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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/31970-h.zip b/31970-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b380a7b --- /dev/null +++ b/31970-h.zip diff --git a/31970-h/31970-h.htm b/31970-h/31970-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3f19125 --- /dev/null +++ b/31970-h/31970-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1449 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<!-- $Id: header.txt 236 2009-12-07 18:57:00Z vlsimpson $ --> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Feline Red, by Robert Sampson. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + +.linenum { + position: absolute; + top: auto; + left: 4%; +} /* poetry number */ + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.sidenote { + width: 20%; + padding-bottom: .5em; + padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; + padding-right: .5em; + margin-left: 1em; + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; + color: black; + background: #eeeeee; + border: dashed 1px; +} + +.bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + +.bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + +.bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + +.br {border-right: solid 2px;} + +.bbox {border: solid 2px;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.u {text-decoration: underline;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.figleft { + float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 1em; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +.figright { + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-left: 1em; + margin-bottom: + 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 0; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +/* Poetry */ +.poem { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left; +} + +.poem br {display: none;} + +.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + +.poem span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i2 { + display: block; + margin-left: 2em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i4 { + display: block; + margin-left: 4em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Feline Red, by Robert Sampson + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Feline Red + +Author: Robert Sampson + +Release Date: April 12, 2010 [EBook #31970] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FELINE RED *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<h1>FELINE RED</h1> + +<h2>By ROBERT SAMPSON</h2> + + +<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Planet Stories January +1954. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. +copyright on this publication was renewed.]</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>It was up to Jerill to think fast ... to do something ... +before those strange beasts sucked away the last purified ore on the +freighter Bertha.</i></div> + + +<p>A shouting wave of men rioted through the engine room.</p> + +<p>From the bridge above the hulking atomics, Chief Engineer Durval vollied +orders in a thunderous voice. "You men—you!" he raged. "Use your heads, +not your feet. Drive them toward the door."</p> + +<p>A scattering of Them—compact darting beasts the color of a +poppy—scuttled into the shadow of an engine. Heavy Davison wrenches +clubbed futilely behind them.</p> + +<p>As Durval flew into new bursts of shouting, Scott Jerill, First Mate of +the freighter <i>Bertha</i>, grimly shook his head. His lean face was not +smiling now. "Call your men back," he commanded crisply. "We don't have +time to drive those cats out like this."</p> + +<p>Durval turned on him with a snarl. "Take over then. Think of a better +way. If you hadn't hauled that load of space cats aboard in the first +place...."</p> + +<p>"Look out," Scott snapped.</p> + +<p>With a crisp smack, a red creature the size of a man's hand struck the +rail before them. It was all improbable angles, with no special shape, +no front or back. It teetered crazily over the ten foot drop to the +floor below. Then it settled, sputtering. It sounded curiously like an +angry cat.</p> + +<p>"There's one," roared Durval. His wrench slashed down, crashed shrilly +on the rail as the cat skimmed effortlessly away. The wrench shot off +toward the floor.</p> + +<p>Durval shook his hand and roared. The cat, some twenty feet down the +rail, cackled insanely. As Scott stepped slowly toward it, the cat +hissed, bounded off the rail, and down the steps to the engine room +floor.</p> + +<p>Scott shook his head. "You're not going to catch them by hand. Better +let them settle down, Durval."</p> + +<p>"Settle down." The Chief brought the palm of his hand down on the rail. +The rail trembled. "They've already settled down. On every generator in +the place. One of them crawled under the main relay switch and shorted +out half the board. Didn't hurt him a bit."</p> + +<p>Scott interrupted gruffly. "We've got to get them out of here fast. +Captain Elderburg wants to blast off here day after tomorrow, and we +don't have half the ore cargo purified yet."</p> + +<p>"And you won't have," Durval snapped. "If we blast off, we'll do it with +an empty hold. I can't purify uranium with fifty cats running loose, +getting caught in the machinery. It can't be done. Get these cats out +and I'll give you a hold full of the best grade uranium Earth ever +bought. But not till you get those cats out."</p> + +<p>Scowling, Scott bit his knuckles. "We've got to get moving. The skipper +thinks IP Metals is going to jump our claim," he said urgently.</p> + +<p>"If you ask me, only a doddering fool would bring these things into a +space ship." He glanced sharply at Scott. "What's this about IPM?"</p> + +<p>Scott shook his head slowly. "Nothing. Forget I said anything. But get +these cats out. And fast. Have you tried ultra-sonics on them?"</p> + +<p>Durval's face slipped into new lines. "Maybe," he muttered. Leaning over +the railing, he thundered, "Masters. Forget those cats a minute. Yes, +forget them. Hook up an ultra-sonics sender and—"</p> + +<p>The ship intercom over Durval's head clicked mechanically, hummed into +life. "Mr. Jerill. Report to Central Control. Mr. Jerill. Report—"</p> + +<p>Scott jabbed the Acknowledgement button. As he swung around Durval he +glanced down into the engine room. Sweating men beat after the scuttling +red beasts.</p> + +<p>"Report to me about the sonics," he told Durval. "If that doesn't work, +we'll scoop up those red kitties with our bare hands. But we got to get +started on that uranium ore purification. Faster than ten minutes ago."</p> + +<p>He slammed the engine room door, cutting off Durval's angry roar. +Striding rapidly through the bluish light of the corridor, an anger +bitter as Durval's throbbed in him. But he took pains to hold it down.</p> + +<p>"Confound those cats," he thought. "The <i>Kastil</i> on top of us, and we +have to stop work to chase space fauna. And we have three days left. +Three days."</p> + +<p>So engrossed was he in anger that he almost blundered head-on into the +grinning red-head who lounged up the corridor toward him.</p> + +<p>"Hey, Scott." Second Mate Max Vaugn raised a lazy eyebrow. "Slow down. +Think of all your ulcers."</p> + +<p>Scott spun impatiently on his heel. "Can't stop, Max. Got to see the +Captain."</p> + +<p>"And you don't even stop to say hello to an old friend back from the +mines of a nameless asteroid." He grinned, slapped Scott's shoulder +lightly with an open palm. "What's all this scandal I hear about your +space cats?"</p> + +<p>Scott grimaced. "I caught a few while we were scooping up ore over at my +pit. Thought the Extra-Terrestrial Life Division back on Earth might be +interested in them. They don't eat. They don't breathe.... Only their +cage got smashed open, and they got into the engine room. Nobody knows +how."</p> + +<p>"The good news has got around," Max said grinning. "You don't know it, +but there's twenty more sitting outside the main cargo hatch right now. +What gets rid of them?"</p> + +<p>"If you think of anything," Scott said as he turned away, "tell me. Got +to go. Elderburg's waiting."</p> + +<p>"Have you tried hitting them with strong light?" Max shouted after him.</p> + +<p>"No," Scott shouted back. He was very late, and the Old Man wanted you +fast when he wanted you. "Try light if you get a chance."</p> + +<p>He broke into an effortless trot, his boots padding lightly on the +shining gray floor. "Three days," he thought. He forgot Max. He forgot +Durval and the cats. He thought, "Three days," and a fine film of +perspiration spread cold across his back.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>"We have three days," Captain Elderburg said. He was a small neat man +with a prim voice. His bland eyes peered forward into some middle +distance, ignoring Scott.</p> + +<p>And Scott, sitting tautly in his chair, felt glad those eyes were not on +him.</p> + +<p>"In three days," the Captain said, "or probably before, the <i>Kastil</i> +should find us. The <i>Kastil</i>—the best ship Inner-Planet Metals ever +commissioned."</p> + +<p>Scott nodded. In the savage, free-for-all world of the space-miner, the +<i>Kastil</i> was known as the big ship, the new ship. The ship that could +load its cargo hatches in a day, stuffing 100,000 tons of ore down in +its belly for the hungering plants of Earth.