Part 19 (1/2)

”Full braking rocket thrust, Astro,” he yelled into the microphone, ”and make it quick or we'll all be blasted into protons!”

Tom and the captain gripped their chairs tightly as the s.h.i.+p bucked against the deceleration force of the powerful braking rockets.

Gradually the freighter _Dog Star_ slowed and came to a dead stop in s.p.a.ce.

”Hey!” yelled Astro over the intercom from the power deck. ”What's going on up there?”

”We've just entered the outer circle of defense on the prison asteroid, Astro,” replied Strong. ”We have to stop so they can sweep us with their radar and identify the s.h.i.+p.”

”But I sent them a message in Solar Guard code that we were coming,”

interjected Roger who was listening from the radar bridge.

”They still have to make sure it's us,” said Strong.

”Identify yourselves!” commanded the voice over the audioceiver again.

”This is s.p.a.ce freighter _Dog Star_ under temporary command of Captain Strong of the Solar Guard,” answered Strong.

”What's your business here?” demanded the voice again.

”Interrogation of one of your prisoners. We have sent a coded message, under code Z for Zebra to your prison commandant, Major Alan Savage. If you'll check with him, you'll find everything in order,” said Strong.

”Very well,” replied the voice crisply, and then added, ”Remain where you are. Do not move from your present position or attempt to send any messages. If you fail to comply with these conditions you will be blasted!”

”Very well,” said Strong, ”conditions are understood.”

”Boy,” chimed in Roger, as he climbed down the ladder from the radar bridge, ”they sure don't want any company here.”

”And for good reason,” said Strong. ”The most vicious criminals in the whole universe are confined here. Every one of them is capable of committing any crime in the solar code. And most of them have. The men here are the worst. They have refused psychotherapeutic readjustment to make them into new men.”

”But I thought they had to go through it, sir?” said Tom.

”No,” replied Strong. ”Even criminals have certain rights in our society. They can either remain criminals and stay here, or be psychoadjusted and given new personalities. The ones that refuse are the ones on this Rock.”

”You mean,” gasped Roger, ”that the men on this asteroid deliberately chose to remain criminals?”

”Yes, Manning,” said Strong. ”Rather than become healthy citizens of the system, they prefer to stay here and waste their lives in isolation with no hope of ever returning to society.”

”Can they change their minds after they get here?” asked Tom.

”Any time. But when they get this far, they usually stay here. The men on Prison Rock didn't surrender easily. They are the toughest, most ruthless men in the universe.”

”Attention! Freighter _Dog Star_! Attention!” the audioceiver rasped into life again. ”You have been given temporary clearance. A s.p.a.ce launch will ferry you to the asteroid. You are warned that any weapons discovered on your person, or acts that may be construed as providing aid and comfort to the inmates of this prison, will be considered treason against the Solar Alliance and you will be subject to immediate disciplinary action.”

Tom and Roger glanced at each other, a worried look in their eyes.

Strong just smiled. ”Don't worry, boys. That little speech is read to every visitor to the asteroid.”

”Just the same, sir,” said Roger huskily, ”I would prefer to remain aboard the _Dog Star_ and give you, Tom, and Astro the pleasure of the visit.”

Strong laughed. ”They won't let you, Roger. They'll send up a crew of guards to search the s.h.i.+p. And the way these boys search makes a customs inspection look like a casual glance.”