CHAPTER TWENTY - ON THE PLATFORM
There were two things Rip could see from his hospital bed on the spaceplatform. One was the great curve of earth. He was anxious to get out ofthe hospital and back to Terra.
The second thing was the asteroid. Spacemen were at work on it, slowlycutting it to pieces. The pieces were small enough to be carried back toearth in supply rockets. It would be a long time before the asteroid wascompletely cut up and transported to Terra base.
Sergeant-major Koa came into the hospital ward and sat on Rip's bed. Theplastifoam mattress compressed under his weight. "How are you feeling,sir?"
"Pretty good," Rip replied. The worst of the radiation sickness was overand he was mending fast. Here and there were little blood stains justbelow the surface of his skin, and he had no more hair than a plasticball. Otherwise he looked normal. The stains would go away and his hairwould grow back within a matter of weeks.
Santos, now officially a sergeant, was in the same condition. The rest ofRip's Planeteers had resumed duties on the space platform. He saw themfrequently because they made a point of dropping in whenever they werenear the hospital area.
Koa looked out at the asteroid. "I sort of hate to see that rock cut up.There isn't much about a chunk of thorium to get sentimental over, butafter fighting for it the way we did, it doesn't seem right to cut it intoblocks."
"I know how you feel," Rip admitted, "but after all, that's what webrought it back for."
He studied Koa's brown face. The big Hawaiian had something on his mind."Got vack worms chewing at you?" he asked. Vack worms were a spaceman'sequivalent of "the blues."
"Not exactly, sir. I happened to overhear the doctor talking today. You'redue for a leave in a week."
"That's good news!" Rip exclaimed. "You're not unhappy about it, are you?"
Koa shrugged. "We were all hoping we'd be together on our next assignment.The gang liked serving under you. But we're overdue for shipment tosomewhere, and if you take eight weeks' leave, we'll be gone by the timeyou come back to the platform."
"I liked serving with all of you, too." Rip replied. "I watched the wayyou all behaved when the space-flap was getting tough and it made me proudto be a Planeteer."
Major Joe Barris came in. He was carrying an envelope in his hand.
"Hello, Rip. How are you, Koa? Am I interrupting a private talk?"
"No, Major," Koa replied. "We're just passing the time. Want me to leave?"
"Stay here," Barris said. "This concerns you, too. I've been reassigned.My eight years on the platform are up, and that's all an instructor gets.Now I'm off for space on another job."
Rip knew that instructors were assigned for eight-year periods. And heknew that the major's specialty was the Planeteer science of exploration.Barris's specialty required him to be an expert in biology, zoology,anthropology, navigation and astrogation, and in land fighting. Not tomention a half dozen other lesser things. Only ten Planeteers rated expertin exploration and all were captains or majors.
"Where are you going?" Rip asked. "Off to explore something?"
"That's it." Major Barris smiled. "Remember once I said that when theygave me the job of cleaning up the goopies on Ganymede I'd ask for you asa platoon leader?"
Rip stared. "Don't tell me that's your assignment!"
"Almost. Tell me, would you recommend any more of your men for promotion?I'll need a new sergeant and two more corporals."
Rip thought it over. "Koa can check me on this. I'd suggest makingPederson a sergeant and Dowst and Dominico corporals. Kemp and Santosalready have promotions."
"That would be my choice, too," Koa agreed.
"Fine." Barris tapped the envelope. "I'll correct the orders in here andrecommend the promotions. We'll get sixteen new recruits from thegraduating class at Luna and that will complete the platoon I'm supposedto organize. Two full platoons are waiting, and the new platoon will giveme a full-strength squadron. Except for new officers. How about Flip Villafor a platoon commander, Rip?"
Rip knew the Mexican officer was among the best of his own graduatingclass. "I have to admit prejudice," he warned. "Flip is a pal of mine. ButI don't think you could do better." His curiosity got the best of him andhe asked, "Can you tell me what this is all about?"
Joe Barris reached over and rubbed Rip's bald head. "By the time fur growsback on that irradiated dome of yours, I'll be on my way with Koa,Pederson, and the new recruits. Santos and the rest of your crew willreport to Terra base. Flip Villa will join them there. You'll be onearth-leave for eight weeks, but it will take about that much time forFlip and the men to assemble the supplies and equipment we'll need."
He pulled a sheaf of papers out of the envelope. "Koa, here are orders foryou and your men. They say you're to report to Special Order SquadronSeven, on Ganymede. SOS Seven is a new squadron, the first one organizedexclusively for exploration duties, and I'm its commanding officer. Koa,you'll be my senior noncommissioned officer. I want you and Pederson withme because you can organize the new recruits enroute. They have a lot moreto learn from you than they got in their two years of training. You'llmake real Planeteers out of 'em."
He picked a paper from the sheaf and waved it at Rip. "This is for you,Lieutenant Foster." He read, "Foster, R.I.P., Lieutenant, SOS. Serialseven-nine-four-three. Authorized eight weeks' earth-leave upon dischargefrom hospital. Upon completion of leave subject officer will report toTerra base for transportation to SOS Seven on Ganymede."
Joe Barris handed Rip his new orders. "You'll be on the same ship withFlip Villa and your men. Flip will be another of my platoon leaders. I'llbe waiting for you on Ganymede. The moons of Jupiter will be our home forquite a while, Rip. Our first assignment is to explore Callisto from poleto pole."
Rip didn't know what to say. To serve under Barris, to have his own men ina regular squadron platoon, to have Flip Villa in the same outfit, and tobe assigned to exploration duty--dirtiest but most exciting of allPlaneteer jobs--it was just too much. He couldn't say anything. He couldonly grin.
Major Joe Barris looked at Rip's shiny head and chuckled. "From what Ihear of Callisto, we're in for a rough time. Your hair will probably growback just in time to turn gray!"
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