</p> + +<p>"I've fought IP Metals for fifteen years," Elderburg said slowly. His +eyes were very far away. "For fifteen years they've grown bigger and +bigger, and the bigger they've got, the rougher they've played. You know +their record, Scott. Murder, claim-jumping. What they can't steal with a +blaster, they take by law."</p> + +<p>Glancing through the open port behind the Captain's head, out into the +star-dappled dark of space, Scott asked: "Is there any way we can set up +a permanent claim here on this asteroid without going back to Earth?"</p> + +<p>"You know better than that." Elderburg's eyes turned full on Scott. +"Unless we bring a full cargo of reasonably purified ore to Earth, we +can't lay claim to these mines, or to any other mineral rights here."</p> + +<p>His hands closed neatly, one inside the other. "And we've got to get a +cargo back. This is our last chance. A strike as rich as this one will +keep us going for a long time. But if we lose this claim to IPM, the +days of the independent miner are over. Done with. We might as well sell +the <i>Bertha</i> and get out."</p> + +<p>"We'll be out of here in two days," Scott said eagerly. "If we...."</p> + +<p>"If," said Elderburg very plainly. His eyes turned away from Scott and +his hands went all loose at once and spread out flat on the table.</p> + +<p>"If we cannot load in two days, Mister Jerill. If your cats that you so +foolishly brought on board the <i>Bertha</i> delay us so much that the +<i>Kastil</i> locates us. And beats us home with a load of ore. If that +happens, Mister Jerill, I will see that you are black-listed from the +rolls of every space flight unit now operating. You will be completely +responsible for the failure of this cruise."</p> + +<p>Slumping back in his seat, he grinned maliciously at Scott. "I realize +that our company was offering you a captain's position at the end of the +expedition...."</p> + +<p>Scott stood up. Anger hammered powerfully at his temples. "All right. I +admit I made a mistake. And I take full responsibility for my actions."</p> + +<p>"You must admit, Mister Jerill, that only a fool would bring an unknown +space beast into a ship."</p> + +<p>"Only a fool would deny that the cats are as valuable as uranium in +their own way."</p> + +<p>"Now, Mister Jerill. Be very careful." There was no mistaking the venom +in Elderburg's speech. In his passionless black eyes, viciousness lay +coiled. "Your cats have stopped purification of the crude ore for two +days. Two days, Mister Scott. We might have been Earth-bound by this +time."</p> + +<p>Scott leaned over the desk. In a voice quivering with anger, he said: +"Listen to me. If you...."</p> + +<p>There was a shocking blast of light. Stunning volumes of white light +poured from the port behind the Captain's head. It blazed too +brilliantly for the naked eye.</p> + +<p>With a strangled exclamation, Scott stumbled for the port, clutching his +eyes. His fingers clawed nervelessly for the light control.</p> + +<p>There was a sharp snap as the port closed. They felt, rather than saw, +the light flick abruptly out. Elderburg tore at the door.</p> + +<p>They lurched into the corridor. Green-yellow lights flashed before their +dazzled eyes. Scott located the wall and began to run, using his finger +tips as guides.</p> + +<p>"A magnesium flare!" The Captain's words drove at Scott, hard as +fragments of metal. "What fool set off a magnesium flare with the +<i>Kastil</i> on top of us?"</p> + +<p>They stumbled through the cool corridor to the second level air lock. As +they approached, the lock clanged open. A space-suited figure waddled +into the corridor. The helmet opened back, revealing the vivid red hair +of Second Mate Vaugn.</p> + +<p>"Light don't bother those cats a bit," he announced. Then his grin +faded. "What's the matter?"</p> + +<p>The Captain croaked, "You set off a flare—when—when the <i>Kastil</i> has +been hunting our claim for weeks. When they're right on top of us!"</p> + +<p>Max's face blanched. "The <i>Kastil</i>! Scott, you never told me...." Sudden +cunning swept his face. "Why didn't you tell me the <i>Kastil</i> was so +close, Scott? Why did you tell me to try light on the cats when you +knew—"</p> + +<p>"Scott told you!" Elderburg snarled. But at that moment Scott cried out +sharply, pointing out through the port by the air lock.</p> + +<p>Two miles beyond the <i>Bertha</i>, settled a black cigar. Blue-white fire +flared from its base. "The <i>Kastil</i>!" Scott gasped. Useless rage flooded +his chest. "The <i>Kastil</i>—and she's found us!"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Under the hurtling jet, the surface of the asteroid was a jagged tangle +of stone. Scott, staring tensely from the observation port, felt a swift +moment of wonder. Two hours since the IPM ship had landed. And he was in +trouble with a vengeance.</p> + +<p>As he had left the ship with a party of picked men, he had felt +Elderburg's cold eyes on him. Eyes that thought—and threatened.</p> + +<p>It was easy enough to read the Old Man's mind. An officer might make one +vital mistake. But not two—not introducing the cats into the ship; not +permitting a flare to be set off. Unless....</p> + +<p>Unless he wanted the <i>Bertha</i> to lose time. Unless he wanted the +<i>Kastil</i> to find the precious claim.</p> + +<p>Cold raced through Scott's veins. His hands locked white about the space +helmet he was about to don. He had to prove his loyalty. Had to prove +that the accidents were accidents. And little time was left, as the +<i>Kastil</i> could load completely in two days.</p> + +<p>"There's the pit, Mister Jerill." The navigator's voice was strained. +"See anybody?"</p> + +<p>"Not yet. Set her down."</p> + +<p>The cargo jet dipped. The vast peaks of shattered stone sped up at them +with terrifying speed. Scott refrained from closing his eyes, saw the +razor-toothed surface of this shattered world streak toward him. Ahead, +the bulk of the <i>Kastil</i> loomed. They must have used the ore pits as a +landing marker, he thought. And—what was that?</p> + +<p>Motion at the lip of the ore pit.</p> + +<p>The jet grounded hissing on the burnt landing strip. "Watch it," Scott +warned. "We got visitors out there."</p> + +<p>There was an ugly muttering among the men. As Scott threw open the cargo +doors and dropped to the rocky ground, he saw the crewmen checking +blasters and the slender polonium tubes that could permanently blind a +man.</p> + +<p>He stepped away from the jet. And as he did so, seven men detached +themselves from the shadows about the mine's edge, and strolled toward +him. Seven men—two more than were with Scott. The odds might be worse, +he thought with a sense of relief.</p> + +<p>Cautiously, he loosened the blaster in his belt. They were tricky +weapons to handle in space gloves, but he'd better be ready to use it +fast.</p> + +<p>"Party from the <i>Bertha</i>?" The words came thin and metallic into Scott's +helmet.</p> + +<p>"Right," he grunted. "You?"</p> + +<p>"From the <i>Kastil</i>. Who gave you a clearance to land on our claim?"</p> + +<p>"We have a prior claim on this pit," Scott flared. "We have it posted +and registered. If you're going to mine, find someplace else."</p> + +<p>A giant figure, grimly grotesque in a cumbersome vacuum suit, swaggered +forward. "I don't see any of your claim posts."</p> + +<p>Scott indicated a tall metal stake glittering somberly in the glare of +the jet's loading lights.</p> + +<p>The tall man laughed easily, his voice thin and far away in Scott's +helmet. "Think of a better story. We just dug that claimer in ourselves. +Now suppose you people jet out of here. Ought to be plenty of good +claims someplace else."</p> + +<p>Scott scarcely heard the sudden bitter burst of protest from his men. +His body felt light and cool. The blaster pressed hard against his side. +"There are plenty of good claims," he said. "You better go find them."</p> + +<p>He swung the blaster up in a single smooth motion.</p> + +<p>The tall man stood very still. They were not close enough to see each +other's faces.</p> + +<p>Then, high on a plateau of stone above the tall man's head, Scott saw +the stars blot out.</p> + +<p>"Scatter!" As he shouted, he took a giant leap to the right.</p> + +<p>A blast of energy seared from the darkness, gouging a vast hole where +Scott had stood.</p> + +<p>From behind a boulder he could see the fire of the blaster sweep across +the upper edges of the rocks, just at the level where the stars were cut +off.</p> + +<p>For a moment, the cold green line of his fire flicked harmlessly over +naked stone. Then a thick squirt of fire flared quickly. A still-born +scream died in his earphones.</p> + +<p>The men of the <i>Kastil</i> had dodged away into the darkness.</p> + +<p>Scott's voice rang out harshly. "I'll give you men two minutes to +organize and get out of here. If you're not out by that time, we'll spin +our jet around and burn you out."</p> + +<p>There was a brief stir off in the shadows.</p> + +<p>"You're in a blind alley there," Scott continued. "There's no way out. +And we'll blast any man who tries to climb out over the rocks. Is that +clear?"</p> + +<p>A glowing flash of energy exploded against the rock protecting him. +There was no sound, but bits of stone lightly flecked his suit. Scott +braced himself on the rough face of the boulder and worked the blaster +around for an open shot.</p> + +<p>"No more shooting," the heavy voice of the tall man growled. "You +<i>Bertha</i> people. Can you hear me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," Scott said coldly. His eyes probed the shadows for motion.