IV.
"Don't talk stupidly," Kerk said as he punched for a duplicate order ofsteak. "There are much simpler ways of committing suicide. Don't yourealize that you're a millionaire now? With what you have in your pocketyou can relax the rest of your life on the pleasure planets. Pyrrus is adeath world, not a sightseeing spot for jaded tourists. I cannot permityou to return with me."
Gamblers who lose their tempers don't last long. Jason was angry now.Yet it showed only in a negative way. In the lack of expression on hisface and the calmness of his voice.
"Don't tell me what I can or cannot do, Kerk Pyrrus. You're a big manwith a fast gun--but that doesn't make you my boss. All you can do isstop me from going back on your ship. But I can easily afford to getthere another way. And don't try to tell me I want to go to Pyrrus forsightseeing when you have no idea of my real reasons."
Jason didn't even try to explain his reasons, they were only halfrealized and too personal. The more he traveled, the more things lookedthe same to him. The old, civilized planets sank into a drab similarity.Frontier worlds all had the crude sameness of temporary camps in aforest. Not that the galactic worlds bored him. It was just that he hadfound their limitations--yet had never found his own. Until he met Kerkhe had acknowledged no man his superior, or even his equal. This wasmore than egotism. It was facing facts. Now he was forced to face thefact that there was a whole world of people who might be superior tohim. Jason could never rest content until he had been there and seen forhimself. Even if he died in the attempt.
None of this could be told to Kerk. There were other reasons he wouldunderstand better.
"You're not thinking ahead when you prevent me from going to Pyrrus,"Jason said. "I'll not mention any moral debt you owe me for winning thatmoney you needed. But what about the next time? If you needed that muchlethal goods once, you'll probably need it again some day. Wouldn't itbe better to have me on hand--old tried and true--than dreaming up somenew and possibly unreliable scheme?"
Kerk chewed pensively on the second serving of steak. "That makes sense.And I must admit I hadn't thought of it before. One failing we Pyrranshave is a lack of interest in the future. Staying alive day by day isenough trouble. So we tend to face emergencies as they arrive and letthe dim future take care of itself. You can come. I hope you will stillbe alive when we need you. As Pyrran ambassador to a lot of places Iofficially invite you to our planet. All expenses paid. On the conditionyou obey completely all our instructions regarding your personalsafety."
"Conditions accepted," Jason said. And wondered why he was so cheerfulabout signing his own death warrant.
Kerk was shoveling his way through his third dessert when his alarmwatch gave a tiny hum. He dropped his fork instantly and stood up. "Timeto go," he said. "We're on schedule now." While Jason scrambled to hisfeet, he jammed coins into the meter until the _paid_ light came on.Then they were out the door and walking fast.
Jason wasn't at all surprised when they came on a public escalator justbehind the restaurant. He was beginning to realize that since leavingthe Casino their every move had been carefully planned and timed.Without a doubt the alarm was out and the entire planet being searchedfor them. Yet so far they hadn't noticed the slightest sign of pursuit.This wasn't the first time Jason had to move just one jump ahead of theauthorities--but it was the first time he had let someone else lead himby the hand while he did it. He had to smile at his own automaticagreement. He had been a loner for so many years that he found a certaininverse pleasure in following someone else.
"Hurry up," Kerk growled after a quick glance at his watch. He set asteady, killing pace up the escalator steps. They went up five levelsthat way--without seeing another person--before Kerk relented and letthe escalator do the work.
Jason prided himself on keeping in condition. But the sudden climb,after the sleepless night, left him panting heavily and soaked withsweat. Kerk, cool of forehead and breathing normally, didn't show theslightest sign that he had been running.
They were at the second motor level when Kerk stepped off the slowlyrising steps and waved Jason after him. As they came through the exit tothe street a car pulled up to the curb in front of them. Jason hadenough sense not to reach for his gun. At the exact moment they reachedthe car the driver opened the door and stepped out. Kerk passed him aslip of paper without saying a word and slipped in behind the wheel.There was just time for Jason to jump in before the car pulled away. Theentire transfer had taken less than three seconds.
