"But, Dad, it’s still a long trip to Mars. You and Glen can’t live on that rogue asteroid without supplies.”
“Had an extra pressure tent in the hold, Pete. We took that and enough supplies to keep us alive. Wont be too comfortable a trip, but we’ll make it. The rogue cuts into Mars' orbit ahead of the planet. We’ll jump off at the right time and candle to Phobos or Deimos—either one’ll do. We can call for help from there. Or maybe well just stand in our suits out in space and holler into our communicators, holler so loud that Webster will hear us all the way to the Belt
“We have those records, Pete. Webster called the Patrol in to finish us, but it’s going to work out the other way. They’ll finish him. The Patrol will be on our side now.”
“It already is, partner,” Pete answered, shooting a glance at Webster. “Lon Kreuder s taken charge of the Patrol, and part of it is out cleaning up the jumpers’ organization. The rest is on its way here. We have a couple of visitors listening to all this, but don’t worry; they won’t bother us now.”
He turned to the intruders. "You won’t get anywhere by threatening us further. Your fighter is chasing Tom Honoye in the Claymore, and your other ships are after the rest of the party. It won’t do you any good to capture them. It looks as if you haven’t Won after all, Mr. Webster.”
Webster rubbed his jaw, but Peter was most impressed by the expression on Vincennes’ face. The man looked as if he were going over a rapid calculation of his assets and liabilities. His eyes narrowed as he looked at Webster, and a slow smile passed across his face.
Webster said, “When you’re a little older, and I sincerely hope you will survive, Mr. Clay, you’ll learn not to cheer before you’ve really won.” He shrugged. “If the Patrol is cleaning out the Cantrellis bunch, well and good. They were tools I needed at the time, but they had to be crushed sooner or later.... So far as your story of Lon Kreuder s taking charge of the Patrol goes, Im not convinced. I'm still in charge here.”
Vincennes stepped over to the communicator casually, turned it to reception, and a voice said, . . full protection,” then stopped.
“Now I wonder who that might be,” Vincennes mused. “Just for the sake of argument, let’s assume that the Patrol is coming here under Kreuder’s command. You know, quite a few things can happen in the meantime.”
The voice started up again. “Jeff Webster! Jeff Webster! Lieutenant Iantosca of the Martian Patrol speaking. Your game is finished. I have here the record of your conversation with Peter Clay and Barbara Abend, and we have heard your threats. I warn you, Webster. It will go hard with you if either of them are harmed, or if any of the others in their group are molested by your guard. The Martian Patrol gives the Abend group full protection.”
Webster brought his gun up, training it on Barbara Abend. The fury they had heard in his words when he met them outside was back in his voice, “For the last time, where is Laura?”
“Haven’t you figured that out yet, Jeff?” asked Vincennes. He laughed easily. “She’s perfectly safe. You know ... I think I’m beginning to see the error of my ways. As the young man has said, you can’t get law and order out of skullduggery. So, Jeff, you’d better change . . .”
"No, you don't,” snapped Webster, bringing his gun so that Vincennes was covered too. "Get over there with the others. I know how to deal with traitors. In exactly ten seconds, you will get a pellet against your skull, Mr. Joseph Vincennes. Or do you want to tell me where Laura is?”
"Easy with that gun, Jeff. The girl’s coming in right now, I'd say. I just saw the pressure gauge wobble— that means someone’s coming into the tent.”
The flap zipped open and Laura Webster came in, her face flushed with anger. She looked striking, Peter thought, as her eyes flamed into Webster’s.
"So my uncle is the worst thief of all—and a killer too,” she said.
"Don’t anger me, girl! You won't listen to reason, so I'll have to use force. You’re coming with me, now.” Peter had braced himself as Webster turned toward the tent-wall. He started a short jump when Laura came in, her attention fixed on her uncle. The hop took him but a little off the floor. He felt a surge of satisfaction at knowing that he was beginning to master the gravity problem. In another moment . . .
But that was when Laura looked past her uncle, and her eyes widened. Webster turned just as Pete was coming down upon him. The gun swiveled in his hands, then he let the barrel drop as Peter struck him. The momentum carried him backward.
"I'm not... a killer. . . .” he whispered. "Get away from me, boy; I don’t want to . . .”
There was a flare as a pellet exploded against Webster s side. The force of it hurled him back against the tent-wall. The plastic trembled, and Peter looked at Vincennes, who still held the shortgun which he had triggered.
"Didn’t mean to hit him," he said. “Figured I could hit the gun barrel easily at this range.”
"You fool, suppose the whole thing had exploded!” Barbara gasped.
