Part 15 (1/2)

Beneath the shaft was a larger room and a tunnel that led to a still larger. Both rooms had racks on which weresuits and a.s.sociated equipment, but this had several desks. Presumably, these were to be used by the officials who checked men in and out. Now, they were,deserted.

”That's strange,” said Broward, then he stiffened. He had beard gunshots.

Broward said, ”That can mean only one thing. But I don't know who'll be coming down that tunnel in a minute.”

”We have no guns,” said Quiroga. ”Let's go back to the s.h.i.+p.”

Broward did not answer but whirled and ran through the other room and leaped up the shaft. At the entrance to the lock, he quickly replaced and resecured his helmet Quiroga did the same. They entered the lock and, without waiting for the air to be pumped out, went out onto the lunar plain. Behind them, the escaping atmosphere pushed, but they jumped up and allowed it to sail them towards their s.h.i.+p.

In the scout, Broward seized a burper and handed another to Quiroga.

”Back to the shaft,” he said.

They made it just in time. The barks of larger caliber weapons and the pop-pop of smaller guns came up through the shaft. Then, there was a silence. Broward guessed that, whoever they were down there, they were putting on suits. And their antagonists had, for some reason, stopped firing.

He said to Quiroga, ”If it's Dahlquist and his men, we'll simply help them make for the Zemlya. If it's Scone, we'll stop them. He'll be trying for the Zemlya, too.”

Below him, a man appeared. The fellow looked up before jumping, and Broward recognized him as Radman, the commander of the Zemlya. At the same time, Radman saw him. He cried out and raised his .20 centum. Broward threw himself back and on the floor to escape the stream of explosives. The ceiling above the shaft broke into a thousand chips and went flying around the top of the shaft and back down it.

When the thum-thum of the little exploding bullets had quit, Broward roiled near the shaft. He called out, ”Radman! I want to speak to Scone!”

There was a silence. Seconds pa.s.sed, a minute. Then Scone's voice came hollowly up the shaft.

”Broward! You bad penny! I underestimated you by farl But you haven't won yet!”

Broward shouted back, ”Why not?”

Scone's voice was triumphant ”Because I have Ingrid Nashdoi!”

Broward gritted his teeth and said, ”How do I know you have her?”

”I picked her up while we were fighting our way out to here. I knew she'd be handy as a hostage. Besides, I want her!”

”I think you're bluffing.”

Scone did not answer. Broward wondered what he would do next. Perhaps, he and Quiroga should go out to the scout They could place it against the lock and beam down anybody who tried to come out.

A scream wailed up through the shaft. Broward stiffened and cursed. He cursed again when he heard Ingrid's voice crying out in agony.

Immediately thereafter, Scone shouted up, ”Now do you believe?”

”All right,” Broward replied. ”Now what?”

”I just want to get to the Zemlya,” Scone said. ”I know you've got me cornered. So, I'll make a trade with you.

Ingrid for the Zemlya.”

Broward did not need to ask what Scone would do if he were turned down. He'd try to fight his way out even if he knew it was hopeless. But he'd kill Ingrid first ”There's been too much bloodshed already,” said Broward. ”Most of it entirely needless. All right You can have the Zemlya. But release Ingrid first”

”What kind of a fool do you think I am?” Scone replied.

”Scone, the Zemlya will be a small price to pay to get rid of you and your kind. Believe me, I want you to leave on it Release her, and on my word, I'll do nothing to prevent you from escaping. More, I'll do my best to see that no one on the Moon goes after you.”