A fair little world. I had thought so before; and I thought so now as
I gazed at the asteroid hanging so close before our bow. A huge, thin
crescent, with the Sun off to one side behind it. A silver crescent,
tinged with red. From this near vantage point, all of the little
globe's disc was visible. The seas lay in gray patches. The convexity
of the disc was sharply defined. So small a world! Fair and beautiful,
shrouded with clouded areas.
"Where is Miko?"
"In the lounge, Gregg?"
"Can we stop there?"
Moa turned into the lounge archway. Strange, tense scene. I saw Anita
at once. Her robed figure lurked in an inconspicuous corner; her eyes
were upon me as Moa and I entered, but she did not move. The
thirty-odd passengers were huddled in a group. Solemn, white-faced
men; frightened women. Some of them were sobbing. One Earth woman--a
young widow--sat holding her little girl, and wailing with
uncontrolled hysteria. The child knew me. As I appeared now, with my
gold laced white coat over my shoulders, the little girl seemed to see
in my uniform a mark of authority. She left her mother and ran to me.
"You--please, will you help us? My Moms is crying."
I sent her gently back. But there came upon me then a compassion for
these innocent passengers, fated to have embarked on this ill-fated
voyage. Herded here in this cabin, with brigands like pirates of old,
guarding them. Waiting now to be marooned on an uninhabited asteroid
roaming in space. A sense of responsibility swept me. I swung upon
Miko. He stood with a nonchalant grace, lounging against the wall with
a cylinder dangling in his hand. He anticipated me, and was the first
to speak.
"So, Haljan, she put some sense into your head? No more trouble? Then
get into the turret. Moa, stay there with him. Send Hahn here. Where
is that ass, Coniston? We will be in the atmosphere shortly."
I said, "No more trouble from me, Miko. But these passengers--what
preparation are you making for them on the asteroid?"
He stared in surprise. Then he laughed. "I am no murderer. The crew is
preparing food, all we can spare. And tools. They can build themselves
shelter--they will be picked up in a few weeks."
Dr. Frank was here. I caught his gaze but he did not speak. On the
lounge couches there still lay the five bodies. Rankin, who had been
killed by Blackstone in the fight; a man passenger killed; a woman and
a man wounded, as well.
Miko added, "Dr. Frank will take his medical supplies and will care
for the wounded. There are other bodies among the crew." His gesture
was deprecating. "I have not buried them. We will put them ashore;
easier that way."
The passengers were all eying me. I said:
"You have nothing to fear. I will guarantee you the best equipment we
can spare." I turned to Miko. "You will give them apparatus with which
to signal?"
"Yes. Get to the turret."