CHAPTER XVII
_A Woman of Mars_
"So, Gregg Haljan, you are not as loyal as you pretend!"
Miko was livid with suppressed anger. They had stripped the cloak fromme, and flung me back in my cubby. Miko was now confronting me; at thedoor Moa stood watching. And Anita was behind her. I sat outwardlydefiant and sullen on my bunk. But I was alert and tense, fearful stillof what Anita's emotion might betray her into doing.
"Not so loyal," Miko repeated. "And a fool! Do you think I am such achild you can escape me!"
He swung around. "How did he get out of here? Prince, you came in here!"
My heart was wildly thumping. But Anita retorted with a touch of spirit:
"I came to tell him what you commanded. To check Hahn's latestfigures--and to be ready to take the controls when we go into theasteroid's atmosphere."
"Well, how did he get out?"
"How should I know?" she parried. Little actress! Her spirit helped toallay my fear. She held her cloak close around her in the fashion theyhad come to expect from the George Prince who had just buried hissister. "How should I know, Miko? I sealed his door."
"But did you?"
"Of course he did," Moa put in.
"Ask your look-outs," said Anita. "They saw me--I waved to them just asI sealed the door."
I ventured, "I have been taught to open doors." I managed a sly,lugubrious smile. "I shall not try it again, Miko."
Nothing had been said about my killing of the steward. I thanked myconstellations now that he was dead. "I shall not try it again," Irepeated.
A glance passed between Miko and his sister. Miko said abruptly, "Youseem to realize that it is not my purpose to kill you. And you presumeupon it."
"I shall not again." I eyed Moa. She was gazing at me steadily. Shesaid, "Leave me with him, Miko...." She smiled. "Gregg Haljan, we are nomore than twenty thousand miles from the asteroid now. The calculationsfor retarding are now in operation."
* * * * *
It was what had taken Miko below, that and trouble with the ventilatingsystem, which was soon rectified. But the retarding of the ship'svelocity when nearing a destination required accurate manipulation.These brigands were fearful of their own skill. That was obvious. Itgave me confidence. I was really needed. They would not harm me. Exceptfor Miko's impulsive temper, I was in no danger from them--not now,certainly.
Moa was saying, "I think I may make you understand, Gregg. We havetremendous riches within our grasp."
"I know it," I added with sudden thought. "But there are many with whomto divide this treasure...."
Miko caught my intended implication. "By the infernal, this fellow mayhave felt he could seize the treasure for himself! Because he is anavigator!"
Moa said vehemently, "Do not be an idiot, Gregg! You could not do it!There will be fighting with Grantline."
My purpose was accomplished. They seemed to see me a willing outlaw likethemselves. As though it were a bond between us. And they could win me.
"Leave me with him," said Moa.
Miko acquiesced. "For a few minutes only." He proffered a heat-raycylinder, but she refused it.
"I am not afraid of him."
Miko swung on me. "Within an hour we will be nearing the atmosphere.Will you take the controls?"
"Yes."
* * * * *
He set his heavy jaw. His eyes bored into me. "You're a strange fellow,Haljan. I can't make you out. I am not angry now. Do you think, when Iam deadly serious, that I mean what I say?"
His calm words set a sudden shiver over me. I checked my smile.
"Yes," I said.
"Well then, I will tell you this: not for all of Prince's well-meaninginterference, or Moa's liking for you, or my own need of your skill,will I tolerate more trouble from you. The next time--I will kill you.Do you believe me?"
"Yes."
"That is all I want to say. You kill my men, and my sister says I mustnot hurt you. I am not a child to be ruled by a woman!"
He held his huge fist before my face. "With these fingers I will twistyour neck! Do you believe it?"
"Yes." I did indeed.
He swung on his heel. "If Moa wants to try and put sense into yourhead--I hope she does. Bring him to the lounge when you are finished,Moa. Come, Prince--Hahn will need us." He chuckled grimly. "Hahn seemsto fear we will plunge into this asteroid like a wild comet gonesuddenly tangent!"
Anita moved aside to let him through the door. I caught a glimpse of herset white face as she followed him down the deck.
Then Moa's bulk blocked the doorway. She faced me.
