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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..06cf367 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #66396 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/66396) diff --git a/old/66396-0.txt b/old/66396-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 603dfde..0000000 --- a/old/66396-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1064 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Danger in the Void, by Charles E. Fritch - -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: Danger in the Void - -Author: Charles E. Fritch - -Release Date: September 27, 2021 [eBook #66396] - -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 DANGER IN THE VOID *** - - - - - DANGER IN THE VOID - - By Charles E. Fritch - - Silvia secretly planned to divorce George - when they reached Arcturus. But a space journey - can alter a careful plan--or hatch a worse one! - - [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from - Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy - August 1954 - Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that - the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - -The trouble started when the _Arcturus Queen_ was four billion miles -out of Earth, heading for the star after which it was named. It pulled -clear of the solar system using conventional drive, then switched into -subspace. A few minutes later the ship shuddered perceptibly, and an -authoritative voice came reassuringly from the public address system. - -"Passengers will please remain in their seats. We are temporarily -cutting the subspace drive due to mechanical difficulties which have -developed. There is no cause for alarm." - -The message was repeated and George said, "What do you suppose is the -matter?" - -"How should I know," Silvia snapped. "I'm not a space mechanic. Why -don't you find out if you're so interested." - -He glared at her. "I was just wondering. You don't have to get so -disagreeable. But then, why should now be any different?" - -She smiled at that, though her blood raced and her fingers itched -to make red ribbons of his face. "I've got plenty of reason to be -disagreeable--" - -"Okay, okay," he said; "let's not go through that again." He got up. -"I'm going up to the observation platform." And he went down the -aisle between the rows of seats and disappeared through a door at the -farthest end. - -She glared after him. That was always his way, running out on an -argument. Well, when this trip was over, there would be no more running -away. - -A man dropped into the seat beside her. - -"This seat's taken," she said automatically, and then realized the -man must have known, since all seats were reserved. - -"I know," the man said. "I'd like to talk to you." - -She studied him for a moment. He had a rather common face, one with -no particularly outstanding features, a face that would be difficult -to remember, she thought. He wore a plain business suit, with a -conventional white shirt and an unobtrusive tie. He did not appear the -wolfish type to her, but rather the ordinary businessman you might see -hanging onto helibus straps anyplace on Earth. - -"You want to talk to me?" she said carefully. "About what?" - -"Your divorce," the man said simply. - -"My divorce? But--" She stopped. She was about to say, "But how did you -know?" when it suddenly occurred to her that George might have hired -this man to find out if she were planning one of those rapid Arcturan -separations. She hadn't thought to wonder if he suspected she was -planning one. If he knew about her divorce plans, he might take counter -measures just for spite; with Arcturan divorce regulations as they -were, that would be bad. - -She said, "I'm not divorced, Mr...." - -"Jones," the man supplied, smiling. "I know that, Mrs. Bennet, but I -also know that you're going to Arcturus to obtain one. I'd like to talk -to you about that, confidentially of course." - - * * * * * - -She was certain of it now. He knew her name and spoke about a divorce -no one but she knew of. "I'm sorry," she said coldly, turning her head -away to indicate that as far as she was concerned the interview was at -an end, "I gave no one to understand that. I'm accompanying my husband -on a business trip. Now, if you'll please--" - -"Nevertheless," the man insisted, "your intentions are plain, perhaps -not to others or even your husband--but to us, very clear. Let me be -frank, Mrs. Bennet. I represent an organization which can be of great -benefit to you, providing you help us by accepting our standard plan." - -"Your organization?" she questioned. - -The man waved a vague hand. "The organization is of necessity nameless. -However, it is quite effective. In fact, the only way you've heard of -us, without realizing it, is through the effects we produce for our -clients." - -"What sort of--effects?" - -"I promised to be frank, Mrs. Bennet. I shall. Your husband is an -android, and you hate him for that reason and for others." - -Silvia gasped. "How did you know? That he's an android, I mean?" - -The man smiled. "Our organization has access to a great deal of -information; it's an integral part of our business, this information, -serving as a springboard for contacting prospective clients like you." - -"You mean," she said testily, "you'd like to help me get a divorce?" -She smiled, adding, "For a fee, naturally." - -The man shook his head no. "Something more permanent. We'd like to make -a widow of you." - -For a moment Silvia sat paralyzed, thinking she had not heard right. -After awhile, she said, "You'd like to what?" - -"You were carefully studied," the man went on, "and we know the idea of -your husband's death is not repugnant to you; that's why I'm suggesting -the idea simply, without any cat-and-mouse tactics. Your husband has -insurance amounting to slightly less than one hundred thousand credits; -our fee will be one-tenth of that plus one-tenth of any other monies -which may accrue as a result of his death." - -Silvia sat in shocked silence, not knowing what to say. "You're crazy," -she managed finally. "I'll call the officers--" - -"Who wouldn't believe you because the story is fantastic," the man -pointed out, certain of himself. "Only our clients and potential -clients know we are in existence, for not one of our--er--operations -has been discovered. Think it over, Mrs. Bennet. Even though Arcturan -divorces can be quick, they aren't always painless. It's like war with -them, just as everything is, and wars can be lost. Our way is more -certain; you're assured of your husband's estate and nine-tenths of all -insurance money. I'll be around when you change your mind." - -He got up and walked down the aisle in back of her. Silvia didn't look -to follow him. She was thinking, _when_ I change my mind; the man was -that sure of it, was he? Or was that just to put her in a positive -frame of mind, making her think it was not a question of yes or no, -but when. She had quarrels with George, sure, and sometimes she even -felt she hated him--but the idea of murder had not entered her mind. -Mentally she added, _at least until now!