"Stop your ship and be recognized!"
The rasping voice on the audioceiver was sharp. A command to be obeyed.
Tom turned away from the control board and looked at Strong who was
already reaching for the ship's intercom.
"Full braking rocket thrust, Astro," he yelled into the microphone, "and
make it quick or we'll all be blasted into protons!"
Tom and the captain gripped their chairs tightly as the ship bucked
against the deceleration force of the powerful braking rockets.
Gradually the freighter _Dog Star_ slowed and came to a dead stop in
space.
"Hey!" yelled Astro over the intercom from the power deck. "What's going
on up there?"
"We've just entered the outer circle of defense on the prison asteroid,
Astro," replied Strong. "We have to stop so they can sweep us with their
radar and identify the ship."
"But I sent them a message in Solar Guard code that we were coming,"
interjected Roger who was listening from the radar bridge.
"They still have to make sure it's us," said Strong.
"Identify yourselves!" commanded the voice over the audioceiver again.
"This is space freighter _Dog Star_ under temporary command of Captain
Strong of the Solar Guard," answered Strong.
"What's your business here?" demanded the voice again.
"Interrogation of one of your prisoners. We have sent a coded message,
under code Z for Zebra to your prison commandant, Major Alan Savage. If
you'll check with him, you'll find everything in order," said Strong.
"Very well," replied the voice crisply, and then added, "Remain where
you are. Do not move from your present position or attempt to send any
messages. If you fail to comply with these conditions you will be
blasted!"
"Very well," said Strong, "conditions are understood."
"Boy," chimed in Roger, as he climbed down the ladder from the radar
bridge, "they sure don't want any company here."
"And for good reason," said Strong. "The most vicious criminals in the
whole universe are confined here. Every one of them is capable of
committing any crime in the solar code. And most of them have. The men
here are the worst. They have refused psychotherapeutic readjustment to
make them into new men."
"But I thought they had to go through it, sir?" said Tom.
"No," replied Strong. "Even criminals have certain rights in our
society. They can either remain criminals and stay here, or be
psychoadjusted and given new personalities. The ones that refuse are the
ones on this Rock."
"You mean," gasped Roger, "that the men on this asteroid deliberately
chose to remain criminals?"
"Yes, Manning," said Strong. "Rather than become healthy citizens of the
system, they prefer to stay here and waste their lives in isolation with
no hope of ever returning to society."
"Can they change their minds after they get here?" asked Tom.
"Any time. But when they get this far, they usually stay here. The men
on Prison Rock didn't surrender easily. They are the toughest, most
ruthless men in the universe."
"Attention! Freighter _Dog Star_! Attention!" the audioceiver rasped
into life again. "You have been given temporary clearance. A space
launch will ferry you to the asteroid. You are warned that any weapons
discovered on your person, or acts that may be construed as providing
aid and comfort to the inmates of this prison, will be considered
treason against the Solar Alliance and you will be subject to immediate
disciplinary action."
Tom and Roger glanced at each other, a worried look in their eyes.
Strong just smiled. "Don't worry, boys. That little speech is read to
every visitor to the asteroid."
"Just the same, sir," said Roger huskily, "I would prefer to remain
aboard the _Dog Star_ and give you, Tom, and Astro the pleasure of the
visit."
Strong laughed. "They won't let you, Roger. They'll send up a crew of
guards to search the ship. And the way these boys search makes a customs
inspection look like a casual glance."
"Attention _Dog Star_!" A younger voice suddenly came in on the
audioceiver. "This is Lieutenant Williams aboard the space launch. We
are approaching your starboard catapult deck. Please open the air lock
and take us aboard."
"They sure don't waste any time," commented Tom as he turned to the
audioceiver. "Freighter _Dog Star_, Cadet Tom Corbett to Lieutenant
Williams," he called, "the air lock is open and the catapult deck is
ready to receive you." At the same time, the young cadet turned the
valve that would open the outer air lock to the jet-boat deck.
