The Space Pioneers

by Carey Rockwell

  CHAPTER 4

  "You mean Captain Strong has been recalled to the Academy?" gaspedRoger.

  "That's right," replied Tom. "He had a talk with Governor Hardy lastnight and this morning he took the jet liner back to Earth. Specialorders from Commander Walters."

  "Well, blast my jets!" exclaimed Astro. "Wonder what's up?"

  "I don't know," said Tom. "But it must be something more important thanthe Roald project for him to pull out now!"

  "It might have something to do with the project, Tom," suggested Roger.

  Tom shook his head. "Maybe, but it just isn't like Captain Strong not tosay anything to us before he left. I wouldn't have known about it if oneof the enlisted guardsmen hadn't asked me if we were going with him."

  Astro and Roger looked at each other. "You mean," asked Roger, "CaptainStrong didn't tell you he was going?"

  "That's just it!" replied Tom. "We've been traveling all over spacetogether screening the applicants, and then Captain Strong just leaveswhen we start the final screening."

  The three cadets were seated in a snack shop in Luna City on the Moon,sipping hot tea and eating spaceburgers. For six weeks they had beeninterviewing the applicants for the new satellite colony and weregetting near the end. Their task had gone fairly smoothly except forsome difficulty on Mars when Strong and the cadets had rejected scoresof applicants with shady backgrounds; criminals and gamblers; spacemenwho had had their space papers picked up for violation of the spacecode, and men who had been dismissed from the enlisted Solar Guard forserious misconduct. But now, finally, the quotas of all the colonies andplanets but Luna City on the Moon had been filled. Soon the expeditionwould blast off for Roald.

  "Well," said Tom, sipping the last of his tea, "we have a heavy dayahead of us tomorrow. I guess we'd better get back to the _Polaris_ andsack in."

  "Yeah," agreed Astro, tossing some credits on the counter and followingTom and Roger out into the street. They walked past the shops, theirblue cadet uniforms reflecting the garish colors of the nuanium signs inthe shop windows. At the first corner they hailed a jet cab and weresoon speeding out of the city toward the municipal spaceport.

  The boys didn't talk much on the way out, each wondering why CaptainStrong was recalled on such short notice, and why he had left withoutsaying good-by to them. They knew they would see him in a few days whenthe processing of the Luna City applicants was over and they wouldreturn to Space Academy, but the relationship between the cadets and theSolar Guard captain had developed into a deeper association than just acadet crew and officer supervisor. They were friends--spacemates! Andthe boys sensed trouble ahead when they arrived at the Luna Cityspaceport. They stood in the shadow of the _Polaris_ and stared into thesky to watch the globe that was Earth revolve in the depths of space.The outline of the Western Hemisphere, flanked by the shimmeringAtlantic and Pacific oceans, could be seen clearly. It was abreath-taking view of a world that had given birth to all the men whonow took the travel from one world to another for granted.

  "Gosh," said Tom, staring at the magnificent sight. "I see the Earthlike that every time we blast off from Luna. I should be used to it bynow, but--" he stopped suddenly and sighed.

  "I know what you mean, Tom," said Astro. "It's the same with me. Gets meright here," and he put his hand to his heart.

  "You don't know your anatomy yet, pal," drawled Roger. "Move your handdown a couple of inches. Things only get you in the stomach."

  "Oh, is that a fact?" growled the big Venusian. Suddenly, without anyapparent effort, he picked up the blond cadet and held him high in theair. "Which way shall I drop him, Tom? On his head or the seat of hispants? Seems to me it won't make much difference."

  Tom laughed at the spectacle of Roger flailing the air helplessly, thensuddenly stopped and grabbed Astro by the arm. "Wait, Astro," he called."Look! There's someone in the ship!"

  "What?" cried Astro, dropping Roger and turning to the _Polaris_. Thethree cadets saw light gleaming from the control-deck viewport.

  "Well, I'll be a space monkey!" exclaimed Roger. "Who could it be?"

  "I don't know," replied Tom. "Governor Hardy is at the Luna City Hotel,and Captain Strong is the only one besides us who has the light key toopen the air lock!"

  "Well, what're we waiting for!" said Roger. "Let's find out what's goingon!"

  The three cadets climbed into the ship and raced up the companionway tothe control deck.

  "No one here," announced Roger as he stepped through the hatch. Heturned to Astro. "You were the last one out of the ship. Are you sureyou locked it up?"