_ She shook her head--no, it -was out of the question. - - * * * * * - -She had to admit to herself, though, now that she _was_ thinking -of it, that she would miss the easy living being married to George -entailed, even with any alimony she might receive. He was the android -version of the old Horatio Alger story, though very few persons knew -or even suspected George was not human. The World Congress had passed -equalizing laws for androids just as they had for the various races, -with the difference that it worked for androids since they had no -outward mark of being different from the select group. - -While not wealthy, they had lived well, with George trying in his -simple fashion to please her. She thought once she had loved him, for -after all he was a rather likable person. He had told her of his being -a non-human and had proposed in almost the same breath, and it had -shocked her at first the way any normal woman would be shocked at being -told such a thing. But George was on his way to becoming somebody in -the business world, and after going mentally over the pros and cons of -the thing she had decided she could do much worse. There were times -during the two years of marriage, however, when she wasn't even certain -of that. - -She had considered the possibility of forcing him after the divorce -to give her some of his real estate or investments in return for not -disclosing his secret; for while technically there was supposed to -be no ill will toward androids there was an instinctive repulsion on -the part of many humans for someone who was not of their kind, and -George's business contacts would inevitably suffer if the knowledge got -out. It was not blackmail, she rationalized--she disliked the unlawful -sound of the word--but a business deal in which she supplied silence in -return for his money. It was the least he could do, she thought, after -taking up two years of her life. - -But murder was another thing, a totally different thing that had -entered her mind only briefly during arguments and then not seriously. -Even blackmail would be lily-white compared to it. She had never -actually entertained the idea for any length of time, but now she -considered it--not seriously even now, she told herself hastily, but -merely as an intellectual diversion. - -Android or not, as far as the courts were concerned, it was murder just -as though the victim were a human. But the case might never reach the -courts, for the "organization" would handle all homicidal details, she -remembered, and they were probably professionals in the art. Strange, -no one had discovered the organization, but that probably testified to -its ability. They could probably kill someone, even George, and no one -would ever know.... - -She shook her head in mild disdain, wondering at the sudden flood of -criminal thoughts started by the stranger. She reminded herself that -she was going to Arcturus to divorce her husband, not to kill him. She -wondered disinterestedly if he were sulking up there on the observation -platform. - -The loudspeaker crackled and a feminine voice said, "The mechanical -difficulties have been located and are being repaired. It will be -approximately thirty minutes, Earth rating, before we enter subspace -again. Meanwhile, the lounge is open for those wishing to patronize it. -May we suggest a cocktail, followed by a dinner from any of the planets -of any system. The view from the observation platform--" - -The voice droned on, telling of the swimming pool, the -three-dimensional (off-gravity) tennis rooms, and other diversions -designed to get passengers' minds off the fact that they were -temporarily stalled in open space. - - * * * * * - -George appeared in the doorway at one end of the aisle and walked -toward her. She gave a small gasp as she saw the stranger come through -the doorway behind him. They came down the aisle, and George dropped -into his seat. The stranger looked questioningly at her before he -passed. She shook her head no. - -"There's a good view from the observation platform," George said, as -though making an effort to be conversational. "Now's the time to see -it, when the ship's in normal space. They've got a large transparent -dome, like half a bubble, and when you look up it seems as though -you're out there in space, floating." - -"Really?" she said drily. "I'm not exactly a tourist, you know. I -_have_ been on observation platforms before." - -For a moment he looked at her as though wondering if there were -anything he could say that wouldn't bring out a disagreeable word. -"Silvia, I wish--" he began. - -"All right, all right," she interrupted wearily. "If there's anything -I've said to injure your poor sensitive feelings, I apologize. But -please don't give me that lost sheep-dog look; I can't stand it." - -He started to say something, then changed his mind at the futility of -it and fell silent. She regarded him from the corner of her vision for -a moment, feeling strangely sympathetic toward him. It made her feel -something of a heel when he fell silently accusing like that, and she -didn't like the feeling. If only he'd rant and rave at her, stand on -his own two feet and maybe even beat her once in a while. She wouldn't -like that, but at least it would be better than this outwardly placid -pacificism. She suspected his attitude stemmed from an inferior -complex due to his being android; he could spin the world on its tail, -corner all the credits in the solar system, but still he could not -escape the fact of his artificial birth. That fact was her weapon, and -he knew it and was afraid of it. - -After awhile, he said slowly, "I'm going to get a divorce, Silvia." - -She looked at him swiftly, her eyes taking in each facet of his -features to see if he were jesting. She even wondered for a moment if -she had heard correctly. - -"I'm going to get a divorce on Arcturus," he repeated, not looking at -her. "I've been thinking it over for the past several months. Finally, -I decided it would be the best thing for both of us. I hope you won't -contest it; I don't think I'd like one of those running battles." - -Silvia sat stunned by the revelation. This was to have been her -surprise party, not his, for under Arcturan divorce regulations the -member initiating the action had the distinct advantage, especially -when the other was unprepared; the war-conditioned star-system had -developed this marital blitzkrieg to satisfy the sporting instincts -of its people and to attract the curiosity-seeking Earth trade. She -had figured it as a surprise to him, knowing he would be shocked by -its suddenness and take no action against her demands for what would -normally constitute an excessive amount of alimony. - -"I thought I'd better tell you," he said, almost apologetically, "even -if it does work to my disadvantage." He got up. "If you'd care to -discuss it further, I'll be in the bar." - -In shocked silence, Silvia watched her husband retreat down the aisle. -It was so typical of him to tell her, but the thought of him doing -something like this at all was incredible. More than that, it was -unbearable. She felt anger surge within her to realize that she'd -been beaten to the punch, even if the romantic fool had confessed -his intentions. Slowly, she could sense her plans wavering, becoming -insecure, and panic gripped her. She'd had it all planned, all of it, -working out the details with secret enthusiasm, never suspecting George -was discontented enough to take action himself. - - * * * * * - -She still had a good chance, of course, but not nearly as good a one as -before. The two years she had been married to him would be an eternity -compared to what compensation she might receive now, if she received -anything at all. Perhaps she could make up to him before they got to -Arcturus, convince him she was repentant, that she wanted him to remain -with her. The thought of kowtowing before him, putting her pride on -the auction block, sickened her, though. Besides, he would easily see -through the subterfuge; though weak, he was not a fool. Inwardly, she -cursed, her mind a frantic jumble of thoughts. There was nothing she -could do, nothing except hope for the best. Unless-- - -The stranger appeared with the thought concerning him. He dropped into -the seat beside her. - -"Have you reconsidered?" he asked her quietly. - -It was murder, she knew, and yet George was only an android, -something that was manufactured artificially in a laboratory in great -liquid-filled tanks; that somehow made it different, made it something -like putting a machine out of commission rather than destroying a life. - -She wet her lips. "In the eyes of the law," she said, "it's murder, you -know." - -"All the laws in the universe," the man returned gravely, "will not -make an android human, Mrs. Bennet. There is a faction