</p> + +<p>"We're willing to be peaceful about this. I'm Captain Randell of the +<i>Kastil</i>. There's no need for killing when there's plenty of ore for all +of us."</p> + +<p>"Not in this pit," Scott answered. "You have one minute."</p> + +<p>"All right." Randell's voice, distorted as it was by the tiny radio, +carried a sardonic edge. "We'll go—from here."</p> + +<p>He sauntered out of the shadows, hands upraised. From the tangle of +stone, his men crept out to join him. Without haste, insolent in their +retreat, they crossed over the pit.</p> + +<p>At the far side they paused. "This is the extent of your so-called +claim." Randell's voice purred in their ears. "Our claim extends from +this line. And if a man from the <i>Bertha</i> wants a quick blasting, he can +cross this line." His radio snapped off with crisp finality.</p> + +<p>Scott stepped from his shelter.</p> + +<p>"All right," he ordered. "You men know the story. The <i>Kastil's</i> down +here ready for work. And it's going to mean work if we're going to beat +her back to Earth. Now, let's go. But watch your step."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>They worked. Eighteen hours a day they worked. From the steel-like +ground they scooped a dozen tons of the dirty black uranium ore and sent +it hurtling back to the <i>Bertha</i>.</p> + +<p>But in spite of all their efforts, the more modern equipment of the +<i>Kastil</i> overtook them in a day. The blackness on their left was riddled +with the flare of digging torches and the slender fire-trails of the +jets soaring between the pit and the <i>Kastil</i>.</p> + +<p>And now and again, Randell's drawling voice broke into Scott's ears. +"You're slowing up, <i>Bertha</i>. Seventy tons for us today. Are you poor +little men getting tired?" He clucked sympathetically, then burst into a +yell of laughter. "We'll have the ore cleaned off this rock before you +get half loaded."</p> + +<p>But Scott and the men of the <i>Bertha</i> worked silently, with savage +haste, forgetting sleep and food to keep the tonnage flowing to their +ship. They had almost forgotten the cats....</p> + +<p>But not for long.</p> + +<p>Staggering with fatigue, Scott swayed into Central Control, and sagged +into a seat. He had been too long in a space suit. A dull pounding beat +behind his eyes. "I came as soon as you called the pit, Captain +Elderburg. You sounded pretty urgent."</p> + +<p>"It's urgent," Elderburg said. "We're beaten."</p> + +<p>Scott stiffened. Fatigue fell from him as he gazed closely at the +Captain, saw for the first time the bitter dullness of Elderburg's eyes.</p> + +<p>"You better come with me," the Old Man said heavily. He rose stiffly, +led the way from the room.</p> + +<p>In silence they shuffled down the corridor toward the engine room. A tic +worked at the corner of the Captain's mouth, but he did not seem to +notice it. "Durval held the cats off with ultra-sonics. He purified +about ten tons of the stuff and stored it."</p> + +<p>They threaded their way along a chill black catwalk to the center of the +ship. In the engine room, men slumped sullenly among the big atomics. As +Scott and Elderburg passed a group of the black gang, mutely dangling +wrenches, there was a sudden stir.</p> + +<p>"That's him!" One of the men had leaped up. The wrench whipped back over +his shoulder. He leaped raging toward Scott. "There's the rotten...."</p> + +<p>"Easy, Billy." He was dragged back, disarmed.</p> + +<p>"How'd the <i>Kastil</i> know...."</p> + +<p>The Captain tugged Scott's arm. "Don't bother with them. Come on."</p> + +<p>Scott nodded numbly, followed, his head aching and a nameless wave of +apprehension sliding through him. "Where are the cats?" he asked once.</p> + +<p>Elderburg ignored him. "Put on a radiation suit."</p> + +<p>They had stopped before a side door of the main hold. As Scott struggled +into the suit his mind swirled in a chaos of thoughts. When the suit was +adjusted he dropped the helmet shut and stepped forward. Through the +lighter gravity of the air lock they lumbered. Then Elderburg spun the +controls that opened the door.</p> + +<p>"There you are," he said to Scott. He sounded completely deflated. No +sting remained in his voice.</p> + +<p>Scott stepped forward into the hold, then froze. His body went cold.</p> + +<p>The hold was a writhing mass of cats.</p> + +<p>Their queer angled bodies darted in a great pile beyond the door. Their +red bodies glowed and twisted strangely. They flew about a huge stack of +lead containers—uranium cells secured for the long trip home.</p> + +<p>And Scott went sick with understanding. Through rigid lips, he forced +the words: "Energy-eaters!"</p> + +<p>The Captain laughed oddly. "And you wondered how they lived on this +naked rock. They ate the raw ore, of course. No wonder they hung around +Durval's machines sucking up what free energy they could. They broke +through the air feeder system here. No wonder. With cells of 80% pure +uranium waiting for them." His voice broke.</p> + +<p>"So we're finished," he continued. "The <i>Kastil</i> will be loaded before +we can even clean the cats out. We're done."</p> + +<p>He swayed back against the bulkhead. Scott took his arm.</p> + +<p>"Get away from me." Elderburg wrenched away, his loathing clear even +behind the bulky suit. "If what the men say is true. If you sold us +out—" His voice trailed off. "Call your men out of the pits, Jerill. +We're blasting off tonight."</p> + +<p>"No." Scott leaned forward, his eyes mere slits behind the lense of his +helmet. "Is there any uranium left?"</p> + +<p>"We saved two cells."</p> + +<p>"It's enough," Scott snapped. His lean jaw lifted proudly. "It's a +little late, Captain. But I can promise to get rid of the cats in two +hours. With the ore deposits Vaugn and I have collected, we can still +load a good cargo and beat the <i>Kastil</i> out by at least a day."</p> + +<p>Elderburg eyed him sharply. "How can you handle the cats?"</p> + +<p>"Get me a lead-lined box about eight feet by...."</p> + +<p>Static blasted shrilly in their ears. The voice of the ship's lookout, +strained with excitement, shouted. "Captain Elderburg. This is Main +Control. Get here fast. An explosion at Lieutenant Jerill's mine."</p> + +<p>As Elderburg leaped for the door with a muffled roar, the lookout's +voice tautened. "No. No. Not an explosion. It's the <i>Kastil</i>. They're +attacking the mine. They're attacking the mine."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>They crammed into the observation blister on the <i>Bertha's</i> nose. +Scanners swept smoothly over the wilderness of stone jutting up between +the ship and the mine.</p> + +<p>"There's a fire fight going out there." Elderburg's square face knotted +with anger. "Scott, take a party. Blow that livid scum crew off this +rock."</p> + +<p>"Right, sir!" Scott bolted from the observation port. The emergency +alarm howled through the ship. He buckled on a pair of blasters with +unsteady hands, a black fury sweeping him. He stabbed one long finger +down on the intercom.</p> + +<p>"Masters," he yelled. "Get the cargo jet ready. With full battle +equipment."</p> + +<p>"Right, lieutenant. What's up?"</p> + +<p>"Piracy." He spun toward the door. Then jolted to a halt, hands balling +at his sides.</p> + +<p>A picture was forming on the Master Communication Screen.</p> + +<p>Elderburg pounded to his side. "Who is it?"</p> + +<p>The picture on the screen was very definite now—a swarthy giant of a +man, cynically grinning down at them. "Gentlemen," the figure on the +screen said, and Scott needed no further introduction.</p> + +<p>It was Randell, master of the ship <i>Kastil</i>.</p> + +<p>"We've had a very entertaining two days," Randell said. His thick hands +rubbed easily together. "It's been a real pleasure watching you work. +But I'm afraid the pleasure is over. We're leaving you now. Oh, that +disturbance at your mine pit?" He laughed, but only with his mouth; the +close-set eyes remained unchanging, watchful. "It seemed so unnecessary +to bother mining ore when so much of it was stacked near our pit."</p> + +<p>"You bloody murdering bandit," Elderburg thundered. "We'll blast +you...."</p> + +<p>"You'll blast nobody. Any party approaching the <i>Kastil</i> will get +blasted. Any party near the claim—our claim—will get burned down. By +the way, I'm afraid your men at the mine contracted space-sickness, or +something. They seem to be dead. You needn't bother coming after them."</p> + +<p>He began to chuckle. "I think the ore my men are bringing in now will +just complete our cargo. See you back on Earth."</p> + +<p>The screen went gray. The sound shut off with a loud click.</p> + +<p>Elderburg swung on Scott. "Take your men. Clean out that nest of thieves +before they remove any more ore. Order out full battle gear. We'll blast +the <i>Kastil</i> apart if it takes every man on board this ship."</p> + +<p>"No!" Scott caught Elderburg's shoulder, gripped him. "There isn't time +for an armed attack. I have a better idea."</p> + +<p>"Scott, I order you to...."</p> + +<p>"Get me a box," Scott cried desperately. "Made of lead and six feet +deep."</p> + +<p>Elderburg jerked his shoulder free. His face contorted. "Get to your +cabin, Jerill. You're under arrest."</p> + +<p>"Captain Elderburg, listen to me. We can...."</p> + +<p>"That's a direct order. Go to your cabin." He whirled away from Scott, +slammed down the intercom lever. "Attention all hands. Prepare full +battle equipment...."