silent." He felt as if -something very fragile had shattered. He was vaguely sorry about it, -yet determined to stick to reality.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Campora was in the control room when Ray arrived. The First Mate was -anxiously focussing the triangulation vernier on the magnaflux screen.</p> - -<p>"There's a ship on our tail," he muttered. "See if you can analyze it."</p> - -<p>Ray took over and explored the field for tensions around the black dot -on the screen.</p> - -<p>"Got an eight plate Benson Drive," he concluded at last. "It's a -Company ship!"</p> - -<p>Campora sounded a general alarm. "I told Lodar to keep off an Earth -course!" he gritted.</p> - -<p>There was a rush of feet in the corridor as the crew ran for their -stations. In minutes the captain himself appeared. Lodar already knew -what to expect. He brushed Campora aside after a dozen words.</p> - -<p>"Get the gun crews set," he told him shortly.</p> - -<p>"How about changing course?" the mate demanded sullenly.</p> - -<p>"I know what to do!" Lodar rapped. "Get going!" His eyes narrowed -angrily as he watched Campora stamp out and slam the door. Then -abruptly he turned to prowl nervously from control panel to magnaflux -and back again.</p> - -<p>Ray said nothing. He was wondering alertly just how this was going to -affect the girl. He hoped she'd forgotten. Under onslaught of Lodar's -driving energy human lives were nothing. Even now the captain's dark -eyes blazed with excitement, a savage delight in the approaching danger.</p> - -<p>The young navigator began to plot the other ship's course. It was -curving in behind them on the left. The intent was obvious; to overtake -from one side and drive the <i>Vulcan</i> into a sheering curve. It would -take power to get away, lots of power!</p> - -<p>Ray called McVane on the interphone, breathed a sigh of relief as the -engineer promptly answered. "We're running into trouble. Get your -teakettle going—fast," he ordered.</p> - -<p>"Ay, ay," McVane mumbled.</p> - -<p>"Keep awake!" Ray hissed savagely. "If we're caught now it'll mean life -for us!"</p> - -<p>"Take it easy, I'll give ye power. If need be," McVane added morosely, -"enough to blow us all to hell!"</p> - -<p>The captain was studying the magnaflux when Ray turned.</p> - -<p>"They're cutting in." His thick finger traced a curve. The pursuer's -tactics were obvious—to drive the <i>Vulcan</i> into an ever-tightening -spiral aided by his greater speed.</p> - -<p>"Why don't they radio?" Ray glanced at the silent receiver.</p> - -<p>"At this speed?" Lodar grunted. "No chance! There'll only be a few -seconds of contact."</p> - -<p>It was true. On any course, the two ships would flash past each other -with scant time for talk. If the <i>Vulcan</i> was an innocent trader it -would haul to, if not it would travel, or surrender. There was no -chance of surrender.</p> - -<p>Lodar had too much at stake. He was carrying a fortune back to Earth. -His last chance at a decent life. As for the crew, most of them were -wanted by the police in half the cities of Earth. Their safety lay in -the outer planets or in space.</p> - -<p>"We'll take a chance." Ray glanced at Lodar for confirmation, then -tapped the magnaflux. "They've got more power, more guns, and they'll -outrun us. We've got to cut out."</p> - -<p>"Go ahead!" Lodar nodded tensely, like a leashed hound scenting -trouble. "Campora's got the gun crews ready."</p> - -<p>Ray hadn't figured on blasting at the Company ship. He had hoped for -a swift getaway. Still, this was no time for fine distinctions. After -all, he had joined the <i>Vulcan</i> of his own free will. He couldn't -change his mind now. But, if he ever got out of this....</p> - -<p>He turned to the controls, concentrating on his job.</p> - -<p>The Benson Plates on the outer hull shifted gratingly, turning to alter -the drive. The moan of the ether whorls pitched higher as the <i>Vulcan</i> -creaked to swing ponderously on a new course. It made a huge figure S -curve, designed to pull it out of the threatened spiral.</p> - -<p>In seconds the proximity alarms shrilled. As the ship cut closer to -its pursuer Ray tightened the turn till the <i>Vulcan</i> swung sharply to -right. There was a rattle of sound as loose objects spilled over the -decks.</p> - -<p>The other ship was on the ordinary visiscreen now, a black streak that -danced to one side of the <i>Vulcan</i>. Under his feet, Ray could feel the -jarring thrust of McVane's converters, he could sense the leap of the -<i>Vulcan</i> as he closed in the last dregs of power.</p> - -<p>But still the other ship crept closer.</p> - -<p>Ray shook his head silently at Lodar who stood at the interphone. -The captain glanced hastily at the visiscreen, turned back to his -mouthpiece.</p> - -<p>"Got the range, Campora?" He leaned forward, hawklike. "Now!" he -bellowed.</p> - -<p>The <i>Vulcan</i> shook as the broadside was fired and the thrusting drive -faltered while power surged to the weapons.</p> - -<p>It was a miss. Lodar swore.</p> - -<p>"Fire at will," he yelled, slamming down the phone. He hurried to the -visiscreen.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The other ship had shifted course to follow them, though it was still -abeam, still trying to drive them into a spiral. Ray swung the <i>Vulcan</i> -again, cutting dangerously close. The dot on the visiscreen swelled and -centered on the beam again.</p> - -<p>Campora's crew were firing intermittently. A shot exploded on the -Company ship's hull, a spray of melted steel that flashed and was gone.</p> - -<p>"We disabled them!" Lodar exulted.</p> - -<p>The other ship was losing way, still holding its course, but slowing. -Then they flashed by it. Ray felt relief. The other wasn't badly hurt. -He'd get back to port.</p> - -<p>And, in that moment, the Company ship blasted with all its guns. The -<i>Vulcan</i> rocked under the blow of solid energy. A vast eruption tore -out a section of rear plating. The Benson Drive quit.</p> - -<p>Then they were out of range.