United States or Philippines ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
The doctor chuckled as though at a private joke with himself, then added, "He's really quite weak physically, you know, even without the after effects of radiation and drugs." "Thank you, doctor." Back in his quarters, Elbertson was refusing to admit to himself the fact of his own weakness.
I cannot be responsible for the consequences if you do not follow my orders." "Explain that, please. About Hot Rod, I mean." "Why, it was struck by a meteor shortly after the flare last night. I think I heard someone say that it burned out Thule Base before they managed to turn it off." Without waiting for more, Elbertson brushed past the doctor and headed for the bridge.
But we can't tell them, for if we tell anyone, it will get back to Earth and we murdered Thule, according to the law of Earth. "It is a very neat problem," he said. Major Steve Elbertson arrived first at Project Hot Rod, and trailing behind him on their scuttlebugs, the other six men.
It might make one behave either stupidly or irrationally temporarily or permanently, depending on the severity of the effect." "Did Major Elbertson seem normal to you when you discharged him from hospital?" "I did not discharge him, captain. I ordered him to remain under my care. But he seemed greatly upset, and short of force I could not have kept him from leaving." "I see."
Benjamin Koblensky, project chief, stood directly behind him, supervising the process. Elbertson took up his post beside Dr. Koblensky, replacing the Security aide who had had the past shift. "Suit up," he said to the man briefly.
Major Steve Elbertson, caught in mid-run between the lab and Project Hot Rod, resisted the temptation to reverse the scuttlebug on the line and pull himself to a fast stop, as the flare warning from the observatory came to him over the emergency circuit of his suit, followed by Bessie's clipped official voice saying: "A flare is in progress.
Careful co-ordination of the project by ground control was vital, so that no misalignment of the beam could possibly bring it to bear on any civilized portion of Earth's surface. For, fantastic as this Project Hot Rod might be as a source of power for Earth, Major Elbertson knew that it was also the most dangerous weapon that man had ever devised.
And picking up the Security radio from the intercom bench, he turned it on and spoke into it. "Elbertson, this is Mike Blackhawk. You now have twenty minutes to surrender," and he cut off. Mike turned to Tombu. "Get me some plastic wrapping material. Preferably a plastic bag. I've got to make this stuff waterproof."
"Major Elbertson has the key. He has the only key. Without it, the station cannot be removed from Earth control. Earth is in control. They can turn it off, captain." Dr. Johnston's voice took on as firm a tone of authority as that of the captain. "Chau ... Chau ... You!" barked the captain. "Get that key!"
It might not be the saboteur, he thought, but the chances looked grimly real that Earth was right that the whole thing was sabotage, and those were the seven saboteurs. While he waited, he checked the Security quarters for Elbertson. The major was not there, nor was he in the hospital. Elbertson, he thought. I've been blind.
Word Of The Day