The Space Pioneers

  CHAPTER 16

  "I'll leave you here," said Vidac to Captain Strong as the two spacemenstood in front of the Administration Building. "Take the slidestairs upto the seventh floor. First corridor to the left. There will be a guardoutside their door. Give him this note and there won't be any trouble."

  Strong looked at the lieutenant governor coolly. "There better not be,"he said.

  "That's a strange attitude to take, Captain," said Vidac.

  "Vidac," said Strong coldly, "I want you to know right now that I don'tlike this setup. There are many things cadets might be, but they are notkidnappers or murderers!"

  "I intend to prove otherwise!" asserted Vidac.

  "I figured you would," said Strong, "but you still have to produceProfessor Sykes's body."

  "Don't worry, Captain." Vidac smiled. "My men are searching for it now.We'll find it."

  "When you do, Vidac," said Strong grimly, "and he happens to be alive,make sure he stays that way, eh?" The Solar Guard captain wheeled andentered the Administration Building before Vidac could answer.

  Inside, he found the slidestairs and rode up to the seventh level.Taking the first corridor to the left, he rounded a corner to find EdBush standing in front of the door to the cadets' quarters. As heapproached, Bush took out his paralo-ray gun and held it on Strong.

  "That's far enough, mister," said Bush.

  "Do you realize what you're doing?" demanded Strong.

  "Never mind what I'm doing," snapped Bush. "Who are you and what do youwant?"

  "You'd better get spacewise, mister! It's against the law to hold aweapon on an officer of the Solar Guard! I'm Captain Strong and I wantto see the cadets!"

  "No one gets inside without a pass from Governor Vidac," Bush answeredsurlily.

  Strong pulled out the note and handed it over brusquely. Bush glanced atit and handed it back.

  "O.K.," he said. "You got ten minutes." He unlocked the door and steppedaside.

  Strong was furious at this treatment. But he held his temper in check,realizing he had to talk to the cadets first and find out what hadhappened. He would deal with Bush later. He stepped past Bush and openedthe door.

  "_Polaris_ unit--stand to!" he yelled.

  Seated around the table, the three cadets stared at their captain indisbelief, then instinctively rose and snapped to attention. Their backswere straight and their eyes forward, but it was impossible for them tokeep smiles off their faces. Suppressing his own elation, Strong managedto stride in front of them in mock inspection, but then could no longerhold back an answering smile.

  "Unit--stand easy!"

  Like three happy puppies the cadets swarmed over their skipper, poundinghim on the back, grabbing his hands, and mauling him until he had to cryout for peace.

  "Take it easy," he cried. "Relax, will you! You'll tear me apart!"

  "You're the happiest sight I've seen in weeks, sir!" shouted Tom.

  "Yeah," drawled Roger, grinning from ear to ear. "I couldn't be happierif you had brought along a ship full of space dolls!"

  "When did you get here, sir?" asked Astro. "Why didn't you let us know?"

  The questions tumbled out of the boys' mouths thick and fast, and Stronglet them chatter until their initial burst of elation had worn itselfout. Then, after quickly bringing them up to date on all news of theAcademy, and news of Earth, he pulled up a chair and faced themsolemnly. The three cadets braced themselves to tell him about theirexperiences since leaving Atom City.

  "There's a lot to tell, sir," began Tom. "But we're only going to giveyou the facts as we know them, sir. And then let you decide."

  Then starting from the beginning, when they were first relieved of theirstations on the _Polaris_ on the way out to the satellite, the threecadets related their experiences with Vidac, Hardy, and Professor Sykes.They ended with a detailed account of their being held for thedisappearance of the professor.

  "And you say that the colonists were forced to pay for their food on thetrip out?" asked Strong incredulously.

  "Yes, sir," said Tom. "And later, after the ships crashed, there was ashortage of farm tools and equipment, which meant that the colonistswould have to farm with chemicals. Vidac made them sign over part oftheir future profits and mortgage their land holdings to get thechemicals."

  "And four hundred ships crashed in landing? Hasn't anybody figured outwhy yet?" Strong asked.

  Roger shook his head. "The instruments just went out, sir," he said. "Inever saw anything like it, and when the professor wanted to go down ina jet boat first to investigate, Vidac insisted on taking the _Polaris_down, anyway. He brought her in by the seat of his pants...."

  "Only because Tom took over when he got cold feet," chimed in Astro.

  "Yeah," agreed Roger. "But the others couldn't do it. They just splashedin."

  "And there hasn't been any explanation of why the instruments went out?"

  "I haven't heard any, sir," said Astro. "Professor Sykes started outright after we landed to investigate the satellite, but I never heardanything more about it. When I asked him one day if he had foundanything, he told me to mind my own business."

  "And now you're accused of abducting and murdering the professor," musedStrong.

  "That's it, sir," said Tom. "As I said, we didn't want to give youanything but the facts as we know them. There are a lot of incidentsthat would show Vidac is trying to pull something funny, but nothingthat could be proved."

  Strong nodded. "Well, it certainly looks as though Vidac is--"

  Strong was suddenly interrupted by Bush who stepped into the roomarrogantly, paralo-ray gun in hand.

  "Time's up!" he yelled, waving the gun at Strong.

  "I've warned you about holding a weapon on a Solar Guard officer,"snapped Strong, rising to face the man. "Either put that thing away oruse it."

  _"Hasn't anybody figured out why four hundred shipscrashed in landing?" Strong asked._]

  Bush glanced at the smiling cadets and turned back to Strong.

  "Your time is up," he growled. "Get out!"

  "I said," replied Strong coldly, "either use that thing or put it away!"

  Bush glared at Strong, but the gun in his hand began to waver. "I saidyour time's up!" he repeated, but there was considerably less convictionin his voice.

  Suddenly Strong stepped forward and grabbed the man's wrist, forcing thegun down. As Bush started to struggle, Strong tightened his grip, andthe victim's face grew white with pain. Slowly Bush's fingers opened andthe paralo-ray weapon dropped to the floor.

  "Now pick it up and get out of here!" barked Strong, releasing Bush'sarm. "I'm going to stay with the cadets as long as I want. And if youever pull a gun on me again, I'll make you eat it!"

  He turned his back to Bush and faced the cadets again. Bush dove for thegun, raised it threateningly, then suddenly walked out of the room,slamming the door as hard as he could. The cadets sighed in relief andStrong smiled.

  "Let's see what Vidac makes of that," he said. "Now, let's get down tobusiness. There's only one thing I can do right now."

  "Yes, sir?" asked Tom, waiting attentively.

  "I'm going to talk with a few of the colonists and see what else I canpick up. Meantime, you just take it easy. And if that space jerk outsidegives you any trouble"--Strong paused and smiled--"show him a few ofyour wrestling tricks, Astro."

  The big Venusian nodded enthusiastically. "My pleasure, Captain."

  Strong stood up and shook hands with each of them. "From what you'vetold me," he said, "I think I should see Hyram Logan first."

  "Yes, sir," said Tom. "He's sort of the spokesman for the rest of thecolonists. He can give you a lot of information."

  "Good!" said Strong. "Where will I find him?"

  Tom gave directions and the captain left the three cadets with a smile."Don't worry. We'll see this through. In a short while you'll be on dutyagain."

  A half-hour later, in one of the converted jet boats, Steve Strong spedalong the smooth broad streets and fl
at level highways of the colony. Hewas heading for the Logan farm and the long drive through the Roaldcountryside would ordinarily have been interesting and enjoyable. Butthe Solar Guard captain was preoccupied with his own thoughts. A namekept repeating itself over and over in his mind. Hardy--Hardy--Hardy.Why hadn't the governor done something about Vidac? Where was he whenthe colonists were forced to pay for their food? Why hadn't he checkedon the cadets' statement that their report hadn't been sent out? Strongmade a mental note to check the logbook of the _Polaris_ when hereturned.

  Suddenly, ahead of him, he saw a young boy walking along the highway. Heslowed down and stopped beside him.

  "Hello, Sonny," called Strong with a smile. "Can you tell me where I canfind the Logan farm?"

  The boy stared at Strong, eyes wide. "Sure thing, Mister, er--Imean--Captain. I'm Billy Logan."

  "Well, hop in, Billy!" said Strong. "I'll give you a lift!"

  "Thanks," replied the boy and jumped in beside Strong. "It's about amile up the road, then we turn off." He couldn't keep his eyes offStrong's black-and-gold uniform. "I'm going to be a Space Cadet when Iget old enough," he gulped breathlessly.

  "You are?" asked Strong. "That's fine. You have to study very hard."

  "I know," said Billy, "I'm starting already! Tom, Roger, and Astro lentme books and study spools to work on. Why, I bet I know every singleAcademy regulation right now!"

  Strong laughed. "I wouldn't be surprised!"

  "We turn off here," said Billy, indicating a narrow road branching offthe main highway. "We live about three miles down. Out in thewilderness. By the stars, it's so lonely out here sometimes, I wish Iwas back on Venus!"

  "If you want to be a spaceman," said Strong, "you have to learn not tobe lonely. Why, I just made a trip out from Atom City all by myself.Didn't bother me a bit!"

  "You did?" cried Billy. "Gosh!"

