CHAPTER 6
A thousand spaceships, freighters, converted luxury liners, auxiliarysupply vessels, rocket cruisers, destroyers and scouts, all led by the_Polaris_, blasted in even formation through the last charted regions ofthe solar system. Inside the gleaming ships the colonists had settleddown for the long voyage to the new satellite of Roald. Their quarterswere cramped and uncomfortable. There was very little to do and theironly entertainment was the shipboard stereos. Many spent endless hoursat the long-range telescanners watching the sun star Wolf 359, seeing itcome closer and closer.
Aboard the _Polaris_, Tom, Roger, and Astro worked an endless tour ofduty, maneuvering the great fleet of ships into ordered formation sothat any vessel could be found without difficulty. Now that the fleetwas in position, and the early confusion of forming up was over, theyhad hoped for a little rest, but were disappointed when Vidac suddenlyordered them to report to his quarters.
Standing at the hatch outside of Vidac's room, Tom and Roger waited forAstro as he climbed up the ladder to join them. The big cadet finallymade the top and stood breathing heavily.
"By the rings of Saturn," he grumbled, "I'm so tired I could sleep righthere. Right now!"
"Yeah," growled Roger. "You'd think Vidac would give us a break afterwhat we've done."
"We'll have plenty of time to rest on this trip," said Tom. "This isjust the beginning. I'll bet by the time we reach Roald we'll be wishingwe had something to do to pass away the time."
He turned and pressed the annunciator button and the hatch slid open.The three cadets entered the room and snapped to attention.
"_Polaris_ unit reporting as ordered, sir," said Tom.
Vidac swung around in his chair and stared up at the three cadets, ahint of a smile curling his lips.
"You've done a fine job, boys," he said. "The fleet is in goodformation." He paused as he settled back in his chair. "But I'm not theone who believes in idle hands. I've assigned you to Professor Sykes. Heneeds help in charting the unexplored regions of space we'reapproaching. And you three need that kind of training. Report to him inone hour."
"One hour," gasped Roger. "But we're completely blasted out!"
"Yes, sir," agreed Astro. "Couldn't we log some sack time before westart another assignment?"
Vidac stood up and faced them. "You might as well learn right now," hesaid sharply, "that when I give an order I expect it to be carried outwithout suggestions, complaints, or whining excuses!"
"But--!" stammered Roger.
Tom quickly stepped forward. His back ramrod straight, he saluted thelieutenant governor. "We understand, sir."
He executed a perfect about-face and, followed by Astro and Roger, heleft the lieutenant governor's quarters.
Outside, the three cadets walked wearily toward the messroom just offthe control deck. After preparing a hasty cup of tea, they sat about thetable silently, each thinking about the long trip ahead of them and thedifficulties they were sure to encounter with Vidac. They all threejumped when Jeff Marshall, Professor Sykes's aide, entered and boomed acheerful greeting.
"Hi, fellas!"
"Hiya," muttered Tom. Astro and Roger merely nodded.
"Say!" cried Jeff, his usually cheerful face showing concern. "What'sthe matter with you three guys? You look as though someone told youthere isn't any Moon!"
"Worse than that," said Roger. "Vidac just assigned us to work withProfessor Sykes on charting the new space regions."
Jeff smiled. "Nothing wrong with that. The old professor isn't so bad.He sounds worse than he really is."
"Listen," growled Astro, "you don't have to tell me what Professor Sykesis like. I had a class with him at the Academy. That guy is so sour,vinegar is sweet by comparison."
Astro's outburst was said with such fierce conviction that Tom, Roger,and Jeff burst out laughing.
"It isn't that we mind working with Professor Sykes," said Tom. "He's areal brain and we could learn a lot from him, but--"
"But what?" asked Jeff.
"It's the way Vidac has suddenly--well, taken over around here. We'resupposed to be under the direct orders of Governor Hardy."
"Well, Vidac is Hardy's executive officer," said Jeff.
"Yeah," muttered Roger. "We're finding that out, the hard way."
"I still can't understand why Governor Hardy would make him lieutenantgovernor, with his background," mused Tom.
Jeff grinned. "You three guys have been jockeying with so many spacecrawlers since you came to the Academy, you're suspicious of everyoneyou meet. I'm surprised you haven't decided that I'm an arch spacecriminal myself!"
The three cadets smiled. Jeff Marshall was so gentle and mild, hismanner so quietly humorous, it was impossible to picture him as any kindof a criminal.
During the few minutes they had left, they casually discussed thechances of the senior space cadets against the enlisted guardsmen in aforthcoming mercuryball game, and then went up to the forwardcompartment of the _Polaris_, which served as a temporary observatoryfor Professor Sykes.
