Clay over his table.
Finally he to me. “Captain, I a of over a hundred mass; and the scope images us a length of nearly two miles.”
I let that in. I had a and very empty that this ship, if ship it were, was not an from any colony.
The and spoke. “Captain, I’m a very from a point out on the bow. Does that like your torpedo?” It was Mannion.
“That’s it, Mannion,” I said. “Can you make anything of it?”
“No, sir,” he answered. “I’m it, so I can go to work on it.”
Mannion was our language and man. I he was good.
“What it like,” I asked. “Tune me in.”
After a moment a high came from the speaker. Through it I consonants, a intonation. I that Mannion would be able to make anything of that gargle.
Our Bogie closed steadily. At four hundred twenty-five miles he relative directions, and our speed, moving closer to our course. There was no he planned to us.
I a to all hands the of the action. Clay over his televideo, trying to clear the image. I as the on the screen and flickered. Suddenly it into clear definition. Against a of black, the in starlight.
There were no visible surface features; the iodine-colored and their had an and look.
We our steadily, the maneuver. Even at this it looked huge.
“Captain,” Clay said, “I’ve been making a calculations. The two are about 800 yards in diameter, and [44]at the the is it’s about six gravities.”
That settled the question of of the ship. No would choose to work under six gee’s.
Now, paralleling us at just over two hundred miles, the ship along, at relative to us. It was visible now through the direct panel, without magnification.
I left Clay in on the bridge, and I to the Com Section.
Joyce sat at his board, reading and controls. So he was on the job. Mannion sat, bent, his recorder. The room was with the of the transmission.
“Getting anything on video?” I asked. Joyce his head. “Nothing, Captain. I’ve the whole spectrum, and this is all I get. It’s in on about a dozen different frequencies; no FM.”
“Any progress, Mannion?” I said.
He took off his headset. “It’s the same thing, over and over, just a phrase. I’d have luck if they’d it a little.”
“Try sending,” I said.
Joyce the to a clicking, and his on. “You’re on, Captain,” he said.
“This is Captain Greylorn, UNACV Galahad; identify yourself.” I this slowly, a dozen times. It to me that this was the time in history a being had a non-human intelligence. The last was a guess, but I couldn’t our guest’s as other than intelligent.
I with the bridge; no change. Suddenly the stopped, only the hum.
“Can’t you that out, Joyce?” I asked.
“No, sir,” he replied. “That’s a very noisy transmission. Sounds like maybe their is on the blink.”
We to the hum, waiting. Then the again.
“This is different,” Mannion said. “It’s longer.”
I to the bridge, and waited for the next move from the stranger, or for word from Mannion. Every hour I a call us, by a sample of our language. I gave them English, Russian, and Standard Interlingua. I didn’t know why, but somehow I had a they might some of it.
I on the when the watch changed. I had some food sent up, and slept a hours on the OD’s bunk.
Fine replaced Kramer on his watch when it rolled around. Apparently Kramer was out of circulation. At this point I did not to the point.
We had been at General Quarters [45]for twenty-one hours when the hummed.
“Captain, this is Mannion. I’ve it....”
“I’ll be right there,” I said, and left at a run.
Mannion was as I entered ComSection. He stopped his and offered me a sheet. “This is what I’ve got so far, Captain,” he said.
I read: INVADER; THE MANCJI PRESENCE OPENS COMMUNICATIONS.
“That’s a of early Interlingua, Captain,” Mannion said. “After I it, I it to take out the rise-and-fall tone, and then out the static. There were a to out, but I on. It still doesn’t make much sense, but that’s what it says.”
“I wonder what we’re invading,” I said. “And what is the “Mancji Presence’?”
“They just repeat that over and over,” Mannion said. “They don’t answer our call.”
“Try into old Interlingua, adding their changes, and then their own rise-and-fall to it,” I said. “Maybe that will a response.”
I waited while Mannion out the message, then it on top of their pattern. “Put of horse-power it,” I said. “If their are as as their transmitter, they might not be us.”
We sent for five minutes, then them in and waited. There was a long from their side, then they came with a long sing-song.
