Part 30 (1/2)

”Lad, it's a pity for ye to miss the show. I'm sending a boat for ye.”

”The sun will get it!” Rip exclaimed.

”Never fear, lad. It won't get this one. Now switch back to universal and listen in.”

Rip did so in time to catch the Connie commander's voice. ”... and I refuse to believe such a story! Great Cosmos, do you think I am a fool?”

”Of course not,” the Frenchman replied. ”You are not such a fool as to refuse a simple request to check our instruments.”

The _Sagittarius_ commander was right. Rip understood the strategy.

Equipment sometimes did go out of operation in s.p.a.ce, and Connies had no hesitation in asking Federation cruisers for help, or the other way around. Such help was always given, because no commander could be sure when he might need help himself.

”I agree,” the Connie commander said with obvious reluctance. ”You may send a boat.”

MacFife's Scotch burr broke in. ”Federation _SCN Aquila_ to Consolidation Sixteen. Mister, my instruments are off scale, too. I'll just send them along to ye and ye can check them while ye're doing the _Sagittarius_!”

”I object!” the Connie bellowed.

”Come now,” MacFife burred soothingly. ”Checking a few instruments won't hurt ye.”

A small rocket exhaust appeared, leaving the _Aquila_. The exhaust grew rapidly, more rapidly than that of any snapper-boat. Rip watched it, while keeping his ears tuned to the s.p.a.ce conversation.

Koa tugged his arm. ”See that, sir?”

Rip nodded.

”Surely sending boats is too much of a nuisance,” the French commander said winningly. ”We will come alongside.”

”It's a trick,” the Connie growled. ”You want me to open my valves, then your men will board us and try to take over my s.h.i.+p!”

”My friend, you have a suspicious mind,” Galliene replied smoothly. ”If you wish, arm your men. Ours will have no weapons. Train launchers on the valves so our men will be annihilated before they can board, if you see a single weapon.”

This was going a little far, Rip thought, but it was not his affair and he didn't know exactly what MacFife and Galliene had in mind.

The _Aquila's_ boat arrived with astonis.h.i.+ng speed. Rip saw it flash in the sunlight and knew he had never seen one like it before. It was a perfect globe, about 20 feet in diameter. Blast holes covered the globe at intervals of six feet.

The boat settled to the asteroid and a new voice called over the helmet circuit, ”Where's Foster? Show an exhaust! We're in a rush.”

Rip ordered, ”Take over, Koa. I'll be back.”

”Yessir.”

He hurried to the boat and stood there, bewildered. He didn't know how to get in.

”Up here,” the voice called. He looked up and saw a hatch. He jumped and a s.p.a.ce-clad figure pulled him inside. The door shut and the boat blasted off. Acceleration shoved him backward, but the s.p.a.ceman snapped a line to his belt, then motioned him to a seat. Rip pulled himself up the line and got into the seat, snapping the harness in place.

”I'm Hawkins, senior s.p.a.ce officer,” the s.p.a.ceman said. ”Welcome, Foster.

We've been losing weight wondering if we'd get here in time.”

”I was never so glad to see s.p.a.cemen in my life,” Rip said truthfully.