"We'd better tuck the skipper away out of sight."
"In the locker."
The two men carried the limp body to a deep storage chest, dumped it
in, closed the lid.
"He won't suffercate. Lid's a lousy fit."
Retief opened the door went into the corridor, Chip behind him.
"Shouldn't oughta be nobody around now," the chef said. "Everybody's
mannin' approach stations."
* * * * *
At the D deck companionway, Retief stopped suddenly.
"Listen."
Chip cocked his head. "I don't hear nothin'," he whispered.
"Sounds like a sentry posted on the lifeboat deck," Retief said softly.
"Let's take him, Mister."
"I'll go down. Stand by, Chip."
Retief started down the narrow steps, half stair, half ladder. Halfway,
he paused to listen. There was a sound of slow footsteps, then silence.
Retief palmed the needler, went down the last steps quickly, emerged in
the dim light of a low ceilinged room. The stern of a five-man lifeboat
bulked before him.
"Freeze, you!" a cold voice snapped.
Retief dropped, rolled behind the shelter of the lifeboat as the whine
of a power pistol echoed off metal walls. A lunge, and he was under the
boat, on his feet. He jumped, caught the quick-access handle, hauled it
down. The outer port cycled open.
Feet scrambled at the bow of the boat. Retief whirled and fired. The
guard rounded into sight and fell headlong. Above, an alarm bell
jangled. Retief stepped on a stanchion, hauled himself into the open
port. A yell rang, then the clatter of feet on the stair.
"Don't shoot, Mister!" Chip shouted.
"All clear, Chip," Retief called.
"Hang on. I'm comin' with ya!"
Retief reached down, lifted the chef bodily through the port, slammed
the lever home. The outer door whooshed, clanged shut.
"Take number two, tie in! I'll blast her off," Chip said. "Been through
a hundred 'bandon ship drills...."
Retief watched as the chef flipped levers, pressed a fat red button.
The deck trembled under the lifeboat.
"Blew the bay doors," Chip said, smiling happily. "That'll cool them
jaspers down." He punched a green button.
"Look out, Jorgensen's!" With an ear-splitting blast, the stern rockets
fired, a sustained agony of pressure....
Abruptly, there was silence. Weightlessness. Contracting metal pinged
loudly. Chip's breathing rasped in the stillness.
"Pulled nine G's there for ten seconds," he gasped. "I gave her full
emergency kick-off."
"Any armament aboard our late host?"
"A popgun. Time they get their wind, we'll be clear. Now all we got to
do is set tight till we pick up a R and D from Svea Tower. Maybe four,
five hours."
"Chip, you're a wonder," Retief said. "This looks like a good time to
catch that nap."
"Me too," Chip said. "Mighty peaceful here, ain't it?"
There was a moment's silence.
"Durn!" Chip said softly.