which gives our -organization a bonus each time an android is destroyed, so you can see -you're not alone in this." - -She didn't look at him. "How would you do it?" - -"Efficiently," he replied vaguely, "in a way I cannot yet disclose. -Satisfaction, however, is guaranteed." - -"Ten percent of the insurance money is the total fee?" - -"Ten percent of _all_ insurance monies," he corrected, "which is not -necessarily the same thing." He drew a paper from his coat, opened it -and handed her a pen. - -"I have to sign something?" she asked. "But won't that incriminate me?" - -"You promise to pay the ten percent _in consideration of services -rendered_," the man explained. "The services are, of course, not -stated." - -She took the pen and signed before she could talk herself out of it. - -"When will it be?" - -Carefully, he folded the document and returned it to his coat. "Before -we reach Arcturus," the man said, getting up. "Thank you very much, -Mrs. Bennet. Glad to be of service to you." And he walked away. - - * * * * * - -She nodded vaguely and then began considering what she had done. George -was an android, she told herself again, only an android. But how could -you tell an android from a human? Certainly not outwardly. Blood -chemistry was different, but the blood was red just the same. The skin -was a different composition, yet it felt and looked like human skin. -The personality and the character had human flaws in them. What, then, -was the difference? The answer came: an android was not human because -he was an android, which by definition was not human. - -This reasoning tended to confuse her, and she tried to push the -thoughts from her mind. It was done, and that was all that mattered, -she told herself. Pangs of conscience might plague her now, but -afterward the soothing balm of money would ease the pain. They'd never -gotten along, so what difference did it make. - -She forced her thoughts away from that and wondered how they'd do it. -She hoped suddenly that it wouldn't be violent, and then she recalled -that a double indemnity clause would give her twice the hundred -thousand--less the ten percent, of course, for services rendered. At -least, she hoped he wouldn't suffer. He'd suffered enough during his -lifetime, just for being an android. - -It must have been horrible, she thought, having to go through life -knowing you're less than human, or at least in having people think -that. Even if humans accepted you as an equal (which they didn't, -despite any laws), you'd have to live with the knowledge that you -evolved from an artificially produced embryo under conditions -simulating normal birth. Artificial growth, she thought disgustedly, -like the hydroponic production of vegetables. She felt a sudden sorrow -for him, a sympathy that was as far from pity as it had ever been. -Perhaps it was even for his own good, she tried to rationalize, to do -this. And yet she was still not certain. - -George came down the aisle toward her, and she looked away hastily. She -felt the seat depress beside her. - -"The subspace drive will be ready in a few minutes more," he said. -"Then we'll really be on our way to Arcturus." - -"Yes," she said quietly, not looking at him. She wanted to say -something sarcastic, something to make him squirm, something that would -give an aura of normality to her actions. Yet the words stuck in her -throat, refusing to come. He has only a few moments, she told herself, -let them be pleasant. - -She was surprised that the thought put her in a bad light, almost -admitting that it was her fault that they didn't get along; yet it was -difficult to be patient with someone who always seemed to be thinking -grave thoughts, as though constantly reminding himself he was an -inferior. - -But there was a time, she remembered, when he had not been grave. When -they had first met, for example, and during the courtship that had -followed. A smile touched her lips as she thought about the little -things, the picnics and the sudden drenching rainstorms that inevitably -came after the ants were finished with their food, the 'copter trips -over the scenic wonderlands of Earth, the first accidental brushings of -their hands that had led to a kiss and then to another. But that was -before she had known he was an android. - -She felt suddenly ashamed that the word "android" could mean so much. - -"George?" She reached out and touched his hand. It felt warm and human. - -He turned, bewilderment in those android human-looking eyes. He smiled -at her, rather nervously, she thought. "Yes?" - -"Nothing," she said, "nothing at all." She drew her hand away and -stared straight ahead. - -It was wrong, she thought suddenly, it was the wrongest thing she had -ever done in her life. She knew that with sudden clarity. All the money -in the universe would not be worth the life of this--this _human_ -beside her. Yes, that was it, android or not, he was as human as anyone -she had ever known. - - * * * * * - -The loudspeaker hummed briefly and a voice said, "In thirty seconds -we will enter subspace. All passengers will remain seated until the -changeover is complete." - -The voice repeated the message, and Silvia thought frantically, _we'll -be on our way to Arcturus and somewhere along the line the stranger -will kill George!_ - -She leaped up. - -"Sit down," George cried, pushing at her. "We're going into subspace." - -"I've got to see somebody," she said, struggling. - -"It can wait," George insisted. - -She went limp, as she heard the whine of the motors deep down within -the spaceship. "Yes," she said, "yes, I suppose it will." But not too -long. She didn't know when, or even how, but each moment might be -George's last. - -She braced herself involuntarily, as the whine rose to the threshold -of inaudibility. A sudden rumbling came. The spaceship shook, the -walls twisting as though grasped by a giant's hand. The room tilted -precariously. A woman screamed. - -"Something's gone wrong," George shouted. He grabbed Silvia's hand. - -"Attention all passengers," a frantic voice came from the loudspeaker, -"prepare to abandon ship. Put on emergency spacesuits and go to -lifecraft assigned you. There is no immediate cause for alarm. There is -time enough for all to reach safety, if instructions are obeyed. Above -all, remain calm. Calls for help are going out--" - -Silvia was dimly aware that George had pulled her spacesuit from the -overhead locker and was trying to stuff her into it. Thank goodness, -she thought, it was like a miracle this happening. Now, neither of them -would go to Arcturus and the stranger's plans would be delayed until -she had time to cancel them. - -"I'm okay," she insisted, fumbling with the rest of her suit. "Put -yours on." - -"We're going to be killed!" a man shouted near them. He scrambled down -the aisle toward the exit. George hit him, and the man staggered, -looking like a small boy punished for breaking a window. Then he began -sobbing and someone led him away. - -The ship shuddered again, and the walls protested with the grating of -metal. Silvia staggered, but her husband's arm shot out to steady her. - -A voice from the loudspeaker said, "Attention, all passengers. Prepare -to abandon ship. The following persons will proceed to emergency exit -one. Please be orderly. There is enough time and enough room." He read -off a list of six names. - -"I hope we're together," George said. "I--I've changed my mind about -something." - -Silvia felt a surge of pleasure. He wasn't going to get the divorce -after all. She didn't stop to analyze her feeling, but she hoped it -wasn't selfish. - -"The following passengers," the loudspeaker announced "will go to -emergency exit two." - -George listened carefully and at their names said, "That's us." He took -her by the arm. "Better put your helmet in place. There might be a -leak." - -She nodded, flipping it over her head the way he did, placing the -faceplate open so she could talk without using the radio. The way he -seemed