Mannion over it for minutes. .ldThey must have us, here’s what I get,” he said:
THAT WHICH SWIMS IN THE MANCJI SEA; WE ARE AWARE THAT YOU HAVE THIS TRADE TONGUE. YOU RANGE FAR. IT IS OUR WHIM TO INDULGE YOU; WE ARE AMUSED THAT YOU PRESUME HERE; WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR INSOLENT DEMANDS.
“It looks like we’re in somebody’s yard,” I said. “They our demands, but they don’t answer them.” I a moment. “Send this,” I said. “We’ll out-strut them:”
THE MIGHTY WARSHIP GALAHAD REJECTS YOUR JURISDICTION.
TELL US THE NATURE OF YOUR DISTRESS AND WE MAY CHOOSE TO OFFER AID.
Mannion an eyebrow. “That ought to them,” he said.
“They were to talk to us,” I said. “That means they want something, in my opinion. And all the big talk like a of our own is our best line.”
“Why do you want to [46]them, Captain?” Joyce asked. “That ship is over a thousand times the size of this can.”
“Joyce, I you let me you’re around,” I said.
The Mancji was added to my message, and it out. Moments later this came back:
MANCJI HONOR DICTATES YOUR SAFE-CONDUCT; TALK IS WEARYING; WE FIND IT CONVENIENT TO SOLICIT A TRANSFER OF ELECTROSTATIC FORCE.
“What the that mean?” I said. “Tell them to up and themselves.”
Mannion out a query, and sent it. Again we waited for a reply.
It came, in a long paragraph that the Mancji electro-static amusing, and that “crystallization” had their tanks. They wanted a of from us to their supply.
“This like electric they’re talking about, Captain,” Mannion said. “They want a charge.”
“They to have power to burn,” I said. “Why don’t they their own juice? Ask them; and out where they learned Interlingua.”
Mannion sent again; the reply was slow in back. Finally we got it:
THE MANCJI DO NOT EMPLOY MASSIVE GENERATION-PIECE WHERE ACCUMULATOR-PIECE IS SUFFICIENT. THIS SIMPLE TRADE SPEECH IS OF OLD KNOWLEDGE. WE SELECT IT FROM SYMBOLS WE ARE PLEASED TO SENSE EMPATTERNED ON YOUR HULL.
That some of sense, but I was by the to Interlingua as a language. I wanted to know where they had learned it. I couldn’t help the I started on the idea that this our colony, in of the that they were using an of the language, predating Omega by centuries.
I sent another query, but the reply was and told nothing that Interlingua was of “old knowledge.”
Then Mannion entered a long exchange, the of the of electric power they wanted.
“We can give them what they want, no sweat, Captain,” he said after an hour’s talk. “They want DC; 100 volt, 50 will do.”
“Ask them to themselves,” I directed. I was to an idea.
Mannion sent, got his reply. “They’re molluscoid, Captain,” he said. He looked shocked. “They about two each.”
“Ask them what they eat,” I said.
I to Joyce as Mannion over the message. “Get [47]Kramer up here, on the double,” I said.
Kramer came in five minutes later, looking and rumpled. He at me sullenly.
“I’m you from on your own parole, Major,” I said. “I want you to study the reply to our last transmission, and tell me what you can about it.”
“Why me?” Kramer said. “I don’t know what’s going on.” I didn’t answer him.
There was a long hour wait Mannion out the reply that came in a nasal. He it to me.
As I had hoped, the message, after a of the of the Mancji to of ingestion, a list of symbols.
“Can we eat this stuff?” I asked Kramer, him the sheet.
He it, and some of his to return. “I don’t know what the phrases are all about, but the to common proteins, lipins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and biomins,” he said. “What is this, a game?”
“All right, Mannion,” I said. I was trying to the excitement. “Ask them if they have fresh of these aboard.”
The reply was quick; they did.
“Tell them we will electric power for a supply of these foods. Tell them we want of a dozen of the natural substances.”
Again Mannion and sent, and translated, sent again.