</p> - -<p>Lodar was on the interphone. "Get on that damage!" he roared. "Campora, -keep those guns ready. McVane! Hello, McVane!" He slammed down the -instrument. "Some day I'll kill that McVane with my own hands!"</p> - -<p>"Maybe he's hurt," Ray snapped.</p> - -<p>Lodar grunted and picked up the phone again. "Hello, Williams, get a -first aid crew out and look for casualties."</p> - -<p>He turned to pace the floor, aroused, thirsting now for action. Up and -down, up and down, as if the pent up energy flamed within him.</p> - -<p>For the present the engagement was over. Both ships were damaged. They -would drift thousands of miles apart before either could resume flight. -At least the <i>Vulcan</i> was fairly safe. And space was a vast hiding -place.</p> - -<p>"They'll never take us now," Ray said, trying to divert Lodar's -ceaseless activity. The man positively burned with energy.</p> - -<p>"Not alive, anyway!" The captain turned. "Not for their brand of -justice! You know why I was cashiered from the Earth Fleet? I was an -upstart. I didn't belong to the right clique. So when someone stole -the club funds they refused to hold a trial. Sure, they just asked me -quietly to resign so as to avoid a scandal." He ground his teeth. "I -was no thief!"</p> - -<p>"That's when my wife left me," he added flatly. "Can you expect justice -from scum like that?" He glared. "Take all you can, my boy, and die -like a man when the time comes!"</p> - -<p>It was the same old story Ray had heard a dozen times, and he was sick -of it. Also he was sick of Lodar's ceaseless pacing. The fight had left -the man wound up like a spring!</p> - -<p>"I'll go look things over." Ray turned to the exit without waiting for -the other's approval.</p> - -<p>The corridor was strangely silent now that the vast throb of the -converters no longer boomed along it. There was a dim clatter of -men working in the after section of the ship, but Ray turned to the -mid-section well and slid down to the engine room.</p> - -<p>The auxiliary generator was whining briskly, but the main converters -were in bad shape. Blue, acrid smoke poured from the inspection plates, -hazed in the glaring lamplight, and there was a stinging odor of -extinguisher gases.</p> - -<p>McVane was lying on the metal floor.</p> - -<p>Ray dragged him to the well and put him on the elevator. The engineer -wasn't badly hurt, only a nasty cut on the head. In the upper passage -he halted Williams and several of the crew.</p> - -<p>"Where's your first aid kit?" he demanded.</p> - -<p>"Sorry, Sir." Williams grinned. "Captain ordered us on another job. The -kit's aft."</p> - -<p>Swearing, Ray hurried to the after section and retrieved the medical -supplies. Back in the corridor, he decided to let the girl look after -McVane. She might as well be of some use.</p> - -<p>He dragged McVane to the cabin and unlocked the door.</p> - -<p>The girl inside almost bowled him over in a frantic attempt to escape.</p> - -<p>"Here, quiet down!" He held the struggling figure, enjoying a brief -moment of her nearness. "The scrap is over. You're perfectly safe."</p> - -<p>"I don't care about that!" the girl flamed. "What are you doing to my -friends?"</p> - -<p>"Nothing." He turned her loose reluctantly. "Here, take care of -McVane." Watching her cautiously, he dragged the engineer inside.</p> - -<p>"Let me out!" She tried to squeeze past him. "They're doing awful -things!"</p> - -<p>"Calm down." He frowned uneasily. "You look after McVane. I'll take a -look at your friends."</p> - -<p>Despite her protests he locked her in again, then impatiently hurried -to the well to slide down and turn into the hold.</p> - -<p>Six of the crew were clustered by the cage which held the Mutes.</p> - -<p>"What—" Then he saw what had happened. The sight made him sick.</p> - -<p>The Mutes lay in grotesque heaps. Dead. They had been rayed!</p> - -<p>"Who ordered this?" he demanded thickly. His mouth felt dry. His -stomach was tying itself into knots.</p> - -<p>Williams' swarthy face turned his way. "Campora said it was the -captain's orders." The man spat deliberately. "A damned good idea, too, -unloading them!"</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph1">IV</p> - -<p>Abruptly Ray turned and ran for the upper deck. He burst into the -control room.</p> - -<p>Lodar turned from the chart file. The captain's face was white. His -eyes burned starkly.</p> - -<p>"So—you know they're dead." His voice was expressionless. "Are they -any worse off dead than in a zoo?"</p> - -<p>"You ordered those Mutes killed!"</p> - -<p>Lodar made a hopeless gesture. "If we're intercepted, and have to -fight, we'll all be killed, including the Mutes. So we get rid of them. -We're clean, we go to Earth!"</p> - -<p>"Cold-blooded murder!" Ray gritted. "A cowardly—"</p> - -<p>"Stop it!" Lodar's voice cracked. "They're not human. Getting -hysterical won't bring them back. Forget it. We're not playing -ring-around-the-rosy!"</p> - -<p>"You'll pay for this!" Rage at his own helplessness almost gagged Ray. -"When we land on Earth I'm going to have you hunted down like a dog!"</p> - -<p>"It takes evidence to hang a man." The captain chuckled mirthlessly. -"Do you think I'd willingly jettison a valuable cargo? We'll be -drifting for a week, at the mercy of any patrol ship that comes along. -I had to do it."</p> - -<p>A sudden thought iced Ray's boiling emotions.</p> - -<p>Ellenor! He'd have to watch out for the girl.</p> - -<p>With the Mutes gone, Lodar would have to reckon with the girl.</p> - -<p>Ray turned to the door. He had to get away from Lodar before he was -tempted to shoot the man!</p> - -<p>"You and I are through, Lodar." He tried to keep his voice steady, to -bottle up his fury. He'd need all his wits to get out of this mess! His -former grudge against the Company, against Earth justice, was childish -and futile. He had been a brainless fool to fall for the romance, the -swashbuckling air of the <i>Vulcan</i>. "I'll work with you till we land," -he said through clenched teeth. "After that we're through!"