If Hook had been asked by what right he claimed the Novamen to be a foulness, he would have pointed to what they had done in the galaxy. If anyone had asked him by what right he set himself up to be the judge and executioner, he might not have been able to answer that, might have said he had no wish to be either of those two solemn facets of civilised life. But, having said that, and having seriously considered whether or not to punch the enquirer on the nose, Ryder Hook would have known, without question, that however evil he might be himself, he was well aware of greater evil, and that, for his sins, he must do what he could to prevent that evil spreading.
Now he could hear the others ready to enter the control section.
Anthea would be there, and she would have to face this new relationship between them, the relationship Hook tried to maintain between himself and any beautiful young girl in the galaxy. She was not special any more. He felt the sorrow of that; but Ryder Hook's life was one of apartness and aloneness, never one to be shared by a nice girl like Fraulein Anthea Elterich.
And Rafflans, the big husky Krifman. No doubt he'd want still to carry on with this business of tearing off Hook's arms and legs and wrapping them around his neck. Well, a swift little punch-up might not come amiss, with the rules carefully observed. Rafflans would be a worthy opponent, at that.
And Karg — faithful Karg. The F'lovett meant a great deal to Shaeel, and so he must mean something to Hook.
And Shaeel?
No doubt the Hermaphrodite would say something like: 'My dear feller 'ook! Of course you've brought a supply of nappies and baby-food?'
Come to think of it — he should have, shouldn't he?
Shaeel could be bloody infuriating all the time.
They'd be in any moment. But there was something Hook must finish first. The hold circuits were separated from the passenger and main compartments, as they must be.
Ryder Hook put his hand on the button. Had he the right? Right or not, he thought he was doing the right thing.
He tripped the switch and unlocked the button and pressed it firmly. The air exhausted from the hold. He thought of those beautiful girls, condemned to death because — because they held, sleeping in their bodies, a gift he craved and was denied? He hoped no one could think Ryder Hook so petty as that.
The air exhausted from the hold and cryosleep became death. Boosted they might be; but Ryder Hook did not believe they could breathe space.
A voice at the door.
'Oh, 'ook, my dear chappie. A Very Nice Performance, all of it, I Must Say. Now, my dear feller, about those nappies ... '
THE END
The Boosted Man Page 13