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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/32597-h.zip b/32597-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..55bf1b6 --- /dev/null +++ b/32597-h.zip diff --git a/32597-h/32597-h.htm b/32597-h/32597-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6703e61 --- /dev/null +++ b/32597-h/32597-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3626 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<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 Accidental Flight, by F. L. Wallace + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; background-color: #FFFFFF; +} + + 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; +} + + +.tr {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; margin-top: 5%; margin-bottom: 5%; padding: 2em; background-color: #f6f2f2; color: black; border: dotted black 1px;} + +.img1 {border:solid 1px; } + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.p1 { margin-left: 80%; } + +.caption {font-weight: bold; font-size:smaller;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.figleft { + float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-top: 0.25em; + margin-right: 0.25em; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +.figleft1 { + float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 0.25em; + margin-top: 0.2em; + margin-right: 0.25em; + 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; +} + + +/* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Accidental Flight, by Floyd L. Wallace + +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: Accidental Flight + +Author: Floyd L. Wallace + +Illustrator: Ed Alexander + +Release Date: May 30, 2010 [EBook #32597] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ACCIDENTAL FLIGHT *** + + + + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="tr"><p class="center">Transcriber's Note:</p> +<p class="center">This etext was produced from Galaxy Science Fiction April 1952. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.</p></div> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img class="img1" src="images/cover.jpg" width="400" height="548" alt="" title="" /> +</div> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/image_001.jpg" width="500" height="245" alt="" title="" /> +</div> +<p> </p> + +<h1>Accidental Flight</h1> +<p> </p> + +<h2>By F. L. WALLACE</h2> +<p> </p> +<h3>Illustrated by Ed Alexander</h3> +<p> </p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Outcasts of a society of physically perfect people, they +couldn't stay and they couldn't go home again—yet there had +to be some escape for them. Oddly enough, there was!</i></p></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_c1.jpg" alt="C" width="39" height="50" /></div> +<p>ameron frowned intently at the top of the desk. It was difficult to +concentrate under the circumstances. "Your request was turned over to +the Medicouncil," he said. "After studying it, they reported back to +the Solar Committee."</p> + +<p>Docchi edged forward, his face literally lighting up.</p> + +<p>Dr. Cameron kept his eyes averted; the man was damnably disconcerting. +"You know what the answer is. A flat no, for the present."</p> + +<p>Docchi leaned back. "We should have expected that," he said wearily.</p> + +<p>"It's not entirely hopeless. Decisions like this can always be +changed."</p> + +<p>"Sure," said Docchi. "We've got centuries." His face was +flushed—<i>blazing</i> would be a better description.</p> + +<p>Absently, Cameron lowered the lights in the room as much as he could. +It was still uncomfortably bright. Docchi was a nuisance.</p> + +<p>"But why?" asked Docchi. "You know that we're capable. Why did they +refuse?"</p> + +<p>Cameron had tried to avoid that question. Now it had to be answered +with blunt brutality. "Did you think you would be chosen? Or Nona, or +Jordan, or Anti?"</p> + +<p>Docchi winced. "Maybe not. But we've told you that we're willing to +abide by what the experts say. Surely from a thousand of us they can +select one qualified crew."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps so," said Cameron. He switched on the lights and resumed +staring at the top of the desk. "Most of you are biocompensators. +Ninety per cent, I believe. I concede that we ought to be able to get +together a competent crew." He sighed. "But you're wasting your time +discussing this with me. I'm not responsible for the decision. I can't +do anything about it."</p> + +<p>Docchi stood up. His face was colorless and bright.</p> + +<p>Dr. Cameron looked at him directly for the first time. "I suggest you +calm down. Be patient and wait; you may get your chance."</p> + +<p>"You wait," said Docchi. "We don't intend to."</p> + +<p>The door opened for him and closed behind him.</p> + +<p>Cameron concentrated on the desk. Actually he was trying to look +through it. He wrote down the card sequence he expected to find. He +opened a drawer and gazed at the contents, then grimaced in +disappointment. No matter how many times he tried, he never got better +than strictly average results. Maybe there was something to telepathy, +but he hadn't found it yet.</p> + +<p>He dismissed it from his mind. It was a private game, a method of +avoiding involvement while Docchi was present. But Docchi was gone +now, and he had better come up with some answers. The right ones.</p> + +<p>He switched on the telecom. "Get me Medicouncilor Thorton," he told +the robot operator. "Direct, if you can; indirect if you have to. I'll +wait."</p> + +<p>With an approximate mean diameter of thirty miles, the asteroid was +listed on the charts as Handicap Haven. The regular inhabitants were +willing to admit the handicap part of the name, but they didn't call +it haven. There were other terms, none of them suggesting sanctuary.</p> + +<p>It was a hospital, of course, but even more like a convalescent home, +<i>the permanent kind</i>. A healthy and vigorous humanity had built it for +those few who were less fortunate. A splendid gesture, but, like many +such gestures, the reality fell somewhat short of the original +intentions.</p> + +<p>The robot operator interrupted his thoughts. "Medicouncilor Thorton +will speak to you."</p> + +<p>The face of an older man filled the screen. "On my way to the +satellites of Jupiter. I'll be in direct range for the next half +hour." At such distance, transmission and reception were practically +instantaneous. "You wanted to speak to me about the Solar Committee +reply?"</p> + +<p>"I do. I informed Docchi a few minutes ago."</p> + +<p>"How did he react?"</p> + +<p>"He didn't like it. As a matter of fact, he was mad all the way +through."</p> + +<p>"That speaks well for his mental resiliency."</p> + +<p>"They all seem to have enough spirit, though, and nothing to use it +on," said Dr. Cameron. "I confess I didn't look at him often, in spite +of the fact that he was quite presentable. Handsome, even, in a +startling way."</p> + +<p>Thorton nodded. "Presentable. That means he had arms."</p> + +<p>"He did. Is that important?"</p> + +<p>"I think it is. He expected a favorable reply and wanted to look his +best. As nearly normal as possible."</p> + +<p>"Trouble?"</p> + +<p>"I don't see how," said the medicouncilor uncertainly. "In any event, +not immediately. It will take them some time to get over the shock of +refusal. They can't do anything, really. Individually they're +helpless. Collectively—there aren't parts for a dozen sound bodies on +the asteroid."</p> + +<p>"I've looked over the records," said Dr. Cameron. "Not one accidental +has ever <i>liked</i> being on Handicap Haven, and that covers quite a few +years. But there has never been so much open discontent as there is +now."</p> + +<p>"Someone is organizing them. Find out who and keep a close watch."</p> + +<p>"I know who. Docchi, Nona, Anti, and Jordan. But it doesn't do any +good merely to watch them. I want your permission to break up that +combination. Humanely, of course."</p> + +<p>"How do you propose to do it?"</p> + +<p>"Docchi, for instance. With prosthetic arms he appears physically +normal, except for that uncanny luminescence. That is repulsive to the +average person. Medically there's nothing we can do about it, but +psychologically we might be able to make it into an asset. You're +aware that Gland Opera is the most popular program in the Solar +System. Telepaths, teleports, pyrotics and so forth are the heroes. +All fake, of course: makeup and trick camera shots. But Docchi can be +made into a real live star. The death-ray man, say. When his face +shines, men fall dead or paralyzed. He'd have a chance to return to +normal society under conditions that would be mentally acceptable to +him."</p> + +<p>"Acceptable to him, perhaps, but not to society," reflected the +medicouncilor. "An ingenious idea, one which does credit to your +humanitarian outlook. Only it won't work. You have Docchi's medical +record, but you probably don't know his complete history. He was an +electrochemical engineer, specializing in cold lighting. He seemed on +his way to a brilliant career when a particularly messy accident +occurred. The details aren't important. He was badly mangled and +tossed into a tank of cold lighting fluid by automatic machinery. It +was some time before he was discovered.</p> + +<p>"There was a spark of life left and we managed to save him. We had to +amputate his arms and ribs practically to his spinal column. The +problem of regeneration wasn't as easy as it usually is. We were able +to build up a new rib case; that's as much as we could do. Under such +conditions, prosthetic arms are merely ornaments. They can be fastened +to him and they look all right, but he can't use them. He has no back +or shoulder muscles to anchor them to.</p> + +<p>"And add to that the adaptation his body made while he was in the +tank. The basic cold lighting fluid, as you know, is semi-organic. It +permeated every tissue in his body. By the time we got him, it was +actually a necessary part of his metabolism. A corollary, I suppose, +of the fundamental biocompensation theory."