  "The ship was locked, Cadet Manning!" said a voice in back of them. Thethree cadets whirled around to face a tall, wiry man with dark hair,dressed in civilian clothes and holding a cup of coffee. He smiled atthe three startled cadets and casually drained the cup. "I opened her,"he continued in a deep voice. "Governor Hardy gave me the key."

  "Who are you?" asked Tom, almost indignant at the man's self-assurance.And then he stopped, frowning, "Say, haven't I seen you before?"

  "You're right, Tom," cried Astro. "I've seen him too!"

  "Who are you, mister?" demanded Roger.

  The man turned back to the messroom just off the control deck, put thecoffee cup down on the table, and returned to face the three cadets. "Myname is Paul Vidac. I'm the new lieutenant governor of Roald."

  "You're what?" gasped Tom.

  "You're space happy!" exclaimed Roger. "Your application was refused.Captain Strong rejected it himself."

  "Fortunately for the project of Roald," said Vidac with a half-smileplaying at his lips, "Captain Strong has been taken off the Roaldproject." He paused and lounged against the bulkhead to announce, "Ihave replaced him."

  "You couldn't replace Captain Strong digging a hole in the ground,mister!" snapped Roger sarcastically.

  "You might have taken over his work, but you couldn't touch him with anatomic blaster," growled Astro. "Captain Strong is--"

  "Wait, fellows," said Tom. "Let's find out what this is all about."

  "That's all right, Corbett," Vidac broke in. "I appreciate yourallegiance. I wouldn't like anyone who would accept another person inplace of a friend without putting up a beef." His voice was as smooth asthe purr of a cat.

  "How could you have replaced him, mister?" asked Tom, with just a littlemore self-control than Roger or Astro had shown.

  "Very simple," said Vidac. "Governor Hardy has the final say on allapplications, as you know. He has unquestioned authority to appoint,approve, and select anyone he wants. In view of my experience, GovernorHardy was delighted to have me join the Roald expedition."

  The three cadets looked at each other in bewilderment. Finally Tomwalked over and stuck out his hand. "We're glad to have you aboard,sir." He managed a smile.

  Reluctantly Roger and Astro followed suit.

  "Thank you, boys," said Vidac with a smile. "I'm sure we'll learn towork together smoothly in these last few days. There are a few changesto be made of course. But it really doesn't matter. You'll be finishedwith the screening soon."

  "What kind of changes, sir?" asked Tom.

  "Oh, just routine," answered Vidac. "Instead of you seeing theapplicants first, I will speak with each one briefly before sending themon to you."

  "What's the matter with the way we've been doing it?" asked Roger witha slight edge to his voice that did not go unnoticed. Vidac looked atthe cadet. His mouth was smiling, but his eyes were hard.

  "I think, Cadet Manning," purred Vidac, "that it will be better for younot to question me, or any of my practices. A Space Cadet's first ruleis to take orders, _not_ to question them."

  Tom was thinking quickly. It was obvious that Vidac had gone straight toGovernor Hardy and had prevailed on him to review his application. Tomcould see how Vidac's background would impress the governor. Heremembered that there wasn't any real evidence against Vidac. In fact,Tom thought, it was only because Vidac's background was so superior tomost of the applicants that he had aroused
suspicion at all. Now, withCaptain Strong recalled to the Academy, it was only natural for thegovernor to get the best man for the job. Tom was ready to admit thatVidac's background certainly spoke for itself.

  He looked at the man and grinned. "I'll tell you honestly, sir. WhenCaptain Strong refused your application, it was because--well--"

  Vidac was watching Tom shrewdly. "Well?" he asked quietly.

  "It was because we couldn't understand how a man like you would want tobury yourself on a satellite for seven years when you could get most anykind of job you would want, right here in the Alliance."

  Vidac hesitated just a second, and then his face broke into a broadgrin. "You know, Corbett, you're right! Absolutely right! I can seewhere you three boys have done a fine job for the governor." He slappedAstro on the back and threw his arm around Tom's shoulder, speaking tothem in a suddenly confidential tone. "As a matter of fact, I wasoffered the directorship of the Galactic space lanes only last week,"he said. "Do you know why I refused it?"

  Tom shook his head.

  "Because I'm a spaceman, just like yourselves." He looked at Astro."Cadet Astro, would you take a job with an outfit and give up space tosit behind a desk eight hours a day?"

  "No, sir!" said Astro emphatically.