Five minutes later, the ship was swarming with tight-lipped enlisted
Solar Guardsmen, who spoke to Strong and the cadets with cool courtesy.
These were men who signed up for two years as guards on the Rock after
competing with thousands of other enlisted men. A guard on the Rock was
paid triple wages for the two-year isolation. But more than anything else
the right to wear the bright white patch with a paralo-ray gun in the
center denoting their service as guards on the Rock was prestige envied
even by commissioned officers of the Solar Guard.
After what Tom thought to be the most thorough search he had ever seen
was over, Lieutenant Williams reported to the control deck where Strong
and the cadets had been politely but firmly detained. He informed them
that they were now ready to blast off to the Rock, adding that a more
detailed search of the area between the ship's outer and inner hulls
would be conducted after they had gone.
"You mean," said Tom, amazed, "that you actually search the four inches
between the two hulls? What in the universe could we possibly hide in
there?"
"I don't know, Corbett," replied Williams. "We've never found anything
there." He turned to Strong and smiled. "But there's always a first
time, isn't there, sir?"
"Yes, of course," agreed Strong. "You do a thorough job, Williams. Very
good indeed!"
"Thank you, sir," said Williams. "You know, we've heard about you and
the _Polaris_ unit here on the Rock." He turned to Tom, Roger, and
Astro. "We have a stereo of that mercuryball game you played at the
Academy when you were Earthworms."
"What?" cried Tom. "You mean that game was recorded?"
"It sure was," said Williams. "But we've seen it at least fifty times."
"Well, blast my jets!" said Astro in amazement.
The game was one that the cadets had played when they first entered the
Academy. It had done much to unify the boys into a fighting team.
An enlisted sergeant suddenly appeared, snapping to attention in front
of Lieutenant Williams. "Ready to blast off, sir," he said.
"Very well," said Williams, then turned to Strong and the cadets.
"Follow me, please."
In a few moments the space launch was blasting away from the freighter
and heading for a tiny planetoid in the distance. As they drew near,
Strong and the cadets peered out of the ports to get a view of the
prison, but were disappointed when Williams ordered the ports covered.
He smiled apologetically at Strong and explained, "All approaches are
secret, sir. We can't allow anyone to see where our defenses are
located."
"You fellows certainly believe in keeping prisoners in and visitors
out!" commented Strong.
"Anyone interested in coming to the Rock, sir," said Williams, "is under
natural suspicion."
The three cadets gulped, duly impressed with the severity of the prison
routine.
Soon they felt the unmistakable jar and bump of the small space vessel
touching the surface of the planetoid. The jets cut out suddenly and
Williams stood up.
"Please follow me. Do not speak to anyone, and do not stop walking. Keep
your hands in front of you and maintain a distance of ten feet between
you and the man in front of you."
He walked through the open hatch where a hard-faced enlisted guardsman
stood rigidly, holding a paralo-ray gun at the ready.
With a quick nod to the cadets Strong followed Williams through the
hatch. At ten-foot intervals they followed him out of the hatch, with
Tom bringing up the rear and the enlisted guardsman behind him.
As Tom stepped out onto the surface of the asteroid he wasn't quite sure
what he expected to see, but he certainly wasn't ready for the sight
that greeted his eyes.
As far as he could see, there was grass, spotted with small one-story
buildings. To the left was a single towering structure built of Titan
crystal and on top of it was the largest atomic blaster he had ever
seen. He turned to ask the guardsman about the gun but was motioned
ahead with a curt, "No questions. Keep walking."
Tom continued to walk. He noticed that they were heading for the tower.
As he drew nearer, he could see men walking around a narrow catwalk at
the top. They all carried paralo-ray rifles with miniature grids mounted
on the barrel. Inside the rifle was a tiny radar direction finder. It
was a simple but effective control against escaping prisoners. Each of
the inmates of the Rock wore small metal disks welded to a thin chain
around their waists. The disk was sensitive to radar impulses, and with
no more effort than snapping a thumb catch on the rifle, the guard could
locate and paralyze the nearest disk-wearing inmate.