</p> + +<p>The medicouncilor paused and shook his head. "I'm afraid your idea is +out, Dr. Cameron. I don't doubt that he would be successful on the +program you mention. But there is more to life on the outside than +success. Can you picture the dead silence when he walks into a room of +normal people?"</p> + +<p>"I see," said Cameron, though he didn't, at least not eye to eye. The +medicouncilor was convinced and there was nothing Cameron could do to +alter that conviction. "The other one I had in mind was Nona," he +added.</p> + +<p>"I thought so." Thorton glanced at the solar chronometer. "I haven't +much time, but I'd better explain. You're new to the post and I don't +think you've learned yet to evaluate the patients and their problems +properly. In a sense, Nona is more impossible than Docchi. He was once +a normal person. She never was. Her appearance is satisfactory; +perhaps she's quite pretty, though you must remember that you're +seeing her under circumstances that may make her seem more attractive +than she really is.</p> + +<p>"She can't talk or hear. She never will. She doesn't have a larynx, +and it wouldn't help if we gave her one. She simply doesn't have the +nervous system necessary for speech or hearing. Her brain is +definitely not structurally normal. As far as we're concerned, that +abnormality is not in the nature of a mutation. It's more like an +anomaly. Once cleft palates were frequent—prenatal nutritional +deficiencies or traumas. Occasionally we still run into cases like +that, but our surgical techniques are always adequate. Not with Nona, +however.</p> + +<p>"She can't be taught to read or write; we've tried it. We dug out the +old Helen Keller techniques and brought them up to date with no +results. Apparently her mind doesn't work in a human fashion. We +question whether very much of it works at all."</p> + +<p>"That might be a starting point," said Cameron. "If her brain—"</p> + +<p>"Gland Opera stuff," interrupted Thorton. "Or Rhine Opera, if you'll +permit me to coin a term. We've thought of it, but it isn't true. +We've tested her for every telepathic quality that the Rhine people +list. Again no results. She has no special mental capacities. Just to +make sure of that, we've given her periodic checkups. One last year, +in fact."</p> + +<p>Cameron frowned in frustration. "Then it's your opinion that she's not +able to survive in a normal society?"</p> + +<p>"That's it," answered the medicouncilor bluntly. "You'll have to face +the truth—you can't get rid of any of them."</p> + +<p>"With or without their cooperation, I'll manage," said Cameron.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure you will." The medicouncilor's manner didn't ooze +confidence. "Of course, if you need help we can send reinforcements."</p> + +<p>The implication was clear enough. "I'll keep them out of trouble," +Cameron promised.</p> + +<p>The picture and the voice were fading. "It's up to you. If it turns +out to be too difficult, get in touch with the Medicouncil...."</p> + +<p>The robot operator broke in: "The ship is beyond direct telecom range. +If you wish to continue the conversation, it will have to be relayed +through the nearest main station. At present, that is Mars."</p> + +<p>Aside from the time element, which was considerable, it wasn't likely +that he would get any better answers than he could supply for himself. +Cameron shook his head. "We are through, thanks."</p> + +<p>He got heavily to his feet. That wasn't a psychological reaction at +all. He really was heavier. He made a mental note. He would have to +investigate.</p> + +<p>In a way they were pathetic—the patchwork humans, the half or quarter +men and women, the fractional organisms masquerading as people—an +illusion which died hard for them. Medicine and surgery were partly to +blame. Techniques were too good, or not good enough, depending on the +viewpoint.</p> + +<p>Too good in that the most horribly injured person, if he were still +alive, could be kept alive! Not good enough because a percentage of +the injured couldn't be returned to society completely sound and +whole. There weren't many like that; but there were some, and all of +them were on the asteroid.</p> + +<p>They didn't like it. At least they didn't like being <i>confined</i> to +Handicap Haven. It wasn't that they wanted to go back to the society +of the normals, for they realized how conspicuous they'd be among the +multitudes of beautiful, healthy people on the planets.</p> + +<p>What the accidentals did want was ridiculous. They desired, they +hoped, they petitioned to be the first to make the long, hard journey +to Alpha and Proxima Centauri in rockets. Trails of glory for those +that went; a vicarious share in it for those who couldn't.</p> + +<p>Nonsense. The broken people, those without a face they could call +their own, those who wore their hearts not on their sleeves, but in a +blood-pumping chamber, those either without limbs or organs—or too +many. The categories seemed endless.</p> + +<p>The accidentals were qualified, true. In fact, of all the billions of +solar citizens, <i>they alone could make the journey and return</i>. But +there were other factors that ruled them out. The first point was +never safe to discuss with them, especially if the second had to be +explained. It would take a sadistic nature that Cameron didn't +possess.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_d.jpg" alt="D" width="38" height="40" /></div> +<p>occhi sat beside the pool. It was pleasant enough, a pastoral scene +transplanted from Earth. A small tree stretched shade overhead. Waves +lapped and made gurgling sounds against the sides. No plant life of +any kind grew and no fish swam in the liquid. It looked like water, +but it wasn't. It was acid. In it floated something that monstrously +resembled a woman.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/image_002.jpg" width="500" height="627" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"They turned us down, Anti," Docchi said bitterly.</p> + +<p>"Didn't you expect it?" the creature in the pool asked.</p> + +<p>"I guess I didn't."</p> + +<p>"You don't know the Medicouncil very well."</p> + +<p>"Evidently I don't." He stared sullenly at the faintly blue fluid. +"Why did they turn us down?"</p> + +<p>"Don't you know?"</p> + +<p>"All right, I know," he said. "They're pretty irrational."</p> + +<p>"Of course, irrational. Let them be that way, as long as we don't +follow their example."</p> + +<p>"I wish I knew what to do," he said. "Cameron suggested we wait."</p> + +<p>"Biocompensation," murmured Anti, stirring restlessly. "They've always +said that. Up to now it's always worked."</p> + +<p>"What else can we do?" asked Docchi. Angrily he kicked at an anemic +tuft of grass. "Draw up another request?"</p> + +<p>"Memorandum number ten? Let's not be naive about it. Things get lost +so easily in the Medicouncil's filing system."</p> + +<p>"Or distorted," grunted Docchi.</p> + +<p>"Maybe we should give the Medicouncil a rest. They're tired of hearing +us anyway."</p> + +<p>"I see what you mean," said Docchi, rising.</p> + +<p>"Better talk to Jordan about it."</p> + +<p>"I intend to. I'll need arms."</p> + +<p>"Good. I'll see you when you leave for far Centauri."</p> + +<p>"Sooner than that, Anti. Much sooner."</p> + +<p>Stars were beginning to wink. Twilight brought out shadows and tracery +of the structure that supported the transparent dome overhead. Soon +controlled slow rotation would bring darkness to this side of the +asteroid.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_c.jpg" alt="C" width="33" height="40" /></div> +<p>ameron leaned back and looked speculatively at the gravital engineer, +Vogel. The man could give him considerable assistance, if he would. +There was no reason why he shouldn't; but any man who had voluntarily +remained on Handicap Haven as long as Vogel had was a doubtful +quantity.</p> + +<p>"Usually we maintain about half Earth-normal gravity," Cameron said. +"Isn't that correct?"</p> + +<p>Engineer Vogel nodded.</p> + +<p>"It isn't important why those limits were set," Cameron continued. +"Perhaps it's easier on the weakened bodies of the accidentals. There +may be economic factors."</p> + +<p>"No reason for those limits except the gravital units themselves," +Vogel said. "Theoretically it should be easy to get any gravity you +want. Practically, though, we get between a quarter and almost full +Earth gravity. Now take the fluctuations. The gravital computer is set +at fifty per cent. Sometimes we get fifty per cent and sometimes +seventy-five. Whatever it is, it just is and we have to be satisfied."</p> + +<p>The big engineer shrugged. "I hear the units were designed especially +for this asteroid," he went on. "Some fancy medical reason. Easier on +the accidentals to have less gravity change, you say. Me, I dunno. I'd +guess the designers couldn't help it and the reason was dug up later."</p> + +<p>Cameron concealed his irritation. He wanted information, not a +heart-to-heart confession. "All practical sciences try to justify +whatever they can't escape but would like to. Medicine, I'm sure, is +no exception." He paused thoughtfully. "Now, there are three separate +gravital units on the asteroid. One runs for forty-five minutes while +the other two are idle. Then it cuts off and another takes over. This +is supposed to be synchronized. I don't have to tell you that it +isn't. You felt your weight increase suddenly at the same time I did. +What is wrong?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing wrong," said the engineer. "That's what you get with +gravital."</p> + +<p>"You mean they're supposed to run that way? Overlapping so that for +five minutes we have Earth or Earth-and-a-half gravity and then none?"</p> + +<p>"It's not <i>supposed</i> to be that way," said Vogel. "But nobody ever +built a setup like this that worked any better." He added defensively: +"Of course, if you want, you can check with the company that makes +these units."</p> + +<p>"I'm not trying to challenge your knowledge, and I'm not anxious to +make myself look silly. I have a sound reason for asking these +questions. There is a possibility of sabotage."</p> + +<p>The engineer's grin was wider than the remark seemed to require.</p> + +<p>"All right," said Cameron tiredly. "Suppose you tell me why sabotage +is so unlikely."</p> + +<p>"Well," explained the gravital engineer, "it would have to be someone +living here, and he wouldn't like it if he suddenly got double or +triple gravity or maybe none at all. But there's another reason. Now +take a gravital unit. Any gravital unit. Most people think of it as +just that—a unit. It isn't really that at all. It has three parts.</p> + +<p>"One part is a power source that can be anything as long as it's big +enough. Our power source is a nuclear pile, buried deep in the +asteroid. You'd have to take Handicap Haven apart to get to it. Part +two is the gravital coil, which actually produces the gravity and is +simple and just about indestructible. Part three is the gravital +control. It calculates the relationship between the amount of power +flowing through the gravital coil and the strength of the created +gravity field in any one microsecond. It uses the computed +relationship to alter the power flowing through in the next +microsecond to get the same gravity. No change of power, no gravity. I +guess you could call the control unit a computer, as good a one as is +made for any purpose."</p> + +<p>The engineer rubbed his chin. "Fatigue," he continued. "The gravital +control is an intricate computer that's subject to fatigue. That's why +it has to rest an hour and a half to do forty-five minutes of work. +Naturally they don't want anyone tinkering with it. It's +non-repairable. Crack the case open and it won't work. But first you +have to open it. Mind you, that can be done. But I wouldn't want to +try it without a high-powered lab setup."</p> + +<p>If it didn't seem completely foolproof, neither did it seem a likely +source of trouble. "Then we can forget about the gravital units," said +Cameron, arising. "But what about hand weapons? Are there any +available?"</p> + +<p>"You mean toasters?"</p> + +<p>"Anything that's lethal."</p> + +<p>"Nothing. No knives even. Maybe a stray bar or so of metal." Vogel +scratched his head. "There is something dangerous, though. Dangerous +if you know how to take hold of it."</p> + +<p>Instantly Cameron was alert. "What's that?"</p> + +<p>"Why, the asteroid itself. You can't physically touch any part of the +gravital unit. But if you could somehow sneak an impulse into the +computer and change the direction of the field...." Vogel was very +grave. "You could pick up Handicap Haven and throw it anywhere you +wanted. At the Earth, say. Thirty miles in diameter is a big hunk of +rock."</p> + +<p>It was this kind of information Cameron was looking for, though the +engineer seemed to regard the occasion as merely a social call. "Is +there any possibility of that occurring?" he asked quietly.</p> + +<p>The engineer grinned. "Never happened, but they're ready for things +like that with any gravital system. They got monitor stations all +over—the moons of Jupiter, Mars, Earth, Venus.</p> + +<p>"Any time the gravital computer gets dizzy, the monitor overrides it. +If that fails, they send a jammer impulse and freeze it up tight. It +won't work until they let loose."</p> + +<p>Cameron sighed. He was getting very little help or information from +Vogel. "All right," he said. "You've told me what I wanted to know."</p> + +<p>He watched the engineer depart for the gravity-generating chamber far +below the surface of the asteroid.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="36" height="40" /></div> +<p>he post on Handicap Haven wasn't pleasant; it wasn't an experience a +normal human would desire. It did have advantages—advancement came in +sizes directly proportional to the disagreeableness of the place.</p> + +<p>Ten months to go on a year's assignment. If Cameron could survive that +period with nothing to mar his administration, he was in line for +better positions. A suicide or any other kind of unpleasantness that +would focus the attention of the outside world on the forgotten +asteroid was definitely unwelcome.</p> + +<p>He flipped on the telecom. "Rocket dome. Get me the pilot."</p> + +<p>When the robot finally answered, it wasn't encouraging. "I'm sorry. +There is no answer."</p> + +<p>"Then trace him," he snapped. "If he's not in the rocket dome, he's in +the main dome. I want you to get him at once."</p> + +<p>A few seconds of silence followed. "There is no record of the pilot +leaving the rocket dome."</p> + +<p>His heart skipped; with an effort he spoke carefully. "Scan the whole +area. Understand? You've got to find him."</p> + +<p>"Scanning is not possible. The system is out of operation in that +area."</p> + +<p>"All right," he said, starting to shake. "Send out repair robots." +They were efficient in the sense they always did the work they were +set to do, but not in terms of speed.</p> + +<p>"The robots were dispatched as soon as scanning failed to work. Are +there any other instructions?"</p> + +<p>He thought about that. He needed help, plenty of it. Vogel? He'd be +ready and willing, but that would leave the gravity-generating setup +unprotected. Better do without him.</p> + +<p>Who else? The sour old nurse who'd signed up because she wanted quick +credits toward retirement? Or the sweet young thing who had bravely +volunteered because someone ought to help those poor unfortunate men? +Not the women, of course. She had a bad habit of fainting when she saw +blood. Probably that was why she couldn't get a position in a regular +planetary hospital.</p> + +<p>That was all, except the robots, who weren't much help in a case like +this. That and the rocket pilot. For some reason he wasn't available.</p> + +<p>The damned place was under-manned. Always had been. Nobody wanted to +come except the mildly psychotic, the inefficient and lazy, or, +conceivably, an ambitious young doctor like himself. Mentally, Cameron +berated the last category. If anything serious happened here, such a +doctor might end his career bandaging scratches at a children's +playground.</p> + +<p>"Instructions," he said. "Yes. Leave word in gravity-generating for +Vogel. Tell him to throw everything he's got around the units. Watch +them."</p> + +<p>"Is that all?"</p> + +<p>"Not quite. Send six general purpose robots. I'll pick them up at the +entrance to the rocket dome."</p> + +<p>"Repair robots are already in that area. Will they do as well?"</p> + +<p>"They will not. I want geepees for another reason." They wouldn't be +much help, true, but the best he could manage.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_d.jpg" alt="D" width="38" height="40" /></div> +<p>occhi waited near the rocket dome. Not hiding, merely inconspicuous +among the carefully nurtured shrubbery that was supposed to give the +illusion of Earth. If the plants failed in that respect, at least they +contributed to the oxygen supply of the asteroid.</p> + +<p>"Good girl," said Docchi. "That Nona is wonderful."</p> + +<p>Jordan could feel him relax. "A regular mechanical marvel," he agreed. +"But we can gas about that later. Let's get going."</p> + +<p>Docchi glanced around and then walked boldly into the passageway that +connected the main dome with the much smaller, adjacent rocket dome. +Normally, it was never dark in the inhabited parts of the asteroid; a +modulated twilight was considered more conducive to the slumber of the +handicapped. But it wasn't twilight as they neared the rocket dome—it +was a full-scale rehearsal for the darkness of interplanetary space.</p> + +<p>Docchi stopped before the emergency airlock which loomed solidly in +front of them. "I hope Nona was able to cut this out of the circuit," +he said anxiously.</p> + +<p>"She understood, didn't she?" asked Jordan. He reached out and the +great slab moved easily aside in its grooves. "The trouble with you is +that you lack confidence."</p> + +<p>Docchi, listening with a frown, didn't answer.</p> + +<p>"Okay, I hear it, too," whispered Jordan. "We'd better get well inside +before he reaches us."</p> + +<p>Docchi walked rapidly into the darkness of the rocket dome. He allowed +his face to become faintly luminescent, the one part of his altered +metabolism that he had learned to control, when he wasn't under +emotional strain.</p> + +<p>He was nervous now, but his control had to be right. Enough light so +that he'd be noticed, not so much that details of his appearance would +be plain.</p> + +<p>The footsteps came nearer, accompanied by a steady volume of +profanity. Docchi flashed his face once and then lowered the intensity +almost immediately.</p> + +<p>The footsteps stopped. "Docchi?"</p> + +<p>"No. Just a lonely little light bulb out for an evening stroll."</p> + +<p>The rocket pilot's laughter wasn't altogether friendly. "I know it's +you. I meant, what are you doing here?"</p> + +<p>"I saw the lights in the rocket dome go out. The entrance was open, so +I came in. Maybe I can help."</p> + +<p>"They're off, all right. Everything. Even the standby system." The +rocket pilot moved closer. The deadly little toaster was in his hand. +"You can't help. You'd better get out. It's against regulations for +you to be in here."</p> + +<p>Docchi ignored the weapon. "What happened? Did a meteor strike?"</p> + +<p>The pilot grunted. "Not likely." He peered intently at the barely +visible silhouette. "Well, I see you're getting smart. You should do +that all the time. You look better that way, even if they're not +usable arms. You look...." His voice faded away.</p> + +<p>"Sure, almost human," Docchi finished for him. "Not like a pair of +legs and a spinal column with a lightning bug stuck on top."</p> + +<p>"I didn't say that. So you're sensitive about it, eh? Maybe that's not +your fault. Anyway, you'd better get going."</p> + +<p>"But I don't want to go," said Docchi deliberately. "I'm not afraid of +the dark. Are you?"