The Black Tide Part 4

Bill piled out and forced his floating feet to magnetic contact with the steel deck. He followed Jones down the short corridor to the communications cabin.

At the radar scope Bill studied the s.h.i.+p, then gave orders decelerating the _s.p.a.ce Dragon_.

"There's another s.h.i.+p!" Jones exclaimed, pointing at the edge of the scope.

Bill peered at the new s.h.i.+p, studying its characteristics. Then he nodded his head. "It's the _s.p.a.ce Bird_ all right. But that first one--I got an idea it must be an Asteroid Mining s.h.i.+p. Margo must have transmitted the _s.p.a.ce Bird_ trajectory to Asteroid Mining. I don't see how anybody would know where to find us in such immense distances as Beta Quadrant."

Stepping over to the communications panel he called the _s.p.a.ce Bird_.

No answer, and though he kept calling he could not raise the s.h.i.+p.

Then he called Staker Field on Earth.

"Caxton?"

The field came back. "Staker Field. Go ahead."

"Caxton, we've found the _s.p.a.ce Bird_ but can't speak to them, so I'm cutting you in on communications with an Asteroid Mining s.h.i.+p that's hanging around. Tape pictures and sound--the whole works."

"Okay."

Flipping another switch, Bill called the strange s.h.i.+p on the all-interplanetary frequency.

Suddenly after long minutes of silence the dark screen lighted up with the impa.s.sive features of a round faced, cold eyed man.

"Yeah? This is the _Pluton_. What d'you want--and who are you?"

"This is the _s.p.a.ce Dragon_--sister s.h.i.+p to the _s.p.a.ce Bird_ there in your vicinity. What's the matter with our s.h.i.+p?"

The man's eyes darkened and his jaws tightened. "There's plenty wrong with it, _s.p.a.ce Dragon_. And the same thing's going to be wrong with your s.h.i.+p, too. A 'meteor' is going to hit your s.h.i.+p the same as. .h.i.t the _s.p.a.ce Bird_. Asteroid Mining doesn't like compet.i.tors horning in their business!"

Bill shot back grimly, "I'm glad to hear your views on compet.i.tion, Mister. The whole world is interested in our Project Venture, and when they hear what you said there's going to be h.e.l.l to pay. Because, you see, everything you say and how you look saying it is being recorded back at Staker Field on Earth!"

The other man's impa.s.sive face suddenly turned into a ludicrous mask of a man burning his fingers on hot chestnuts. The two way hook-up abruptly ended. On the scope Bill and Jones watched the image of the _Pluton_ begin to move across the scope and finally out of range in the opposite direction toward Asteroid Mining's Omega Quadrant.

Hours later the _s.p.a.ce Dragon_ made physical contact with Tom's s.h.i.+p.

Bill was the first one through the communicating airlock.

Tom, his face drawn and haggard, met him as he emerged in the s.h.i.+p.

The rest of the crew were lying still to conserve air.

"Hi, Bill. Boy, are we glad to see you. That 'meteor' they threw at us confined us on air bottles in the forward compartments."

Bill shook his hand warmly. "We got enough air for all of us. After we patch things up here, let's start carving us a chunk of private enterprise."

Tom's tired eyes lighted up. "Hm, say, you're so right! Our geigers have found enough floating ore in Beta Quadrant already to make a big nick in Asteroid's business."

Bill gave him a mock salute, "Okay, skipper. You've earned the t.i.tle of Head Dreamer, and I'll help make your dreams come true!"

THE END