concerned over her made her feel ashamed she had plotted his -death, and yet at the same time it made her feel glad that they had -come to some silent understanding in time. - - * * * * * - -He led the way down the aisle and into the corridor that led to exit -two. They passed into the lifecraft, a miniature spaceship, and sat -down to wait. There were four others, three men and one woman. The -pilot came in last, helmet off, and sat at the controls. - -"We're leaving the ship now," he warned, and pressed several studs. - -Silvia stared at the pilot. "George," she said, gripping her husband's -arm. The pilot was the stranger who was going to kill George! - -"We'll be all right," George assured her. - -The small lifecraft trembled as its rockets blasted them with sudden -acceleration into space. In seconds they were many miles beyond the -_Arcturus Queen_. - -The woman was pale and frightened. One of the men stared through a -porthole. "Look at it back there," he exclaimed. "It looks like it's -going to--" - -"Attention all lifecraft pilots," a loudspeaker said. "Rendezvous at -a point within one thousand yards of lifecraft number one. Distress -signals have been sent to the outer planets of Sol and help will arrive -shortly. Follow this beam." The message was repeated and then replaced -by a humming sound. - -The pilot switched off the sound. - -George said, "Hadn't you--" and then he stopped. - -The pilot got up from his seat. There was a gun in his hand. "The -signal won't be necessary," he said calmly. "None of you aboard this -ship will be rescued." - -Silvia bit her lip, hesitating. Then she said, "I've changed my mind, -the deal's off." - -The man smiled. "A contract is a contract, Mrs. Bennet," he said. -"Besides, we've gone too far now with plans to turn back." - -George was staring at her in disbelief. "Silvia, you mean that you--" - -"I'll explain later," she told him. - -"The time for explanations," the man said, "is right now. There will be -no 'later' for any of you. What your wife means, Mr. Bennet, is just -what you suspect. And what your husband is trying to say, Mrs. Bennet, -is that _he_ arranged a similar contract with me as did these other -people." - -Silvia felt a chill pass through her at the words. George, she thought, -George was planning to-- - -"I was desperate," George cried, beside her, his eyes pleading. "I -was afraid that once we got a divorce you'd tell them about me. But I -couldn't go through with it, Silvia: that's what I meant when I said -I'd changed my mind." - -She listened numbly. - -"An interesting situation," the man smiled, "but it's much too late -for anybody to change his mind. At your deaths, the organization will -collect ten percent of your insurance benefits, plus the insurance -covering passengers killed as a result of a spaceship explosion." - -"Spaceship explosion," one of the male passengers said, coming out of -a lethargy, "but there's been no--" - -"Look," another cried, pointing to a porthole. - -They looked, and the _Arcturus Queen_ burst into flame, erupting with -a great soundless explosion that sent metal splinters flying in all -directions. - -The man smiled again, a smile of satisfaction, of knowing his plans -were ripening. "The _Arcturus Queen_ was insured by the owner, who -needed money. We take ten percent from him, a nominal fee considering -the risk involved." - -"And what of us?" one of the men passengers demanded. - -The man shrugged. "Each of you is married to someone who prefers your -insurance money to your companionship. Not a very satisfying thought, -is it?" - -The woman began to cry softly. - -"You'll never get away with this," another of the men said, fists -clenching. - -"Can you think of any reason why not?" the man said, fondling the -weapon in his hand. - -I can, Silvia thought; George and I aren't getting caught in our own -traps if I can help it. If I can only tilt the ship, get him off -balance-- - -Slowly, she edged toward the control panel, signaling George with a -careful nod of her head. George caught the signal, and she could see -him tense. - -"We're wasting time," the man said, a trifle impatiently. He readied -the gun. "If there are no last questions--" - -Silvia made a sudden thrust for the control panel. - - * * * * * - -The man whirled, cursing, and brought the gun to bear on her. But -George was on him, gripping the man by the throat. The gun went off, -and a searing blast of flame filled the lifecraft. - -"The wall!" someone cried. - -Silvia looked up. The wall of the lifecraft hung suspended for a moment -like some great jigsaw puzzle where the gun's blast had struck it. And -then it fell apart, blowing outward with the hurricane of the cabin's -air leaping into space. - -Instinctively, Silvia slammed shut the glass on her faceplate and tried -to grab some solid support. But a giant hand lifted her from the floor -and whisked her out into the blackness of the void. Weightlessness came -with terrifying suddenness, and at first it was like falling through -black silent endless waters. She tried to scream, but the sound refused -to come out. - -She called George's name several times and then remembered the radio -and turned the activating knob. "George," she said. "I'm outside the -lifecraft. Can you see me?" - -No answer came. Space was a velvet black out here, the stars gleaming -points. She had no sensation of movement, but twisting her head in the -helmet, she could see the lifecraft becoming smaller. Her heart sank -with the knowledge that inertia was pulling her out, out farther and -farther into space. - -_He's not coming after me_, she thought suddenly, and the thought -terrified her, made her throat suddenly tight. _Even if he hears, he -won't come._ - -Around her, space drifted--dark, silent, limitless. Ahead, a great -nebula glowed. - -"I'm sorry," she said slowly to herself. "I suppose I deserve it." - -"Probably," George's voice came in her helmet, "but I'm coming after -you anyway. Everybody's okay on this end, except our insurance man who -couldn't get his helmet on in time; it seems my hands were somehow in -the way." - -Her heart leaped at his voice. "Do you still love me, George?" she -asked. Somehow, that mattered more than anything else. - -"I don't know," he said wearily, "I don't really know." - -"Can't we try again?" she pleaded. - -"I'm sick of trying," George said. - -Her heart sank. She drifted through space watching the lifecraft bear -down upon her. In a few seconds it would be close enough, so that the -braking rockets-- - -"George!" she cried. "You're coming too close. I'll be burned by the -braking rockets!" - -"Accidents happen," George told her. - -She screamed. - -The lifecraft turned aside then, and long fingers of flame shot past -her from the forward tubes. The ship drifted alongside her then, and -all jets were cut. - -She breathed sudden relief. "Thank goodness. For a few seconds -there...." - -"It was a bad few seconds for both of us," George told her. "Don't -tempt me again, Silvia." - -He appeared at the gaping hole in the lifecraft, a rope in his hands. - -"I won't, George," she promised. "We'll try again; this time we'll -_really_ try." - -He tossed her the rope. She grabbed it and began the descent to the -ship. When he pulled her inside it was like being born again. - -And somehow, she knew this new life would be different. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DANGER IN THE VOID *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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Fritch</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Danger in the Void</p> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Charles E. Fritch</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: September 27, 2021 [eBook #66396]</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 DANGER IN THE VOID ***</div> - -<div class="titlepage"> - -<h1>DANGER IN THE VOID</h1> - -<h2>By Charles E. Fritch</h2> - -<p>Silvia secretly planned to divorce George<br /> -when they reached Arcturus. But a space journey<br /> -can alter a careful plan—or hatch a worse one!