United States or Czechia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
I murmured impulsively, "Here I am, Venza dear." Gently, as one would speak with gentle sympathy to humor the dying. "Here I am, Venza." But it was only the confusion of the shock upon her. And it was upon us all. She pushed at Anita. "I want him." She saw me; this whimsical Venus girl!
I like to eat in quiet; arguing passengers always annoy me. There were still three seats vacant at our table; I wondered who would occupy them. I soon learned the answer for one seat at least. Rankin said calmly: "Where is the little Venus girl this meal?" His glance went to the empty seat at my right hand. "The Venza, isn't that her name?
Venza whispered swiftly, "When we are landing, Gregg, I want you to make a commotion anything just as the women go ashore." "Why? Of course you will have food, Mrs. Francis." "Never mind details! An instant just confusion. Go, Gregg don't speak now!" I raised the child. "You take care of Mother." I kissed her. From across the cabin, Miko's sardonic voice made me turn.
Snap flung himself face down at the controls. The brigands were out on the dome now. I took a last shot as we lifted. My bullet punctured one of them: he slid, fell scrambling off the rounded dome and dropped out of sight. Light rays and silent flashes seemed to envelope us. Venza held the side shields higher. We tilted, swayed crazily, and then steadied. The ship's dome dropped away beneath us.
Anita and Venza through these days could aid us very little save by their cheering words. They moved about the rooms, trying to inspire us; so that all the men, when they might have been humanly sullen and cursing their fate, were turned to grim activity, or grim laughter, making a joke of the coming siege. The morale of the camp now was perfect.
The port and dome windows slid closed. Moa hissed against my ear: "If you want life, Gregg Haljan, you will start your duties!" Venza had failed. Whatever it was, it had come to nothing. Down in the purple forest, disconnected now from the ship, the last of our friends stood marooned. I could distinguish them through the blur of the closed dome only a swaying, huddled group was visible.
The helmets had ports through which food and drink could be taken. I stood with my helmet ready. Anita, Venza and Snap were bloated and grotesque beside me. We had found food and water here, assembled in portable cases which the brigands had prepared. Snap lifted them, and signaled to me he was ready.
Her knife gleamed in the turret light. She murmured again, "In a few moments you can bring us away, Gregg." I felt like an actor awaiting his cue in the wings of some turgid drama the plot of which he did not know. Venza was near the head of the incline. Some of the women and children were on it. A woman screamed. Her child had slipped from her hand; bounded up over the rail and fallen.
"But I doubt it the Venza is nothing if not impartial." I wondered what could be taking Venza now to Mars. I was glad to see her. She was diverting. Educated. Well traveled. Spoke English with a colloquial, theatrical manner more characteristic of Greater New York than of Venus. And for all her light banter, I would rather put my trust in her than any Venus girl I had ever met.
If you should need us, we're ready...." "We won't!" I said shortly. "But if you should...." Venza put in, "If Snap and I hadn't come for you, you wouldn't be here, Gregg Haljan. I didn't notice you were so horrified to see me holding that shield up over you!" It silenced me. She added, "Commander, let us alone. We won't smash anything." Grantline laughed. "I hope you won't!"
Word Of The Day