Tom was so full of questions it was necessary for the guard to warn him
again, only this time in sharper tones.
Entering the tower, they were scrutinized and cleared by an electronic
beam that passed through their bodies and indicated any metal they might
carry. Once through this last barrier, they were escorted to a
slidestairs, where Williams left them.
Throughout the entire procedure few words had passed between the cadets.
Now left alone on the stairs, they couldn't contain themselves and the
comments and questions tumbled out.
"Did'ja see that blaster on top of this place?" Roger blurted out.
"Those radar-controlled paralo-ray rifles are really something!" said
Astro.
"The thing I want to know," said Tom, "is where are the prisoners? I
haven't seen one yet."
"And you're not likely to, either, Cadet Corbett!" said a gruff voice
above them. They turned to see a heavy-set man wearing the uniform of a
major in the Solar Guard, standing on the floor above them. The
slidestairs carried them to his level and Captain Strong hopped off and
extended his hand in greeting.
"Major Savage!" he explained. "Good to see you again!"
"Same here," said Savage, returning Strong's firm handclasp. He turned
and faced the cadets. "So this is the _Polaris_ unit, eh?" He smiled.
"We've really enjoyed the stereo of that game of mercuryball you played
back at the Academy."
"Thank you, sir," said Tom. "Lieutenant Williams has already told us how
much he liked it."
"Come into my quarters and relax. I imagine you could do with some good
solid food after those synthetics on your trip."
"We certainly could, sir," said Strong.
They followed the big man through a sliding panel into a suite of
comfortably furnished rooms. Five minutes later, the cadets and the
officers were enjoying their first hot meal in a week. As they ate,
Major Savage brought up the purpose of their visit. "So you've come to
talk to Bull Coxine, eh?"
"Yes," nodded Strong. "And I don't imagine he has developed any
affection for me."
"No, I wouldn't say he has," replied Savage. "In fact, I don't think
Bull has any affection for anyone, not even himself. Why do you want to
see him, anyway?"
Strong quickly summarized the theft of the adjustable light-key and the
unsuccessful search for Wallace and Simms, concluding finally with the
knowledge of Coxine's association with Wallace.
"I'm hoping Coxine will give me a lead to Wallace's whereabouts," said
Strong.
"Well, you can ask him," shrugged the major. "But personally, I don't
think you're going to get any further than saying hello. If he'll even
let you say that. He hates you, Strong. Hates you in a way I've never
seen a man hate before. When you talk to him, be careful."
"I will," said Strong grimly.
"Don't let him get near you. He's the strongest man I've ever seen. Came
blasted near choking a guard to death with one hand when he escaped. He
could break a man's neck with both hands."
Strong smiled. "Evidently, Major, you haven't noticed the size of Cadet
Astro. I'll take him along with me for protection." He looked at Astro,
who flushed in quick embarrassment.
"Very well, Strong," said Savage. "I'll have a jet car brought around.
You can go right down to his hut."
"Er--may I ask a question, sir?" asked Tom.
The major smiled. "Go right ahead, Corbett."
"It's about this whole setup," explained Tom. "I was expecting fences
and prisoners and--well, most anything but green grass and small white
buildings!"
"The little huts you saw," replied the major, "are as much of a prison
as we have. Each hut holds one prisoner. He has all the necessary
furniture, in addition to audioceivers and story spools which he can
change once a week. He also has basic garden equipment. All prisoners
grow everything they eat. Each man is dependent on himself and is
restricted to the hut and the area around it. If he comes within two
miles of the tower, the guards will pick him up on radar and order him
back. If he comes within one mile, they fire without further warning.
Only one man has ever escaped. Coxine. And that was because we had a
sick man on guard duty, or he never would have made it. He overpowered
the guard, took his uniform, and stowed away on a supply ship. We caught
him a year later."
"Didn't your radar pick up the disk he was wearing, sir?" asked Roger.
"That method of protection was only installed a few months ago," said
the major.