</p> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from<br /> -Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy<br /> -August 1954<br /> -Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that<br /> -the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]</p> - -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>The trouble started when the <i>Arcturus Queen</i> was four billion miles -out of Earth, heading for the star after which it was named. It pulled -clear of the solar system using conventional drive, then switched into -subspace. A few minutes later the ship shuddered perceptibly, and an -authoritative voice came reassuringly from the public address system.</p> - -<p>"Passengers will please remain in their seats. We are temporarily -cutting the subspace drive due to mechanical difficulties which have -developed. There is no cause for alarm."</p> - -<p>The message was repeated and George said, "What do you suppose is the -matter?"</p> - -<p>"How should I know," Silvia snapped. "I'm not a space mechanic. Why -don't you find out if you're so interested."</p> - -<p>He glared at her. "I was just wondering. You don't have to get so -disagreeable. But then, why should now be any different?"</p> - -<p>She smiled at that, though her blood raced and her fingers itched -to make red ribbons of his face. "I've got plenty of reason to be -disagreeable—"</p> - -<p>"Okay, okay," he said; "let's not go through that again." He got up. -"I'm going up to the observation platform." And he went down the -aisle between the rows of seats and disappeared through a door at the -farthest end.</p> - -<p>She glared after him. That was always his way, running out on an -argument. Well, when this trip was over, there would be no more running -away.</p> - -<p>A man dropped into the seat beside her.</p> - -<p>"This seat's taken," she said automatically, and then realized the -man must have known, since all seats were reserved.</p> - -<p>"I know," the man said. "I'd like to talk to you."</p> - -<p>She studied him for a moment. He had a rather common face, one with -no particularly outstanding features, a face that would be difficult -to remember, she thought. He wore a plain business suit, with a -conventional white shirt and an unobtrusive tie. He did not appear the -wolfish type to her, but rather the ordinary businessman you might see -hanging onto helibus straps anyplace on Earth.</p> - -<p>"You want to talk to me?" she said carefully. "About what?"</p> - -<p>"Your divorce," the man said simply.</p> - -<p>"My divorce? But—" She stopped. She was about to say, "But how did you -know?" when it suddenly occurred to her that George might have hired -this man to find out if she were planning one of those rapid Arcturan -separations. She hadn't thought to wonder if he suspected she was -planning one. If he knew about her divorce plans, he might take counter -measures just for spite; with Arcturan divorce regulations as they -were, that would be bad.</p> - -<p>She said, "I'm not divorced, Mr...."</p> - -<p>"Jones," the man supplied, smiling. "I know that, Mrs. Bennet, but I -also know that you're going to Arcturus to obtain one. I'd like to talk -to you about that, confidentially of course."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>She was certain of it now. He knew her name and spoke about a divorce -no one but she knew of. "I'm sorry," she said coldly, turning her head -away to indicate that as far as she was concerned the interview was at -an end, "I gave no one to understand that. I'm accompanying my husband -on a business trip. Now, if you'll please—"</p> - -<p>"Nevertheless," the man insisted, "your intentions are plain, perhaps -not to others or even your husband—but to us, very clear. Let me be -frank, Mrs. Bennet. I represent an organization which can be of great -benefit to you, providing you help us by accepting our standard plan."</p> - -<p>"Your organization?" she questioned.</p> - -<p>The man waved a vague hand. "The organization is of necessity nameless. -However, it is quite effective. In fact, the only way you've heard of -us, without realizing it, is through the effects we produce for our -clients."</p> - -<p>"What sort of—effects?"</p> - -<p>"I promised to be frank, Mrs. Bennet. I shall. Your husband is an -android, and you hate him for that reason and for others."</p> - -<p>Silvia gasped. "How did you know? That he's an android, I mean?"</p> - -<p>The man smiled. "Our organization has access to a great deal of -information; it's an integral part of our business, this information, -serving as a springboard for contacting prospective clients like you."</p> - -<p>"You mean," she said testily, "you'd like to help me get a divorce?" -She smiled, adding, "For a fee, naturally."</p> - -<p>The man shook his head no. "Something more permanent. We'd like to make -a widow of you."</p> - -<p>For a moment Silvia sat paralyzed, thinking she had not heard right. -After awhile, she said, "You'd like to what?"</p> - -<p>"You were carefully studied," the man went on, "and we know the idea of -your husband's death is not repugnant to you; that's why I'm suggesting -the idea simply, without any cat-and-mouse tactics. Your husband has -insurance amounting to slightly less than one hundred thousand credits; -our fee will be one-tenth of that plus one-tenth of any other monies -which may accrue as a result of his death."</p> - -<p>Silvia sat in shocked silence, not knowing what to say. "You're crazy," -she managed finally. "I'll call the officers—"</p> - -<p>"Who wouldn't believe you because the story is fantastic," the man -pointed out, certain of himself. "Only our clients and potential -clients know we are in existence, for not one of our—er—operations -has been discovered. Think it over, Mrs. Bennet. Even though Arcturan -divorces can be quick, they aren't always painless. It's like war with -them, just as everything is, and wars can be lost. Our way is more -certain; you're assured of your husband's estate and nine-tenths of all -insurance money. I'll be around when you change your mind."</p> - -<p>He got up and walked down the aisle in back of her. Silvia didn't look -to follow him. She was thinking, <i>when</i> I change my mind; the man was -that sure of it, was he? Or was that just to put her in a positive -frame of mind, making her think it was not a question of yes or no, -but when. She had quarrels with George, sure, and sometimes she even -felt she hated him—but the idea of murder had not entered her mind. -Mentally she added, <i>at least until now!</i> She shook her head—no, it -was out of the question.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>She had to admit to herself, though, now that she <i>was</i> thinking -of it, that she would miss the easy living being married to George -entailed, even with any alimony she might receive. He was the android -version of the old Horatio Alger story, though very few persons knew -or even suspected George was not human. The World Congress had passed -equalizing laws for androids just as they had for the various races, -with the difference that it worked for androids since they had no -outward mark of being different from the select group.</p> - -<p>While not wealthy, they had lived well, with George trying in his -simple fashion to please her. She thought once she had loved him, for -after all he was a rather likable person. He had told her of his being -a non-human and had proposed in almost the same breath, and it had -shocked her at first the way any normal woman would be shocked at being -told such a thing. But George was on his way to becoming somebody in -the business world, and after going mentally over the pros and cons of -the thing she had decided she could do much worse. There were times -during the two years of marriage, however, when she wasn't even certain -of that.