</p> + +<p>Scott slashed his blaster hard across the back of the Captain's head. +Elderburg staggered, clutched the back of the seat. Scott hit him again. +Elderburg's legs went loose. He toppled face forward, struck the +intercom and sagged to the floor.</p> + +<p>Scott stepped to the intercom. "Attention. All men, prepare full battle +equipment and stand by. Stand by. Durval, get the largest lead-lined box +you have and set it outside the entrance of the main cargo hatch. Shake +it up. We have half an hour till the <i>Kastil</i> jets off."</p> + +<p>He cut off the intercom, lugged Elderburg to the chart room and locked +him inside.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>The hold was beastly hot. Standing inside the hatchway, holding +suspended over his head a three-foot long cell of uranium ore, Scott +felt a moment of shuddering panic. Over the storage cells along the +wall, over the tumbling bodies of the cats, an eerie glow quivered—the +menacing flare of radio-activity.</p> + +<p>Scott glanced nervously at the forward screen. Chief Durval waved toward +him. "Your men ready, Durval?"</p> + +<p>The Chief nodded. "Don't go getting yourself hurt now, Scott."</p> + +<p>Scott grinned although he did not feel much like grinning.</p> + +<p>He shuffled forward under the light gravity of the hold. The uranium +cell balanced easily in his hands. Too easily. He could scarcely feel it +press against his gloves. The heat control in his suit was jammed again. +His hands streamed sweat.</p> + +<p>He inched past the cats. A quick cold thrill passed through his stomach. +With the energy of the ore almost gone, the scarlet beasts were growing +increasingly uneasy. They were casting about for a new supply. It would +be easy enough for a foot to slip, he thought. To spill the ore across +the floor. New food for the cats—and the loss of the <i>Bertha's</i> last +chance as strange space beasts sucked away the last purified ore.</p> + +<p>He slipped cautiously past the last row of cells. A quick dash now for +the open hatchway beyond....</p> + +<p>Half a dozen of the bounding red beasts surged about his feet. Their +weight drove his right leg forward. He staggered, caught at his balance. +The lead cell above his head began to slip.</p> + +<p>"Watch it, Scott!" Durval's voice cracked in his ears.</p> + +<p>Straining every muscle against the queer weightlessness of no gravity, +Scott struggled to regain his balance. He expected another blow at his +legs as the cats leaped for the ore. It was hard to breathe the +over-heated air of his suit.</p> + +<p>But the cats had spun away. As he caught his balance, he stared after +them, uncomprehending for an instant. The cats ran twisting in a somehow +sinister dance. The bodies were queerly bloated. Down the upper portion +of their bodies ran a heavy indentation. As they leaped and twisted, the +indentation became a fissure, a crevice.</p> + +<p>Then two of the beasts leaped, slammed together in mid-air. But more +than two cats fell to the floor.</p> + +<p>Their sharply angled bodies whisking back toward the depleted uranium +cells, four cats appeared with shocking suddenness.</p> + +<p>Reproduction. Elemental fission.</p> + +<p>Scott had to clean them out, and fast. Soon the ship would be overrun +with the energy-hungry felines.</p> + +<p>He dashed toward the open hatch. Outside the opening, a great lead box, +eight feet by eight feet, gaped upward. Beyond, four men tensely +supported a vast lead cover.</p> + +<p>"Is the uranium poured into the box?" he barked sharply.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. All ready, Mister Jerill."</p> + +<p>"Good." Turning from the hatch, he inverted his cell, poured out the +uranium ore in a thick stream from the open hatch back across the hold +toward the scrambling mass of cats upon the now empty rows of cells.</p> + +<p>But he never reached the beasts.</p> + +<p>A brawling torrent of animals leaped toward him. Hurling the container +into their mass, he leaped to one side. They lunged into the trail of +ore. Rolled, leaped, darted along the line. At the hatch edge, a +pyramiding mass of cats paused a moment. Then plummeted over. Scott fell +back against the bulkhead, his eyes fixed on the cats still scavenging +among the empty cells.</p> + +<p>Then these too were darting for the trail of ore. The uranium was +scattered now. Cats plunged toward the new radiation in the box beyond +the hold entrance.</p> + +<p>The inarticulate cheers of Durval and his men rang in Scott's helmet. +But his mind was already working at the next step of the problem.</p> + +<p>"Durval," he ordered. "Get a decontamination unit in here. Clean this +place out." Cats poured in a frenzied stream from the ship. "Call Mister +Vaugn. Start purification of his ore as soon as it arrives."</p> + +<p>Past the hatch, he saw the swift flash of the lead top dropping over the +box. Excitement pounded hotly in his throat.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to get rid of these cats once and for all," he called. "Be +back in an hour."</p> + +<p>"But what about the <i>Kastil</i>?"</p> + +<p>"We'll worry about the <i>Kastil</i> later. Get that ore purified. We're +blasting out of here in forty hours."</p> + +<p>He swung from the cargo entrance to the top of the lead box. Under his +feet, the lid trembled with the frantic struggling of the cats. "Load +this crate in the cargo jet," he cried. "And hurry. We only have half an +hour left."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>The pounding of the jets matched the pounding of the blood in Scott's +temples. "When we land," he instructed, "get this crate out fast. +Everything depends on how fast you can take the cats down to the pit. I +want you to bury it as fast as you can. Understand?"</p> + +<p>He glanced sharply about the group, feeling their eyes clinging to him.</p> + +<p>"Get as much rubbish on the crate as possible. And then obey every order +I give you as fast as possible no matter how foolish the order may +seem."</p> + +<p>The jet thundered down over the landing strip, rasped to a halt. "Out," +roared Scott. "Fast. Make it fast."</p> + +<p>The loading compartment swung open. But as the men lifted the crate +toward the door, the jet's intercom burst into life. "Jerill. Jerill, +this is Captain Elderburg. I order you to return at once."</p> + +<p>Elderburg had freed himself too quickly.</p> + +<p>"This is a criminal offense, Jerill. Come back at once."</p> + +<p>"Get that crate out," Scott roared. "Hurry. Hurry!"</p> + +<p>"Mister Jerill," blared the intercom. "You are under arrest, according +to the Articles of Space, for conspiracy, armed assault...." Scott cut +the voice off in mid-sentence. He leaped into the hold, threw his weight +behind the box. "Quick. Get it to the pit."</p> + +<p>The men lumbered off into the darkness. Even with the light gravity of +the asteroid, it was difficult to handle the crate as the scrambling +cats pitched it from side to side.</p> + +<p>Scott scaled a boulder. The hulk of the <i>Kastil</i> loomed just beyond, +dark and threatening. A thin square of light showed at their cargo +entrance. They were still completing loading.</p> + +<p>"Hurry," Scott muttered feverishly. "Hurry."</p> + +<p>The men reached the pit. Carefully, slowly, they lowered the crate into +the shadows.</p> + +<p>Sweat streaming down his face, Scott tore his eyes from the <i>Kastil</i> +hatch, grimly watched as his men scooped rubbish into the pit.</p> + +<p>A motion in the darkness. Out where no motion should be. Movement among +the sunless stones.</p> + +<p>Scott's breathing stopped.</p> + +<p>A group of men closing in toward the cargo jet. Men racing out of the +shadows. Men of the <i>Kastil</i>.</p> + +<p>"Stop," Scott shouted frantically into his radio. "Get that crate back +to the jet. Get it out of the pit. Back to the jet. It's too late. +Hurry. Hurry!"</p> + +<p>For a single astounded moment the men paused. Then, sweeping the rubble +from the crate, they fumbled it toward the surface of the pit.</p> + +<p>Scott leaped down among them. Pushed. "They're going to trap us." The +crate struck on the pit's edge. Scott seized one end, forced it up over. +"Grab that other end, Masters. Move, man. Don't argue. Move!"</p> + +<p>Staggering over the uneven ground, they lurched toward the jet.</p> + +<p>"I think you ought to rest for a moment." It was the cool voice of +Randell, who stepped from the darkness with a blaster turned full on +them.</p> + +<p>Crewmen from the <i>Kastil</i> poured from among the rocks. Their blasters +swung a menacing ring about Scott and his men.</p> + +<p>"Step back away from the crate." Randell stepped forward, tapped his +blaster against the side of the box. "Now what do we have here."</p> + +<p>"Keep away from that," Scott snarled. "That's property of the <i>Bertha</i>."</p> + +<p>"Is it?" Randell turned carelessly to his men. "Property of the +<i>Bertha</i>," he drawled. "Well, we'd better have a look at it now. To make +sure you haven't accidentally salvaged some of the <i>Kastil's</i> equipment. +Oh, quite by accident, I understand."</p> + +<p>He began to loosen the screw-clamps of the lid.</p> + +<p>"Stop!" Scott leaped forward, no longer conscious of the weapons +swinging on him. He dropped his hand upon the box.</p> + +<p>"This is mine," he said. "I forbid you to touch it."</p> + +<p>"Have you ever seen a man die of a blaster bolt?" Randell asked. "Step +back."