"Sit where you are, Gregg." She turned and closed the door upon us. "Iam not afraid of you. Should I be?"
"No," I said.
She came and sat down beside me. "If you should attempt to leave thisroom, the stern look-out has orders to bore you through."
"I have no intention of leaving the room," I retorted. "I do not want tocommit suicide."
"I thought you did. You seem minded in such a fashion. Gregg, why areyou so foolish?"
* * * * *
I remained silent.
"Why?" she demanded.
I said carefully, "This treasure--you are many who will divide it. Youhave all these men on the _Planetara_. And in Ferrok-Shahn, others, nodoubt."
I paused. Would she tell me? Could I make her talk of that other brigandship which Miko had said was waiting on Mars? I wondered if he had beenable to signal it. The distance from here to Mars was great; yet uponother voyages Snap's signals had gotten through. My heart sank at thethought. Our situation here was desperate enough. The passengers soonwould be cast upon the asteroid: there would be left only Snap, Anitaand myself. We might recapture the ship, but I doubted it now. Mythoughts were turning to our arrival upon the Moon. We three might,perhaps, be able to thwart the attack upon Grantline, hold the brigandsoff until help from the Earth might come.
But with another brigand ship, fully manned and armed, coming from Mars,the condition would be immeasurably worse. Grantline had some twentymen, and his camp, I knew, would be reasonably fortified. I knew, too,that Johnny Grantline would fight to his last man.
Moa was saying, "I would like to tell you our plans, Gregg."
Her gaze was on my face. Keen eyes, but they were luminous now--anemotion in them sweeping her. But outwardly she was calm, stern-lipped.
"Well, why don't you tell me?" I said. "If I am to help you...."
"Gregg, I want you with us. Don't you understand? We are not many. Mybrother and I are guiding this affair. With your help, I would feeldifferently."
"The ship at Ferrok-Shahn--"
* * * * *
My fears were realized. She said, "I think our signals reached it. Deantried, and Coniston was checking him."
"You think the ship is coming?"
"Yes."
"Where will it join us?"
"At the Moon. We will be there in thirty hours. Your figures gave that,did they not, Gregg?"
"Yes. And the other ship--how fast is it?"
"Quite fast. In eight days--or nine, perhaps--it will reach the Moon."
She seemed willing enough to talk. There was indeed, no particularreason for reticence; I could not, she naturally felt, turn theknowledge to account.
"Manned--" I prompted.
"About forty men."
"And armed? Long range projectors?"
"You ask very avid questions, Gregg!"
"Why should I not? Don't you suppose I'm interested?" I touched her."Moa, did it ever occur to you, if once you and Miko trusted me--whichyou don't--I might show more interest in joining you?"
The look on her face emboldened me. "Did you ever think of that, Moa?And some arrangement for my share of this treasure? I am not likeJohnson, to be hired for a hundred pounds of gold-leaf."
"Gregg, I will see that you get your share. Riches, for you-
-and me."
"I was thinking, Moa, when we land at the Moon to-morrow--where is ourequipment?"
The Moon, with its lack of atmosphere, needed special equipment. I hadnever heard Carter mention what apparatus the _Planetara_ was carrying.
* * * * *
Moa laughed. "We have located air-suits and helmets--a variety ofsuitable apparatus, Gregg. But we were not foolish enough to leaveGreat-New York on this voyage without our own arrangements. My brother,and Coniston and Prince--all of us shipped crates of freight consignedto Ferrok-Shahn--and Rankin had special baggage marked 'theatricalapparatus.'"
I understood it now. These brigands had boarded the _Planetara_ withtheir own Moon equipment, disguised as freight and personal baggage.Shipped in bond, to be inspected by the tax officials of Mars.
"It is on board now. We will open it when we leave the asteroid, Gregg.We are well equipped."
She bent toward me. And suddenly her long lean fingers were gripping myshoulders.
"Gregg, look at me!"
I gazed into her eyes. There was passion there; and her voice wassuddenly intense.
"Gregg, I told you once a Martian girl goes after what she wants. It isyou I want--"
Not for me to play like a cad upon a woman's emotions! "Moa, you flatterme."