The Chief Astrophysicist of Space Academy, Professor Barnard Sykes, wasa man of great talent and even greater temper. Referred to as Barney bythe cadet corps, he was held in high regard and downright fear. Therewere few cadets who had escaped his scathing tongue when they had made amistake and practically the entire student body had, at one time oranother, singly and in unison, devoutly wished that a yawning hole wouldopen up and swallow them when he began one of his infamous tirades. Evenperfection in studies and execution by a cadet would receive a meregrunt from the cantankerous professor. Such temperament was permissibleat the Academy by an instructor only because of his genius and for noother reason. And Professor Sykes fitted the bill. It was by sheerdevotion to his work and single-mindedness of purpose that he was ableto become a leading scientist in his field. Professor Sykes had beenassigned, at his request, to the Roald expedition. As the leadingscientist, it was his job to evaluate every new discovery made duringthe trip out to the distant satellite, and later make observations onthe colony itself. Scientifically, and in a sense ultimately, thesuccess or failure of the Roald expedition would rest on his roundhunched shoulders.
When the three cadets and Jeff Marshall entered the observatory, theyfound Professor Sykes bending over a calculating machine checking somefigures. Apparently finding a mistake, he muttered to himself angrilyand started over again. Roger stepped forward.
"I can handle a calculator pretty well, sir," Roger said. "You want meto do it for you?"
Sykes whirled around and glared at the blond-haired cadet. "What's yourname?" he snapped.
"Why--Cadet Manning, sir," replied Roger.
"Cadet Manning, do you see this calculator?" Sykes pointed to thedelicate instrument that could add, subtract, divide, and multiply, infractions and whole numbers, as well as measure the light years insidereal time.
"Yes, sir," said Roger.
"Cadet Manning," continued Sykes, "I perfected that machine. Built thefirst one myself. Now offhand, wouldn't you say I would know how tooperate it?"
"Yes, sir," stammered Roger. "But I just wanted to help, sir."
"When I need your help I'll ask for it!" snorted the little professor.He turned to Jeff. "What are they doing here? You know I don't like tobe interrupted when I'm making observations!"
Jeff smiled slowly. "They've been assigned to work with you, sir.They're your new assistants."
"My assistants!" screamed Sykes. "What space-blasting idiot got the ideathat I needed any assistants?"
"The lieutenant governor, sir," said Jeff.
"Oh, he did, did he!" Sykes turned to the teleceiver, flipped it on,and waited impatiently for the machine to warm up.
In a moment Vidac's face came into view. Before the lieutenant governorcould say a word, Sykes began to scream at him.
"What's the idea of sending these brainless Space Cadets to me!Assistants--bah! Can't you find something else for them to do?" bawledSykes. "Is my work considered so unimportant tha
t I should be impeded bythese--these--" He sputtered and turned to wave at Tom, Roger, and Astrowho still stood at rigid attention.
Sykes got no further. Vidac simply cut off his teleceiver and left theprofessor staring into a blank screen. His face became beet red, and hescreamed at Jeff Marshall. "Get them out of here! Put them towork--scrubbing the decks, cleaning up the place, anything! But keepthem out of my way!" Then wagging a finger in Roger's face, he screamedhis last warning. "Don't ever speak to me again, unless I speak to you_first!_"
Smarting under the continuous blast of anger from the professor, Rogercould no longer restrain himself. Slowly, with the calm deliberatemanner and slow casual drawl that characterized him at his sarcasticbest, the cadet stepped forward. He saluted, and with his face a baresix inches from Sykes, said evenly, "To speak to you, sir, under anyconditions, sir, would be such a stroke of bad luck, sir, that Iwouldn't wish it on the last spaceman in the world, sir." With anothercurt salute he wheeled smartly and walked out of the room.
Flabbergasted, Professor Sykes could manage no more than a hoarsebubbling sound and he finally turned to Jeff Marshall, waving his armsviolently. "Get them out of here--get them out of here. Get them out!"
The sergeant nodded quickly at Tom and Astro, who, repressing smiles,saluted and followed Roger out of the observatory.
Within the hour, Professor Sykes was still screaming loudly, this timeto Governor Hardy himself. Standing before his desk the eccentricscientist babbled his complaint of Vidac's rebuff and Roger's outrageousinsolence.
"I won't stand for it, Governor! My work is more important than havingto wipe the noses of three loudmouthed sassy cadets! And as forthat--that man Vidac, if he ever turns off the teleceiver again when I'mtalking to him, I'll go to the Solar Council itself. I'm an officer ofthe Solar Guard and demand respect!"