</p> + +<p>"Cut the psycho talk, Docchi. All your circuits are working and you +know it. Now get out of here before I take your fake hand and drag you +out."</p> + +<p>"Now you've hurt my feelings," declared Docchi reproachfully, nimbly +stepping away.</p> + +<p>"You asked for it," growled the pilot, lunging after him. What he took +hold of wasn't an imitation hand, made of plastic. It was flesh and +blood. That was why the pilot screamed, once, before he was lifted off +his feet and slammed to the floor.</p> + +<p>Docchi bent double. The dark figure on his back came over his head +like a sword from a scabbard.</p> + +<p>"Jor—"</p> + +<p>"Yeah," said Jordan.</p> + +<p>He wrapped one arm around the pilot's throat and clamped it tight. +With the other he felt for the toaster the pilot still held. +Effortlessly he tore it away and used the butt with just enough force +to knock the pilot unconscious without smashing the skull. Docchi +stood by until it was over. All he could offer was an ineffectual +kick, not balanced by arms.</p> + +<p>It wasn't needed.</p> + +<p>"Let there be light," ordered Jordan, laughing, and there was, a +feeble, flickering illumination from Docchi.</p> + +<p>Jordan was balancing himself on his hands. A strong head, massive, +powerful arms and shoulders. His body ended at his chest. A round +metal capsule contained his digestive system.</p> + +<p>"Dead?" Docchi looked down at the pilot.</p> + +<p>Jordan rocked forward and listened for the heartbeat. "Nah," he said. +"I remembered in time that we can't afford to kill anyone."</p> + +<p>"Good," said Docchi, and stifled an exclamation as something coiled +around his leg. His reactions were fast; he broke loose almost +instantly.</p> + +<p>"Repair robot," said Jordan, looking around. "The place is lousy with +them."</p> + +<p>Docchi blinked on and off involuntarily and the robot came toward him.</p> + +<p>"Friendly creature," observed Jordan. "He's offering to fix your +lighting system for you."</p> + +<p>Docchi ignored the squat contrivance and stared at the pilot. "Now +what?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Agreed," said Jordan. "He needs attention. <i>Not</i> the kind I gave +him." He balanced the toaster in his hand and burned a small hole in +the little wheeled monster. Tentacles emerged from the side of the +machine and felt puzzledly at the damaged area. The tentacles were +withdrawn and presently reappeared with a small torch and began +welding.</p> + +<p>Jordan pulled the unconscious pilot toward him. He leaned against the +machine, raised the inert form over his head and laid it gently on the +top flat surface. Another tentacle reached out to investigate the body +of the pilot. Jordan welded the joints solid with the toaster. Three +times he repeated the process until the pilot was fastened to the +robot.</p> + +<p>"The thing will stay here, repairing itself, until it's completely +sound again," remarked Jordan. "However, that can be fixed." He +adjusted the toaster beam to an imperceptible thickness. Deftly he +sliced through the control case and removed a circular section. He +reached inside and ripped out circuits. "No further self-repair," he +said cheerfully. "Now I'm going to need your help. From a time +stand-point, I think it's a good idea to run the robot around the +main dome a few times before it delivers the pilot to the hospital. No +point in giving ourselves away before we're ready."</p> + +<p>Docchi bent over the robot, and with his help the proper sequence was +implanted. The machine scurried erratically away.</p> + +<p>Docchi watched it go. "Time for us to be on our way." He bent double +for Jordan. The arms folded around his neck, but Jordan made no effort +to climb up onto his back. For a panic moment Docchi knew how the +pilot felt when strength, where there shouldn't have been strength, +reached out from the darkness and gripped his throat.</p> + +<p>He shook the thought from his mind. "Get on my back," he insisted.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/image_003.jpg" width="600" height="494" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"You're tired," said Jordan. "Half gravity or not, you can't carry me +any farther." His fingers worked swiftly and the carrying harness fell +to the floor. "Stay down," growled Jordan. "Listen."</p> + +<p>Docchi listened. "Geepees!"</p> + +<p>"Yeah," said Jordan. "Now get to the rocket."</p> + +<p>"What can I do when I get there? You'll have to help me."</p> + +<p>"You'll figure something out when the time comes. Hurry up!"</p> + +<p>"Not without you," said Docchi stubbornly, without moving.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/image_004.jpg" width="300" height="452" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>A huge paw clamped around the back of his skull. "Listen to me," +whispered Jordan fiercely. "Together we were a better man than the +pilot—your legs and my arms. It's up to us to prove that separately +we are a match for Cameron and his geepees."</p> + +<p>"We're not trying to <i>prove</i> anything," said Docchi.</p> + +<p>A brilliant light sliced through the darkness and swept around the +rocket dome.</p> + +<p>"Maybe we are," said Jordan. Impatiently, he hitched himself along the +ground. "I think I am."</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do?"</p> + +<p>"I'm going up. With no legs, that's where I belong."</p> + +<p>He grasped the structural steel member in his great hands, and in the +light gravity, ascended rapidly.</p> + +<p>"Careful," warned Docchi.</p> + +<p>"This is no time to be careful." His voice floated down from high in +the lacy structure. It wasn't completely dark; the lights were getting +nearer. Docchi decided it was possible for Jordan to see what he was +doing.</p> + +<p>They hadn't expected to be discovered so soon. But the issue had not +yet been settled against them. Docchi settled into a long stride, +avoiding the low-slung repair robots that seemed to be everywhere. If +Jordan refused to give up, Docchi had to try.</p> + +<p>He stayed well ahead of the oncoming general purpose robots.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_h.jpg" alt="H" width="41" height="40" /></div> +<p>e reached the rocket and barely had time to look around. It was +enough, however. The ship's passenger and freight locks were closed. +Nona had either not understood all their instructions, or she hadn't +been able to carry them out. The first, probably. She had put the +light and scanning circuits out of commission with no tools except her +hands. That and her uncanny knowledge of the inner workings of +machines. It was too much to expect that she should also have the ship +ready and waiting for them.</p> + +<p>It was up to him to get in. If he had the toaster they'd taken from +the pilot, he might have been able to soften the proper area of the +passenger lock. But he didn't. Not having arms, he couldn't have used +it. For that reason Jordan had kept the weapon.</p> + +<p>The alternative was to search the surrounding mechanical jungle for an +external control of the rocket. There had to be one, at least for the +airlocks. Then it was a matter of luck whether he could work it.</p> + +<p>The approaching lights warned him that he no longer had that +alternative. If Cameron hadn't tried to search the rocket dome as he +came along, the geepees would be solidly ringed around the ship now. +That was Cameron's mistake, however, and he might make more.</p> + +<p>In all probability Jordan was still at large. Perhaps nearby. Would +Cameron know that? He might not.</p> + +<p>Docchi descended into the shallow landing pit. Until both of them were +caught, there was always a chance. He had to hide, but the landing pit +seemed remarkably ill-suited for that purpose.</p> + +<p>He leaned against the stern tube cluster and tried to shake his brain +into activity. The metal pressed hard into the thin flesh that covered +his back. In the smooth glazed surface of the landing pit, the only +answer was the tubes.</p> + +<p>He straightened up and looked into them. A small boy might climb +inside and crawl out of sight. Or a grown man who had no shoulders or +arms to get wedged in the narrow cylinder.</p> + +<p>Out in space, the inner ends of the tubes were closed with a +combustion cap wherein the fuel was ignited. But in the dome, where +the ship was not used for months at a time....</p> + +<p>Yes, there was that possibility.</p> + +<p>He tried a lower tube. He lay on the floor and thrust his head inside. +He wriggled and shoved with his feet until he had forced himself +entirely in. It was dark and terrifying, but no time for +claustrophobia.</p> + +<p>He stopped momentarily and listened. A geepee descended noisily into +the landing pit. The absence of any other sound indicated to Docchi +that it was radio-controlled.</p> + +<p>He drove himself on, though it was slow progress. The walls were +smooth and it was difficult to get much purchase. The going became +even tougher—the tube was getting smaller. Not much, but enough to +matter.</p> + +<p>Again he stopped. Outside, there was the characteristic sputter, like +frying, that the toaster beam made when it struck metal. A great +clatter followed.</p> + +<p>"Get him!" shouted Cameron. "He's up there!"</p> + +<p>Jordan had arrived and had picked off a geepee. And it wasn't going to +be easy for Cameron to capture him. The diversion would help.</p> + +<p>"Don't use heat," ordered Cameron. "Get your lights on him. Blind him. +Drive him in a corner and then go up and get him."</p> + +<p>Docchi had been wrong; the geepees were controlled by voice, not +radio. That would make it easier for him once he got inside the ship. +If he did.</p> + +<p>It looked as though he would. The tube wasn't getting narrower. More +important, the air was not noticeably stale. The combustion cap had +been retracted, which was a lucky break. His feet slipped. It didn't +matter; somehow he inched along. Blood was pounding in his veins from +the constriction, but his head emerged in the rocket.</p> + +<p>He stared at the retracted combustion cap a few feet away. If he had +arms, he could grasp it and pull himself free. But if he had arms, he +would never have gotten this far. He wriggled until his body was +nearly out and only his legs were in the tube. He kicked hard, fell to +the floor.</p> + +<p>He lay there while his head cleared, then rolled to his feet and +staggered forward to the control compartment. The rocket was his, but +he didn't want it for himself alone.</p> + +<p>He stared thoughtfully at the instrument panel. It had been a long +time since he had operated a ship. When he understood the controls, he +bent down and thrust his chin against the gravital dial. Laboriously +he turned it to the proper setting. Then he sat down and kicked on a +switch. The ship rocked and rose a few inches.</p> + +<p>Chances were that Cameron wouldn't notice that in the confusion +outside. If he did, he had thirty seconds in which to stop Docchi. +That wouldn't be enough for Cameron.</p> + +<p>"Rocket landing," said Docchi when the allotted time passed. +"Emergency instructions. Emergency instructions. Stand by." Strictly +speaking, that wasn't necessary, for the frequency he was using +assured him of complete control.</p> + +<p>"All energized geepees lend assistance. This order supersedes previous +orders. Additional equipment necessary." After listing the equipment, +he sat back and chuckled.</p> + +<p>With his knee he turned on the external lights, got up and walked to +the passenger lock, brushing against the switch. The airlock opened. +He stood boldly at the threshold and looked out. The rocket dome was +floodlighted by the ship.</p> + +<p>"All right, Jordan, you can come down now," he called.</p> + +<p>Jordan appeared overhead, hanging from a beam. He swung along it until +he reached a column, down which he descended. He propelled himself +over the floor and up the ramp in his awkward fashion. Balancing on +his hands, he gazed up at Docchi.</p> + +<p>"Well, monster, how did you do it?"</p> + +<p>"Monster yourself," said Docchi. "Do what?"</p> + +<p>"I saw you crawl in the rocket tubes," said Jordan. "But what did you +do after you got inside?"</p> + +<p>"Cameron's a medic," said Docchi, "not mechanically inclined. He +forgot that an emergency rocket landing cancels any verbal orders. So +I took the ship up a few inches. Geepees aren't very bright; that +satisfied them that I was coming in for a landing. What Cameron should +have done was splash some heat against a gravital unit, and then, +having created an artificial emergency condition in the main dome, he +could have directed the geepees from the gravity control center. After +that, he would have had top priority, not me."</p> + +<p>"But they rushed off, carrying Cameron with them." Jordan looked +puzzled.</p> + +<p>"Easy. I told the geepees that there was danger of crashing and that +they must remove any human beings nearby, whether they were willing or +not. You weren't nearby and that let you out. They took Cameron +because he was."</p> + +<p>"It's ours!" breathed Jordan. "But what about Anti and Nona?"</p> + +<p>"Anti's taken care of. As far as the geepees are concerned, she comes +under the heading of emergency landing material. They'll bring her. +Nona is supposed to be waiting with Anti." Docchi frowned. "There's +nothing we can do if she isn't. Meanwhile you'd better get ready to +take the ship off."</p> + +<p>Jordan swung himself inside.</p> + +<p>Docchi remained at the passenger lock, waiting. He heard the geepees +first and saw them seconds later. They came into sight half pushing, +half carrying a huge rectangular tank. With unexpected robotic +ingenuity, they had mounted it on four of their smaller brethren, the +squat repair robots, which served to support the tremendous weight.</p> + +<p>The tank was filled with blue liquid. Twisted pipes dangled from the +ends; it had been torn and lifted from its foundation. Broken plants +still clung to the narrow ledge on top and moist soil adhered to the +sides. Five geepees pushed it rapidly toward the ship, mechanically +oblivious to the disheveled man who frustratedly shouted and struck at +them.</p> + +<p>"Jordan, open the freight lock."</p> + +<p>In response the ship rose a few more inches and hung quivering. A +section of the ship hinged outward and downward to form a ramp. The +ship was ready to take on cargo.</p> + +<p>Docchi stood at his post. That damn fool Cameron should have stayed in +the main dome where the geepees had released him. His presence added +an unwelcome complication. Still, it should be easy enough to get rid +of him when the time came.</p> + +<p>It was Nona who really worried him. She wasn't anywhere to be seen. He +took an uncertain step down the ramp, came back, shaking his head. It +was impossible to look for her now, though he wanted to.</p> + +<p>The tank neared the ship. A few feet of it projected onto the ramp. +The geepees stopped; their efforts lost momentum. They looked +bewildered.</p> + +<p>The tank rolled backward. The geepees shook, buzzed and looked around, +primarily at Docchi. He didn't wait any longer. He leaped into the +ship.</p> + +<p>"Close the passenger lock!" he shouted.</p> + +<p>Jordan looked up questioningly from the controls.</p> + +<p>"Vogel, the engineer," explained Docchi. "He must have seen the +geepees on scanning when they entered the main dome. He's trying to do +what Cameron should have done, but didn't have enough sense to do."</p> + +<p>The passenger lock swung ponderously shut behind him.</p> + +<p>"Now what?" Jordan asked, worried.</p> + +<p>"First, let's see what you can get on the telecom," said Docchi.</p> + +<p>The angle was impossible, so close to the ship, but they did manage to +get a corner of the tank on the screen. Apparently it was resting +where Docchi had last seen it, though it was difficult to be sure +because the curve of the ship loomed so large.</p> + +<p>"Maybe we'd better get out of here," suggested Jordan nervously.</p> + +<p>"Without the tank? Not a chance. Vogel hasn't got complete control of +them yet." That seemed to be true. The geepees were nearly motionless, +paralyzed.</p> + +<p>"What shall I do?" asked Jordan.</p> + +<p>"Give me full power on the radio," said Docchi. "Burn it out if you +have to. I think the engineer is at the wrong angle to broadcast much +power to them. Besides, the intervening structure is absorbing most of +his signal."</p> + +<p>He waited until Jordan had complied. "The tank must be placed in the +ship," he added.</p> + +<p>Geepees were not designed to sift contradictory commands that were +nearly at the same level of urgency. Their reasoning power was feeble, +but the mechanism was complicated enough. In that respect they +resembled humans. Borderline decisions were difficult.</p> + +<p>"More power," whispered Docchi.</p> + +<p>Sweating, Jordan obeyed.</p> + +<p>Marionettes. This string led toward a certain action. Another, +intrinsically more important, but suddenly far less powerful, pulled +for something else. Circuits burned within electronic brains. +Micro-relays fluttered under the stress.</p> + +<p>Choice....</p> + +<p>Stiffly the geepees moved and grasped the tank. The quality of +decision, in this case, was strained. Inch by inch the tank rolled up +the ramp.</p> + +<p>"When it's completely on, raise the ramp," Docchi whispered to Jordan +in an even lower voice.</p> + +<p>One geepee wavered and fell. Motionless, it lay there. The remaining +four were barely equal to the task.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Docchi.</p> + +<p>The freight ramp began to rise. The tank picked up speed as it rolled +into the ship.</p> + +<p>"Geepees, save yourselves!" shouted Docchi.</p> + +<p>They leaped from the ramp.</p> + +<p>Jordan breathed deeply. "I don't think they can hurt us now."</p> + +<p>Docchi nodded. "Get me ship-to-asteroid communication, if there's any +radio left."</p> + +<p>"There is." Jordan made the adjustment.</p> + +<p>"Vogel, we're going out. Give us the proper sequence and save the dome +some damage."</p> + +<p>There was no reply.</p> + +<p>"He's trying to bluff," said Jordan. "He knows the airlocks to the +main dome will automatically close if we do break through."</p> + +<p>"Sure," said Docchi. "Everyone in the main dome is safe, <i>if</i> +everyone is in there. Vogel, we'll give you time to think about +that."</p> + +<p>Jordan gave him the time until it hurt, waiting. Meanwhile he flipped +on the telecom and searched the rocket dome. Nothing was moving; no +geepee was in sight. Docchi watched the screen with interest. What he +thought didn't show on his face.</p> + +<p>Still there was no reply from Vogel.</p> + +<p>"All right," Docchi said in a low, hard voice. "Jordan, take it out. +Hit the shell with the bow of the rocket."</p> + +<p>The ship hardly quivered as it ripped through the transparent covering +of the rocket dome. The worst sound was unheard: the hiss of air +escaping through the great hole in the envelope.</p> + +<p>Jordan sat at the controls, gripping the levers. "I couldn't tell," he +said slowly. "It happened too fast for me to be sure. Maybe Vogel did +have the inner shell out of the way. In that event, it's all right +because it would close immediately. The outer shell is supposed to be +self-sealing, but I doubt if it could handle that much damage."</p> + +<p>He twisted the lever and the ship leaped forward.</p> + +<p>"Cameron I don't mind. He had enough time to get out if he wanted to. +But I keep thinking that Nona might be in there."</p> + +<p>Docchi avoided his eyes. There was no light at all in his face. He +walked away.</p> + +<p>Jordan rocked back and forth. The hemisphere that held what remained +of his body was well suited for that. He set the auto-controls and +reduced the gravity to one-quarter Earth normal. He bent his great +arms and shoved himself into the air, deftly catching hold of a guide +rail. He would have to go with Docchi. But not at the moment. He felt +bad.</p> + +<p>That is, he did until he saw a light blinking at a cabin door. He had +to investigate that first.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_j.jpg" alt="J" width="22" height="40" /></div> +<p>ordan caught up before Docchi reached the cargo hold. In the lesser +gravity of the ship Jordan was truly at home.</p> + +<p>Docchi turned and waited for him. Jordan still carried the weapon he +had taken from the pilot. It was clipped to the sacklike garment he +wore, dangling from his midsection, which, for him was just below his +shoulders. Down the corridor he flew, swinging from the guide rails +lightly, though gravity on the ship was as erratic as on the asteroid.</p> + +<p>Docchi braced himself. Locomotion was not so easy for him.</p> + +<p>Jordan halted beside him and dangled from one hand. "We have another +passenger."</p> + +<p>Docchi stiffened. "Who?"</p> + +<p>"I could describe her," said Jordan. "But why, when a name will do at +least as well?"</p> + +<p>"Nona!" said Docchi. He slumped in sudden relief against the wall. +"How did she get in the ship?"</p> + +<p>"A good question," said Jordan. "Remind me to ask her that sometime +when she's able to answer. But since I don't know, I'll have to use my +imagination. My guess is that, after she jammed the lights and +scanners in the rocket dome, she walked to the ship and tapped the +passenger lock three times in the right places, or something just as +improbable. The lock opened for her whether it was supposed to or +not."</p> + +<p>"As good a guess as any," agreed Docchi.</p> + +<p>"We may as well make our assumptions complete. Once inside, she felt +tired. She found a comfortable cabin and fell asleep in it. She +remained asleep throughout our skirmish with the geepees."</p> + +<p>"She deserves a rest," said Docchi.</p> + +<p>"She does. But if she had waited a few minutes to take it, she'd have +saved you the trouble of crawling through the tubes."</p> + +<p>"She did her part and more," Docchi argued. "We depend too much on +her. Next we'll expect her to escort us personally to the stars." He +straightened up. "Let's go. Anti is waiting for us."</p> + +<p>The cargo hold was sizable. It had to be to contain the tank, battered +and twisted though it was. Equipment had been jarred from storage +racks and lay in tangled heaps on the floor.</p> + +<p>"Anti!" called Docchi.</p> + +<p>"Here."</p> + +<p>"Are you hurt?"</p> + +<p>"Never felt a thing," came the cheerful reply.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_j.jpg" alt="J" width="22" height="40" /></div> +<p>ordan scaled the side of the tank. He reached the top and peered +over. "She seems all right," he called down. "Part of the acid's gone. +Otherwise no damage."</p> + +<p>Damage enough, however. Acid was a matter of life for Anti. It had +been splashed from the tank and, where it had spilled, metal was +corroding rapidly. The wall against which the tank had crashed was +bent and partly eaten through. That was no reason for alarm; the +scavenging system of the ship would handle acid. The real question was +what to do for Anti.</p> + +<p>"I've stewed in this soup for years," said Anti. "Get me out of here."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"If you weren't as stupid as doctors pretend to be, you'd know how. No +gravity, of course. I've got muscles, more than you think. I can walk +as long as my bones don't break from the weight."</p> + +<p>No gravity would be rough on Docchi; having no arms, he would be +virtually helpless. The prospect of floating free without being able +to grasp something was terrifying.</p> + +<p>"As soon as we can manage it," he said, forcing down his fear. "First +we've got to drain and store the acid."</p> + +<p>Jordan had anticipated that. He'd swung off the tank and was busy +expelling the water from an auxiliary compartment into space. As soon +as the compartment was empty, he led a hose from it to the tank.</p> + +<p>The pumps sucked and the acid level fell slowly.</p> + +<p>Docchi felt the ship lurch familiarly. "Hurry," he called out to +Jordan.</p> + +<p>The gravital unit was acting up. Presumably it was getting ready to +cut out. If it did—well, a free-floating globe of acid would be as +destructive to the ship and those in it as a high velocity meteor +cluster.</p> + +<p>Jordan jammed the lever as far as it would go and held it there. "All +out," said Jordan presently, and let the hose roll back into the wall. +Done in plenty of time. The gravital unit remained in operation for a +full minute.</p> + +<p>As soon as she was weightless, Anti rose out of the tank.</p> + +<p>In all the time Docchi had known her, he had seen no more than a face +framed in blue acid. Periodic surgery, where it was necessary, had +trimmed the flesh from her face. For the rest, she lived submerged in +a corrosive liquid that destroyed the wild tissue as fast as it grew. +Or nearly as fast.</p> + +<p>Docchi averted his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Well, junkman, look at a real monster," snapped Anti.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_h.jpg" alt="H" width="41" height="40" /></div> +<p>umans were not meant to grow that large. But it was not obscene to +Docchi, merely unbelievable. Jupiter is not repulsive because it is +the bulging giant of planets; it is overwhelming, and so was Anti.</p> + +<p>"How will you live out of the acid?" he stammered.</p> + +<p>"How really unobservant some men are," said Anti loftily. "I +anticipated our little journey and prepared for it. If you look +closely, you will notice I have on a special surgery robe. It's the +only thing in the Solar System that will fit me. It's fabricated from +a spongelike substance and holds enough acid to last me about +thirty-six hours."</p> + +<p>She grasped a rail and propelled herself toward the corridor. Normally +that was a spacious passageway. For her it was a close fit.</p> + +<p>Satellites, one glowing and the other swinging in an eccentric orbit, +followed after her.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_n.jpg" alt="N" width="39" height="40" /></div> +<p>ona was standing before the instrument panel when they came back. +There was an impressive array of dials, lights and levers in front of +her, but she wasn't interested in these. A single small dial, separate +from the rest, held her complete attention. She seemed disturbed by +what she saw or didn't see. Disturbed or excited, it was difficult to +say which.</p> + +<p>Anti stopped. "Look at her. If I didn't know she's a freak like the +rest of us, the only one, in fact, who was born that way, it would be +easy to hate her—she's so disgustingly normal."</p> + +<p>Normal? True and yet not true. Surgical techniques that could take a +body apart and put it back together again with a skill once reserved +for the repair of machines had made beauty commonplace. No more +sagging muscles, wrinkles; even the aged were attractive and +youthful-seeming until the day they died. No more ill-formed limbs, +misshapen bodies. Everyone was handsome or beautiful. No exceptions.</p> + +<p>None to speak of, at least.</p> + +<p>The accidentals didn't belong, of course. In another day most of them +would have been candidates for a waxworks or the formaldehyde of a +specimen bottle.</p> + +<p>Nona fitted neither category; she wasn't a repair job. Looking at her +closely—and why not?—she was an original work as far from the normal +in one direction as Anti, for example, was in the other.</p> + +<p>"Why is she staring at the little dial?" asked Anti as the others +slipped past her and came into the compartment. "Is there something +wrong with it?" She shrugged. "I would be interested in the big dials. +The ones with colored lights."</p> + +<p>"That's Nona." Docchi smiled. "I'm sure she's never been in the +control room of a rocket before, and yet she went straight to the most +curious thing in it. She's looking at the gravital indicator. Directly +behind it is the gravital unit."</p> + +<p>"How do you know? Does it say so?"</p> + +<p>"It doesn't. You have to be trained to recognize it, or else be Nona."</p> + +<p>Anti dismissed that intellectual feat. "What are you waiting for? You +know she can't hear us. Go stand in front of her."</p> + +<p>"How do I get there?" Docchi had risen a few inches from the floor, +now that Jordan had released him from his grip.</p> + +<p>"A good engineer would have enough sense to put on magneslippers. Nona +did." Anti grasped his jacket. How she was able to move was uncertain. +The tissues that surrounded the woman were too vast to permit the +perception of individual motions. Nevertheless, she proceeded to the +center of the compartment, and with her came Docchi.</p> + +<p>Nona turned before they reached her.</p> + +<p>"My poor boy," sighed Anti. "You do a very bad job of concealing your +emotions, if that's what you're trying to do. Anyway, stop glowing +like a rainbow and say something."</p> + +<p>"Hello," said Docchi.</p> + +<p>Nona smiled at him, though it was Anti that she came to.</p> + +<p>"No, not too close, child. Don't touch the surgery robe unless you +want your pretty face to peel off like a plastiwrapper."</p> + +<p>Nona stopped; she said nothing.</p> + +<p>Anti shook her head hopelessly. "I wish you would learn to read lips +or at least recognize written words. It's so difficult to communicate +with you."</p> + +<p>"She knows facial expressions and actions, I think," said Docchi. +"She's good at emotions. Words are a foreign concept to her."</p> + +<p>"What other concepts does anyone think with?" asked Anti dubiously.</p> + +<p>"Maybe mathematical relationships," answered Docchi. "Though she +doesn't. They've tested her for that." He frowned. "I don't know what +concepts she does think with. I wish I did."</p> + +<p>"Save some of that worry and apply it to our present situation," said +Anti. "The object of your concern doesn't seem to be interested in +it."</p> + +<p>That was true. Nona had wandered back and was staring at the gravital +indicator again. What she saw to hold her attention was a puzzle.</p> + +<p>In some ways she seemed irresponsible and childlike. That was an +elusive thought, though: whose child? Not really, of course. Her +parents were obscure technicians and mechanics, descendants of a long +line of mechanics and technicians. The question he had asked himself +was this: where and how does she belong? He couldn't answer.</p> + +<p>With an effort Docchi came back to reality. "We appealed to the +Medicouncil," he said. "We asked for a ship to go to the nearest star. +It would have to be a rocket, naturally. Even allowing for a better +design than any we now have, the journey would take a long time, forty +or fifty years going and the same length of time back. That's entirely +too long for a normal, but it wouldn't matter to a biocompensator."</p> + +<p>"Why a rocket?" interrupted Jordan. "Why not some form of gravity +drive?"</p> + +<p>"An attractive idea," admitted Docchi. "Theoretically, there's no +limit to gravity drive except light speed, and even that's not +certain. If it would work, the time element could be cut to a +fraction. But the last twenty years have proved that gravity drives +won't work at all outside the Solar System. They function very poorly +even when the ship is as far out as Jupiter's orbit."</p> + +<p>"I thought the gravity drive on a ship was nearly the same as the +gravital unit on the asteroid," said Jordan. "Why won't they +function?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know why," answered Docchi impatiently. "If I did, I wouldn't +be marooned on Handicap Haven. Arms or no arms, biocompensator or not, +I'd be the most important scientist on Earth."</p> + +<p>"With a multitude of pretty women competing for your affections," +added Anti.</p> + +<p>"I think he'd settle for one. A certain one," suggested Jordan.</p> + +<p>"Poor, unimaginative boy," said Anti. "In my youth...."</p> + +<p>"We've heard about your youth," said Jordan.</p> + +<p>"Youth and love are long since past, for both of you. Talk about them +privately if you want, but not now." Docchi glowered at them. +"Anyway," he resumed, "gravity drive is out. One time they had hopes +for it, but no longer. It should be able to drive this ship. Actually, +its sole function is to provide an artificial gravity <i>inside</i> the +ship, for passenger comfort. So rocket ship it is. That's what we +asked for. The Medicouncil refused. Therefore we're going to appeal to +a higher authority."</p> + +<p>"Fine," said Anti. "How?"</p> + +<p>"We've discussed it," answered Docchi. "Ultimately the Medicouncil is +responsible to the Solar Government. And in turn—"</p> + +<p>"All right, I'm in favor of it," said Anti. "I just wanted to know."</p> + +<p>"Mars is closer," continued Docchi. "But Earth is the seat of +government. As soon as we get there...." He stopped suddenly and +listened.</p> + +<p>Anti listened with him and waited until she could stand it no longer. +"What's the matter?" she asked. "I don't hear anything."</p> + +<p>Jordan leaned forward in his seat and looked at the instrument panel. +"That's the trouble, Anti. You're not supposed to hear anything. But +you should be able to <i>feel</i> the vibration from the rocket exhaust, as +long as it's on."</p> + +<p>"I don't feel anything, either."</p> + +<p>"Yeah," said Jordan. He looked at Docchi. "There's plenty of fuel."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_m.jpg" alt="M" width="43" height="40" /></div> +<p>omentum of the ship didn't cease when the rockets stopped, of course. +They were still moving, but not very fast and not in the direction +they wanted to go. Gingerly Docchi tried out the magneslippers; he +was clumsy, but no longer helpless in the gravityless ship. He stared +futilely at the instruments as if he could wring more secrets than the +panel had electronic access to.</p> + +<p>"It's mechanical trouble of some sort," he said uneasily. "There's one +way of finding out."</p> + +<p>Before he could move, Anti was in the corridor that led away from the +control compartment.</p> + +<p>"Stay here, Anti," he said. "I'll see what's wrong."</p> + +<p>She reached nearly from the floor to the ceiling. She missed by scant +inches the sides of the passageway. Locomotion was easy enough for +her; turning around wasn't. Anti didn't turn.</p> + +<p>"Look, honey," her voice floated back. "You brought me along for the +ride. That's fine, but I'm not satisfied with it. I want to earn my +fare. You stay and run the ship because you know how and I don't. I'll +find out what's wrong."</p> + +<p>"But you won't know what to do, Anti." There was no answer. "All +right," he said in defeat. "Both of us ought to go. Jordan, you stay +at the controls."</p> + +<p>Anti led the way because Docchi couldn't get around her. Determinedly +he shuffled along. There was a trick to magneslippers that he had +nearly forgotten. Slowly it was coming back to him—shuffle instead of +striding.</p> + +<p>It was a dingy, poorly lighted passageway in an older ship. Handicap +Haven definitely didn't rate the best equipment that was produced. On +one side was the hull of the ship; on the other, a few small cabins. +None were occupied. Anti stopped. The passageway ended in a cross +corridor that led to the other side of the ship.</p> + +<p>"We'd better check the stern rocket tubes," he said, still unable to +see around her. "Open it up and we'll take a look."</p> + +<p>"I can't," said Anti. "There are handles, but the thing won't open. +There's a red light, too. Does that mean anything?"</p> + +<p>His heart sank. "It does. Don't try to open it. With your strength, +you might be unlucky enough to do it."</p> + +<p>"That's a man for you," said Anti sharply. "First he wants me to open +it, and then he tells me not to."</p> + +<p>"There's a vacuum in there. The combustion cap has been retracted. +That's the only thing that will actuate the warning signal. You'd die +in a few seconds if you somehow managed to open the lock to the rocket +compartment."</p> + +<p>"What are we waiting for? Let's get busy and fix it."</p> + +<p>"Sure, fix it. You see, Anti, that didn't happen by itself. Someone, +or something, was responsible."</p> + +<p>"Who?"</p> + +<p>"Did you see anyone when we were loading your tank in the ship?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing. I heard Cameron shouting, a lot of noise. All I could see +was what was directly overhead. What does that have to do with it?"</p> + +<p>"I think it has to do with a geepee. I thought they all dropped +outside. Maybe there was one that didn't."</p> + +<p>"Why a geepee?" she asked blankly.</p> + +<p>"In the first place, no man is strong enough to move the combustion +cap. But if he should somehow manage to exert super-human effort, as +soon as the cap cleared the tubes, rocket action would cease. The air +in the compartment would exhaust into space and anyone in there would +die."</p> + +<p>"So we have a dead geepee in there."</p> + +<p>"A geepee doesn't die. Not even become inactive; it doesn't need air." +Docchi tried to think the thing through. "Not only that, a geepee +might be able to escape from the compartment. The lock would close as +soon as the pressure dropped. But a geepee...."</p> + +<p>Anti settled down grimly. "Then there's a geepee on the loose, intent +on sabotage?"</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid so," he admitted worriedly.</p> + +<p>"What are we standing here for? We'll go back to controls and pick up +the robot on radio. What it damaged, it can repair." She was partly +turned around now and saw Docchi's face. "Don't tell me," she said. "I +suppose I should have thought of it. The signal doesn't work inside +the ship."</p> + +<p>Docchi nodded. "It doesn't. Robots are never used aboard, so the +control is set in the bow antenna and the ship, of course, is +insulated."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Anti happily, "we've got a robot hunt ahead of us."</p> + +<p>"We do. And our bare hands to hunt it with."</p> + +<p>"Oh, come now! It's not as bad as all that. Look, the geepee was back +here when the rockets stopped. Could it get by the control compartment +without our seeing it?"</p> + +<p>"It couldn't. There are two corridors leading through the compartment, +one on each side of the ship."</p> + +<p>"That's what I thought. We came down one corridor and no geepee was in +it. It has to be in the other. If it goes into a cabin, a light will +shine on the outside. It can't really hide from us."</p> + +<p>"Sure, we'll find out where it is. But what are we going to do with it +when we find it?"</p> + +<p>"I was thinking," said Anti. "Can you get around me when I'm standing +like this?"</p> + +<p>"I can't."</p> + +<p>"Neither can a geepee. All I need is a toaster, or something that +looks like one, and I can drive the robot into the control compartment +for Jordan to pick off." Determinedly, she began to move toward the +opposite corridor. "Hurry back to Jordan and tell him what we're +doing. There ought to be another toaster on the ship. Probably there's +one somewhere in the control compartment. Bring it back to me."</p> + +<p>Docchi bit his lip and stared at the back of the huge woman. "All +right," he answered. "But stay where you are. Don't try anything until +I get back."</p> + +<p>Anti laughed. "I value my big, fat life," she said. There were other +things she valued, but she didn't mention them.</p> + +<p>Docchi went as fast as the magneslippers would allow, which wasn't +very fast. The strategy was simple, but it didn't follow that it was +sound—a toaster for Jordan and one for Anti, if another could be +found.</p> + +<p>Anti would block the corridor. A geepee might go through her, but it +could never squeeze past her. The robot would have to run for it. If +it came toward Anti, she might be able to burn it down. But she would +be firing directly into the control room. If she missed even +partially—</p> + +<p>The instruments were delicate.</p> + +<p>It wasn't better if Jordan got the chance to bring down the robot. +Anti would be in the line of fire. No, that wasn't good, either. +They'd have to think of something else.