There had been only a glimpse of the driver in the dim light, but Jasonhad recognized him. Of course he had never seen the man before, butafter knowing Kerk he couldn't mistake the compact strength of a nativePyrran.
"That was the receipt from Ellus you gave him," Jason said.
"Of course. That takes care of the ship and the cargo. They'll beoff-planet and safely away before the casino check is traced to Ellus.So now let's look after ourselves. I'll explain the plan in detail sothere will be no slip-ups on your part. I'll go through the whole thingonce and if there are any questions you'll ask them when I'm finished."
The tones of command were so automatic that Jason found himselflistening in quiet obedience. Though one part of his mind wanted him tosmile at the quick assumption of his incompetence.
Kerk swung the car into the steady line of traffic heading out of thecity to the spaceport. He drove easily while he talked.
"There is a search on in the city, but we're well ahead of that. I'msure the Cassylians don't want to advertise their bad sportsmanship sothere won't be anything as crude as a roadblock. But the port will becrawling with every agent they have. They know once the money getsoff-planet it is gone forever. When we make a break for it they will besure we still have the goods. So there will be no trouble with themunition ship getting clear."
Jason sounded a little shocked. "You mean you're setting us up as claypigeons to cover the take-off of the ship."
"You could put it that way. But since we have to get off-planet anyway,there is no harm in using our escape as a smokescreen. Now shut up untilI've finished, like I told you. One more interruption and I dump you bythe road."
* * * * *
Jason was sure he would. He listened intently--and quietly--as Kerkrepeated word for word what he had said before, then continued.
"The official car gate will probably be wide open with the trafficthrough it. And a lot of the agents will be in plain clothes. We mighteven get onto the field without being recognized, though I doubt it. Itis of no importance. We will drive through the gate and to the take-offpad. The _Pride of Darkhan_, for which we hold tickets, will be soundingits two-minute siren and unhooking the gangway. By the time we get toour seats the ship will take off."
"That's all very fine," Jason said. "But what will the guards be doingall this time?"
"Shooting at us and each other. We will take advantage of the confusionto get aboard."
This answer did nothing to settle Jason's mind, but he let it slide forthe moment. "All right--say we _do_ get aboard. Why don't they justprevent take-off until we have been dragged out and stood against awall?"
Kerk spared him a contemptuous glance before he returned his eyes to theroad. "I said the ship was the _Pride of Darkhan_. If you had studiedthis system at all, you would know what that means. Cassylia and Darkhanare sister planets and rivals in every way. It has been less than twocenturies since they fought an intra-system war that almost destroyedboth of them. Now they exist in an armed-to-the-teeth neutrality thatneither dare violate. The moment we set foot aboard the ship we are onDarkhan territory. There is no extradition agreement between theplanets. Cassylia may want us--but not badly enough to start anotherwar."
That was all the explanation there was time for. Kerk swung the car outof the rush of traffic and onto a bridge marked _Official Cars Only_.Jason had a feeling of nakedness as they rolled under the harsh portlights towards the guarded gate ahead.
It was closed.
Another car approached the gate from the inside and Kerk slowed theircar to a crawl. One of the guards talked to the driver of the car insidethe port, then waved to the gate attendant. The barrier gate began toswing inwards and Kerk jammed down on the accelerator.
Everything happened at once. The turbine howled, the spinning tiresscreeched on the road and the car crashed open the gate. Jason had avanishing glimpse of the open-mouthed guards, then they were skiddingaround the corner of a building. A few shots popped after them, but nonecame close.
Driving with one hand, Kerk reached under the dash and pulled out a gunthat was the twin of the monster strapped to his arm. "Use this insteadof your own," he said. "Rocket-propelled explosive slugs. Make a greatbang. Don't bother shooting at anyone--I'll take care of that. Just stirup a little action and make them keep their distance. Like this."
He fired a single, snap-shot out the side window and passed the gun toJason almost before the slug hit. An empty truck blew up with a roar,raining pieces on the cars around and sending their drivers fleeing inpanic.
After that it was a nightmare ride through a madhouse. Kerk drove withan apparent contempt for violent death. Other cars followed them andwere lost in wheel-raising turns. They careened almost the full lengthof the field, leaving a trail of smoking chaos.