“They agree, Captain,” he said at last. “They want us to fire a power lead out about a mile; they’ll come in close and shoot us a case with a on it. Then we can each check the other’s merchandise.”
“All right,” I said. “We can use a ground-service cable; a pilot light on it, and it out, as soon as they in close.”
“We’ll have to a of lengths to it,” Mannion said.
“Go to it, Mannion,” I said. “And send two of your men out to make the pick-up.” This wasn’t a job, but I wanted a man it.
I returned to the and for Bourdon, him to arm two of his missiles, lock them onto the stranger, and over to my control. With the key in my hand, I at the screen and for any of treachery. The ship moved in, came to the screen.
Mannion’s men reported out. I saw the red of our power lead move away, then a yellow point on the of the iodine-colored across the screen.
Nothing else from the ship. The red pilot across the of the sphere. Mannion reported six [48]thousand of out the pilot abruptly.
“Captain,” Mannion reported, “they’re power.”
“O.K.,” I said. “Let them have a sample, then down.”
I waited, carefully, until Mannion reported the inside.
“Kramer,” I said. “Run me a fast check on the in that container.”
Kramer was his swagger. “You’ll have to be a little more specific,” he said. “Just what of analysis do you have in mind? Do you want a full....”
“I just want to know one thing, Kramer,” I said. “Can we these substances, yes or no. If you don’t like co-operating, I’ll have you to your bunk, and with them. You you’re a medical officer; let’s see you act like one.” I my to him.
Mannion called. “They say the juice we them was ‘amusing,’ Captain. I that means it’s O.K.”
“I’ll let you know in a minutes how their pan out,” I said.
Kramer took an hour back. “I ran a check such as I use in a inspection,” he began. He couldn’t help trying to take the center of the stage to go into his Wise Doctor and Helpless Patient routine.
“Yes or no,” I said.
“Yes, we can most of it,” he said angrily. “There were six samples. Two were substances, non-nutritive. Three were vegetable-like, and fibrous, one with a high content; the other was a very normal specimen.”
“Which should we take?” I said. “Remember your teeth when you answer.”
“The high protein, the one,” he said. “Marked ‘6’.”
I for Mannion. “Tell them that in return for 1,000 KWH we 3,000 of sample six,” I said.
Mannion reported back. “They in a hurry, Captain. They to good about the deal. They want to chat, now that they’ve got a bargain. I’m still a long tirade.”
“Good,” I said. “Better to send about six men with an pusher to home the bacon. You can start them the juice again.”
I to Kramer. He was at the image. “Report to in quarters, Kramer,” I said. “I’ll take your services today into account at your court-martial.”
Kramer looked up, with a grin. “I don’t know what of talking you’re with, but I’d laugh like if they your as soon as they’re through with you.” He walked out.
Mannion called in again from ComSection. “Here’s their last, Captain,” he said. “They say [49]we’re lucky they had a good supply of this aboard. It’s one of their most foods. It’s a they in the wild and it’s very rare. The wild ones have died out, and only their exist.”
“O.K., we’re lucky,” I said. “It be good or we’ll step up the and their for them.”
“Here’s more,” Mannion said. “They say it will take a hours to prepare the cargo. They want us to be amused.”
I didn’t like the delay, but it would take us about 10 hours to deliver the juice to them at the they wanted. Since the sample was O.K., I was the would be too. We settled to wait.
I left Clay in on the and a of the ship. The meeting with the had the mood of into the background. The men were and busy. I to my and slept for a hours.
I was by a call from Clay telling me that the had his for us. Mannion’s was out making the pick-up. Before they had the to the hatch, the our power lead.
I called Kramer and told him to meet the and open and the cargo. If it was the same as the sample, I thought, we had a trade. Discipline would if the men we still had our luck.
Then Mannion called again. “Captain,” he said excitedly, “I think there may be trouble coming. Will you come down, sir?”
“I’ll go to the bridge, Mannion,” I said. “Keep talking.”
I my low and to Mannion as I ran for the lift.
“They tell us to watch for a little of Mancji power. They ran out some of antenna. I’m a loud at the top of my receptivity.”
I ran the up and as I onto the I said, “Clay, by to fire.”