</p> + +<p>The men of the <i>Bertha</i> fell back. Their shoulders touched the toothed +rim of stone about the pit.</p> + +<p>Randell chuckled. "Perhaps it's just as well we didn't blast off when we +were loaded. There was always a chance you'd found something else of +value here."</p> + +<p>He flicked the muzzle of the blaster about. "If you don't mind, we'll +inspect this crate in a better light. Back at the <i>Kastil</i>."</p> + +<p>Triumph leaped through Scott. "This is piracy," he said, and sounded +sincere.</p> + +<p>"Piracy is what is proven," Randell laughed. "Do you really think you +have a case in our courts?" He sighed softly. "Now, thank you for this +unexpected pleasure. And good-bye. We'll see each other again on Earth, +perhaps."</p> + +<p>Then they were gone and immediately afterward, the <i>Kastil</i>, balancing +on a white line of flame, leaped away from the asteroid and flashed out +past the stars.</p> + +<p>Scott stared after it, a faint smile touching his lips. About him rang +the triumphant laughter of the crew.</p> + +<p>Someone gripped Scott's shoulder. "Captain Elderburg on the intercom, +Mister Scott. I just told him. And—congratulations, sir."</p> + +<p>Scott grinned. Entering the jet, he faced the intercom, said: "It's over +now, Captain."</p> + +<p>"Good work, Mister Scott." Elderburg's voice was unsteady. "How did you +do it?"</p> + +<p>"Pretended to be taking something of value," Scott said. He relaxed back +against the seat. "I knew Randell couldn't resist making a clean sweep +of everything we had. So I gave him the chance."</p> + +<p>Elderburg's laugh filled the cabin. "And when they open the crate...."</p> + +<p>"Good-bye uranium." Pale eyes smiling, Scott waved a knotted fist. "And +now, sir, we're going to start mining ore. This is our claim now. And +we'll be blasting out of here in forty hours with the biggest load of +uranium ore Earth ever got its hands on."</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Feline Red, by Robert Sampson + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FELINE RED *** + +***** This file should be named 31970-h.htm or 31970-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/9/7/31970/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Feline Red + +Author: Robert Sampson + +Release Date: April 12, 2010 [EBook #31970] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FELINE RED *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + FELINE RED + + By ROBERT SAMPSON + + +[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Planet Stories January +1954. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. +copyright on this publication was renewed.] + + +[Sidenote: _It was up to Jerill to think fast ... to do something ... +before those strange beasts sucked away the last purified ore on the +freighter Bertha._] + + +A shouting wave of men rioted through the engine room. + +From the bridge above the hulking atomics, Chief Engineer Durval vollied +orders in a thunderous voice. "You men--you!" he raged. "Use your heads, +not your feet. Drive them toward the door." + +A scattering of Them--compact darting beasts the color of a +poppy--scuttled into the shadow of an engine. Heavy Davison wrenches +clubbed futilely behind them. + +As Durval flew into new bursts of shouting, Scott Jerill, First Mate of +the freighter _Bertha_, grimly shook his head. His lean face was not +smiling now. "Call your men back," he commanded crisply. "We don't have +time to drive those cats out like this." + +Durval turned on him with a snarl. "Take over then. Think of a better +way. If you hadn't hauled that load of space cats aboard in the first +place...." + +"Look out," Scott snapped. + +With a crisp smack, a red creature the size of a man's hand struck the +rail before them. It was all improbable angles, with no special shape, +no front or back. It teetered crazily over the ten foot drop to the +floor below. Then it settled, sputtering. It sounded curiously like an +angry cat. + +"There's one," roared Durval. His wrench slashed down, crashed shrilly +on the rail as the cat skimmed effortlessly away. The wrench shot off +toward the floor. + +Durval shook his hand and roared. The cat, some twenty feet down the +rail, cackled insanely. As Scott stepped slowly toward it, the cat +hissed, bounded off the rail, and down the steps to the engine room +floor. + +Scott shook his head. "You're not going to catch them by hand. Better +let them settle down, Durval." + +"Settle down." The Chief brought the palm of his hand down on the rail. +The rail trembled. "They've already settled down. On every generator in +the place. One of them crawled under the main relay switch and shorted +out half the board. Didn't hurt him a bit." + +Scott interrupted gruffly. "We've got to get them out of here fast. +Captain Elderburg wants to blast off here day after tomorrow, and we +don't have half the ore cargo purified yet." + +"And you won't have," Durval snapped. "If we blast off, we'll do it with +an empty hold. I can't purify uranium with fifty cats running loose, +getting caught in the machinery. It can't be done. Get these cats out +and I'll give you a hold full of the best grade uranium Earth ever +bought. But not till you get those cats out." + +Scowling, Scott bit his knuckles. "We've got to get moving. The skipper +thinks IP Metals is going to jump our claim," he said urgently. + +"If you ask me, only a doddering fool would bring these things into a +space ship." He glanced sharply at Scott. "What's this about IPM?" + +Scott shook his head slowly. "Nothing. Forget I said anything. But get +these cats out. And fast. Have you tried ultra-sonics on them?" + +Durval's face slipped into new lines. "Maybe," he muttered. Leaning over +the railing, he thundered, "Masters. Forget those cats a minute. Yes, +forget them. Hook up an ultra-sonics sender and--" + +The ship intercom over Durval's head clicked mechanically, hummed into +life. "Mr. Jerill. Report to Central Control. Mr. Jerill. Report--" + +Scott jabbed the Acknowledgement button. As he swung around Durval he +glanced down into the engine room. Sweating men beat after the scuttling +red beasts. + +"Report to me about the sonics," he told Durval. "If that doesn't work, +we'll scoop up those red kitties with our bare hands. But we got to get +started on that uranium ore purification. Faster than ten minutes ago." + +He slammed the engine room door, cutting off Durval's angry roar. +Striding rapidly through the bluish light of the corridor, an anger +bitter as Durval's throbbed in him. But he took pains to hold it down. + +"Confound those cats," he thought. "The _Kastil_ on top of us, and we +have to stop work to chase space fauna. And we have three days left. +Three days." + +So engrossed was he in anger that he almost blundered head-on into the +grinning red-head who lounged up the corridor toward him. + +"Hey, Scott." Second Mate Max Vaugn raised a lazy eyebrow. "Slow down. +Think of all your ulcers." + +Scott spun impatiently on his heel. "Can't stop, Max. Got to see the +Captain." + +"And you don't even stop to say hello to an old friend back from the +mines of a nameless asteroid." He grinned, slapped Scott's shoulder +lightly with an open palm. "What's all this scandal I hear about your +space cats?" + +Scott grimaced. "I caught a few while we were scooping up ore over at my +pit. Thought the Extra-Terrestrial Life Division back on Earth might be +interested in them. They don't eat. They don't breathe.... Only their +cage got smashed open, and they got into the engine room. Nobody knows +how." + +"The good news has got around," Max said grinning. "You don't know it, +but there's twenty more sitting outside the main cargo hatch right now. +What gets rid of them?" + +"If you think of anything," Scott said as he turned away, "tell me. Got +to go. Elderburg's waiting." + +"Have you tried hitting them with strong light?" Max shouted after him. + +"No," Scott shouted back. He was very late, and the Old Man wanted you +fast when he wanted you. "Try light if you get a chance." + +He broke into an effortless trot, his boots padding lightly on the +shining gray floor. "Three days," he thought. He forgot Max. He forgot +Durval and the cats. He thought, "Three days," and a fine film of +perspiration spread cold across his back. + + * * * * * + +"We have three days," Captain Elderburg said. He was a small neat man +with a prim voice. His bland eyes peered forward into some middle +distance, ignoring Scott. + +And Scott, sitting tautly in his chair, felt glad those eyes were not on +him. + +"In three days," the Captain said, "or probably before, the _Kastil_ +should find us. The _Kastil_--the best ship Inner-Planet Metals ever +commissioned." + +Scott nodded. In the savage, free-for-all world of the space-miner, the +_Kastil_ was known as the big ship, the new ship. The ship that could +load its cargo hatches in a day, stuffing 100,000 tons of ore down in +its belly for the hungering plants of Earth. + +"I've fought IP Metals for fifteen years," Elderburg said slowly. His +eyes were very far away. "For fifteen years they've grown bigger and +bigger, and the bigger they've got, the rougher they've played. You know +their record, Scott. Murder, claim-jumping. What they can't steal with a +blaster, they take by law." + +Glancing through the open port behind the Captain's head, out into the +star-dappled dark of space, Scott asked: "Is there any way we can set up +a permanent claim here on this asteroid without going back to Earth?" + +"You