</p> - -<p>He slammed the door behind him. He wanted to get as far away from -Lodar as possible, to the rear of the ship, where a repair crew was -blasphemously patching the hull.</p> - -<p>Several space-suited figures were outside, welding the plates, while -others, inside, used plastic matting to save the air. Jenkins was in -command.</p> - -<p>"Where are we now, Mr. Burk?" he asked Ray.</p> - -<p>"About halfway to Earth." Ray tried to sound normal.</p> - -<p>"Is the captain still insisting on going ahead?"</p> - -<p>Ray nodded, dislike of the other welling in him.</p> - -<p>"Looky." Jenkins drew him to one side. "The men don't like the idea, -see, of going to Earth. Most of us skipped out to space for a good -reason, see?"</p> - -<p>Ray nodded again, and his lips tightened impatiently. Jenkins was a -bully.</p> - -<p>"Well, sir, maybe you could persuade the captain to change his mind, -huh? We don't want trouble."</p> - -<p>"All right, I'll see." Ray started to turn away.</p> - -<p>"Campora tried to tell the captain." Jenkins' grimy paw rested on Ray's -arm, while he peered at him through his glasses. "But Lodar don't like -Campora, see?"</p> - -<p>Ray had paused despite his loathing for the man.</p> - -<p>"Sure." Jenkins moved closer. "Campora knifed a guy just before he -skipped Earth. It was his second offense. Don't let on I told you." He -looked anxious. "I was just trying to help, see?"</p> - -<p>"Yes." Ray turned away disgustedly. "I'll talk to Lodar."</p> - -<p>He was beginning to hate every man aboard the <i>Vulcan</i>. That wasn't -good. It was a sign of space hysteria. He'd have to guard against such -things.</p> - -<p>Vigilance was the only safety factor.</p> - -<p>Stay out in space too long and you begin to brood. Worse still if -you are psychologically able to stick it out long enough, you become -infected with the deadly space rays that burn you up with febrile -energy. Or you go batty with claustrophobia.</p> - -<p>And they had all been out too long. They were reckless and unstable. He -must get Ellenor away safely if it was the last thing he ever did.</p> - -<p>Before the day period was over he went to see the girl, dreading to -face her with the news of the Mutes' slaying. But she already knew.</p> - -<p>"You needn't tell me." Her brown eyes were dazed with pain. "I know. -They are dead."</p> - -<p>What was there to say? That he would have saved them if he could? That -he was sorry? Furious at Lodar? They were only fine words. He turned -silently to the bunk where McVane lay asleep, his gray head swathed in -bandages.</p> - -<p>"He's all right," Ellenor said. "He lost a lot of blood, but I got the -cook to bring some food. He ate it."</p> - -<p>Ray turned back to her. He took her arm and led her to a chair, aware -once more of that tingle of pleasure at the touch of her.</p> - -<p>"I'll do what I can to help you," he said earnestly. "But you've got to -promise Lodar that you'll keep quiet. If you don't I'm afraid he'll—"</p> - -<p>"I'm not afraid!" Her red lips curled. She had parted the long, dark -hair in two braids, which she was now tugging as if for emphasis. "If -you are my friend—"</p> - -<p>"I am," he interrupted swiftly. "God knows I'm sorry enough to be -tangled up in this outfit! But it'll take more than just—"</p> - -<p>The door opened and Lodar walked in. He glanced suspiciously at the -girl, then took a look at McVane. Evidently satisfied, he straightened -up.</p> - -<p>"I saw the latch open and wondered if the girl was still safe." -His dark glance rested impassively on her. "Have you decided to be -sensible?"</p> - -<p>"Sure she has," Ray said quickly.</p> - -<p>"You can't frighten me!" The girl's dark eyes were unquailing before -Lodar's. Her voice rose. "It's you who is afraid, you murderer! No -matter how you strive—"</p> - -<p>"Shut up!" Lodar said.</p> - -<p>"You'll never see Earth!" she ended recklessly.</p> - -<p>Lodar spun on his heels and stalked out.</p> - -<p>"You idiot!" Ray hissed, then hurried after Lodar. She would drive the -man to drastic action in spite of all effort to save her silly little -neck! As he locked the door, Lodar eyed him curiously.</p> - -<p>"Quite the spitfire, isn't she?" he remarked mildly.</p> - -<p>Ray wondered if he meant just that or if he was covering up a consuming -rage. He was still wondering about it as he uneasily went to his own -cabin. Of one thing he was sure, that Lodar would save his own skin at -any cost!</p> - -<p>That thought kept him tossing on his bunk long after he'd snapped off -the light. He could hear the captain's restless movements in his cabin -next door. He could hear the sounds of the Number Three repair crew, -his ears were straining for the hum of the converters.</p> - -<p>There were many noises on the <i>Vulcan</i>, softer and more furtive. The -stir of men off duty, the murmur of voices. Uneasy speculations.</p> - -<p>Opposition to Lodar's course seemed a material thing, a tangible force -distilled of fear. Like a cross current that moved deeply. Ray scowled -at the dark ceiling of his cabin. Of course, it was only imagination. -The unusual silences. The cessation of driving power on the <i>Vulcan</i>. -These were playing tricks with his ears. The <i>Vulcan</i> was drifting, -slowly curving off course toward the sun.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>McVane was supervising repairs on his machines. He had moaned about -feeling sick, but Lodar had refused to listen to his pleas. For one -thing, they had drifted two days now and the <i>Vulcan</i> had inevitably -expended its momentum against the solar pull. It had begun the long -fall sunward. And, beside the threat of being broiled, there was the -deadly danger of space rays. They would burn up a man just as surely, -even though in a different way. So haste was imperative.</p> - -<p>It might take a week to repair the main converters. The insulation was -badly charred on the stator coils. Several were burned out completely. -So McVane was put to work.