As soon as the pick-up was reported in, I to us off from the alien. I didn’t know what he had, but I liked the idea of space us. My P-Missiles were still and locked.
Mannion called, “Captain, they say our is amusing, and justified.”
I the screen for the of an attack. Suddenly the entire screen white, then blanked. Miller, who had been at the over the ship at close range, out of his seat, at his eyes. “My God, I’m blinded,” he shouted.
Mannion called, “Captain, my blew. I think every in the exploded!”
I jumped to the direct viewer.[50] The there, away from us in a curve. There was no of had us off the air. I my key, but didn’t press it. I told Clay to take Miller to Medic. He was and in pain.
Kramer reported in from the deck. The was now, up with frost. I told him to wait, then sent Chilcote, my man, in to open it. Maybe it was booby-trapped. I by at the DVP and waited for other of Mancjo power to us. The was tense.
Apparently they were satisfied with one blast of it was; they were away with no of life.
After an hour of alertness, I ordered the disarmed.
I for General. “Men, this is the Captain,” I said. “It looks as though our with an has been completed. He is now at a of three hundred and moving off fast. Our screens are blown, but there’s no damage. And we have a supply of fresh food aboard; now let’s to business. That can’t be off.”
That may have been it some, but if the food supply we’d was a dud, we were anyway.
We the direct-view screen till the ship was lost; then on radar.
“It’s moving right along, Captain,” Joyce said, “accelerating at about two gee’s.”
“Good riddance,” Clay said. “I don’t like with maniacs.”
“They were all right,” I said, “but they couldn’t have along at a time. I only wish we had been in a position to a out of them.”
“Yes, sir,” Clay said. “Now that the whole thing’s over, I’m to think of a of questions myself.”
The hummed. I what like breathing. I at the light. It was the that was open.
I keyed. “If you have a report, Chilcote, go ahead,” I said.
Suddenly someone was into the mike, incoherently. I words, cursing. Then Chilcote’s voice, “Captain,” he said. “Captain, come quick.” There was a loud clatter, noise, then only the of the mike.
“Take over, Clay,” I said, and started to the at a run.
Men the corridor, questions, milling. I my way through, Kramer by men, shouting.
“Break this up,” I shouted. ”Kramer, what’s your report?”
Chilcote walked past me, as chalk. I pushed through to Kramer.
“Get of yourself, and [51]make your report, Kramer,” I said. “What started this riot?”
Kramer stopped shouting, and looking at me, panting. The men silent.
“I gave you a job to do, Major,” I said; “opening a can. Now you take it from there.”
“Yeah, Captain,” he said. “We got it open. No wires, no traps. We the out of the can on to the floor. It was one big mass, up in some of netting. Then we the off.”
“All right, go ahead,” I said.
“That of fresh meat your star-born gave us of about six families of beings; men, women, and children.” Kramer was talking for the now, shouting. “Those last should be when you out our a week, Captain.”
The men milled, wide-eyed, open-mouthed, as I through to the lock. The door and of white out into the passage.
I through the door. It was cold in the lock. Near the the cannister, with white frost, in a of melting ice. Before it the that it had contained. I walked closer.
They were together into one solid mass. Kramer was right. They were as as I. Human corpses, stripped, packed together, frozen. I the covering, and the white bodies.
Kramer called from the door. “You your colonists, Captain. Now that your is satisfied, we can go where we belong. Out here man is a of cattle. We’re lucky they didn’t know we were the same variety, or we’d be in their food now ourselves. Now let’s started back. The men won’t take ‘no’ for an answer.”
I closer, studying the corpses. “Come here, Kramer,” I called. “I want to you something.”
“I’ve all there is to see in there,” Kramer said. “We don’t want to waste time; we want to now, right away.”
I walked to the door, and as Kramer to let me him out the door, I him in the mouth with all my strength. His against the wall. Then he out into the passage.
I over him. “Pick this up and put it in the brig,” I said. The men in the back, muttering. As they Kramer I through them and going, not but no time, toward the bridge. One move on my part now and all their and would in a the act of which would be to tear me from limb.