</p> - -<p>She had considered the possibility of forcing him after the divorce -to give her some of his real estate or investments in return for not -disclosing his secret; for while technically there was supposed to -be no ill will toward androids there was an instinctive repulsion on -the part of many humans for someone who was not of their kind, and -George's business contacts would inevitably suffer if the knowledge got -out. It was not blackmail, she rationalized—she disliked the unlawful -sound of the word—but a business deal in which she supplied silence in -return for his money. It was the least he could do, she thought, after -taking up two years of her life.</p> - -<p>But murder was another thing, a totally different thing that had -entered her mind only briefly during arguments and then not seriously. -Even blackmail would be lily-white compared to it. She had never -actually entertained the idea for any length of time, but now she -considered it—not seriously even now, she told herself hastily, but -merely as an intellectual diversion.</p> - -<p>Android or not, as far as the courts were concerned, it was murder just -as though the victim were a human. But the case might never reach the -courts, for the "organization" would handle all homicidal details, she -remembered, and they were probably professionals in the art. Strange, -no one had discovered the organization, but that probably testified to -its ability. They could probably kill someone, even George, and no one -would ever know....</p> - -<p>She shook her head in mild disdain, wondering at the sudden flood of -criminal thoughts started by the stranger. She reminded herself that -she was going to Arcturus to divorce her husband, not to kill him. She -wondered disinterestedly if he were sulking up there on the observation -platform.</p> - -<p>The loudspeaker crackled and a feminine voice said, "The mechanical -difficulties have been located and are being repaired. It will be -approximately thirty minutes, Earth rating, before we enter subspace -again. Meanwhile, the lounge is open for those wishing to patronize it. -May we suggest a cocktail, followed by a dinner from any of the planets -of any system. The view from the observation platform—"</p> - -<p>The voice droned on, telling of the swimming pool, the -three-dimensional (off-gravity) tennis rooms, and other diversions -designed to get passengers' minds off the fact that they were -temporarily stalled in open space.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>George appeared in the doorway at one end of the aisle and walked -toward her. She gave a small gasp as she saw the stranger come through -the doorway behind him. They came down the aisle, and George dropped -into his seat. The stranger looked questioningly at her before he -passed. She shook her head no.</p> - -<p>"There's a good view from the observation platform," George said, as -though making an effort to be conversational. "Now's the time to see -it, when the ship's in normal space. They've got a large transparent -dome, like half a bubble, and when you look up it seems as though -you're out there in space, floating."</p> - -<p>"Really?" she said drily. "I'm not exactly a tourist, you know. I -<i>have</i> been on observation platforms before."</p> - -<p>For a moment he looked at her as though wondering if there were -anything he could say that wouldn't bring out a disagreeable word. -"Silvia, I wish—" he began.</p> - -<p>"All right, all right," she interrupted wearily. "If there's anything -I've said to injure your poor sensitive feelings, I apologize. But -please don't give me that lost sheep-dog look; I can't stand it."</p> - -<p>He started to say something, then changed his mind at the futility of -it and fell silent. She regarded him from the corner of her vision for -a moment, feeling strangely sympathetic toward him. It made her feel -something of a heel when he fell silently accusing like that, and she -didn't like the feeling. If only he'd rant and rave at her, stand on -his own two feet and maybe even beat her once in a while. She wouldn't -like that, but at least it would be better than this outwardly placid -pacificism. She suspected his attitude stemmed from an inferior -complex due to his being android; he could spin the world on its tail, -corner all the credits in the solar system, but still he could not -escape the fact of his artificial birth. That fact was her weapon, and -he knew it and was afraid of it.</p> - -<p>After awhile, he said slowly, "I'm going to get a divorce, Silvia."</p> - -<p>She looked at him swiftly, her eyes taking in each facet of his -features to see if he were jesting. She even wondered for a moment if -she had heard correctly.</p> - -<p>"I'm going to get a divorce on Arcturus," he repeated, not looking at -her. "I've been thinking it over for the past several months. Finally, -I decided it would be the best thing for both of us. I hope you won't -contest it; I don't think I'd like one of those running battles."</p> - -<p>Silvia sat stunned by the revelation. This was to have been her -surprise party, not his, for under Arcturan divorce regulations the -member initiating the action had the distinct advantage, especially -when the other was unprepared; the war-conditioned star-system had -developed this marital blitzkrieg to satisfy the sporting instincts -of its people and to attract the curiosity-seeking Earth trade. She -had figured it as a surprise to him, knowing he would be shocked by -its suddenness and take no action against her demands for what would -normally constitute an excessive amount of alimony.</p> - -<p>"I thought I'd better tell you," he said, almost apologetically, "even -if it does work to my disadvantage." He got up. "If you'd care to -discuss it further, I'll be in the bar."</p> - -<p>In shocked silence, Silvia watched her husband retreat down the aisle. -It was so typical of him to tell her, but the thought of him doing -something like this at all was incredible. More than that, it was -unbearable. She felt anger surge within her to realize that she'd -been beaten to the punch, even if the romantic fool had confessed -his intentions. Slowly, she could sense her plans wavering, becoming -insecure, and panic gripped her. She'd had it all planned, all of it, -working out the details with secret enthusiasm, never suspecting George -was discontented enough to take action himself.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>She still had a good chance, of course, but not nearly as good a one as -before. The two years she had been married to him would be an eternity -compared to what compensation she might receive now, if she received -anything at all. Perhaps she could make up to him before they got to -Arcturus, convince him she was repentant, that she wanted him to remain -with her. The thought of kowtowing before him, putting her pride on -the auction block, sickened her, though. Besides, he would easily see -through the subterfuge; though weak, he was not a fool. Inwardly, she -cursed, her mind a frantic jumble of thoughts. There was nothing she -could do, nothing except hope for the best. Unless—</p> - -<p>The stranger appeared with the thought concerning him. He dropped into -the seat beside her.</p> - -<p>"Have you reconsidered?" he asked her quietly.</p> - -<p>It was murder, she knew, and yet George was only an android, -something that was manufactured artificially in a laboratory in great -liquid-filled tanks; that somehow made it different, made it something -like putting a machine out of commission rather than destroying a life.</p> - -<p>She wet her lips. "In the eyes of the law," she said, "it's murder, you -know."</p> - -<p>"All the laws in the universe," the man returned gravely, "will not -make an android human, Mrs. Bennet. There is a faction which gives our -organization a bonus each time an android is destroyed, so you can see -you're not alone in this."</p> - -<p>She didn't look at him. "How would you do it?"</p> - -<p>"Efficiently," he replied vaguely, "in a way I cannot yet disclose. -Satisfaction, however, is guaranteed."