</p> - -<p>The rattle of chain hoists and hiss of arc welder echoed hollowly -through the drifting ship. Even so, had it not been for the comforting -hum of the auxiliary generator the silence would have been maddening.</p> - -<p>Ray had avoided seeing the girl since the death of the Mutes. Probably -she blamed him as much as the others for their murder, lumping him in a -general category of black infamy. And how could he prove to her that he -wasn't like Lodar, Campora, and the rest? Unless she could really sense -thoughts, as she hinted. It seemed preposterous, yet she might have -learned some such thing from the Mutes.</p> - -<p>She might even know what Lodar was thinking! Ray grinned at that. Even -now the captain was probably fuming like an angry bull.</p> - -<p>He was eating a huge meal when Ray entered his cabin to give him a -report. He continued to ladle vast quantities of hash while the young -navigator outlined the progress of repairs. Finally he threw down his -spoon and wiped his mouth.</p> - -<p>"Those men are deliberately stalling on the job!" he snarled.</p> - -<p>Ray didn't deny it. They'd both known it all along.</p> - -<p>"If you'd change your mind about heading for Earth—" Ray stopped. The -dishes jumped as Lodar banged the table.</p> - -<p>"Give in to a bunch of lousy space scum?" Lodar glared. "I know what -they're afraid of. Every one of them is a jailbird! But, by Jupiter, -I'm running this ship!"</p> - -<p>"No one is running the ship right now," Ray said coldly. "The <i>Vulcan</i> -is falling faster every minute. Our distance from the sun—"</p> - -<p>"I'll talk to the swabs!" Lodar's jaw bulged as he pushed away his -chair. "I'll beat out their brains if I have to!" He jerked open the -door, then stared out. "What do you want?"</p> - -<p>Campora was standing in the corridor. At Lodar's expression he fell -back a pace, then held his ground.</p> - -<p>"The men asked me to represent them—"</p> - -<p>"Now, by hell!" Lodar roared. "I've had enough! Are you a First Mate or -a sniveling messenger boy for the crew? Get out of my way!"</p> - -<p>"I want to warn you—"</p> - -<p>"Stand aside." Lodar shoved the mate back.</p> - -<p>"Better listen to him." Ray's voice was harsh. Lodar deserved all he -got, but there was no sense in stirring the <i>Vulcan</i> to a charnal house -of mob violence. He knew only too well the temper of the crew after two -days of wracking tension.</p> - -<p>"Listen to a coward like this?" Lodar sneered savagely and pointed at -Campora. "He's afraid for his own hide! But he wasn't scared to stick a -knife in a man's back on Earth! Oh, no! But now he's petrified at the -thought of a policeman. He's stirring up the crew. He's a traitor to -his rating!"</p> - -<p>"You can't handle men when your own temper blows up!" Ray snapped. -Lodar should know that. He was an ex-fleet man.</p> - -<p>Lodar jerked round, visibly struggling for control. "I guess you're -right," he admitted slowly, his first fury spent. He turned to the -mate, whose sallow face and slitted eyes were full of venom. "So you're -afraid of Earth and the police, the whole kit and kaboodle of you. -Well, we won't land there."</p> - -<p>Campora looked his utter disbelief.</p> - -<p>"We'll swing a thousand miles off Earth and I'll land in the escape -boat. You can go on to Mars, sell the <i>Vulcan</i> to pay off the crew and -yourself." Lodar smiled grimly. "Now get out of my way!"</p> - -<p>As the captain strode down the corridor, Campora turned bitterly to -the young navigator.</p> - -<p>"He's lying, he's going to land on Earth. The filthy double-crosser -wants to pay us off with a stolen ship, too!" Campora grabbed Ray's -arms. "That escape boat is loaded with his takings. Thinks we're a -bunch of suckers to let him be the big shot on dear old Earth! We'll -see about that!"</p> - -<p>"You're a fine officer!" Ray stared at the mate.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph1">V</p> - -<p>It was a mystery to him how Campora had ever won his position. Once -upon a time he must have had a lot of ambition, because it took a lot -of drive for a self-educated man like Campora to become an officer. -Perhaps the struggle had soured him.</p> - -<p>Ray knew how tough it was. He'd had to fight his way, but—He stopped -in mid-thought. Actually, he was no better. They were all in the same -boat!</p> - -<p>When Ray went aft a little later he found the repair crew working -furiously. Lodar paced back and forth between the two main converters, -his fists clenched and eyes alert. One of the crew lay sprawled in a -corner. A glance was enough. The man was dead.</p> - -<p>Ray shrugged mentally. Lodar was within his rights, as captain, to -enforce his orders even to this extent.</p> - -<p>Nor did Lodar relax his driving vigilance one whit as the hours dragged -by. He raged from crew to crew, hammering down all sign of opposition, -aflame with a single purpose—to repair the ship and take it to Earth. -Anger, pride, or stubbornness—it made no difference which drove -him—his mind was made up.</p> - -<p>There was no turning him now.</p> - -<p>"I'll run the <i>Vulcan</i> where I wish if I have to kill every man of -you!" he raged.</p> - -<p>Ray searched the crew's quarters and removed all likely weapons. He got -a spare key for McVane's cabin and took it to the girl.</p> - -<p>"Better lock yourself in," he told her. "There may be trouble!"</p> - -<p>"I know." Her dark eyes were serious. "If you would only persuade the -captain—"</p> - -<p>"Nothing doing!" Again he felt an impulse to touch her, to hold her. -He wondered if it sprang from his own mind or hers—or was he just -nuts? But her smile, at least, sent a flood of warm relief coursing -through him as he left.</p> - -<p>He turned to his own cabin.</p> - -<p>As navigator, there was nothing at present for him to do. It might be -best for him to get some rest while he could. He was afraid to sleep, -but long training had taught him how to cat-nap. He relaxed, keeping an -ear trained for trouble.</p> - -<p>The repair work must go on or the <i>Vulcan</i> was lost, for the sun was -perilously close. Ray had been afraid to tell the crew just how close, -because the single escape ship would hold only a fraction of them.