Part 12 (2/2)

”I came along to see you killed, as you know very well. Saving you wasn't in my orders.”

He grunted and reached for the handle that would release the outer lock.

”Better get back inside if you don't want to blow out with me.”

”It's up to you, Dan,” she told him, and there was all the sincerity in the world in her blue eyes. ”I'm on your side now.”

He began counting on his fingers. ”Let's see. The spare battery, the delay in arresting me, the choice of Matthews--”

”It was all true.” Anger began to grow in her eyes. ”Dan Feldman, you get inside this raft! If you don't care about me, you might consider the people dying of the plague who need you!”

She'd played her trump, and it took the round. He followed her.

”All right,” he said grudgingly. ”Spill your story.”

She held out a copy of a s.p.a.ce radiogram, addressed to Mrs. D. E.

Everts, and signed by one of the best doctors on the Lobby Board of Directors.

Regret confirm diagnosis. Topsecret. Repeat topsecret.

Martian fever incubates fourteen years, believed highly fatal. No cure, research beginning immediately. Penalty violation topsecret, death all concerned.

”Mrs. Everts rates a topsecret break?” Doc commented dryly. ”Come off it, Chris!”

”She's the daughter of Elmers of s.p.a.ce Lobby!” Chris answered. She pointed to the message, underlining words with her finger. ”_Fourteen years._ You couldn't have caused it. _Highly fatal._ And people are being told it's only a skin disease. _Research beginning._ But you've already done most of the research. I can see that now. I can see a lot of things.”

”You've got me beat then,” he said. ”I can't see how such a reformed young n.o.blewoman calmly walked over and stole a life raft. I can't see how your brilliant mind concocted this whole scheme in almost no time.

And to be honest, I can't even see why Medical Lobby decided to save me at the last minute and sent you to do the job. You didn't have to spy out knowledge from me. I've been trying all along to get it to your Research division.”

She sighed and dropped onto a little seat.

”I can't prove my motives. You'll just have to believe me. But it wasn't hard to do what I've done. That shuttle pilot was found in a routine check, stowed away on the life raft. I was with Captain Everts when he was found, so I discovered how to get into the raft. And I heard his whole confession. He wasn't the real pilot. He'd come from the villages to save you. The whole scheme was his. I just used it, hoping I could reach you.”

As always her story had a convincing element she shouldn't have known.

The pilot's farewell, addressing him as Dr. Feldman, had been too low for her to hear, but it was something that fitted her story. It was probably a deliberate clue to give him hope, to a.s.sure him the villages were still trying. It shook his confidence.

”And your motive--your real motive?” he insisted.

She swore at him, then began ripping off the s.p.a.cesuit. She turned her back, pulling a thin blouse down from her neck. He stared, then reached out to touch the lump there.

”So you've had Selznik's migraine and know you're carrying plague. And you've decided your precious Lobby won't save you?”

She dropped her eyes, then raised them to meet his defiantly. ”I'm not just scared and selfish. Dad caught it, too, and it must be close to the time for him. He switched to Mars-normal when he was a liaison agent and never changed back. Dan, are we all going to have to die? Can't you save him?”

Feldman was out of his suit and at the control panel. There was a manual lever, which Chris must have used before. It might work out here where there was room to maneuver and nothing to hit. But trying to make a landing was going to be different.

<script>