  He was so awed by Strong's solo trip out to the satellite that heremained silent the rest of the trip.

  A few moments later Strong pulled up at a small crystal structure, justoff the road. He had no sooner stopped, than Billy was out of the caryelling to his father and sister at the top of his voice that they had avisitor.

  Hyram Logan came from around the back of the house to greet Strong, andJane, who had been busy in the kitchen preparing supper, came to meetthe young officer, wiping her hands on her apron.

  "Mighty glad to see the Solar Guard remembered we're out here," saidLogan as he led Strong into the house. Seated comfortably in the livingroom, Strong brought up the purpose of his visit right away.

  "I've just finished talking to the cadets, Mr. Logan, and they've beentelling me some strange stories about Vidac and Governor Hardy. I'd liketo hear what you have to say about it."

  "I can say everything in one sentence, Captain," snorted Logan. "Thosespace crawlers are trying to take everything we have away from us!"

  And for three hours Strong listened as the Venusian farmer talked. Whenthe farmer had finished, Strong asked only one question.

  "Why didn't Governor Hardy do something?"

  "I can't explain that," said Logan. "When we were forced to pay for ourfood on the way out, we signed a petition and sent it to the governor.But we never heard anything about it. Of course Vidac could haveintercepted it."

  "Well, thank you, Mr. Logan," said Strong, getting up.

  "Won't you stay for supper, Captain?" asked Jane.

  "Yeah, please stay, sir," pleaded Billy. "I'd like to hear about yourtrip out here all by yourself."

  Strong laughed. "Some other time, Billy." He ruffled the lad's hair. "Ihave to get back and see if the cadets are all right."

  A few moments later Strong was speeding along the superhighway backtoward the city. There was only one thing on his mind--to get the cadetsout of the trap they were in. But it would be a hard job. Vidac hadwitnesses against them. He mentally probed the situation further. Whywould Vidac abduct Professor Sykes? Surely not to frame the cadets. Hemust have wanted to be rid of Sykes too. Sykes must have knownsomething. But what? Strong suddenly thought of the professor'sinvestigation of the landing disturbance. It could only have been theresult of radioactivity in a large mass. So the professor must havediscovered a large deposit of uranium. Strong's mind raced on. Sykeswould have taken the report to Vidac or Hardy, or both, and--

  Strong forced himself to stop thinking. He was violating one of thecardinal laws of the Solar Alliance. He was presuming that Vidac orHardy was guilty--and he didn't have an atom's worth of proof. There wasonly one way to get the proof. The cadets would have to escape to findit.

  * * * * *

  Strong sidled around the corner of the corridor. Down at the end of thehall, still standing in front of the cadet's door, Bush leaned againstthe wall, idly picking his teeth. Strong realized that he would have tosneak up behind the guard. He couldn't afford to be seen. He had to waituntil Bush turned around.

  He waited and watched while the man shifted from one foot to the other.And after what seemed like hours, Bush shifted his position and turnedhis back on the Solar Guard officer. Strong quickly darted around thecorner and ran lightly down the hall. If Bush turned around now, Strongwould be frozen stiff by the paralo ray. With ten feet to go, thecaptain lunged at Bush in a diving tackle, sending the man sprawlingface forward. In a flash he was on top of him, and with a quick snappingblow on the back of the neck he knocked the man cold.

  Strong snatched up the paralo-ray gun, then unlocked the door and threwit open. The cadets were sprawled on their bunks, listening to a storyspool.

  "Captain Strong!" yelled Tom.

  "Quiet!" ordered Strong. "You've got three minutes. You'll find a jetcar at the side entrance of the building. I can't explain now, but getout of here!"

  "But what do you want us to do?" asked Tom. The three cadets werealready grabbing their clothes and other items they would need.

  "The only way you're going to prove that you didn't abduct or murder theprofessor is to find him," said Strong. "And pray to your stars thathe's still alive. If he isn't, it'll be up to you to find out who killedhim!"

  "But what about you, sir?" asked Roger. "Won't Vidac know that youhelped us?"

  "Undoubtedly," said Strong. "After what I said to the guard today, Vidacwill arrange for a hundred witnesses to prove that I helped you escape.You'll have to bring back the professor, not only to save your ownnecks, but my neck as well."

  The three cadets nodded.

  "All right," said Strong. "Spaceman's luck, and remember, you'll bewanted criminals when you walk out of that door. So act like criminals.Fight them the same way they will fight you. This is not a spacemaneuver. It's your lives against theirs!"

  Without another word, the three cadets slipped out of the room anddisappeared down the corridor.

  Strong took a last look at Bush lying unconscious on the floor andhurried silently back to the front of the building. His heart was racingwith excitement. The ball had begun to roll.