</p> - -<p>He must have fallen asleep, because he was suddenly aware that the -sound of work had ceased. Instead he could hear the quavering notes of -McVane's voice, singing lugubriously. Plainly he was sad.</p> - -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse"><i>"I'd give a thousand years in hell in pain</i></div> - <div class="verse"><i>To see my Nelly once again!"</i></div> -</div></div> - -<p>And drunk!</p> - -<p>Ray jerked on his tunic and hurried out.</p> - -<p>In the corridor he paused at Lodar's cabin and tried the door. It was -locked. So, Lodar had gone to bed, contemptuously certain that he'd -licked the crew into shape. Which meant that Campora should be in -charge.</p> - -<p>But there was an air of unease, of impending disaster, in the driveless -ship. Perhaps it was a result of McVane's doleful song, but Ray found -himself suddenly tense.</p> - -<p>The ship was too quiet. No sound came from below as he went to the -well. Even McVane had quit his lament. Momentarily Ray was tempted to -see if Ellenor was all right. He decided against it, hurried along the -corridor to the crew's quarters, aft.</p> - -<p>As soon as he stepped inside the mess room, suspicion froze him. At his -step the huddle of men had suddenly broken. The faces which turned his -way all wore the same tense look.</p> - -<p>It was time for the payoff!</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>There would be no more talk. Their faces told him that.</p> - -<p>Jenkins peered at Ray through his glasses. Without preamble, he -demanded, "Are you in with us or Lodar?"</p> - -<p>It was a ridiculous question. All of Ray's training had conditioned him -to meet such emergency in only one way. Right or wrong, there was only -one answer.</p> - -<p>He leaped back through the door and slammed it, then swung the -emergency latch and spun the sealing wheel. It would hold them for a -while—till they burned it down.</p> - -<p>He dashed for the central well, slid down the pole in a mad spiral, and -jumped for the engine room. McVane was alone at his desk, a shrunken -figure in the glaring lights, his head slumped down on his chest.</p> - -<p>Ray kicked the chair from under him and hauled him erect. "Get to the -control room!" he panted.</p> - -<p>McVane's lean hand closed on his bottle, then his feet were dragging -as Ray hauled him to the well. His head wobbled as he took up the song -again.</p> - -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse"><i>"She's gone and never will I see</i></div> - <div class="verse"><i>My sweetheart, dear to me."</i></div> -</div></div> - -<p>"You fool!" Ray shook him violently. "There's mutiny! Up, quick!" -He propelled the smaller man up the stairs. In the main corridor he -stopped at the girl's cabin.</p> - -<p>"Here." He shook McVane again, then handed him the keys. "Get that girl -to the control room."</p> - -<p>While McVane fumbled at the lock Ray hammered on Lodar's cabin. It was -an age before the captain appeared. His dark eyes took in McVane and -the girl, then swept back to Ray.</p> - -<p>"Trouble, eh?" Without waiting to hear more he reached for his gun and -joined them.</p> - -<p>It was vital to hold the front of the ship. In any other section they -would be merely prisoners. Lodar ran swiftly past McVane and the girl, -while Ray brought up the rear, alert for attack.</p> - -<p>So Lodar was first to enter the control room.</p> - -<p>Ray didn't see what happened, but a moment later came the zing of ray -guns, a scream. Campora stumbled from the room. He ran past Ray, still -screaming, headed aft, waving an arm which was blasted to a stump.</p> - -<p>Ray went on, gritting his teeth.</p> - -<p>"Didn't expect us so soon," Lodar said grimly as they gathered in -the control room. "He figured on holding this place, but he got too -excited!" He pointed to the splatter of burned metal where Campora's -shot had missed him.</p> - -<p>He turned to McVane who was looking sick. "Here, take this gun and -stand by." Then, as he shoved the weapon in the other's shaking hand, -"We'll jump 'em before they organize." He faced Ray. "Coming?"</p> - -<p>Ray nodded grimly. He was playing a travesty of an officer's duty, but -it was the only way.</p> - -<p>The two went down the passage, peering into cabins as they headed for -the well. Here Lodar slammed down the fire hatch, thus blocking off the -lower deck. He had just snapped the last wedge when Ray heard the clang -of metal aft, and the patter of feet. The crew had burned out of their -prison.</p> - -<p>"Let's hold them here," Ray said. "I took their guns yesterday."</p> - -<p>"Good!" Lodar stood beside him, legs outspread.</p> - -<p>But as the first man, Williams, appeared and sighted Lodar, there was -the vicious zing of a ray gun. The wall beside Lodar erupted sizzling -metal as he ducked.</p> - -<p>"So you took their guns!" he snarled, firing at the same time as Ray.</p> - -<p>With yells, their attackers retreated, blasting wildly. The corridor -filled with acid smoke and red-hot metal. Half the lights were gone, -the rest were hazed by the stinking fumes. The mutineers were firing -blindly from behind a corner, depending upon mere volume rather than -any sort of aiming.</p> - -<p>"Back up!" Lodar gasped. "Campora gave them all those weapons."</p> - -<p>They retreated to the control room and bolted the door, while McVane -and the girl stared.</p> - -<p>"We're in a spot," Lodar admitted.</p> - -<p>"And we can thank you for it," Ray snapped. "This crew will have no -more compunction over killing us than they had over bumping off those -Mutes!"</p> - -<p>"Well, now." McVane shifted his feet restlessly. "Let's not squabble. -Anyway, 'twas Campora persuaded the captain to get rid of the Mutes."</p> - -<p>They all tensed at a sudden sound outside—metal dragging the floor and -voices. Then suddenly the smell of burning paint.</p> - -<p>The door panel turned red, the paint peeled off, and dropped to the -deck. Within seconds a hole blazed through.