Then the pursuit was all behind them and the only thing ahead was theslim spire of the _Pride of Darkhan_.
* * * * *
The _Pride_ was surrounded by a strong wire fence as suited thebegrudged status of her planetary origin. The gate was closed andguarded by soldiers with leveled guns, waiting for a shot at theapproaching car. Kerk made no attempt to come near them. Instead he fedthe last reserves of power to the car and headed for the fence. "Coveryour face," he shouted.
Jason put his arms in front of his head just as they hit.
Torn metal screamed, the fence buckled, wrapped itself around the car,but did not break. Jason flew off the seat and into the padded dash. Bythe time Kerk had the warped door open, he realized that the ride wasover. Kerk must have seen the spin of his eyeballs because he didn'ttalk, just pulled Jason out and threw him onto the hood of the ruinedcar.
"Climb over the buckled wire and make a run for the ship," he shouted.
If there was any doubt what he meant, he set Jason an example of fineroadwork. It was inconceivable that someone of his bulk could run sofast, yet he did. He moved more like a charging tank than a man. Jasonshook the fog from his head and worked up some speed himself.Nevertheless, he was barely halfway to the ship when Kerk hit thegangway. It was already unhooked from the ship, but the shockedattendants stopped rolling it away as the big man bounded up the steps.
At the top he turned and fired at the soldiers who were charging throughthe open gate. They dropped, crawled, and returned his fire. Very fewshot at Jason's running form.
The scene in front of Jason cranked over in slow motion. Kerk standingat the top of the ramp, coolly returning the fire that splashed allabout. He could have found safety in an instant through the open portbehind him. The only reason he stayed there was to cover Jason.
"Thanks--" Jason managed to gasp as he made the last few steps up thegangway, jumped the gap and collapsed inside the ship.
"You're perfectly welcome," Kerk said as he joined him, waving his gunto cool it off.
A grim-jawed ship's officer stood back out of range of fire from theground and looked them both up and down. "And just what is going onhere?" he growled.
Kerk tested the barrel with a wet thumb, then let the gun slide backinto its holster. "We are law-abiding citizens of a different system whohave committed no criminal acts. The savages of Cassylia are toobarbarous for civilized company. Therefore we are going to Darkhan--hereare our tickets--in whose sovereign territory I believe we are at thismoment." This last was added for the benefit of the Cassylian officerwho had just stumbled to the top of the gangway and was raising his gun.
The soldier couldn't be blamed. He saw these badly wanted criminalsgetting away. Aboard a Darkhan ship as well. Anger got the best of himand he brought his gun up.
"Come out of there, you scum. You're not escaping that easily. Come outslow with your hands up or I'll blast you--"
It was a frozen moment of time that stretched and stretched withoutbreaking. The pistol covered Kerk and Jason. Neither of them attemptedto reach for their own guns.
The gun twitched a bit as the ship's officer moved, then steadied backon the two men. The Darkhan spaceman hadn't gone far, just a pace acrossthe lock. This was enough to bring him next to a red box set flush withthe wall. With a single, swift gesture he flipped up the cover andpoised his thumb over the button inside. When he smiled his lips peeledback to show all of his teeth. He had made up his mind, and it was thearrogance of the Cassylian officer that had been the deciding factor.
"Fire a single shot into Darkhan territory and I press this button," heshouted. "And you know what this button does--every one of your shipshas them as well. Commit a hostile act against this ship and _someone_will press a button. Every control rod will be blown out of the ship'spile at that instant and half your filthy city will go up in theexplosion." His smile was chiseled on his face and there was no doubt hewould do what he said. "Go ahead--fire. I think I would enjoy pressingthis."
The take-off siren was hooting now, the _close lock_ light blinking anangry message from the bridge. Like four actors in a grim drama theyfaced each other an instant more.
Then the Cassylian officer, growling with unvoicable frustrated anger,turned and leaped back to the steps.
"All passengers board ship. Forty-five seconds to take-off. Clear theport." The ship's officer slammed shut the cover of the box and lockedit as he talked. There was barely time to make the acceleration couchesbefore the _Pride of Darkhan_ cleared ground.