I ahead of the shock. Kramer had provided the [52]I had needed. Now I the of me.
I was none too quick. A at the end of the just as the door closed. I the off the shaft.
I up, onto the and locked the lift. I for Bourdon, and to my got a quick response. The panic hadn’t to Missile Section yet.
“Bourdon, arm all and lock onto that Mancji ship,” I ordered. “On the triple.”
I to Clay. “I’ll take over, Clay,” I said. “Alter to our late at two and one-half gee’s.”
Clay looked startled, but said only, “Aye, sir.”
I for a announcement. “This is the Captain,” I said. “Action station, all hands in harness. We’re going after Big Brother. You’re in action against the enemy now, and from this point on I’m remembering. You men have been having a big time off steam; that’s over now. All report.”
One by one the reported in, all but Med. and Admin. Well, I them for the present. The pressure was now, as we around in a curve, our up fast.
I ordered Joyce to lock his on target, and over to control. Then I called Power Section.
“I’m taking over all power from the bridge,” I said. “All out of the power and chamber.”
The men were still under control, but that might not last long. I had to have the entire of the ship’s power, control, and under my personal direction for a hours at least.
Missile Section reported all and locked on target. I and ordered the evacuated. Then I to Clay and Joyce. Both were now; they didn’t know what was brewing.
“Lieutenant Clay,” I said. “Report to your quarters; Joyce, you too. I want to of you on a performance these last hours.”
They left without protest. I was aware that they didn’t want to be too closely with the Captain when loose.
I for a check of the of the as it started up. It was empty. I locked it up.
Now we were on course, and had our full two and a gees. I under that acceleration, but I had one more job to do I take a break.
Feet dragging, I the and it down. I was for as I opened the door, but I was lucky. There was no one in the corridor.[53] I in the distance. I myself along to Power Section and pushed inside. A quick check of as I had ordered it. Back in the passage, I the door to and in the lock. Now only I open it without blasting.
Control Section was next. It, too, was empty, all in order. I locked it, and started across to Missiles. Two men appeared at the end of the passage, having as hard a time as I was. I entered the just in time to a of shots. The was in the open now, for sure.
I going, more shouting. I was sure the men I had were for Power and Control. They’d a surprise. I I them to the at Missiles, too.
As I came out in B corridor, twenty from Missiles, I saw that I had cut it a fine. Three men, crawling, were against the multi-gee to the door me. Their were with sweat, with exertion.
I had a lead; it was too late to make a check locking up. The best I for was to lock the door they it.
I my Browning and started for the door. They saw me and one for his needler.
“Don’t try it,” I called. I on the door, it, it closed, and as I in the lock a cracked. I and fired. The man in the had stopped and as the other two came on. He folded. The other two coming.
I was tired. I wanted a rest. “You’re too late,” I said. “No one but the Captain goes in there now.” I stopped talking, panting. I had to rest. The two came on. I why they so after they were beaten. My was down.
I they might be me for the to arrive. I the corridor. I it. Two men on a around the a hundred aft. I into my in a of fire. One of the through my and the passage.
I called to the two I had raced; “Tell your boys if they want to open that door, just see the Captain.”
I hesitated, or not to make a statement.
“What the hell,” I decided. “They all know there’s a now. It won’t to in a little life-insurance.”
I my mike. “This is the Captain,” I said. “This ship is now in a of mutiny. I call on all members of the Armed Forces to the [54]actively, and to support their Commander. Your ship is in action against an enemy. I you this will fail, and those who took part in it will be as to their Service, their homes, and their own families who now on them.
“We are at two and one-half gravities, locked on a with the Mancji ship. The cannot enter the Bridge, Power, Control, or Missiles Sections since only I have the combination. Thus they’re to failure.
“I am now returning to the Bridge to direct the attack and of the enemy. If I fail to the Bridge, we will with the enemy in less than three hours, and our will blow.”
Now my problem was to make good my about returning to the Bridge. The had not me, ambush. I took of their to to A at my best speed. I paused once to send a of the me, and I a from around the corner. Those had a velocity, and around a long time stopping.
