_Every town has crime--but
especially a town that is
traveling from star to star!_
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Worlds of If Science Fiction, November 1959.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
_Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness
of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very
many of us, never were._
It made sense. Interstellar was new and they wanted him on the ship
because he was a trained observer. They wanted facts, not gibberish.
But to ask a man to give up two years of his life--well, that was
asking a lot. Two years in a sardine can. Still, it had an appeal Keith
Ellason knew he couldn't deny, a newsman's joy of the clean beat, a
planetary system far afield, a closeup view of the universe, history in
the making.
Interstellar Chief Rexroad knocked the dottle from his pipe in a tray,
saying, "Transworld Press is willing to let you have a leave of
abscence, if you're interested."
He knew Secretary Phipps from years of contacting, and now Phipps said,
"Personally, I don't want to see anybody else on the job. You've got a
fine record in this sort of thing."
Keith Ellason smiled, but just barely. "You should have called me for
the first trip."