</p> - -<p>Lodar aimed his gun at the opening and fired. He grinned as a yelp -sounded, then moved beside the door to trigger several bursts along the -corridor beyond. There were horrible yells, the scurry of retreat, then -silence. Lodar stooped to peer.</p> - -<p>"Got four of 'em," he announced. "That'll cool 'em off!"</p> - -<p>He crossed swiftly to the chart case, heaved it aside, and slid open a -small hidden panel. He reached inside to close a switch. "This'll help -too," he added grimly. "Gas!"</p> - -<p>"What a monster!" the girl said.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Lodar ignored her. He was looking at McVane. The engineer had taken a -bottle from his pocket, was stretching his scraggy neck to gurgle it.</p> - -<p>"Can't you stay sober?" With a stride Lodar swept the bottle away and -smashed it on the deck.</p> - -<p>"What for?" McVane slumped against the wall.</p> - -<p>Lodar raised his hands angrily, but Ellenor moved swiftly and swung him -away from the groggy engineer.</p> - -<p>"Let him alone!" she raged. "He doesn't care any more. You can't beat -that out of him!"</p> - -<p>Lodar's eyes glittered. "You know too much about everything," he said -tightly.</p> - -<p>Her chin tilted defiantly. "I know that you'll never see Earth again!"</p> - -<p>"Damn you!" He lashed out suddenly. His slap sent her sprawling against -the wall.</p> - -<p>With a snarl Ray hurled himself at Lodar. His fist slammed a shoulder -as Lodar spun to meet the infuriated charge. A second blow, that -crunched Ray's knuckles on the other's head, never even jarred the -larger man.</p> - -<p>Growling, he reached out. His huge hands closed on Ray's neck, the -thumbs dug into his windpipe.</p> - -<p>"You dumb fool!" Lodar's clenched teeth lay bare between tight drawn -lips. Convulsively his strangling grip tightened.</p> - -<p>Ray's fist slammed the grinning lips, with savage joy he felt the smash -of teeth. He hammered at Lodar's face, beating it in frenzied rage -while his lungs strained for air. His back jolted the wall and Lodar -was slamming his head on the plates.</p> - -<p>His lungs were jerking, the room blurred with pulsing darkness. He saw -only Lodar's blazing eyes, felt the power of his viselike grip. The man -was made of steel, driven by raw violence.</p> - -<p>And, in that flashing moment, Ray guessed Lodar's secret, the why of -his driving energy, cagelike pacings, and burning eyes!</p> - -<p>Space Rays! Ray heaved convulsively, trying to break the strangling -grip.</p> - -<p>Lodar had been too long in space. The days were killing him, burning -him up inside. He would go on with roaring metabolism, like an -overdriven jet, till his heart burst!</p> - -<p>And that would be soon now. Lodar's compelling urge to return to Earth -was the instinct of a dying animal for its lair, to die with its kind. -Nothing would stop him. Nothing except death!</p> - -<p>The pounding in Ray's head flashed streams of light through the -blackness. Only faintly could he feel his own hands beating for air.</p> - -<p>Then suddenly his tortured lungs heaved, sucking in life. The grinding -clutch dropped from his throat. For a moment he could only gulp, rub -his agonized neck. Then slowly sight returned.</p> - -<p>McVane stood holding a gun. There was a foolish, startled look on his -lined face as he stared at Lodar. The captain, gritting his teeth and -leaning on the control board, held a hand to his shoulder. It was a -mass of blood and rags.</p> - -<p>"You—you fool!" Lodar swayed, starting at the engineer. "You -bleary-eyed little Sir Galahad!"</p> - -<p>The girl was pressing a cup of water to Ray's lips. He drank, still -gagging, staring at her bruised face. He was conscious of her arm -around him, of the pleasure her nearness lent. He shook his throbbing -head.</p> - -<p>McVane was speaking petulantly. "Let's—let's have no more arguments." -The little man's eyes were pleading. "I had to do it, Lodar. And -you're the only real friend I had!"</p> - -<p>"Some friend!" Lodar ground his teeth in pain, then grimaced as blood -dripped from the smashed gums. "Here, help me patch up this shoulder."</p> - -<p>Obediently McVane hunted up bandages. Lodar's eyes were somber as the -engineer and Ellenor tied up his burned shoulder and put the useless -arm in a sling.</p> - -<p>"I lost my temper," he muttered at last. "Forget it."</p> - -<p>He probably meant it for a declaration of peace. Ray's own fury had -cooled now he knew what lay behind the other's violence.</p> - -<p>After all, the girl's words must have stung Lodar to a hopeless frenzy. -She had blasted at his innermost longing to see Earth for the last -time. Deep in his own heart he'd known all along that he would die like -a dog in space. Her words had only drawn the searing truth from his own -subconscious hell.</p> - -<p>They all jumped as the interphone shrilled.</p> - -<p>Ray switched on the speaker. There was a medley of sound, smashing -glass, shouts, and laughter.</p> - -<p>"They've got into McVane's liquor." Lodar crossed the room painfully -till he stood beside Ray.</p> - -<p>"Ay—and the gas didn't stop them," the engineer added. "They plugged -the lines."</p> - -<p>Suddenly Jenkins' voice cut shrilly above the background din on the -speaker. "Can you hear me, Lodar?"</p> - -<p>"I hear you." Lodar's eyes were slitted with pain.</p> - -<p>"Okay." There was a fumbling sound. "We're going on to Mars. Take it or -leave it. You set the course and we'll get your damned engines going."</p> - -<p>"You can rot!"</p> - -<p>"Better think it over, Captain. If you monkey around too long, the boys -will get impatient. We'll wreck the engines!"</p> - -<p>"You wreck those engines and none of you will see Mars or any other -place," Lodar said heavily. "There's only one escape boat and the only -way to it is through this control room. I'll leave you stranded!"</p> - -<p>Jenkins' laughter rattled the speaker. "We'll shoot you down with the -broadsides if you try!" There was a rustling, then, "Hang on, Lodar, a -friend of yours wants to talk!"