know better than that." Elderburg's eyes turned full on Scott. +"Unless we bring a full cargo of reasonably purified ore to Earth, we +can't lay claim to these mines, or to any other mineral rights here." + +His hands closed neatly, one inside the other. "And we've got to get a +cargo back. This is our last chance. A strike as rich as this one will +keep us going for a long time. But if we lose this claim to IPM, the +days of the independent miner are over. Done with. We might as well sell +the _Bertha_ and get out." + +"We'll be out of here in two days," Scott said eagerly. "If we...." + +"If," said Elderburg very plainly. His eyes turned away from Scott and +his hands went all loose at once and spread out flat on the table. + +"If we cannot load in two days, Mister Jerill. If your cats that you so +foolishly brought on board the _Bertha_ delay us so much that the +_Kastil_ locates us. And beats us home with a load of ore. If that +happens, Mister Jerill, I will see that you are black-listed from the +rolls of every space flight unit now operating. You will be completely +responsible for the failure of this cruise." + +Slumping back in his seat, he grinned maliciously at Scott. "I realize +that our company was offering you a captain's position at the end of the +expedition...." + +Scott stood up. Anger hammered powerfully at his temples. "All right. I +admit I made a mistake. And I take full responsibility for my actions." + +"You must admit, Mister Jerill, that only a fool would bring an unknown +space beast into a ship." + +"Only a fool would deny that the cats are as valuable as uranium in +their own way." + +"Now, Mister Jerill. Be very careful." There was no mistaking the venom +in Elderburg's speech. In his passionless black eyes, viciousness lay +coiled. "Your cats have stopped purification of the crude ore for two +days. Two days, Mister Scott. We might have been Earth-bound by this +time." + +Scott leaned over the desk. In a voice quivering with anger, he said: +"Listen to me. If you...." + +There was a shocking blast of light. Stunning volumes of white light +poured from the port behind the Captain's head. It blazed too +brilliantly for the naked eye. + +With a strangled exclamation, Scott stumbled for the port, clutching his +eyes. His fingers clawed nervelessly for the light control. + +There was a sharp snap as the port closed. They felt, rather than saw, +the light flick abruptly out. Elderburg tore at the door. + +They lurched into the corridor. Green-yellow lights flashed before their +dazzled eyes. Scott located the wall and began to run, using his finger +tips as guides. + +"A magnesium flare!" The Captain's words drove at Scott, hard as +fragments of metal. "What fool set off a magnesium flare with the +_Kastil_ on top of us?" + +They stumbled through the cool corridor to the second level air lock. As +they approached, the lock clanged open. A space-suited figure waddled +into the corridor. The helmet opened back, revealing the vivid red hair +of Second Mate Vaugn. + +"Light don't bother those cats a bit," he announced. Then his grin +faded. "What's the matter?" + +The Captain croaked, "You set off a flare--when--when the _Kastil_ has +been hunting our claim for weeks. When they're right on top of us!" + +Max's face blanched. "The _Kastil_! Scott, you never told me...." Sudden +cunning swept his face. "Why didn't you tell me the _Kastil_ was so +close, Scott? Why did you tell me to try light on the cats when you +knew--" + +"Scott told you!" Elderburg snarled. But at that moment Scott cried out +sharply, pointing out through the port by the air lock. + +Two miles beyond the _Bertha_, settled a black cigar. Blue-white fire +flared from its base. "The _Kastil_!" Scott gasped. Useless rage flooded +his chest. "The _Kastil_--and she's found us!" + + * * * * * + +Under the hurtling jet, the surface of the asteroid was a jagged tangle +of stone. Scott, staring tensely from the observation port, felt a swift +moment of wonder. Two hours since the IPM ship had landed. And he was in +trouble with a vengeance. + +As he had left the ship with a party of picked men, he had felt +Elderburg's cold eyes on him. Eyes that thought--and threatened. + +It was easy enough to read the Old Man's mind. An officer might make one +vital mistake. But not two--not introducing the cats into the ship; not +permitting a flare to be set off. Unless.... + +Unless he wanted the _Bertha_ to lose time. Unless he wanted the +_Kastil_ to find the precious claim. + +Cold raced through Scott's veins. His hands locked white about the space +helmet he was about to don. He had to prove his loyalty. Had to prove +that the accidents were accidents. And little time was left, as the +_Kastil_ could load completely in two days. + +"There's the pit, Mister Jerill." The navigator's voice was strained. +"See anybody?" + +"Not yet. Set her down." + +The cargo jet dipped. The vast peaks of shattered stone sped up at them +with terrifying speed. Scott refrained from closing his eyes, saw the +razor-toothed surface of this shattered world streak toward him. Ahead, +the bulk of the _Kastil_ loomed. They must have used the ore pits as a +landing marker, he thought. And--what was that? + +Motion at the lip of the ore pit. + +The jet grounded hissing on the burnt landing strip. "Watch it," Scott +warned. "We got visitors out there." + +There was an ugly muttering among the men. As Scott threw open the cargo +doors and dropped to the rocky ground, he saw the crewmen checking +blasters and the slender polonium tubes that could permanently blind a +man. + +He stepped away from the jet. And as he did so, seven men detached +themselves from the shadows about the mine's edge, and strolled toward +him. Seven men--two more than were with Scott. The odds might be worse, +he thought with a sense of relief. + +Cautiously, he loosened the blaster in his belt. They were tricky +weapons to handle in space gloves, but he'd better be ready to use it +fast. + +"Party from the _Bertha_?" The words came thin and metallic into Scott's +helmet. + +"Right," he grunted. "You?" + +"From the _Kastil_. Who gave you a clearance to land on our claim?" + +"We have a prior claim on this pit," Scott flared. "We have it posted +and registered. If you're going to mine, find someplace else." + +A giant figure, grimly grotesque in a cumbersome vacuum suit, swaggered +forward. "I don't see any of your claim posts." + +Scott indicated a tall metal stake glittering somberly in the glare of +the jet's loading lights. + +The tall man laughed easily, his voice thin and far away in Scott's +helmet. "Think of a better story. We just dug that claimer in ourselves. +Now suppose you people jet out of here. Ought to be plenty of good +claims someplace else." + +Scott scarcely heard the sudden bitter burst of protest from his men. +His body felt light and cool. The blaster pressed hard against his side. +"There are plenty of good claims," he said. "You better go find them." + +He swung the blaster up in a single smooth motion. + +The tall man stood very still. They were not close enough to see each +other's faces. + +Then, high on a plateau of stone above the tall man's head, Scott saw +the stars blot out. + +"Scatter!" As he shouted, he took a giant leap to the right. + +A blast of energy seared from the darkness, gouging a vast hole where +Scott had stood. + +From behind a boulder he could see the fire of the blaster sweep across +the upper edges of the rocks, just at the level where the stars were cut +off. + +For a moment, the cold green line of his fire flicked harmlessly over +naked stone. Then a thick squirt of fire flared quickly. A still-born +scream died in his earphones. + +The men of the _Kastil_ had dodged away into the darkness. + +Scott's voice rang out harshly. "I'll give you men two minutes to +organize and get out of here. If you're not out by that time, we'll spin +our jet around and burn you out." + +There was a brief stir off in the shadows. + +"You're in a blind alley there," Scott continued. "There's no way out. +And we'll blast any man who tries to climb out over the rocks. Is that +clear?" + +A glowing flash of energy exploded against the rock protecting him. +There was no sound, but bits of stone lightly flecked his suit. Scott +braced himself on the rough face of the boulder and worked the blaster +around for an open shot. + +"No more shooting," the heavy voice of the tall man growled. "You +_Bertha_ people. Can you hear me?" + +"Yes," Scott said coldly. His eyes probed the shadows for motion. + +"We're willing to be peaceful about this. I'm Captain Randell of the +_Kastil_. There's no need for killing when there's plenty of ore for all +of us." + +"Not in this pit," Scott answered. "You have one minute." + +"All right." Randell's voice, distorted as it was by the tiny radio, +carried a sardonic edge. "We'll go--from here." + +He sauntered out of the shadows, hands upraised. From the tangle of +stone, his men crept out to join him. Without haste, insolent in their +retreat, they crossed over the pit. + +At the far side they paused. "This is the extent of your so-called +claim." Randell's voice purred in their ears. "Our claim extends from +this line. And if a man from the _Bertha_ wants a quick blasting, he can +cross this line." His radio snapped off with crisp finality. + +Scott stepped from his shelter. + +"All right," he ordered. "You men know the story. The _Kastil's_ down +here ready for work. And it's going to mean work if we're going to beat +her back to Earth. Now, let's go. But watch your step." + + * * * * * + +They worked. Eighteen hours a day they worked. From the steel-like +ground they scooped a dozen tons of the dirty black uranium ore and sent +it hurtling back to the _Bertha_. + +But in spite of all their efforts, the more modern equipment of the +_Kastil_ overtook them in a day. The blackness on their left was riddled +with the flare of digging torches and the slender fire-trails of the +jets soaring between the pit and the _Kastil_. + +And now and again, Randell's drawling voice broke into Scott's ears. +"You're slowing up, _Bertha_. Seventy tons for us today. Are you poor +little men getting tired?" He clucked sympathetically, then burst into a +yell of laughter. "We'll have the ore cleaned off this rock before you +get half loaded." + +But Scott and the men of the _Bertha_ worked silently, with savage +haste, forgetting sleep and food to keep the tonnage flowing to their +ship. They had almost forgotten the cats.... + +But not for long. + +Staggering with fatigue, Scott swayed into Central Control, and sagged +into a seat. He had been too long in a space suit. A dull pounding beat +behind his eyes. "I came as soon as you called the pit, Captain +Elderburg. You sounded pretty urgent." + +"It's urgent," Elderburg said. "We're beaten." + +Scott stiffened. Fatigue fell from him as he gazed closely at the +Captain, saw for the first time the bitter dullness of Elderburg's eyes. + +"You better come with me," the Old Man said heavily. He rose stiffly, +led the way from the room. + +In silence they shuffled down the corridor toward the engine room. A tic +worked at the corner of the Captain's mouth, but he did not seem to +notice it. "Durval held the cats off with ultra-sonics. He purified +about ten tons of the stuff and stored it." + +They threaded their way along a chill black catwalk to the center of the +ship. In the engine room, men slumped sullenly among the big atomics. As +Scott and Elderburg passed a group of the black gang, mutely dangling +wrenches, there was a sudden stir. + +"That's him!" One of the men had leaped up. The wrench whipped back over +his shoulder. He leaped raging toward Scott. "There's the rotten...." + +"Easy, Billy." He was dragged back, disarmed. + +"How'd the _Kastil_ know...." + +The Captain tugged Scott's arm. "Don't bother with them. Come on." + +Scott nodded numbly, followed, his head aching and a nameless wave of +apprehension sliding through him. "Where are the cats?" he asked once. + +Elderburg ignored him. "Put on a radiation suit." + +They had stopped before a side door of the main hold. As Scott struggled +into the suit his mind swirled in a chaos of thoughts. When the suit was +adjusted he dropped the helmet shut and stepped forward. Through the +lighter gravity of the air lock they lumbered. Then Elderburg spun the +controls that opened the door. + +"There you are," he said to Scott. He sounded completely deflated. No +sting remained in his voice. + +Scott stepped forward into the hold, then froze. His body went cold. + +The hold was a writhing mass of cats. + +Their queer angled bodies darted in a great pile beyond the door. Their +red bodies glowed and twisted strangely. They flew about a huge stack of +lead containers--uranium cells secured for the long trip home. + +And Scott went sick with understanding. Through rigid lips, he forced +the words: "Energy-eaters!" + +The Captain laughed oddly. "And you wondered how they lived on this +naked rock. They ate the raw ore, of course. No wonder they hung around +Durval's machines sucking up what free energy they could. They broke +through the air feeder system here. No wonder. With cells of 80% pure +uranium waiting for them." His voice broke. + +"So we're finished," he continued. "The _Kastil_ will be loaded before +we can even clean the cats out. We're done." + +He swayed back against the bulkhead. Scott took his arm. + +"Get away from me." Elderburg wrenched away, his loathing clear even +behind the bulky suit. "If what the men say is true. If you sold us +out--" His voice trailed off. "Call your men out of the pits, Jerill. +We're blasting off tonight." + +"No." Scott leaned forward, his eyes mere slits behind the lense of his +helmet. "Is there any uranium left?" + +"We saved two cells." + +"It's enough," Scott snapped. His lean jaw lifted proudly. "It's a +little late, Captain. But I can promise to get rid of the cats in two +hours. With the ore deposits Vaugn and I have collected, we can still +load a good cargo and beat the _Kastil_ out by at least a day." + +Elderburg eyed him sharply. "How can you handle the cats?" + +"Get me a lead-lined box about eight feet by...." + +Static blasted shrilly in their ears. The voice of the ship's lookout, +strained with excitement, shouted. "Captain Elderburg. This is Main +Control. Get here fast. An explosion at Lieutenant Jerill's mine." + +As Elderburg leaped for the door with a muffled roar, the lookout's +voice tautened. "No. No. Not an explosion. It's the _Kastil_. They're +attacking the mine. They're attacking the mine." + + * * * * * + +They crammed into the observation blister on the _Bertha's_ nose. +Scanners swept smoothly over the wilderness of stone jutting up between +the ship and the mine. + +"There's a fire fight going out there." Elderburg's square face knotted +with anger. "Scott, take a party. Blow that livid scum crew off this +rock." + +"Right, sir!" Scott bolted from the observation port. The emergency +alarm howled through the ship. He buckled on a pair of blasters with +unsteady hands, a black fury sweeping him. He stabbed one long finger +down on the intercom. + +"Masters," he yelled. "Get the cargo jet ready. With full battle +equipment." + +"Right, lieutenant. What's up?" + +"Piracy." He spun toward the door. Then jolted to a halt, hands balling +at his sides. + +A picture was forming on the Master Communication Screen. + +Elderburg pounded to his side. "Who is it?" + +The picture on the screen was very definite now--a swarthy giant of a +man, cynically grinning down at them. "Gentlemen," the figure on the +screen said, and Scott needed no further introduction. + +It was Randell, master of the ship _Kastil_. + +"We've had a very entertaining two days," Randell said. His thick hands +rubbed easily together. "It's been a real pleasure watching you work. +But I'm afraid the pleasure is over. We're leaving you now. Oh, that +disturbance at your mine pit?" He laughed, but only with his mouth; the +close-set eyes remained unchanging, watchful. "It seemed so unnecessary +to bother mining ore when so much of it was stacked near our pit." + +"You bloody murdering bandit," Elderburg thundered. "We'll blast +you...." + +"You'll blast nobody. Any party approaching the _Kastil_ will get +blasted. Any party near the claim--our claim--will get burned down. By +the way, I'm afraid your men at the mine contracted space-sickness, or +something. They seem to be dead. You needn't bother coming after them." + +He began to chuckle. "I think the ore my men are bringing in now will +just complete our cargo. See you back on Earth." + +The screen went gray. The sound shut off with a loud click. + +Elderburg swung on Scott. "Take your men. Clean out that nest of thieves +before they remove any more ore. Order out full battle gear. We'll blast +the _Kastil_ apart if it takes every man on board this ship." + +"No!" Scott caught Elderburg's shoulder, gripped him. "There isn't time +for an armed attack. I have a better idea." + +"Scott, I order you to...." + +"Get me a box," Scott cried desperately. "Made of lead and six feet +deep." + +Elderburg jerked his shoulder free. His face contorted. "Get to your +cabin, Jerill. You're under arrest." + +"Captain Elderburg, listen to me. We can...." + +"That's a direct order. Go to your cabin." He whirled away from Scott, +slammed down the intercom lever. "Attention all hands. Prepare full +battle equipment...." + +Scott slashed his blaster hard across the back of the Captain's head. +Elderburg staggered, clutched the back of the seat. Scott hit him again. +Elderburg's legs went loose. He toppled face forward, struck the +intercom and sagged to the floor. + +Scott stepped to the intercom. "Attention. All men, prepare full battle +equipment and stand by. Stand by. Durval, get the largest lead-lined box +you have and set it outside the entrance of the main cargo hatch. Shake +it up. We have half an hour till the _Kastil_ jets off." + +He cut off the intercom, lugged Elderburg to the chart room and locked +him inside. + + * * * * * + +The hold was beastly hot. Standing inside the hatchway, holding +suspended over his head a three-foot long cell of uranium ore, Scott +felt a moment of shuddering panic. Over the storage cells along the +wall, over the tumbling bodies of the cats, an eerie glow quivered--the +menacing flare of radio-activity. + +Scott glanced nervously at the forward screen. Chief Durval waved toward +him. "Your men ready, Durval?" + +The Chief nodded. "Don't go getting yourself hurt now, Scott." + +Scott grinned although he did not feel much like grinning. + +He shuffled forward under the light gravity of the hold. The uranium +cell balanced easily in his hands. Too easily. He could scarcely feel it +press against his gloves. The heat control in his suit was jammed again. +His hands streamed sweat. + +He inched past the cats. A quick cold thrill passed through his stomach. +With the energy of the ore almost