Page 12 - Astounding Pulp V2

NEUTRAL VESSEL 13
12 ASTOL"NDDrG SCIEKCE-FICTJO);
it be possible to have our table changed of comfort had been on his lips in a sud-
days yet remained of their journey. And Phillips ?'' he said. "I should ' have
for the remainder of the voyage-Zona's den sensation that comes only to an
Brand would be glad when it was com- thought you were Venusian.'' old-time spaceman. A rush of empti-
pleted. "Only on the maternal side. captain. and mine?" ness inside him.
Brand frowned, 'thinking of his pre-
He was glad now when Carlin came Father was pure Terrestrain. · But that vious uneasiness. "Can you point out The Spiri:t of Terra had leape? into
in. The mate ,\,as always wearing a is neither here nor there, sir. Excepting the .ones you think are spies?" he de- sudden acceleration! To the girl, to
grin. a cheerfully boyish sort of smile. that my sympathies are naturally ,Yith mall(]ed in his abrupt way. any passenger aboard the giant liner,
He wore it now. Venus in, shall I say, the present un- Leander Phillips juinp~d a foot, th_en this would be unnoticeable- the internal
'·Fellow to see you, sir," he told the pleasantness ?" . smiled sheepishly. "I can, sir, and will, gravity compensators took care of that
captain. "\,Vaiting in your lounge. One ' Brand repressed a chuckle at the ltt- of course," he quavered. instantly. But you couldn't fool an old-
of the passengers." tle man's seriousness and verbiage. The captain jabbed at a button and timer like Brand.
Brand arched black brows. "Com- "That's not surprising, Mr. Phillips.'' bawled into the audio frame on his desk: Zona Phillips was becoming frantic
plaint ?" he conceded. " Many Earthmen are ''Tell Mr. \IV01ihman two more pas- when the audio frame on his desk bel-
_''He didn't say. Looks harmless sympathizers on one side or the other. sengers at my table, starting :vi_th sup- lowed in Carlin's familiar accents: "All
enough, though. Venusian, I'd say, or I try to be strictly neutral. But I re- per this period. Leander Ph1lhps and stern motors ' and steering jets blasting
Venuso-Terrestrian." Young Carlin peat, sir: what can I do for you?" his daughter, Zona. That's all.'' full, captain. Controls not functioning.
th
looked up at -the chronometer. "Ready The Venusian sympathizer looked Every passenger tmew that Wo~ _ Your instructions, sir."
to gi\·e over, sir?" he asked. around nervously. " There are Martian man was head steward. ._The little Brand sputtered. This was an un.-
Brand's eyes roved enviously over the spies aboard," he said with owlish sol- v enuso-Terrestrian bowed h 11 ~ 1 self o~t, heard-of eventuality. But just like these:
younger man's trim, sinewy form as set emnity. smiling relievedly, leaving _the captam newfangled contraptions to let you down
off hy his perfectly fitted uniform. H is The captain laughed reassuringly. "I to sit scowling perplexedly m a haze of at .exactly the wrong time. "Coming!''
own square bulk, he was painfully aware, shouldn't be surprised. Probably Ve- cigar smoke. he bai:ked at the frame. "Be right with
was better suited to the rigors and scanty nusian spies as well. \Ve can't help you."
garb of a foundry than to the gold- that. Why worry about it? This is WITHOUT knowing why, Bra nd "I . . . I'm sorry, captain." The
braided scarlet and a drawing room. neutral territory, just the same as Lon- stirred himself in a few minutes and girl's eyes were starry with tears about
"Yes," he sighed, "I'1i1 ready, Mr. don." . 1 went into his private quarters, where ~e to come. "I . . . I didn't mean to in-
Carlin. And, as usual, there are no in- "I know that, sir." Leander Phil- instructed his cabin boy to lay out his terrupt. "But, my father- "
' The reason for her presence had
structions." He waved a knotty hand lips was tensely seriot~s. "In general, most impressive finery. He knew wh~,
d'
·
. d
shppe
"'' .res, yes,
" h e
d B ran s 111111 •
toward the control board. "It's all done I believe this causes you no corlcern. a moment later, when he returned to his said hastily. "Come along, Miss Zona,
· ·
for us automatically. Done in wriggling In this case, however, I'm convinced it lounge and beheld the v1s1011. 1f ever and tell me about it on the way. I
red and blue and green lines that ink should be of grave concern to you." he wished he were twenty years younger• have to be on the bridge ii11mediately."
· ·
•
1
themselves on the charts." . The man's earnestness impressed it was then. A g1rl-v1 s1 on, ·t was ta 11 Trotting at his side, she said : "I
v. · '
Gary Carlin had better sense than to Brand. "Let's not beat about the bush," and slim and auburn-haired, wi th fea- can wait till you've finished with that,
expand his grin. "Yes. sir," he said re- he suggested. ''Just what have you to tures and a figure that would have made
t 1 ·s art
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spectful! y. tell me?" the greatest artist orge 11 · The captain." But her voice sounded dead,
Phillips furtively withdrew a paper girl's lips were tremulous and her eyes hopeless.
THE ·APPEARAN CE of Brand's visitor from his pocket, passing it to the captain And ·well it might. Rounding a cor-
justified Carlin's estimate. A scrawny as if it were red-hot to his touch. "P i rst wide. · 1 b ti ner of the corridor, they almost fell over
"I'm Zona Phillips,'' she saic rea l -
little man with washed-out eyes and off, sir," he whispered, "I beg o( you 1 I ,. 13 :-.i.as •.• has my father been the body of Leander Phillips, which
ess y.
parchment skin drawn tight over high to look this over and conceal il at once." here?" . was slumping grotesquely to the floor.
cheekbones. His greeting was mildly Brand's skin crawled as he saw the "Why, yes, my dear," said Brana! T he acrid smell of burned flesh was in
apologetic. meticulously drawn sketch on the paper. blissfully unconscious of what w~s the air. His head was almost blasted
''What can I do for you?" the cap- It was an accurate circuit diagram of . . "H Jet·t only a few mmutes from his shoulders. The girl screamed
intrusion.
e
tain boomed genially. the Spirit of Terra.! Hastily he pock- ago." . and flopped at his side just as Brand
H is caller bowed in almost servile eted it. "Where'd you get this?" he The girl wrung her taper~d fin~e: s. leaped after the big figure he saw scut-
manner. "I am greatly honored, cap- asked soberly. " Oh, Captain Brand!" she wailed. . I ;~s1 tling off. Her scream had warned the
tain. that you receive me. I am Leander "They were discussing it, sir, at my a f ra1 . • .• I J. ust know somethini:, fugitive and he turned like an animal at
'd 1·
Phillips of London. And I have some · table. One dropped it later. And I'm d. t bay, whipping ap a stubby flame
.
information I believe will interest you." quite a bit frightened, sir, [or my daugh- happened." " the capta111 starte o thrower. A fleeting instant showecl
"N
d
ow now-
Surprised, Brand offered the man a ter's sake. She is with me, you know. soothe h~r. But he forgot what wor s Bra,nd bloodshot eyes, twisted mouthl
cigar, bit the end off his own. "Name's That is one favor I came to ask: would
..I.-