"Wouldn't,” Vincennes said, “unless the safety had been taken out, as it must have been in Ogden's case.” "Uncle Jeff!” whispered Laura. She knelt down beside the Ama chief, her face stricken. There was no break in Webster's pressure suit, but that made no difference. Deflated, it offered no protection.
He looked up at her. "It’s better this way,” he said. "I'm all broken up inside, but now ... I can do what I have to do.” He looked at Peter. "Get Iantosca again. I’m ready to confess.”
"Uncle Jeff,” said Laura, "call your guard and tell them to let the miners go.”
Peter started calling the Patrol as Webster took the microphone from his suit-communicator and spoke into it. "Miners’ Aid, attention! Miners’ Aid, attention! Webster speaking. Cease pursuit. Return to Ceres at once, and wait for instructions from my niece, Laura. Emergency plan A now in effect.”
“What’s that?” asked Barbara.
“That—that was worked out a long time ago,” said Laura. “ ‘Emergency plan A’ was to go into effect if anything happened to Uncle Jeff.”
"Hello, Patrol!” called Peter. "Stand by for a statement.” He and Vincennes went over and helped Webster into the seat by the communicator. The man’s face was pale, but the strained look was gone. There was only the stamp of the idealist on Jeff Webster now. "Are you ready?” he asked.
“Proceed, Mr. Webster,” Iantosca said.
“Very well. I, Jeff Webster, knowing myself to be near death, do hereby make this declaration of my own free will. I have not been forced to confess; there has been neither duress nor deception. I confess to full responsibility for crimes perpetrated by the Asteroid Miners’ Association. These crimes include claim jumping, forgery, extortion, pilfering, fraud, and wilful violations of public safety.
"I further depose that these activities have been concealed from most of the members of the Asteroid Miners’ Association and the Ama Guard. I affirm that Captain Ezzard had and has no knowledge of them. I declare that those who assisted me in the commission of these crimes did so unwillingly and under extreme threats. This does not include Cantrellis and his fellow conspirators. None of them are members of the Association.
"I have surrendered control of the Asteroid Miners' Association, and have turned over all authority of directorship to my niece, Laura Webster. I affirm that she has not been involved in any crimes, as I hope for pardon for my own actions.
“In concluding this statement, I ask consideration for the Asteroid Miners' Association as a whole, and plead for the continued co-operation of the Martian Patrol."
He leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes.
“Statement received and recorded," replied Iantosca, “Were approaching 20-47, and should land within half an hour."
“Miss Webster," came Kreuder's voice, “this changes things. Im going to make a direct call to Mars and recommend continued co-operation with Ama."
“Lon,” said Peter, “Dad and Glen are on the rogue. Can you have a ship meet them?"
K
reuder laughed. "Ill be blasted and blistered. When they get there, this will be cleared up. You've managed to get left behind, and still be in the middle of the most important happenings every time."
“Uncle Jeff,” said Laura. "Can't—can’t we give you an opiate?"
Webster shook his head. "No pain," he said. "I... I won’t last long enough for the shock to wear off.” He looked up at Peter. "Will you join the Association now? I’d like to know that you and Laura were friends . . . working together."
Peter held out his hand. "I ought to hate you but I cant. I guess . . . you’ve accomplished something worth-while in spite of everything."
Webster grasped his hand. "Still wearing this suit . . . have to take it off . . . feel tired. I ... I didn’t want to hint anyone. . ,
Barbara Abend looked at Vincennes. "Come on, Mr. Quick-change-of-the-ways, we have to take him into die other tent.” She got into her suit. Vincennes put Webster’s helmet back on his head and donned his own. Before he closed the faceplate, he looked at Laura and Peter. "Well, fellow, you have a real bonanza here. All yours and Abend’s. I—er—rather doubt that my filing is in order."
“What about the other claims in the doubtful period?"
"Hm-m-m ... I think I can assist in adjusting them.” He looked thoughtful. "As a matter of fact, Miss Webster, you will need a trouble shooter until everything is cleared up."
He closed the faceplate, then lifted the now-unconscious Webster carefully and followed Barbara Abend out of the tent.
Peter said softly, “I suppose he won’t come to again/’
Laura’s eyes were misty. “I ought to stay with him,
until____Well, Barb will call me if there’s any change.”
She grasped his hand. "Pete . . . you’ll help me, won’t you?”
He nodded. "Sure—er, what instrument do you play, Laura?”
"Oboe,” she said.
Peter grinned. “Dad plays cello, and I handle the fiddle. We have some transcriptions for cello, violin and oboe . . /’ Which was not strictly true at the moment, but he could work out the arrangements.
She smiled faintly. “I think I’d like that.”
He picked up his suit. "They’ll be here pretty soon. Let’s go out and watch for them. You know ... there’s always something to see up there in the sky if you know how to look for it.”
Mystery of the Third Mine Page 17