Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 7, 2025
A voice said, "Cargo-ship reporting. Clear of ground. Everything going well. No casualties." "Report again when in clear space," said Bors. He waited. Several long minutes later a second report came. "Cargo-ship reporting. In clear space." "Very good work!" said Bors. "You know where to go now. Go ahead!" "Yes, sir," said the voice from space.
When they cleared, the sky was empty. There had now been a lapse of less than ten minutes from the first sighting of the Isis screaming toward the spaceport. The guard-ship had been destroyed and the cargo-ship which seemed to flee had apparently been destroyed.
Then the electron telescope revealed a stubby, rotund cargo-ship, about to land on Mekin. Bors swore. It would be days before this tub reached Mekin on solar-system drive. But it must not report that an armed vessel had inspected it in remoteness. "We haul alongside," said Bors angrily. "Boarding-parties ready in the space-boats."
They swerved under the landing-grid. They raced and bounced across the clear surface which was the spaceport. There stood a giant, rotund cargo-ship, pointing skyward. There were ground-trucks still supplying cargo for its nearly filled-up holds. The six ground-cars braked, making clouds of dust. And suddenly there was not one or two men in each, but an astonishing number.
Bors considered these circumstances. A large cargo-ship loaded with foodstuffs requisitioned to be sent to Mekin. A population which had been rebellious before witness the battleship aground to overawe resistance and now was rioting. Bors called for the extra members of his crew. He uncomfortably outlined the action he had in mind. There was one part that he disliked. He had to stay on board ship.
The report from the cargo-ship was unexpectedly satisfactory. It had been almost completely loaded, and its cargo was largely foodstuffs intended for Mekin. Kandar's fleet-in-hiding was already subsisting on emergency rations. This cargo of assorted frozen foods would be welcome. Bors gave orders for it to head for Glamis immediately, in overdrive.
He took the microphone. Instants later his voice boomed in the stillness outside the ship, cutting through the thin shrill of invisible small creatures. "This is the Med Ship Aesclipus Twenty," said Calhoun's voice, amplified to a shout. "I left Weald four days ago, one day after the cargo-ship from here arrived with everybody on board dead.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking