Brigands of
Brigands of the Moon
作者：Cummings, Ray, 1887-1957
体例：题 章数：215
字数：318,898 来源：Project Gutenberg
版本与结构
- 来源版本
- 本站收录 1 个来源：Project Gutenberg（318,898 字）。
- 分章依据
- 按「题」标记切分为 215 题（Gutenberg 卷册标记）。
- 篇幅分布
- 平均每题 1,483 字。
- 原文溯源
cache/epub/19066/pg19066.txt（Project Gutenberg）
章节目录
共 215 题- RAY CUMMINGS
- ACE BOOKS, INC.
- 23 West 47th Street, New York 36, N. Y.
- Copyright, 1931, by Ray Cummings
- The guard stood aside. "Come in."
- Captain Carter added abruptly, "We're insulated here, Halsey?"
- He interrupted me. "Just what I said."
- I said, "George Prince? Who is he?"
- Suddenly Snap gripped me. "What's that?"
- Snap murmured, "You've got a local phone?"
- II
- Then I said upon impulse, "Suppose we go down to the deck, Doctor?"
- Dr. Frank answered my whisper. "That's Anita Prince."
- I think, with Anita and me, it must have been like that.
- III
- He greeted me. "Cooling off, Gregg?"
- I could agree with him there....
- Snap murmured, "That's all. He's got the ore!"
- And her answer, "All right, George."
- IV
- I ordered my breakfast and let the argument go on.
- I had a moment with Carter in the isolation of his chart room.
- I said, "What sort of a contract?"
- It startled me. "Why do you say that?"
- I gripped her. "Don't ramble, Venza! You saw me?"
- I held my breath. "Venza, where did the prowler run to? Can you--"
- I sat staring at her. She was a mine of information, this girl.
- I gasped, "Venza! Softer--"
- She drew away from me abruptly. "There's Anita and George Prince."
- VI
- I had never seen Carter so choleric. He added:
- Out of the silence, Balch demanded, "Well, what about it, Johnson?"
- I eased up. But I shook him. "You'd better talk."
- VII
- Anita said, "Oh yes. I'll come."
- VIII
- He gripped me. "That never went wrong by accident, Gregg! Someone--"
- IX
- I found my voice. "Anita! Anita Prince!"
- I shouted, "Go back to your rooms! We want order here--keep back!"
- I gazed around for her brother Miko, but did not see him.
- I stammered, "If ... if she dies ... will you flash us word?"
- He stared at me strangely. "I'll be there presently, Gregg."
- XI
- I demanded, "What did your brother want to talk to me about?"
- Dr. Frank found me mooning alone. "Go to bed, Gregg. You look awful."
- I hesitated. "Yes."
- As he turned away, I murmured, "But I do thank you...."
- And then I heard George Prince for the first time, "I'll try."
- Rankin said hurriedly, "Stop that!"
- And Moa, "Let him alone, you fool! Sit down!"
- Moa: "Hush!"
- I froze with startled horror.
- Prince repeated, "No!"
- And Rankin, "But can we trust them? The stewards--the crew?"
- He saw me. "You, Gregg Haljan!"
- XII
- Over the turmoil, Prince's voice sounded: "Gregg Haljan!"
- I called to the passengers, "Go back to your rooms!"
- The Captain called, "Oh you, Balch--and Haljan--"
- Carter was shouting, "Inside--Gregg! Get inside!"
- Carter handed me another weapon. "Gregg, try this."
- Carter seized me. "No use. Hurt?"
- I dragged him back sharply. "For God's sake--"
- I stood up. "What do you want to say, Miko?"
- Miko called, "You must yield. We want you, Haljan."
- Carter roared, "Get back from there. There is no truce!"
- XIII
- Coniston shouted, "Haljan!"
- And Miko, "Very well, then. We'll try this."
- Miko laughed. "No? Then I shall write my name a little deeper...."
- I rushed to the window and Prince gripped me. "Louder!"
- XIV
- He gazed at me slyly. "Moa seems strangely to like you, Haljan."
- He laughed. "Moa says so. But have no fear--"
- It startled him. "Where are they?"
- I did not think it wise to ask him about Prince.
- I stepped back where he could not see us. "Anita!"
- XV
- She was whispering: "It was--was poor George whom Miko shot."
- Coniston's voice outside broke in upon us. "Prince."
- XVI
- Anita spoke to him. "Where is Miko, Ellis?"
- I pushed at her, both of us in confusion.
- Miko was struggling with Anita. "Prince, you idiot!"
- I backed against the wall. "Don't kill me! See, I will not fight!"
- XVII
- Moa was saying, "I would like to tell you our plans, Gregg."
- Not for me to play upon a woman's emotions! "Moa, you flatter me."
- I must have smiled. Abruptly she released me.
- I tried to laugh. "What nonsense!"
- She smiled scornfully. "That is absurd."
- Her venomous expression was softening. "I think that is true, Gregg!"
- I think that of everything I said, this last most convinced her.
- She turned from me. "Are you ready?"
- XVIII
- I turned away, with Moa after me. Again the little girl ran forward.
- I stood before the terrified woman while the child clung to my legs.
- I raised the child. "You take care of Mother." I kissed her.
- I pushed him away. "Miko wants you in the lounge."
- Hahn came mounting our turret incline. "All is well, Gregg Haljan?"