</p> - -<p>"Ten percent of the insurance money is the total fee?"</p> - -<p>"Ten percent of <i>all</i> insurance monies," he corrected, "which is not -necessarily the same thing." He drew a paper from his coat, opened it -and handed her a pen.</p> - -<p>"I have to sign something?" she asked. "But won't that incriminate me?"</p> - -<p>"You promise to pay the ten percent <i>in consideration of services -rendered</i>," the man explained. "The services are, of course, not -stated."</p> - -<p>She took the pen and signed before she could talk herself out of it.</p> - -<p>"When will it be?"</p> - -<p>Carefully, he folded the document and returned it to his coat. "Before -we reach Arcturus," the man said, getting up. "Thank you very much, -Mrs. Bennet. Glad to be of service to you." And he walked away.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>She nodded vaguely and then began considering what she had done. George -was an android, she told herself again, only an android. But how could -you tell an android from a human? Certainly not outwardly. Blood -chemistry was different, but the blood was red just the same. The skin -was a different composition, yet it felt and looked like human skin. -The personality and the character had human flaws in them. What, then, -was the difference? The answer came: an android was not human because -he was an android, which by definition was not human.</p> - -<p>This reasoning tended to confuse her, and she tried to push the -thoughts from her mind. It was done, and that was all that mattered, -she told herself. Pangs of conscience might plague her now, but -afterward the soothing balm of money would ease the pain. They'd never -gotten along, so what difference did it make.</p> - -<p>She forced her thoughts away from that and wondered how they'd do it. -She hoped suddenly that it wouldn't be violent, and then she recalled -that a double indemnity clause would give her twice the hundred -thousand—less the ten percent, of course, for services rendered. At -least, she hoped he wouldn't suffer. He'd suffered enough during his -lifetime, just for being an android.</p> - -<p>It must have been horrible, she thought, having to go through life -knowing you're less than human, or at least in having people think -that. Even if humans accepted you as an equal (which they didn't, -despite any laws), you'd have to live with the knowledge that you -evolved from an artificially produced embryo under conditions -simulating normal birth. Artificial growth, she thought disgustedly, -like the hydroponic production of vegetables. She felt a sudden sorrow -for him, a sympathy that was as far from pity as it had ever been. -Perhaps it was even for his own good, she tried to rationalize, to do -this. And yet she was still not certain.</p> - -<p>George came down the aisle toward her, and she looked away hastily. She -felt the seat depress beside her.</p> - -<p>"The subspace drive will be ready in a few minutes more," he said. -"Then we'll really be on our way to Arcturus."</p> - -<p>"Yes," she said quietly, not looking at him. She wanted to say -something sarcastic, something to make him squirm, something that would -give an aura of normality to her actions. Yet the words stuck in her -throat, refusing to come. He has only a few moments, she told herself, -let them be pleasant.</p> - -<p>She was surprised that the thought put her in a bad light, almost -admitting that it was her fault that they didn't get along; yet it was -difficult to be patient with someone who always seemed to be thinking -grave thoughts, as though constantly reminding himself he was an -inferior.</p> - -<p>But there was a time, she remembered, when he had not been grave. When -they had first met, for example, and during the courtship that had -followed. A smile touched her lips as she thought about the little -things, the picnics and the sudden drenching rainstorms that inevitably -came after the ants were finished with their food, the 'copter trips -over the scenic wonderlands of Earth, the first accidental brushings of -their hands that had led to a kiss and then to another. But that was -before she had known he was an android.</p> - -<p>She felt suddenly ashamed that the word "android" could mean so much.</p> - -<p>"George?" She reached out and touched his hand. It felt warm and human.</p> - -<p>He turned, bewilderment in those android human-looking eyes. He smiled -at her, rather nervously, she thought. "Yes?"</p> - -<p>"Nothing," she said, "nothing at all." She drew her hand away and -stared straight ahead.</p> - -<p>It was wrong, she thought suddenly, it was the wrongest thing she had -ever done in her life. She knew that with sudden clarity. All the money -in the universe would not be worth the life of this—this <i>human</i> -beside her. Yes, that was it, android or not, he was as human as anyone -she had ever known.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The loudspeaker hummed briefly and a voice said, "In thirty seconds -we will enter subspace. All passengers will remain seated until the -changeover is complete."</p> - -<p>The voice repeated the message, and Silvia thought frantically, <i>we'll -be on our way to Arcturus and somewhere along the line the stranger -will kill George!</i></p> - -<p>She leaped up.</p> - -<p>"Sit down," George cried, pushing at her. "We're going into subspace."</p> - -<p>"I've got to see somebody," she said, struggling.</p> - -<p>"It can wait," George insisted.</p> - -<p>She went limp, as she heard the whine of the motors deep down within -the spaceship. "Yes," she said, "yes, I suppose it will." But not too -long. She didn't know when, or even how, but each moment might be -George's last.</p> - -<p>She braced herself involuntarily, as the whine rose to the threshold -of inaudibility. A sudden rumbling came. The spaceship shook, the -walls twisting as though grasped by a giant's hand. The room tilted -precariously. A woman screamed.</p> - -<p>"Something's gone wrong," George shouted. He grabbed Silvia's hand.</p> - -<p>"Attention all passengers," a frantic voice came from the loudspeaker, -"prepare to abandon ship. Put on emergency spacesuits and go to -lifecraft assigned you. There is no immediate cause for alarm. There is -time enough for all to reach safety, if instructions are obeyed. Above -all, remain calm. Calls for help are going out—"</p> - -<p>Silvia was dimly aware that George had pulled her spacesuit from the -overhead locker and was trying to stuff her into it. Thank goodness, -she thought, it was like a miracle this happening. Now, neither of them -would go to Arcturus and the stranger's plans would be delayed until -she had time to cancel them.</p> - -<p>"I'm okay," she insisted, fumbling with the rest of her suit. "Put -yours on."</p> - -<p>"We're going to be killed!" a man shouted near them. He scrambled down -the aisle toward the exit. George hit him, and the man staggered, -looking like a small boy punished for breaking a window. Then he began -sobbing and someone led him away.</p> - -<p>The ship shuddered again, and the walls protested with the grating of -metal. Silvia staggered, but her husband's arm shot out to steady her.</p> - -<p>A voice from the loudspeaker said, "Attention, all passengers. Prepare -to abandon ship. The following persons will proceed to emergency exit -one. Please be orderly. There is enough time and enough room." He read -off a list of six names.</p> - -<p>"I hope we're together," George said. "I—I've changed my mind about -something."</p> - -<p>Silvia felt a surge of pleasure. He wasn't going to get the divorce -after all. She didn't stop to analyze her feeling, but she hoped it -wasn't selfish.</p> - -<p>"The following passengers," the loudspeaker announced "will go to -emergency exit two."</p> - -<p>George listened carefully and at their names said, "That's us." He took -her by the arm. "Better put your helmet in place. There might be a -leak."