Part 1 (1/2)
The World with a Thousand Moons
by Edmond Hamilton
CHAPTER 1
Thrill Cruise
Lance Kenniston felt the cold realization of failure as he caht He stood for a ht of the two hurtling moons
He looked hopelessly across the dark spaceport It was a large one, for this ancient town of Syrtis was theliner, several freighters, a s cruiser and other small craft And for lack of one of those shi+ps, his hopes were ruined!
A squat, brawny figure in shapeless space-jacket came to Kenniston's side It was Holk Or, the Jovian who had been waiting for hi whisper
”It's hopeless,” Kenniston answered heavily ”There isn't a small cruiser to be had at any price The meteor-miners buy up all small shi+ps here”
”The devil!”to do? Go on to Earth and get a cruiser there?”
”We can't do that,” Kenniston answered ”You knoe've got to get back to that asteroid within teeks We've got to get a shi+p here”
Desperation made Kenniston's voice taut His lean, hard face was bleak with knowledge of disastrous failure
The big Jovian scratched his head In the shi+fting norant perplexity as he stared across the busy spaceport
”That shi+ny little cruiser there would be just the thing,” Holk Or , torpedo-shaped craft nearby ”It would hold all the stuff we've got to take; and with robot controls o could run it”
”We haven't a chance to get that craft,” Kenniston told him ”I found out that it's under charter to a bunch of rich Earth youngsters who ca, heiress to Loring Radium, is the head of the party”
The Jovian swore ”Just the shi+p we need, and a lot of spoiled kids are using it for thrill-hunting!”
Kenniston had an idea ”It ht be,” he said slowly, ”that they're tired of the cruise by this tio up to the Terra Hotel and see this Loring girl”
”Sure, let's try it anyway,” Holk Or agreed
The Earthhtn't you to keep under cover, Holk? The Planet Patrol has had your record on file for a long tinized--”
”Bah, they think I'er of us getting picked up”
Kenniston was not so sure, but he was too driven by urgent need to waste ti beside him, he made his way from the spaceport across the ancient Martian city