- She murmured again, "In a few moments you can bring us away, Gregg."
- Moa prompted me. "Tell him yes!"
- I said, "An error--yes."
- XIX
- Miko repeated: "By the infernal, if you try to fool me, Snap Dean!"
- Miko bent over a plate. "Something here? Is there?"
- He nodded. "Perhaps not. Are we checked?"
- I said, "Shall I make the exposure?"
- XX
- XXI
- Snap murmured in my ear, "Don't move, Gregg! She's reckless."
- I found my voice. "To what destination?"
- I nodded. I pushed Moa's weapon away. "You don't need that--"
- I duplicated. No answer. The silence was ominous.
- Miko muttered, "That accursed Hahn. Ring again!"
- I sent the imperative emergency demand.
- I was on my feet. "We're in neutral!"
- Miko ripped out a heavy oath. "Haljan! What is this?"
- I ignored Moa's weapon. Snap thrust her away.
- Miko gasped, "Can you--check us? What happened?"
- I pulled at the emergency switch again. Dead....
- I shouted, "Miko, hold Anita! Come on, Snap!"
- But he jerked away from me. "Falling?"
- A steward came running. "Falling? My God!"
- I swung on Coniston. "You armed?"
- He dashed away. Snap called after him, "Kill them if they argue!"
- I signaled Miko. "Have we stopped swinging?"
- And Anita crept to me. "Gregg, dear one. The end...."
- I calculated the next best plate to shift. I tried it. Slid it over.
- XXII
- I cast off Anita's clinging arms. "Anita, this is madness!"
- He said normally, "Easy, Gregg. I'm all right."
- Anita gripped him. "Who, Snap?"
- Or was it? I answered Snap, "Yes, I think so."
- He nodded. "But we must keep together, Gregg."
- And the answer came, "_Yes. You, Dean?_"
- Grantline touched me. "It's only human--"
- Again Grantline touched me. "That the turret?"
- I told Grantline now. He stared at me.
- XXIII
- As I turned away, I murmured, "And pray God, so will Anita and I."
- XXIV
- Grantline stood stricken with amazement. "That's Wilks!"
- He was hastily donning one of the Erentz suits. "Cut off that siren!"
- Grantline took off his helmet. "What in hell--"
- XXV
- XXVI
- I had stood up to take aim. Anita pulled me sharply down beside her.
- I murmured to Anita, "We must get away."
- I could answer it with my helmet light, but I did not dare.
- XXVII
- I told her everything.
- She added, "Where do you suppose the ship is?"
- I sank back. "That ship should be here in a few hours."
- I stood up to watch him. "Where's he going!"
- I did not intend to tell her. "Hurry, Anita!"
- XXVIII
- I whispered into the audiphone, "It's coming over the crater."
- I stared through the visors at her white solemn face.
- I semaphored:
- I used open universal code. In Martian first, and then in English.
- I flashed off my light. The answer came:
- It spelled in Martian, _Come down. Land Mare Imbrium._
- From the ship the summons came, _Come up._
- XXIX
- He was leading us to his cabin. "The _Planetara_ wrecked? Miko dead?"
- I said, "Before we go any further, I can trust you for my share?"
- I explained, "That accursed Miko murdered her brother."
- Anita laughed. "I'm afraid of nothing."
- XXX
- Anita whispered, "Which is their giant electronic projector, Gregg?"
- I stared as one of the brigands, coming up behind, addressed me.
- She was far calmer than I. "There may be an outside ladder, Gregg."
- I answered in English, "Up there."
- XXXI
- I had the range. I flung the firing switch.
- Anita was plucking at me. "Gregg, come."
- XXXII
- I whispered, "I'll try an Earth signal."
- She nodded. Pale, tense, but calm. "Yes, Gregg. And I was thinking--"
- I dropped another of the bombs.
- I gripped her. "Put out your helmet light."
- I touched Anita. "Can you make the leap? Anita dear...."
- I came back to Anita. "We'll have to chance it now."
- XXXIII
- I forced myself to consciousness. "Coming--"
- I leaped from my bunk, followed Snap with a rush into the corridor.
- Anita and Venza rushed up to join us. "It's in sight!"
- Snap looked at me and murmured, "It's descending."
- XXXIV
- But Grantline swung on them: "Don't get that idea!"
- I nodded, "Yes, I think so."
- I turned away. "Can't help you, Snap?"
- Grantline gasped, "By the infernal!"
- I shouted, "Anita, stop!"
- Grantline clung to me. "By the gods of the airways!"
- I confronted them. "Anita, what are you doing?"
- She stood up, flushed and smiling. "Practicing."
- She asked, "Are you speaking for yourself or the Commander?"
- I ignored her. "What for?"
- She added, "Commander, let us alone. We won't smash anything."
- Grantline laughed. "I hope you won't!"
- XXXV
- Grantline had leaped, landing beside me. "Dead?"
- Grantline stood gripping me. "Damn bad."
- Anita drew me down on the platform. "Ready, Gregg."
- XXXVI
- Then we landed, left the platform. "Let me go first, Anita."
- XXXVII
- I gasped, "So--I've got you--Miko--"
- XXXVIII
- I seemed unhurt. But Anita....
- She was here. "Gregg, dear one!"
- TWO PLANETS CLASH FOR LUNAR TREASURE