</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph1">VI</p> - -<p>There was a hiss of breath, then Campora's voice cut in. The low tones -were shaken by fury. "I'll be waiting, Lodar. No matter where we land, -I'll kill you!" His voice rose higher. "So help me, Lodar, if I have to -burn while I do it, I'll kill you!"</p> - -<p>His voice had cracked hysterically while a shout of approval from the -others welled over the receiver.</p> - -<p>Lodar snapped off the speaker. "I should have burned off both his -arms!" he rumbled. He went to the medical kit and took another pain -killer.</p> - -<p>If there had been any chance of talking Lodar into a compromise Ray -would have tried, but he knew it was useless. Lodar was hag-ridden by -that compulsion to head for Earth. Like a dying elephant he was blind -to all else. If necessary, the death of the <i>Vulcan</i> would be his swan -song.</p> - -<p>As for the crew, liquor had flamed their hatred of the captain beyond -all reason. Campora would certainly never back down now. Nor would it -do any good to tell them of their peril from the sun. They'd think he -was lying!</p> - -<p>Had there been time, there was air and food enough for a siege, but the -sun was too close now. A lengthy deadlock would be fatal.</p> - -<p>The only other solution was to flee on the escape ship. Leave the crew -to their doom. Ray tried not to think what that would be like—the -slow roasting to death for the crew. But, even as the thought kept -recurring, he knew escape that way was hopeless. As soon as the escape -boat took off the crew would blast it with the broadside guns. Anything -within miles of their blast would be shriveled!</p> - -<p>Nor did Ray like the way in which McVane and Lodar were now whispering -on the other side of the room.</p> - -<p>Lodar had unearthed a bottle of Terran Whiskey in the emergency kit and -had given it to McVane. They'd had a drink together. A peace offering. -Now the engineer was adjusting Lodar's bandages, whispering in urgent -tones.</p> - -<p>The captain's eyes, pin-pointed with pain, rested somberly on Ray, -then shifted as the young navigator returned the stare. Lodar muttered -something, his expression setting purposefully. As he stood up, -twisting his lips, Ray moved closer to the girl.</p> - -<p>He knew Lodar well enough to expect anything. And McVane, after all, -was Lodar's man. They'd traveled together too long to split in a pinch.</p> - -<p>As the two now crossed the room toward him Ray's hand closed on his -gun. At the suspicious move, Lodar's eyes gleamed sardonically.</p> - -<p>"Mac and I were talking it over," he said. "Even if we lick the crew -there's no time left to repair the <i>Vulcan</i>. She's going to take the -sun-dive."</p> - -<p>Ray nodded silently. Ellenor's hand was resting on his gun arm and -it bothered him. He tried to shake her off, but she seemed intent on -holding onto him. At any other time he would have been thrilled, but -not now.</p> - -<p>Lodar went on carefully. The escape boat would hold all four of them -but it couldn't make a getaway. Their only alternative was a diversion.</p> - -<p>"Two of us stay on the <i>Vulcan</i> and engage the crew," Lodar concluded. -"The other two get away."</p> - -<p>The proposal was an obvious solution, but, coming from Lodar, it could -hide black treachery. The captain's overwhelming desire to see Earth -again had already precipitated disaster. The man was blind to all but -the one great yearning.</p> - -<p>"Ellenor wouldn't be any good in a scrap," Ray countered slowly, trying -to find a hitch in the plan. "She takes off with one of us."</p> - -<p>Lodar argued bitterly. The girl had given enough trouble, she rated no -better break than the rest. The lucky ones should be chosen by chance, -and chance alone.</p> - -<p>Ray flatly refused to budge.</p> - -<p>When Ellenor tried to enter the argument it deteriorated into a wrangle -between the captain and herself. By this time McVane had almost reached -the singing stage again, plainly endeavoring to drown his fright now -that the chips were down. Finally the girl took his bottle from him.</p> - -<p>"All right!" Lodar growled at last. "I'm in no shape to argue forever. -One of us goes with the girl. We'll choose by lot."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>He turned to rummage in the emergency kit again. "Ah!" He found a tin -of wooden matches and clumsily broke it open. "We'll use three of -these. I'll break two, leave one whole. The man who picks the whole one -goes with the girl. Right?"</p> - -<p>Ray frowned. He trusted neither Lodar nor McVane, but there was no -other way to decide the issue unless they resorted to a free-for-all.</p> - -<p>"All right," he agreed slowly. "Let Ellenor hold the matches."</p> - -<p>Lodar sneered.</p> - -<p>"Now wouldn't that be nice for you!" he snarled. "I'll hold them. I'm -still giving orders. Or do you want to argue about that, too?" His hand -rested on his gun belt.</p> - -<p>Ray hesitated. It wasn't so much that he was afraid to die. Only he -didn't want to be suckered into it. On the other hand, Lodar had an -equal right to be suspicious. "All right," he agreed slowly.</p> - -<p>"Don't do it!" Ellenor protested sharply. "There must be another way." -But no one paid any attention.</p> - -<p>Lodar turned his back and they heard him break two of the matches. When -he faced them again there were three little sticks in his large fist. -Only the tops showed.</p> - -<p>He extended his arm to McVane. "You first. It was your idea!"</p> - -<p>McVane blinked, biting his lip, then slowly chose one of the little -bits of wood. His hand closed over it, felt it blindly, then he sat -down licking his lips. As an afterthought he reached for the bottle.</p> - -<p>Lodar grunted, a satisfied grin distorted his split lips.</p> - -<p>"You next." His black eyes burned on Ray.</p> - -<p>The younger man took one of the two remaining matches. He exhaled -sharply as he drew out a whole one.</p> - -<p>Lodar rasped an oath, drew the remaining match across the room. "You -win!" he ground out.