"We keep on for Callisto," Ron said with a finality he didn't feel.
"It's nearer."
Tarnuff was still unperturbed. "Oh, I see. And there you turn me over
to the authorities, eh? Well, Jordan, that means you cut your own
throat; I meant it what I said; you're in this with me now."
Ron stood motionless, frowning and indecisive.
Tarnuff's voice was suddenly serious. "Come, Jordan, you're in a spot
and you know it. So am I--I want to get these Silicytes through safely.
So I'll make you a proposition. Come in this with me! I know how to
land these things on Callisto and how to get rid of 'em. We'll have the
cash an hour after we land there. This _was_ to be my last load--it's
getting risky--but I know where I can get a hundred more, and with
your help we can get them through too. We'll split fifty-fifty."
Ron smiled thinly, indicating the pistols in his belt. "You're in a
hell of a position to be talking like that, Tarnuff. If I wanted the
Silicytes I'd take 'em all. But I don't want any part of your filthy
business!"
The smile on the Martian's leathery face faded into a dark frown. "Oh.
Just like your brother, eh? All right, about this time tomorrow we'll
be approaching Callisto, and what then? Maybe you'll be joining your
brother. I've heard that the Venus swamp is a slow and hideous death.
Some men prefer the swiftness of the Ray-chamber to it...."
Ron knew that, and involuntarily he winced. He had come out here to
clear Carl, he had waited a long weary month for the opportunity, and
then he had bungled it.
Tarnuff pressed his advantage.
"Since you have a peculiar aversion to breaking the Earth-made laws,
I can think of only one other way out of our little stalemate. A way
which I, personally, prefer. But I wonder if you would dare?"
Ron looked at Tarnuff narrowly, and didn't like the smile which had
appeared again on his face; there was a mocking challenge in it.
Tarnuff went on:
"I would much prefer, in your Earth idiom, to comb you out of my
hair and continue unhampered to Callisto. But as matters stand"--he
glanced shrewdly at Ron's hand, which hovered near the weapons in
his belt--"you have control of this ship at the present moment. On
the other hand you need my signature on this statement to clear your
brother of his sentence. True, the statement implicates me to the
fullest extent of the law...."
He paused, the smile on his face widened imperceptibly, and Ron nodded
impatient agreement.
"Nevertheless," Tarnuff went on, "I will sign this damnatory statement."