</p> - -<p>She nodded, flipping it over her head the way he did, placing the -faceplate open so she could talk without using the radio. The way he -seemed concerned over her made her feel ashamed she had plotted his -death, and yet at the same time it made her feel glad that they had -come to some silent understanding in time.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>He led the way down the aisle and into the corridor that led to exit -two. They passed into the lifecraft, a miniature spaceship, and sat -down to wait. There were four others, three men and one woman. The -pilot came in last, helmet off, and sat at the controls.</p> - -<p>"We're leaving the ship now," he warned, and pressed several studs.</p> - -<p>Silvia stared at the pilot. "George," she said, gripping her husband's -arm. The pilot was the stranger who was going to kill George!</p> - -<p>"We'll be all right," George assured her.</p> - -<p>The small lifecraft trembled as its rockets blasted them with sudden -acceleration into space. In seconds they were many miles beyond the -<i>Arcturus Queen</i>.</p> - -<p>The woman was pale and frightened. One of the men stared through a -porthole. "Look at it back there," he exclaimed. "It looks like it's -going to—"</p> - -<p>"Attention all lifecraft pilots," a loudspeaker said. "Rendezvous at -a point within one thousand yards of lifecraft number one. Distress -signals have been sent to the outer planets of Sol and help will arrive -shortly. Follow this beam." The message was repeated and then replaced -by a humming sound.</p> - -<p>The pilot switched off the sound.</p> - -<p>George said, "Hadn't you—" and then he stopped.</p> - -<p>The pilot got up from his seat. There was a gun in his hand. "The -signal won't be necessary," he said calmly. "None of you aboard this -ship will be rescued."</p> - -<p>Silvia bit her lip, hesitating. Then she said, "I've changed my mind, -the deal's off."</p> - -<p>The man smiled. "A contract is a contract, Mrs. Bennet," he said. -"Besides, we've gone too far now with plans to turn back."</p> - -<p>George was staring at her in disbelief. "Silvia, you mean that you—"</p> - -<p>"I'll explain later," she told him.</p> - -<p>"The time for explanations," the man said, "is right now. There will be -no 'later' for any of you. What your wife means, Mr. Bennet, is just -what you suspect. And what your husband is trying to say, Mrs. Bennet, -is that <i>he</i> arranged a similar contract with me as did these other -people."</p> - -<p>Silvia felt a chill pass through her at the words. George, she thought, -George was planning to—</p> - -<p>"I was desperate," George cried, beside her, his eyes pleading. "I -was afraid that once we got a divorce you'd tell them about me. But I -couldn't go through with it, Silvia: that's what I meant when I said -I'd changed my mind."</p> - -<p>She listened numbly.</p> - -<p>"An interesting situation," the man smiled, "but it's much too late -for anybody to change his mind. At your deaths, the organization will -collect ten percent of your insurance benefits, plus the insurance -covering passengers killed as a result of a spaceship explosion."</p> - -<p>"Spaceship explosion," one of the male passengers said, coming out of -a lethargy, "but there's been no—"</p> - -<p>"Look," another cried, pointing to a porthole.</p> - -<p>They looked, and the <i>Arcturus Queen</i> burst into flame, erupting with -a great soundless explosion that sent metal splinters flying in all -directions.</p> - -<p>The man smiled again, a smile of satisfaction, of knowing his plans -were ripening. "The <i>Arcturus Queen</i> was insured by the owner, who -needed money. We take ten percent from him, a nominal fee considering -the risk involved."</p> - -<p>"And what of us?" one of the men passengers demanded.</p> - -<p>The man shrugged. "Each of you is married to someone who prefers your -insurance money to your companionship. Not a very satisfying thought, -is it?"</p> - -<p>The woman began to cry softly.</p> - -<p>"You'll never get away with this," another of the men said, fists -clenching.</p> - -<p>"Can you think of any reason why not?" the man said, fondling the -weapon in his hand.</p> - -<p>I can, Silvia thought; George and I aren't getting caught in our own -traps if I can help it. If I can only tilt the ship, get him off -balance—</p> - -<p>Slowly, she edged toward the control panel, signaling George with a -careful nod of her head. George caught the signal, and she could see -him tense.</p> - -<p>"We're wasting time," the man said, a trifle impatiently. He readied -the gun. "If there are no last questions—"</p> - -<p>Silvia made a sudden thrust for the control panel.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The man whirled, cursing, and brought the gun to bear on her. But -George was on him, gripping the man by the throat. The gun went off, -and a searing blast of flame filled the lifecraft.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus.jpg" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>"The wall!" someone cried.</p> - -<p>Silvia looked up. The wall of the lifecraft hung suspended for a moment -like some great jigsaw puzzle where the gun's blast had struck it. And -then it fell apart, blowing outward with the hurricane of the cabin's -air leaping into space.</p> - -<p>Instinctively, Silvia slammed shut the glass on her faceplate and tried -to grab some solid support. But a giant hand lifted her from the floor -and whisked her out into the blackness of the void. Weightlessness came -with terrifying suddenness, and at first it was like falling through -black silent endless waters. She tried to scream, but the sound refused -to come out.</p> - -<p>She called George's name several times and then remembered the radio -and turned the activating knob. "George," she said. "I'm outside the -lifecraft. Can you see me?"</p> - -<p>No answer came. Space was a velvet black out here, the stars gleaming -points. She had no sensation of movement, but twisting her head in the -helmet, she could see the lifecraft becoming smaller. Her heart sank -with the knowledge that inertia was pulling her out, out farther and -farther into space.</p> - -<p><i>He's not coming after me</i>, she thought suddenly, and the thought -terrified her, made her throat suddenly tight. <i>Even if he hears, he -won't come.</i></p> - -<p>Around her, space drifted—dark, silent, limitless. Ahead, a great -nebula glowed.</p> - -<p>"I'm sorry," she said slowly to herself. "I suppose I deserve it."</p> - -<p>"Probably," George's voice came in her helmet, "but I'm coming after -you anyway. Everybody's okay on this end, except our insurance man who -couldn't get his helmet on in time; it seems my hands were somehow in -the way."</p> - -<p>Her heart leaped at his voice. "Do you still love me, George?" she -asked. Somehow, that mattered more than anything else.</p> - -<p>"I don't know," he said wearily, "I don't really know."</p> - -<p>"Can't we try again?" she pleaded.</p> - -<p>"I'm sick of trying," George said.</p> - -<p>Her heart sank. She drifted through space watching the lifecraft bear -down upon her. In a few seconds it would be close enough, so that the -braking rockets—</p> - -<p>"George!" she cried. "You're coming too close. I'll be burned by the -braking rockets!"</p> - -<p>"Accidents happen," George told her.</p> - -<p>She screamed.</p> - -<p>The lifecraft turned aside then, and long fingers of flame shot past -her from the forward tubes. The ship drifted alongside her then, and -all jets were cut.</p> - -<p>She breathed sudden relief. "Thank goodness. For a few seconds -there...."</p> - -<p>"It was a bad few seconds for both of us," George told her. "Don't -tempt me again, Silvia."</p> - -<p>He appeared at the gaping hole in the lifecraft, a rope in his hands.</p> - -<p>"I won't, George," she promised. "We'll try again; this time we'll -<i>really</i> try."</p> - -<p>He tossed her the rope. She grabbed it and began the descent to the -ship. 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