  "Well, that's exactly the way I feel. But I commend you on yourobservations about me, Corbett. I think I would have been a littlesuspicious myself."

  The three cadets smiled.

  "Thank you, sir," said Tom. "And forget what we just said. If GovernorHardy's okayed you, that's good enough for us."

  "Thanks, Corbett," said Vidac. "I appreciate that."

  "I guess we'd better turn in now," said Roger. "We have a hard day aheadof us. Those applicants come at you like dinosaurs."

  "Right!" said Vidac. "I'll take over Captain Strong's quarters. See youin the morning."

  The three cadets went to their quarters without saying a word. When thehatch was closed, Roger turned and faced his unit mates.

  "Well, it sure looks like we made a mistake about that spaceman!" hesaid. "I think he's all right!"

  "Yeah," said Astro, "you can't blame a guy for not wanting to take adesk job."

  Tom merely sat in his bunk, starting to pull off one of his soft leatherspace boots. He held it a moment, thinking, and then looked up at histwo unit mates. "You know, I think I'm going to have a talk with thegovernor."

  "About what?" asked Roger.

  "Vidac," said Tom simply.

  "What could you say that he doesn't already know?" asked Astro.

  "Why--" Tom stopped. After a moment he dropped his boot to the deck,looked up at Roger and Astro, and smiled. "Nothing, I guess."

  "Come on," said Roger, yawning. "Let's turn in. Just the thought offacing those applicants tomorrow makes me tired."

  Astro turned out the light and hopped into bed. Tom lay in his bunk,hands under his head, wondering about Vidac, and then he began to thinkabout the colony of Roald. He lay a long time, thinking about the finepeople who were giving up comfortable homes, successful businesses. Hethought of Hyram Logan and family; the shopkeeper from Titan with threesets of twin boys; the Martian miner who had spent twenty-five futileyears searching for uranium in the asteroid belt. They were all ready togo over fifty billion miles into deep space and begin their lives again.Tom shook his head. He wondered if he had a choice whether he wouldchance the mystery and danger of deep space.

  With the steady hum of the electronic generator on the power deckdroning in his ears the curly-haired cadet soon fell asleep.

  * * * * *

  "What did you say your name was?" asked Roger of the applicant standingbefore him. He was a man badly in need of a shave and his clothes lookedas if he had slept in them. He was the sixty-sixth applicant Roger hadseen that morning.

  "Tad Winters," replied the man in a surly tone, "and hurry up with thisbusiness. I haven't got all day!"

  Roger looked up sharply. "You'll wait until I've had time to check yourapplication, sir. Or you can leave right now!"

  "Listen, punk," snarled Winters, "I just saw your boss--"

  "My boss?" asked Roger, puzzled.

  "Yeah," said Winters. "Your boss, Vidac! And he said I was to tell youto pass me!"

  Roger stood up and looked the man in the eye. "You've had your spacepapers suspended twice, Mr. Winters. Once for smuggling, and once forinsubordination on a deep-space merchantman. Your application to go toRoald is rejected."

  "We'll see about that!" growled Winters. "Gimme that, you space jerk!"He snatched the application out of Roger's hand and stomped out of theroom.

  Roger smiled. It was nothing new to him for the applicants to threatenhim and seek higher authority. He buzzed for the next applicant.

  Meanwhile, Tom was interviewing a small man with heavy eyebrows and athin face. One side of his mouth twitched continually, making the manlook as though he were laughing. Tom read over the application andlooked up quickly.

  "Mr. Bush," said Tom, "you've stated here that you were once a messengerfor the Spaceways Bonded Messenger Service and that you were dismissed.Why was that?"

  Ed Bush's mouth twitched as he played with his hat and stirred uneasilyin his chair. "I was framed," he said finally.

  "Framed?" asked Tom.

  "Yeah, framed!" snapped Bush. "I was taking a credit pouch to Venusportfrom Atom City when it was stolen from me."

  "Could you prove it?" asked Tom.

  "How could I prove it when I don't know what happened to it?" growledBush. "Listen, Corbett, you can't hold a little thing like that againstme. A man is entitled to one mistake--"

  Tom held up his hand. "Mr. Bush, you also had your space paperssuspended for six months and were caught during the suspension blastingoff with false papers. Was that a mistake?"

  "Well, what do you expect a man to do? Go hungry? I've been a spacemanlonger than you've been alive. I had to have a job. There wasn'tanything else I could do." His voice trailed off into a whine.