gone, the scarlet beasts were growing +increasingly uneasy. They were casting about for a new supply. It would +be easy enough for a foot to slip, he thought. To spill the ore across +the floor. New food for the cats--and the loss of the _Bertha's_ last +chance as strange space beasts sucked away the last purified ore. + +He slipped cautiously past the last row of cells. A quick dash now for +the open hatchway beyond.... + +Half a dozen of the bounding red beasts surged about his feet. Their +weight drove his right leg forward. He staggered, caught at his balance. +The lead cell above his head began to slip. + +"Watch it, Scott!" Durval's voice cracked in his ears. + +Straining every muscle against the queer weightlessness of no gravity, +Scott struggled to regain his balance. He expected another blow at his +legs as the cats leaped for the ore. It was hard to breathe the +over-heated air of his suit. + +But the cats had spun away. As he caught his balance, he stared after +them, uncomprehending for an instant. The cats ran twisting in a somehow +sinister dance. The bodies were queerly bloated. Down the upper portion +of their bodies ran a heavy indentation. As they leaped and twisted, the +indentation became a fissure, a crevice. + +Then two of the beasts leaped, slammed together in mid-air. But more +than two cats fell to the floor. + +Their sharply angled bodies whisking back toward the depleted uranium +cells, four cats appeared with shocking suddenness. + +Reproduction. Elemental fission. + +Scott had to clean them out, and fast. Soon the ship would be overrun +with the energy-hungry felines. + +He dashed toward the open hatch. Outside the opening, a great lead box, +eight feet by eight feet, gaped upward. Beyond, four men tensely +supported a vast lead cover. + +"Is the uranium poured into the box?" he barked sharply. + +"Yes, sir. All ready, Mister Jerill." + +"Good." Turning from the hatch, he inverted his cell, poured out the +uranium ore in a thick stream from the open hatch back across the hold +toward the scrambling mass of cats upon the now empty rows of cells. + +But he never reached the beasts. + +A brawling torrent of animals leaped toward him. Hurling the container +into their mass, he leaped to one side. They lunged into the trail of +ore. Rolled, leaped, darted along the line. At the hatch edge, a +pyramiding mass of cats paused a moment. Then plummeted over. Scott fell +back against the bulkhead, his eyes fixed on the cats still scavenging +among the empty cells. + +Then these too were darting for the trail of ore. The uranium was +scattered now. Cats plunged toward the new radiation in the box beyond +the hold entrance. + +The inarticulate cheers of Durval and his men rang in Scott's helmet. +But his mind was already working at the next step of the problem. + +"Durval," he ordered. "Get a decontamination unit in here. Clean this +place out." Cats poured in a frenzied stream from the ship. "Call Mister +Vaugn. Start purification of his ore as soon as it arrives." + +Past the hatch, he saw the swift flash of the lead top dropping over the +box. Excitement pounded hotly in his throat. + +"I'm going to get rid of these cats once and for all," he called. "Be +back in an hour." + +"But what about the _Kastil_?" + +"We'll worry about the _Kastil_ later. Get that ore purified. We're +blasting out of here in forty hours." + +He swung from the cargo entrance to the top of the lead box. Under his +feet, the lid trembled with the frantic struggling of the cats. "Load +this crate in the cargo jet," he cried. "And hurry. We only have half an +hour left." + + * * * * * + +The pounding of the jets matched the pounding of the blood in Scott's +temples. "When we land," he instructed, "get this crate out fast. +Everything depends on how fast you can take the cats down to the pit. I +want you to bury it as fast as you can. Understand?" + +He glanced sharply about the group, feeling their eyes clinging to him. + +"Get as much rubbish on the crate as possible. And then obey every order +I give you as fast as possible no matter how foolish the order may +seem." + +The jet thundered down over the landing strip, rasped to a halt. "Out," +roared Scott. "Fast. Make it fast." + +The loading compartment swung open. But as the men lifted the crate +toward the door, the jet's intercom burst into life. "Jerill. Jerill, +this is Captain Elderburg. I order you to return at once." + +Elderburg had freed himself too quickly. + +"This is a criminal offense, Jerill. Come back at once." + +"Get that crate out," Scott roared. "Hurry. Hurry!" + +"Mister Jerill," blared the intercom. "You are under arrest, according +to the Articles of Space, for conspiracy, armed assault...." Scott cut +the voice off in mid-sentence. He leaped into the hold, threw his weight +behind the box. "Quick. Get it to the pit." + +The men lumbered off into the darkness. Even with the light gravity of +the asteroid, it was difficult to handle the crate as the scrambling +cats pitched it from side to side. + +Scott scaled a boulder. The hulk of the _Kastil_ loomed just beyond, +dark and threatening. A thin square of light showed at their cargo +entrance. They were still completing loading. + +"Hurry," Scott muttered feverishly. "Hurry." + +The men reached the pit. Carefully, slowly, they lowered the crate into +the shadows. + +Sweat streaming down his face, Scott tore his eyes from the _Kastil_ +hatch, grimly watched as his men scooped rubbish into the pit. + +A motion in the darkness. Out where no motion should be. Movement among +the sunless stones. + +Scott's breathing stopped. + +A group of men closing in toward the cargo jet. Men racing out of the +shadows. Men of the _Kastil_. + +"Stop," Scott shouted frantically into his radio. "Get that crate back +to the jet. Get it out of the pit. Back to the jet. It's too late. +Hurry. Hurry!" + +For a single astounded moment the men paused. Then, sweeping the rubble +from the crate, they fumbled it toward the surface of the pit. + +Scott leaped down among them. Pushed. "They're going to trap us." The +crate struck on the pit's edge. Scott seized one end, forced it up over. +"Grab that other end, Masters. Move, man. Don't argue. Move!" + +Staggering over the uneven ground, they lurched toward the jet. + +"I think you ought to rest for a moment." It was the cool voice of +Randell, who stepped from the darkness with a blaster turned full on +them. + +Crewmen from the _Kastil_ poured from among the rocks. Their blasters +swung a menacing ring about Scott and his men. + +"Step back away from the crate." Randell stepped forward, tapped his +blaster against the side of the box. "Now what do we have here." + +"Keep away from that," Scott snarled. "That's property of the _Bertha_." + +"Is it?" Randell turned carelessly to his men. "Property of the +_Bertha_," he drawled. "Well, we'd better have a look at it now. To make +sure you haven't accidentally salvaged some of the _Kastil's_ equipment. +Oh, quite by accident, I understand." + +He began to loosen the screw-clamps of the lid. + +"Stop!" Scott leaped forward, no longer conscious of the weapons +swinging on him. He dropped his hand upon the box. + +"This is mine," he said. "I forbid you to touch it." + +"Have you ever seen a man die of a blaster bolt?" Randell asked. "Step +back." + +The men of the _Bertha_ fell back. Their shoulders touched the toothed +rim of stone about the pit. + +Randell chuckled. "Perhaps it's just as well we didn't blast off when we +were loaded. There was always a chance you'd found something else of +value here." + +He flicked the muzzle of the blaster about. "If you don't mind, we'll +inspect this crate in a better light. Back at the _Kastil_." + +Triumph leaped through Scott. "This is piracy," he said, and sounded +sincere. + +"Piracy is what is proven," Randell laughed. "Do you really think you +have a case in our courts?" He sighed softly. "Now, thank you for this +unexpected pleasure. And good-bye. We'll see each other again on Earth, +perhaps." + +Then they were gone and immediately afterward, the _Kastil_, balancing +on a white line of flame, leaped away from the asteroid and flashed out +past the stars. + +Scott stared after it, a faint smile touching his lips. About him rang +the triumphant laughter of the crew. + +Someone gripped Scott's shoulder. "Captain Elderburg on the intercom, +Mister Scott. I just told him. And--congratulations, sir." + +Scott grinned. Entering the jet, he faced the intercom, said: "It's over +now, Captain." + +"Good work, Mister Scott." Elderburg's voice was unsteady. "How did you +do it?" + +"Pretended to be taking something of value," Scott said. He relaxed back +against the seat. "I knew Randell couldn't resist making a clean sweep +of everything we had. So I gave him the chance." + +Elderburg's laugh filled the cabin. "And when they open the crate...." + +"Good-bye uranium." Pale eyes smiling, Scott waved a knotted fist. "And +now, sir, we're going to start mining ore. This is our claim now. And +we'll be blasting out of here in forty hours with the biggest load of +uranium ore Earth ever got its hands on." + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Feline Red, by Robert Sampson + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FELINE RED *** + +***** This file should be named 31970.txt or 31970.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/9/7/31970/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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