Part 10 (1/2)

”What has happened, _Set_ Haljan?”

I gazed around for her brother Miko, but did not see him.

”An accident,” I said shortly. ”Go back to your room. Captain's orders.”

She eyed me and then retreated. Snap was threatening everybody with his cylinder. Balch dashed up. ”What in h.e.l.l! Where is Carter?”

”In there.” I pounded on A22. It opened cautiously. I could see only Carter, but I heard the murmuring voice of Dr. Frank through the interior connecting door to A20.

The Captain rasped, ”Get out, Haljan! Oh, is that you, Balch? Come in.” He admitted the older officer and slammed the door upon me again.

And immediately reopened it.

”Gregg, keep the pa.s.sengers quieted. Tell them everything's all right.

Miss Prince got frightened--that's all. Then go to the turret. Tell Blackstone what's happened.”

”But I don't know what's happened.”

Carter was grim and white. He whispered, ”I think it may turn out to be murder, Gregg! No, not dead yet.... Dr. Frank is trying ... don't stand there like an a.s.s, man. Get to the turret! Verify our trajectory--no--wait....”

The Captain was almost incoherent. ”Wait a minute. I don't mean that!

Tell Snap to watch his radio room. Arm yourselves and guard our weapons.”

I stammered, ”If ... if she dies ... will you flash us word?”

He stared at me strangely. ”I'll be there presently, Gregg.”

He slammed the door upon me.

I followed his orders but it was like a dream of horror. The turmoil of the s.h.i.+p gradually quieted. Snap went to the radio room; Blackstone and I sat in the tiny chart room; how much time pa.s.sed, I do not know.

I was confused. Anita hurt! She might die ... murdered.... But why? By whom? Had George Prince been in his own room when the attack came? I thought now I recalled hearing the low murmur of his voice in there with Dr. Frank.

Where was Miko? It stabbed at me. I had not seen him among the pa.s.sengers in the lounge.

Carter came into the chart room. ”Gregg, you get to bed. You look like a ghost.”

”But--”

”She's not dead. She may live. Dr. Frank and her brother are with her. They're doing all they can.” He told us what had happened. Anita and George Prince had both been asleep, each in his respective room.

Someone unknown had opened Anita's corridor door.

”Wasn't it sealed?”

”Yes. But the intruder opened it.”

”Burst it? I didn't think it was broken.”

”It wasn't broken. The a.s.sailant opened it somehow, and a.s.saulted Miss Prince--shot her in the chest with a heat ray. Her left lung.”