His harangue concluded, Sykes turned and stalked toward the hatch.
"Just a moment," called Hardy, stepping around the desk to confront thelittle scientist. "All of us are assigned to important jobs," he saidcalmly. "Yours is scientific research; the cadets have a specific job ofeducation; I am the co-ordinator of the whole project and LieutenantGovernor Vidac is my immediate executive officer. We all have to worktogether. Let's see if we can't do it a little more smoothly, eh?" Hardysmiled and turned back to his chair. "But one thing more, Sykes. Ifthere are any more petty disagreements, please settle them with Vidac.Don't come up here again, unless I order you to!"
"_You_ order _me_," gasped Sykes.
"That's all, Sykes!" said Hardy coldly, picking up some papers in anobvious gesture of dismissal. His fury redoubled, the professor backedout of the room and hurried below to Vidac's quarters. Expecting anothercold interview, he was surprised when Vidac met him with a smile andasked him to enjoy a cup of coffee with him.
"No need for us to antagonize each other over the foolish mistakes andbunglings of the cadets, Professor," said Vidac evenly. "I apologize forcutting you off, but I make it a point never to talk to a man when he'sangry. Come, sit down, and have a cup of coffee. I'm sure we can workout the answer." He paused and then added pointedly, "Without botheringGovernor Hardy."
"Yes--yes--of course," said Sykes, accepting the proffered cup.
Within a half-hour, Vidac had Sykes laughing at his jokes and stories,and when they parted, the professor's temper had abated. When thescientist finally left, Vidac turned to the ship's intercom and pagedthe cadets. A few minutes later they entered his quarters for the secondtime that evening.
Vidac was ready and waiting when they entered the room and came toattention. He leaned back against his desk and looked at each cadetthrough half-closed eyes. Finally, after a full minute of silence, hebegan to speak.
"I gave you specific instructions to report to Professor Sykes for workas his assistants," he said in a cold, hard voice. "I also told you Iwanted my order carried out without complaints or whining excuses. Yousaw fit to start an argument as soon as you reported, therebyinterrupting his work. The professor went to the governor andinterrupted _his_ work. The professor came to see me, interrupting _my_work. Three men had to stop their jobs because you didn't feel likecarrying out orders."
"But, sir--" said Tom. "The professor--"
"Shut up, Corbett!" said Vidac coldly. "Don't ever interrupt me againwhile I'm talking!"
"Yes, sir!" said Tom through tight lips.
"You boys have been enjoying considerable latitude under Captain Strong.But I would like to remind you that Captain Strong isn't here. There'sno one here but me. You will do as I say, when I say it, and as long asI say it. If you don't, I promise you, you will regret it."
"May I speak, sir?" asked Roger.
"No, Manning. I've heard about your tongue. I warn you, never use it onme, or--" He paused. "Just never use it, that's all."
He walked about the room, but kept his eyes on the cadets. "There's justone more thing I want you to understand, before you're dismissed. I knowthat all three of you refused my application as a colonist originally. Iknow what your feelings must be now that I am your superior. And becauseI know, I feel I should warn you not to try to express your feelings.You can't win. You can only lose. If I ever catch you going to GovernorHardy, by-passing my authority, I'll make your lives so miserableyou'll wish you were dead. Now get out of here!"
As one man, the cadets of the _Polaris_ unit saluted, turned a perfectabout-face, and walked once again from the room. Outside in thepassageway, they relaxed and headed for their quarters.
None of them could say a word, for the simple reason that each of themwas so boiling mad he couldn't speak. Finally, after they had showeredand were climbing into their bunks, Tom spoke for the first time sinceleaving Vidac.
"I have to write a report to Captain Strong," he said, when Rogerstarted to turn out the light. "Better leave it on a while, Roger."
"O.K., Tom," said Roger. "Are you going to tell him what's going onhere?"
"Yeah," growled Astro. "Give him the whole works. There's somethingwrong here somewhere. I can understand the professor blasting his jets.He does that all the time. But I can't understand Vidac acting the wayhe does."
"I feel the same way, Astro," said Tom, "but actually what are we goingto say to Captain Strong? So far nothing concrete has happened." Heshook his head. "I'm afraid if I put what happened down on anaudioscriber that it'll look as though we've suddenly becomecry-babies!"
"I'm ready to quit!" said Roger. "Grab a freighter and blast outta here.A whole year with this guy! There's no telling what he's liable to do!"
Tom leaned over the table and stared at the bulkhead in front of him. Heclenched his fists. Needless to say, he agreed with Roger, he had thesame feelings. But he was powerless to do anything about it.
The Space Pioneers Page 6