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Read Ebook: Kuninkaita maanpaossa I by Daudet Alphonse Leino Kasimir Translator
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Ebook has 1017 lines and 52665 words, and 21 pages
"Well, I must be getting along to the bridge. We'll be at New Boston space-port in a matter of minutes now. I suggest that you go to your staterooms, see that your luggage is in order, and prepare to disembark."
"Return to Earth! But--" Captain Burke turned a blank, uncomprehending stare upon his questioner--"but you have not yet set foot on Titan!"
Dr. Roswell shuffled uncomfortably.
"I ... er ... I quite realize that, Captain. But I ... er ... have been reconsidering. In view of Mister Grossman's revelations, I ... er ... am not altogether certain it would be wise to pursue my investigations...."
The space skipper's broad, flat features contracted into a grimace of disdain. Despite his company's instructions to maintain at all times a respectful mien toward passengers, he permitted contempt to echo in his voice.
The young man's cheeks flushed. He said, "I ... er ... should not put it quite that way, sir. However, I prefer not to expose myself to needless risks. The work I had intended to do on Titan is not sufficiently important to warrant--"
"Not returning--"
"No. We are going on to Uranus to leave a cargo of food and medical supplies there. We will, however, stop back at Titan in three Solar Constant weeks. If--" The skipper's voice was openly ironic--"if you can endure the rigors of the satellite for that length of time, we will be glad to pick you up on our return trip."
"I ... er ... I suppose it would not be possible for me to ride with you to Uranus?"
"I'm sorry," said Burke decidedly. "The Uranus post is a military zone forbidden to civilian tourists. I cannot take you there."
"I'll stop for you. Meanwhile, you had better make arrangements to stay somewhere where you will be quite safe." Captain Burke's patience was quite exhausted. "Miss Graham can, perhaps, prevail upon her father to allow you to remain at the Space Patrol base."
The young doctor turned to the girl eagerly.
Lynn Graham nodded, her icy politeness more devastating than forthright scorn.
"Yes, Doctor Roswell, I am reasonably sure you can make such arrangements. I will ask Daddy as soon as we land. And now, gentlemen, if you will excuse me--"
She rose and left the dining-hall. Grossman, still chuckling, followed her example. He stopped at the doorway.
"Sorry I upset you, Roswell. But cheer up! Three weeks will pass swiftly. You'll be all right on Titan if you keep your eye peeled and carry your Haemholtz at all times."
And with a little bleat of dismay, he turned and ran toward his stateroom. The two men in the dining-hall watched him disappear. Then Grossman laughed aloud, and Captain Burke snorted.
"The younger generation! If that's the kind of men Earth is breeding nowadays, Lord help us all!"
He removed his spectacles, casing them and thrusting them into an inside pocket. He then removed his coat. Oddly enough, rid of that closely-tailored garment, his shoulders looked considerably broader, his chest inches deeper. He drew a deep breath ... much the same sort of breath as a sponge diver draws when he emerges from the hampering depths of the sea to the more accustomed world above ... and called a name.
"Bud?"
A figure appeared from the plushy wallows of a divan, waved at the young professor companionably.
"Hi, Rocky! Beginnin' to wonder when you was comin' back. We're halfway to the cradle. What's the good word?"
"The good word," grinned his informant, "is that I've paved the way. Miss Graham is going to ask her father to let us stay at the Patrol base."
His superior officer groaned in mock despair.
"As it is, he hasn't got the faintest idea that 'Doctor Rockingham Roswell' and his 'valet' are members of the Solar Investigation Department. He thinks I'm a very badly rattled pedagogue, and you're a mealy-mouthed nonentity. And that is exactly what we want him to believe--until we get the goods on him."
"I'm practically certain of it now. He's as nervous as a cat. Flared up the moment I questioned his reasons for living on Titan. As factor of the New Boston trading-post he is in an ideal situation to stir up trouble amongst the Titanians. And that's precisely what he has been doing. We don't know exactly why--yet!--but it's quite clear that for some reason of his own he wants all Earthmen save himself to leave Titan."
"No-o-o, I don't think so. The mineralogists would have detected the presence of any of those when they surveyed Titan. His reason is something deeper than that--Say! Wait a minute! I wonder if it possibly--?"
"Yeah?"
"No, I'm crazy! It couldn't be that. I happened to think of that T-radiation. But I don't believe even Grossman is enough of a scientist to have discovered what it is or how it can be used--if at all. Well, anyhow--"
"Anyhow, we're in at the Base. And Grossman doesn't suspect us. That's part of the job. So--the next move?"
"We circulate. We move around and ask questions and snoop and pry and investigate."
Mulligan grinned.
"In the good old Rocky Russell tradition, eh?"
"Who?"
"Rocky Russell, I said. Don't tell me you've forgot your real name, chum?"
Rocky Russell reached into an inside pocket, brought forth a pair of thick-lensed spectacles, hooked them over his ears. His voice lifted to a high, gentle, hesitant whine.
"Oh, mercy me!" he simpered. "Forgotten my ... er ... real name? But, of course not! I am Doctor Rockingham Roswell. And you are my valet, Ambrose."
Bud groaned.
"Gawd! All the names in creation, and I've got to be called 'Ambrose'!"
"So you're a doctor?" asked Colonel Graham. "That's fine. We can use another doctor on this post. Glad to have you stay with us, Doctor Roswell."
It was then that Lynn had introduced Dr. Roswell and his valet, explaining their desire to stay at the base. Confused and bewildered, the commandant had agreed. And now the quartet were gathered in the colonel's private quarters. The colonel, in his own crisp way, was trying to be friendly.
"A doctor," he repeated. "That's good. We need the services of a good doctor around here."
Rocky smiled feebly.
"I ... er ... I'm afraid you don't understand, sir. I'm not an M.D., you know. I'm an ... er ... D.M."
"D.M.?" repeated Graham wonderingly. "What's that?"
Colonel Graham stared at him incredulously.
"Legends! Folk tales! But why on earth--?"
Red of face, he spluttered into silence. Lynn tried to bridge the awkward moment.
"What Daddy means, Doctor Roswell, is--why do you hunt down these ancient fables? Does your work have any practical value?"
Rocky's eyebrows arched as if the query caused him a physical pain.
Colonel Graham had recovered his composure.
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