</p> - -<p>Ray relaxed slowly. A faint surprise tinged his relief. He had -misjudged Lodar, expecting him at the last moment to renege. Instead, -the big man had merely turned to McVane.</p> - -<p>"So you and I are the hostages, eh, Mac?" A grim smile lit his face, -while his hand rested briefly on the other's narrow shoulder. "Come on, -let's get going."</p> - -<p>The three men prepared the escape boat. As they loaded the little ship -with extra provisions, Ray was alert for treachery, but the captain -seemed to have taken his fate philosophically. He even tried to cheer -up McVane, though his heavy witticisms only made the little man look -sadder.</p> - -<p>"Get that girl in," he growled at last.</p> - -<p>Ellenor paused briefly as she entered the escape port. Her eyes sought -Lodar's. "I'm sorry about the things I said," she offered gently. "I—"</p> - -<p>"Go on, get in!" Lodar shoved her, then turned to Ray. "You too. Get -set for takeoff. When McVane and I tackle the crew I'll toss a signal -bomb into the corridor. You'll hear it explode. Take off, fast!"</p> - -<p>Ray nodded. He shook hands with McVane, hesitated briefly, then offered -his hand to Lodar.</p> - -<p>"Go on!" Lodar snarled. "Get out before I get some sense and change my -mind!"</p> - -<p>Before Ray closed the inner lock, McVane passed him an envelope. "Give -it to the girlie," he muttered.</p> - -<p>Inside the escape ship, Ray closed the little hatch, then touched the -emergency button which swung open the outer port on the <i>Vulcan's</i> -hull. With the butt of his gun he hammered a signal. They were ready.</p> - -<p>Neither he nor Ellenor spoke as they waited. The seconds dragged in -silence except for the sound of their breathing.</p> - -<p>Suddenly a hollow boom resounded, followed by the sharp rattle of metal.</p> - -<p>"That's it!" Ray gunned the little escape ship clear.</p> - -<p>They were out in space. The black shape of the <i>Vulcan</i> swung behind -them, dwindling. It looked inert and ghostly. It looked a dead ship, -with no sign of the conflict that was raging inside.</p> - -<p>Ray turned the escape boat sharply left, away from the sun, and set the -drive for Earth. Behind them the <i>Vulcan</i> was fading into blackness off -to one side of Sol. Now and then a pale gleam touched the dark sides as -it swung sluggishly.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>It was all the escape ship could do to gain steady acceleration against -the mighty pull behind them. For a while Ray nursed the tiny converter -along, till he was sure the drive was winning. Then he joined Ellenor -in the cramped little mid-section.</p> - -<p>Her brown hair was combed back, starkly outlining the pale face. Her -brown eyes were large, underneath one of them was the ugly bruise from -Lodar's hand.</p> - -<p>"We're loaded down with loot," Ray growled disgustedly. "Let's hope -there's grub enough to see us to Earth."</p> - -<p>He stared sharply as she remained huddled silently. She was holding the -envelope which McVane had given. As he sat down beside her she passed -him a sheet of paper. He recognized McVane's untidy scrawl.</p> - -<p>"Lodar always wanted to end in a blaze of glory," he read, "so this -idea was O.K. with him, too." Ray stared, puzzled.</p> - -<p>The girl raised her hand, showing him the two matches that had been -wrapped in the note. They were both unbroken!</p> - -<p>"Why," Ray gasped, "that means—"</p> - -<p>"Lodar cheated," she said softly.</p> - -<p>Ray stared back at the <i>Vulcan</i>. His hand was on the controls, poised -to turn back the little ship. It was unthinkable to leave Lodar now!</p> - -<p>"It won't do any good," Ellenor said. "Lodar's life was spent anyway. -But McVane—" Suddenly she was crying.</p> - -<p>Ray's arm was around her. "He was a hesitant little hero, wasn't he?" -He smiled gently down on the girl. They knew that McVane had never -loved life, was only drinking himself to the grave, but a deep sense of -pity smote him.</p> - -<p>Perhaps the fight inside the <i>Vulcan</i> would be over swiftly as Lodar -had his moment of glorious battle. Perhaps McVane would die quite -happily beside his friend.</p> - -<p>It wouldn't be entirely in vain.</p> - -<p>Ray felt a new purpose in his own life. Lodar's wealth would fight for -the right of the Mutes to life, and Ray would join Ellenor, see that -she was protected, helped in the battle to come with the powers that -sought to enslave her Venus.</p> - -<p>It seemed his fate was always to be inextricably tangled with that of -the Mutes.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p><i>Recommendations by the Board of Space Navigators, entered this 3rd -day of November, 2268.</i></p> - -<p>1. <i>That Navigator Ray Burk be severely reprimanded for</i>:</p> - -<p><i>a. Failure to prevent a mutiny.</i></p> - -<p><i>b. Failure to prevent the</i> Vulcan's <i>attack on the Company Ship</i> -Elixir, <i>which was damaged</i>.</p> - -<p><i>2. That the wealth of Captain Lodar be turned over to Ray Burk -according to the laws of salvage, but minus</i></p> - -<p><i>a. 25% Federal Tax.</i></p> - -<p><i>b. A fine of 10 credits assessed for each Mute killed.</i></p> - -<p><i>3. That Ray Burk be reinstated to rank of Navigator, Unlimited.</i></p> - -<p><i>4. That he be assigned the task of investigating conditions on the -planet, Venus.</i></p> - -<p><i>5. That the young woman known as Ellenor be transported freely to her -home on Venus.</i></p> - -<p><i>Entered into record by Carter A. Pringle.</i></p> - -<p><i>Reprimands (a) and (b) delivered. Witness, Carter A. Pringle.</i></p> - -<p><i>Probate court to deliver funds of Lodar (deceased).</i></p> - -<p class="ph2"><i>per Carter A. Pringle.</i></p><br /> - -<p><i>Addendum: Section five, (5) above, cancelled as not necessary; -Ellenor having contracted for matrimony with Ray Burk, Navigator -Unlimited, and being no longer a public charge.</i></p> - -<p class="ph2"><i>Annotated by Carter A. 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