  "But you did, willfully and with full knowledge of your act, violate thespace code by using false papers, didn't you?" pursued Tom.

  "Yeah, but--" whined Bush.

  "I'm sorry," said Tom, standing up. "Your application has beenrejected."

  Bush stood up and snatched the application from Tom. His mouth began totwitch furiously. "Why, you little--"

  "That's enough, Bush!" snapped Vidac, who had suddenly entered the room."Leave your application on the desk and get out!"

  Bush turned and looked at Vidac, nodded, and glared at Tom beforestalking from the room. Vidac smiled at Tom's questioning look andwalked over. He sat on the edge of Tom's desk and picked up Bush'sapplication.

  "Funny thing about Bush, Tom," Vidac mused.

  "What, sir?" asked Tom.

  "Notice the nervous twitch he has on the side of his face?"

  "Yes, sir," said Tom.

  "I've known Bush a long time. Many years. He used to be the happiestlittle space joker in the system, singing all the time, playing aconcertina. And then he lost that credit pouch. It bothered him realbad."

  "I guess it would, sir," said Tom.

  "And then he got caught blasting off with false papers and of coursethat made him a marked man. He developed the nervous twitch right afterthat. He's a good man, Tom. And I think we ought to give him anotherchance."

  Tom gasped. "But, sir, he's broken the space code!"

  Vidac looked at Tom and smiled. "I know, Tom, and it's a serious thing.But I think he deserves another chance."

  "We've refused people for a lot less than that, sir," said Tomemphatically, "before you came."

  Vidac's face hardened. "I said we were going to give him anotherchance!"

  Tom met the lieutenant governor's eyes coolly. "Yes, sir." He stampedthe application and handed it to Vidac.

  "It's pretty easy to sit in judgment of others, Tom," said Vidac,smiling again. "If there are any more--ah--questionable applicants, Isuggest you send them to me. And
if I want to give them another chance,you will, of course, follow orders."

  "Very well, sir," replied Tom, tight-lipped. "If you say so."

  Vidac's eyes hardened. "_I say so_, Corbett!" He turned and walked fromthe room.

  Tom sat down weakly. As he was about to buzz for the next applicant, thedoor burst open and Roger came into the room. The blond-haired cadet'slips were pulled tight in a grim line.

  "There's something rocket-blasting screwy around here, Tom!" heexclaimed.

  "What do you mean?" asked Tom.

  "I just rejected a real low-down space crawler--a guy named TadWinters."

  "Yes?" Tom was alert, anticipating Roger's answer.

  "He went to Vidac and came back later with his application approved."

  Tom slammed his fist on the desk. "That proves it! Governor Hardy has tobe told what's going on!" He flipped on the teleceiver near by and askedthe central communications operator to connect him with the governor'soffice. In a moment the face of Christopher Hardy sharpened into focuson the screen.

  "What is it, Corbett?" asked the governor.

  "I'd like to talk to you, sir, if I may. Something's just come up andI'm not sure what to do."

  "Well, whatever it is, I'm sure Governor Vidac will be able to take careof it. Speak to him."

  Tom gulped and glanced at Roger. "But, sir," he stammered,"it's--it's--"

  "It's what, Corbett? Hurry, lad! I haven't got all day."

  "What I have to say is--is--about the lieutenant governor, sir," Tommanaged finally.

  "Now listen, son," said Hardy, "I have a lot of confidence in you threeboys. You've all done a fine job. But I screened Mr. Vidac myself, andI'm satisfied that he is just the man I need. After Captain Strong wasrecalled to the Academy, I had to have a man to take over for him. And Iam satisfied that Mr. Vidac is about as fine a man as I could get! Nowdon't bother me again. You've done a fine job, as I said. But don't letit go to your heads!"

  "Yes, sir," said Tom, clamping his teeth together. "Very well, sir!"

  "One more thing," said Hardy. "We've about finished here at Luna City.When you've processed the last of the applicants, prepare the _Polaris_for a return trip to Space Academy." He paused and smiled. "I think Imight be able to convince Commander Walters you need a two weeks'leave!" He smiled again and then his face disappeared from the screen.

  Tom looked up at Roger. "I don't like it, Roger. Maybe I'm wrong, buteither the governor is pretty dumb or Vidac is the slickest thing inspace!"

  "Could be both," drawled Roger.

  Tom looked at the pile of applications on his desk, and then at the doorto Vidac's office.

  "Whatever it is, we've got to tell Captain Strong!"