At the corridor, I on the for a and a quick look. A group of three men were around the Control Section door, packing in the around it. That wouldn’t do them any good, but it did their attention.
I into the passage, and the mike. I had to give them a chance.
“This is the Captain,” I said. “All not at their action are for the last time to report there immediately. Any man away from his post from this point on is in open and can the death penalty. This is the last warning.”
The men in the had heard, but a they paid no attention to what they an threat. They didn’t know how near I was.
I my needler, set it for fire, pushed into the corridor, aimed, and fired. I to kill. All three away from the door, riddled, as the metal with the cloud of needles.
I looked ways, then rose, with effort, and to the bodies. I them as members of Kirschenbaum’s Power Section crew. I again as I moved on toward the at the end of the corridor, as I went.
“Corley, Mac Williams, and Reardon have been for in the of the enemy,” I said. “Let’s they’re the last to on my the death penalty.”
Behind me, at the end of the corridor, men appeared [55]again. I myself in a doorway, toward them, and for the best. I the of a past me, but no hits. The offered a target, and I I saw someone fall. As they all moved out of sight, I another for the lift.
I was they hadn’t had time to organize. I an to the rear, and sent a of every time a man himself. They out to fire every seconds, but not very effectively. I had an over them; I was for the success of the mission and for my life, with no one to look to for help; they were each one of a mob, none to be a target, each to let the other man take the risk.
I was tired. I was for the and wind that daily in a high-gee had me; without that I would have now; but I was almost to drop. I had my on the door; each step, by inch, was an almost effort. With only a to go, my gave; I on all fours. Another of sang around me, and pain my left arm. It helped. The pain my head, me. I rose and against the door.
Now the combination. I a to as I pressed the lock control; three, five, two, five ...
I around as I a sound. The was toward me, men on it, protected by the plate. I against the door, and a of against the of the corridor, banking them toward the shuttle. Two men rolled off the in a of blood. Another screamed, and a hand above the bumper. I it.
I how many were on the shuttle. It coming. The closer it came, the more my bank were. I why it failed to return my fire. Then a hand rose in an and a bomb in a to the floor. It rolled to my feet, just starting to spew. I it back. The stopped, away from the bomb. A of was playing from it now. I my needler, and sent it farther. Then I to my lock.
Now a of metal against metal me; from the passage a in moved out. The was self-powered and proof. I sent a blast at the head, as the toward me, in the multi-gee field. The hit, the back. The hesitated, arms spread, and with a [56]crash. I had managed to him off balance, maybe him.
I to where I was in the sequence; I on, the rest. I pushed; nothing. I must have count. I started again.
I the man on again. The wouldn’t work twice. I working. I had almost the when I the of the man on my arm. I twisted, the against his hand, and fired. The arm back, and through the I his snap. My own hand was from the recoil. The other arm of the and my arm. I away from the door, with the pain.
I side-stepped in time to miss another blow. Under two and a gees, the man in the was having a hard time, with power controls. I that I was a machine of a man.
As he toward me again, I at his foot. A of hit, like a fire hose, the aside, the man again. I to my door.
But now I I couldn’t opening it; if I got in, I couldn’t keep my from in with me. Already he was up, toward me. I had to him away from the door.
The sat unmoving. The its distance. I why no one was shooting; I they had that if I were killed there would be no way to enter the of the ship; they had to take me alive.
I it past the man and started the toward the shuttle. I moved as slowly as I while still him. He after me. I the shuttle; a no one alive there. Two men across it. I myself onto it and in the lever. The rolled past the man, him a that sent him again. Those falls, in the multi-gee field, were crushing. He didn’t up.
I the door again, rolled off the shuttle, and for the combination. I now I’d used a one. I started again; a noise me. As I turned, a weight me against the door.
I was rigid, my against the key. The pressure was my and still it increased. I my head, gasping. The me to the door. The man I had out of action was alive to the with strength. I to shout, to him that without me to open the doors, they were powerless to save the ship. I couldn’t [57]speak. I blood in my mouth, and to breathe. I couldn’t. I passed out.
