"Take over, Mr. Murdock." Cabot's voice sounded harsh, metallic through
the instrument. "We're describing an orbit about Venus at an altitude
of seven kilometers."
"Check."
"Is Miss Petrovna there?"
"Yes, sir."
"Let me speak to her."
The girl approached the televisor.
Captain Cabot ordered her in a terse voice, "Stay with Murdock. If he
shows any signs of treachery, shoot him!"
"Yes, sir," said the girl. She plucked the tiny dart-gun from the
spring clip on her leg where it had been visible through the rent in
her skirt.
"You heard my orders, Mr. Murdock," Cabot's cold voice issued from the
instrument. "Stand by to fire the starboard tube-bank. We're coming out
of the clouds again."
"Check."
In spite of himself Gavin couldn't help but admire the coolness of
Josiah Cabot. He turned to Nadia. "What happened?" he demanded.
* * * * *
The girl, her long black eyes serious, had her dart-gun leveled at his
chest. "I was at the scanner," she replied in an unsteady voice. "We
cleared the clouds, making five G's. This ship was right on top of us."
"What ship?"
She shook her head. "She wasn't a patrol spacer. She didn't identify
herself. We dodged. Then she cut loose at us with atom shells. The
third shot did the damage. I don't know how serious yet, but half the
crew are laid up. Captain Cabot cut the jets, which allowed us to fall
back into the cloud bank as if we'd been knocked out."
That was quick shrewd thinking, Gavin realized.
The bridge televisor whistled shrilly.
"Bridge calling," came Cabot's voice.
"Engine room."
"Starboard jets. Half blast."
"Check." Gavin pulled the lever on the control board. "Starboard jets!"
he yelled above the sudden roar to the half-naked jetman.
The _Nova_ began to nose upward in a slow arc.
"Prime all tubes," came Cabot's crisp voice through the audio. "We'll
be above the clouds any moment."
"Check," said Gavin.
A mounting tension gripped them all as the seconds dragged past. Then
the televisor whistled again.
"Cut starboard rockets. Half blast ahead." There was another pause and
Cabot added with a faint smile, "We're through the cloud bank. No sign
of the spacer."
Nadia heaved a sigh of relief and leaned weakly against the ladder.
"Guess we lost her half around the planet," surmised Gavin.
"Course 37.22 x 5," came Cabot's voice once more. "Proceed at one G
until we ascertain damage. That is all."
"Check," said Gavin. He snapped off the televisor. "You can put that
dart-gun away," he advised Nadia dryly.
The girl snapped erect. She whipped the dart-gun in line with Gavin's
chest again. "I haven't been relieved!" She began in a queer voice. The
gun trembled. Her knees sagged. She swayed, sat down suddenly on the
first rung of the ladder.
"What's the matter?"
She gave a short, half-hysterical laugh. "Matter! I've had the pants
scared off me, and you ask what's the matter!" She clenched her teeth,
dropped her head in her hands. Her black hair fell like a veil over her
face.
Gavin snapped on the televisor.
"Engine room calling."
"Bridge," came Cabot's precise voice.
"Murdock speaking, sir. Advise Miss Petrovna be relieved. She's
suffering from shock."
Cabot looked startled. He hesitated. "Tell Miss Petrovna she's
relieved. Carry on, Mr. Murdock."
"Check."