"I love you." She held me off, gazing at me. "Gregg--"
I must have smiled. And abruptly she released me.
"So you think it amusing?"
"No. But on Earth--"
"We are not on the Earth. Nor am I of the Earth!" She was gauging mekeenly. No note of pleading was in her voice; a stern authority; and thepassion was swinging to anger.
"I am like my brother: I do not understand you, Gregg Haljan. Perhapsyou think you are clever? It seems stupidity, the fatuousness of man!"
"Perhaps," I said.
* * * * *
There was a moment of silence. "Gregg, I said I loved you. Have you noanswer?"
"No." In truth, I did not know what sort of answer it would be best tomake. Whatever she must have read in my eyes, it stirred her to fury.Her fingers with the strength of a man in them, dug into my shoulders.Her gaze searched me.
"You think you love someone else? Is that it?"
That was horribly startling; but she did not mean it just that way. Sheamended with caustic venom: "That little Anita Prince! You thought youloved her! Was that it?"
"No!"
But I hardly deceived her. "Sacred to her memory! Her ratlike littleface--soft voice like a purring, sniveling cat! Is that what you'reremembering, Gregg Haljan?" she sneered.
I tried to laugh. "What nonsense!"
"Is it? Then why are you cold under my touch? Am I--a girl descendedfrom the Martian flame-workers--impotent now to awaken a man?"
A woman scorned! In all the Universe there could be no more dangerous anenemy. An incredible venom shot from her eyes.
"That miserable mouselike creature! Well for her that my brother killedher."
It struck me cold. If Anita was unmasked, beyond all the menace ofMiko's wooing, I knew that the venom of Moa's jealousy was a greaterdanger.
I said sharply, "Don't be simple, Moa!" I shook off her grip. "Youimagine too much. You forget that I am a man of the Earth and you a girlof Mars."
"Is that reason why we should not love?"
"No. But our instincts are different. Men of the Earth are born to thechase."
* * * * *
I was smiling. With thought of Anita's danger I could find it readily inmy heart to dupe this Amazon.
"Give me time, Moa. You attract me."
"You lie!"
"Do you think so?" I gripped her arm with all the power of my fingers.It must have hurt her, but she gave no sign; her gaze clung to mesteadily.
"I don't know what to think, Gregg Haljan...."
I held my grip. "Think what you like. Men of Earth have been known tokill the thing they love."
"You want me to fear you?"
"Perhaps."
She smiled scornfully. "That is absurd."
I released her. I said earnestly, "I want you to realize that if youtreat me fairly, I can be of great advantage to this venture. There willbe fighting--I am fearless."
Her venomous expression was softening. "I think that is true, Gregg."
"And you need my navigating skill. Even now I should be in the turret."
I stood up. I half expected she would stop me, but she did not. I added,"Shall we go?"
She stood beside me. Her height brought her face level with mine.
"I think you will cause no more trouble, Gregg?"
"Of course not. I am not wholly witless."
"You have been."
"Well, that is over." I hesitated. Then I added, "A man of Earth doesnot yield to love when there is work to do. This treasure--"
I think that of everything I said, this last most convinced her.
She interrupted, "That I understand." Her eyes were smoldering. "When itis over--when we are rich--then I will claim you, Gregg."
* * * * *
She turned from me. "Are you ready?"
"Yes. No! I must get that sheet of Hahn's last figures."
"Are they checked?"
"Yes." I picked the sheet up from my desk. "Hahn is fairly accurate,Moa."
"A fool nevertheless. An apprehensive fool."
A comradeship seemed coming between us. It was my purpose to establishit.
"Are we going to maroon Dr. Frank with the passengers?" I asked.
"Yes."
"But he may be of use to us." I wanted Dr. Frank kept aboard. I stillfelt that there was a chance for us to recapture the ship.
But Moa shook her head decisively. "My brother has decided not. We willbe well rid of Dr. Frank. Are you ready, Gregg?"
"Yes."
She opened the door. Her gesture reassured the look-out, who was alertlywatching the stern watch-tower.
"Come, Gregg."
I stepped out, and followed her forward along the deck, which now wasbright with the radiance of the nearby asteroid.