"And the prisoners just sit there--in those little huts?" asked Astro.
"Yes, Astro!" said the major with a tone of finality in his voice. "They
just sit. This is the end of the line."
The three cadets looked at each other and secretly vowed never to take a
chance of doing anything that would send them to the Rock.
Five minutes later, Strong was driving a jet car along a narrow paved
road toward one of the white huts. Astro sat beside him grimly silent,
his hands balled into tight hamlike fists. They rounded a curve and
Strong pulled up in front of the house. As they climbed out of the car,
they could see the trim neat lanes of the little garden with carefully
printed signs on each row indicating what was growing. They started for
the house and then stopped short. Bull Coxine stood in the doorway,
watching them.
Dressed in the snow-white coverall of the prison garb, Coxine faced them
squarely, his thick trunklike legs spread wide apart. He was a giant of
a man with long heavily muscled arms that dangled from a huge pair of
shoulders. His jet-black hair was a tangled unkempt mass, and his face
was scarred and lined. Eyes blazing with unconcealed hatred he waited
for Captain Strong to make the first move.
"Hello, Bull," said Strong quietly. "I'd like to talk to you."
"Oh, you would, huh?" Coxine spat and his lips twisted in a mocking
grin. "What's the matter? Afraid to talk to me alone?" he indicated
Astro. "Did you have to bring one of your Space Cadets for protection?"
"Listen, Bull," urged Strong, "I was your friend once. I turned you in
because you were a mutineer and I was an officer of the Solar Guard. I'd
do the same to this cadet if he tried what you did."
"Yeah, I'll bet you would," snarled the criminal. "Just like a real
friend!" His voice deepened into a low roar. "Don't talk to me about the
old days! I'm on the Rock and you're just another Solar Guard space
crawler to me. Now get out of here and leave me alone."
"I came to ask you to help me, Bull," Strong persisted. "I need
information."
Coxine's eyes narrowed into slits. "What kind of information?"
"You once tried to hold up a Credit Exchange on Ganymede with a man
called Gus Wallace. He had a hide-out in the asteroid belt. I'd like to
know where it is," said Strong.
"Why?"
"I can't answer that, Bull."
"What do I get if I tell you?"
"Nothing, except my thanks and the thanks of the Solar Guard."
"And if I don't?"
"I'll turn around and leave."
"Then start turning, Strong," snarled the giant prisoner, "because I
ain't got nothing to tell you except how much I hate your guts!"
Astro moved forward slightly, but Strong held him back. "O.K., Bull. If
that's the way you want it, I'll leave."
"Why don't you let the young punk try something?" challenged Coxine. "I
ain't had any exercise in a long time."
Strong looked at the huge man and said coldly, "I wouldn't want the
death of a piece of space scum to show on his record."
Then, as if the space and sky overhead had suddenly been torn open,
there was a flash of light followed by the roar of a tremendous
explosion. The ground trembled. The air seemed to moan in agony. Strong
and Astro wheeled around and looked toward the tower that shimmered in
the light of the late afternoon sun. To their horror, they saw the
unmistakable mushrooming cloud of an atomic blast rising in the
synthetic atmosphere behind it.
"By the craters of Luna--" gasped Strong.
A second flash and explosion rocked the prison asteroid and suddenly the
tower disappeared. Almost immediately, a spaceship appeared over the
small planetoid and began systematically pounding the surface
installations with atomic blasters.
"Captain Strong," cried Astro. "Tom and Roger--they were in the tower!"
"Come on," yelled Strong, "we've got to get back!"
"You ain't going nowhere, Strong," snarled Coxine behind him. "I've been
waiting a long time for this!" He suddenly struck the Solar Guard
officer with a heavy rock and Strong slumped to the ground unconscious.
Before Astro could move, Coxine smashed him to the ground with a blow on
the back of the neck. They both lay deathly still.
Then, as the atomic bombardment of the penal asteroid continued, the
giant space criminal jumped into the jet car and sped away.