</p> + +<p>"Jordan," called Docchi as he entered the control compartment. Jordan +wasn't there. Nona was, still gazing serenely at the gravity +indicator.</p> + +<p>Lights were streaming from the corridor on the opposite side of the +compartment. Docchi hurried over. Jordan was just inside the entrance, +the toaster clutched grimly in his hand. He was hitching his truncated +body slowly toward the stern.</p> + +<p>Coming to meet him was Anti—unarmed, enormously fat Anti. She wasn't +walking; somehow it seemed more like swimming, a bulbous, flabby sea +animal moving through the air. She waved her fins against the wall and +propelled herself forward.</p> + +<p>"Melt him down!" she cried.</p> + +<p>It was difficult to make out the vaguely human form of the geepee. The +powerful, shining body blended into the structure of the ship +itself—unintentional camouflage, though the robot wasn't aware of +that. It was crouched at the threshold of a cabin, hesitating between +the approaching dangers.</p> + +<p>Jordan raised the weapon and as instantly lowered it. "Get out of the +way," he told Anti.</p> + +<p>There was no place for her to go. She was too big to enter a cabin, +too massive to let the geepee squeeze by her even if she wanted it to.</p> + +<p>"Never mind that. Get him," she answered.</p> + +<p>A geepee was not a genius even by robot standards. It didn't need to +be. Heat is deadly; a human body is a fragile thing. This it knew. It +ran toward Anti. Unlike man, it didn't need magneslippers. It had +magnetic metal feet which could move fast, and did.</p> + +<p>Docchi couldn't close his eyes, though he wanted to. He had to watch. +The geepee torpedoed into Anti. And it was the robot that was thrown +back. Relative mass favored the monstrous woman.</p> + +<p>The electronic brain obeyed its original instructions, whatever those +were. It got to its feet and rushed toward Anti. Metal arms shot out +with dazzling speed and crashed against the flesh of the fat woman. +Docchi could hear the thud. No ordinary person could take that kind of +punishment and live.</p> + +<p>Anti wasn't ordinary; she was strange, even for an accidental, living +far inside a deep armor of flesh. It was possible that she never felt +the crushing force of those blows. Amazingly, she grasped the robot +and drew it to her. And the geepee lost the advantage of leverage. The +bright arms didn't flash so fast nor with such lethal power.</p> + +<p>"Gravity!" cried Anti. "All you've got!"</p> + +<p>She leaned against the struggling machine.</p> + +<p>Gravity. That was something he could do. Docchi turned, took two steps +before the surge of gravity hit him. It came in waves, the sequence of +which he was never able to disentangle. The first wave staggered him; +at the second his knees buckled and he sank to the floor. After that +his eardrums hurt. He thought he could feel the ship quiver. He knew +dazedly that an artificial gravity field of this magnitude was +impossible, but that knowledge didn't help him move.</p> + +<p>It vanished as suddenly as it had come. Painfully his lungs expanded. +Each muscle ached. He rolled to his feet and lurched past Jordan.</p> + +<p>He didn't find the mass of broken flesh he expected. Anti was already +standing.</p> + +<p>"Oof!" she grunted and gazed with satisfaction at the twisted +grotesque shape at her feet. The electronic brain had been smashed, +the body flattened.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/image_005.jpg" width="400" height="551" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"Are you hurt?" asked Docchi gently, awed.</p> + +<p>She waggled the extremities of her body. "Nope, I can't feel anything +broken," she said solemnly. She moved back to get a better view of the +robot. "I'd call that throwing my weight around. At the right time, of +course. The secret's timing. And I must say you picked up your cue +with the gravity well." Her laughter rolled through the ship.</p> + +<p>"It wasn't I," said Docchi.</p> + +<p>"Jordan? No, he's just getting up. Then who?"</p> + +<p>"Nona," said Docchi. "It had to be her. She saw what had to be done +and did it. But how she got that amount of gravity—"</p> + +<p>"Ask her," said Anti with fond irony.</p> + +<p>Docchi grimaced and limped back into the control room, followed by +Anti and Jordan. Nona was at the gravity panel, her face pleasant and +childlike.</p> + +<p>"Gravity can be turned on or off," said Docchi puzzledly, searching +her face for some sign. "And regulated, within certain narrow limits. +But somehow you doubled or tripled the normal amount. How?"</p> + +<p>Nona smiled questioningly.</p> + +<p>"Gravity engineers would like to know that too," said Jordan.</p> + +<p>"Everybody would like to know," Anti interrupted irritably. "Except +me. I'm too pragmatic, I suppose, but I want to know when we start the +rockets and be on our way."</p> + +<p>"It isn't that easy," sighed Jordan. "A retracted combustion cap in +flight generally means at least one burned-out tube." He made his way +to the instrument panel and looked at it glumly. "Three."</p> + +<p>"A factor." Docchi nodded. "But I was thinking about the robot."</p> + +<p>Anti was impatient. "An interesting subject, no doubt. What about it?"</p> + +<p>"Where did it get instructions? Not radio; the hull of the ship cuts +off all radiation. The last we knew, it was in our control."</p> + +<p>"All right, how?"</p> + +<p>"Voice," said Docchi. "Cameron's voice, to be exact."</p> + +<p>"But he was in the rocket dome," Jordan objected.</p> + +<p>"Think back to when we were loading the tank. We had to look through +the telecom and the angle of vision was bad. We couldn't see much of +the cargo lock. Anti couldn't see anything that wasn't directly +overhead. Both Cameron and the geepee managed to get inside and we +didn't know it."</p> + +<p>Jordan hefted his weapon. "Looks like we've got another hunt on our +hands. This time a nice normal doctor."</p> + +<p>"Keep it handy," said Docchi, glancing at the toaster. "But be careful +how you use it. One homicide and we can forget what we came for. I +think he'll be ready to surrender. The ship's temporarily disabled; +he'll consider that damage enough."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_j.jpg" alt="J" width="22" height="40" /></div> +<p>ordan found the doctor in the forward section of the ship. Cameron +knew better than to argue with a toaster. In a matter of minutes he +was in the control room.</p> + +<p>"Now that you've got me, what are you going to do with me?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Docchi swiveled away from the instrument panel. "I don't expect active +cooperation, of course, but I like to think you'll give your word not +to hinder us hereafter."</p> + +<p>Cameron glared. "I promise nothing of the kind."</p> + +<p>"We can chain him to Anti," suggested Jordan. "That will keep him out +of trouble."</p> + +<p>"Like leading a poodle on a leash? Nope," said Anti indignantly. "A +girl has to have some privacy."</p> + +<p>"Don't wince, Cameron," objected Docchi. "She really was a girl once, +an attractive one."</p> + +<p>"We can put him in a spacesuit and lock his hands behind his back," +said Jordan. "Something like an ancient straitjacket."</p> + +<p>Cameron laughed.</p> + +<p>"No, that's inhuman," said Docchi.</p> + +<p>Jordan juggled the toaster. "I can weld with this. Let's put him in a +cabin and weld the door closed. We can cut a slot to shove food in. A +very narrow slot."</p> + +<p>"Excellent. I think you have the solution. That is, unless Dr. Cameron +will reconsider his decision."</p> + +<p>Cameron shrugged. "They'll pick you up in a day or less anyway. I +suppose I'm not compromising myself by agreeing to your terms."</p> + +<p>"Good."</p> + +<p>"A doctor's word is as good as his oath," observed Anti. "Hippocratic +or hypocritic."</p> + +<p>"Now, Anti, don't be cynical. Doctors have an economic sense as well +as the next person," said Docchi gravely. He turned to Cameron. "You +see, after Anti grew too massive for her skeletal structure, doctors +reasoned she'd be most comfortable in the absence of gravity. That was +in the early days, before successful ship gravital units were +developed. They put her on an interplanetary ship and kept +transferring her before each landing.</p> + +<p>"But that grew troublesome and—expensive. They devised a new +treatment; the asteroid and the tank of acid. Not being aquatic by +nature, Anti resented the change. She still does."</p> + +<p>"I knew nothing about that," Cameron pointed out defensively.</p> + +<p>"It was before your time." Docchi frowned at the doctor. "Tell me, why +did you laugh when Jordan mentioned a spacesuit?"</p> + +<p>Cameron grinned. "That was my project while you were busy with the +robot."</p> + +<p>"To do what? Jordan—"</p> + +<p>But Jordan was already on his way. He was gone for some time.</p> + +<p>"Well?" asked Docchi on his return. It really wasn't necessary; +Jordan's gloomy face told the story.</p> + +<p>"Cut to ribbons."</p> + +<p>"All of them?"</p> + +<p>"Every one. Beyond repair."</p> + +<p>"What's the excitement about?" rumbled Anti. "We don't need spacesuits +unless something happens to the ship and we have to go outside."</p> + +<p>"Exactly, Anti. How do you suppose we go about replacing the defective +tubes? From the outside, of course. By destroying the spacesuits, +Cameron made sure we can't."</p> + +<p>Anti opened her mouth with surprise and closed it in anger. She +glowered at the doctor.</p> + +<p>"We're still in the asteroid zone," said Cameron. "In itself, that's +not dangerous. Without power to avoid stray rocks, it is. I advise you +to contact the Medicouncil. They'll send a ship to pick us up and tow +us in."</p> + +<p>"No, thanks. I don't like Handicap Haven as well as you do," Anti said +brusquely. She turned to Docchi. "Maybe I'm stupid for asking, but +exactly what is it that's deadly about being out in space without a +spacesuit?"</p> + +<p>"Cold. Lack of air pressure. Lack of oxygen."</p> + +<p>"Is that all? Nothing else?"</p> + +<p>His laugh was too loud. "Isn't that enough?"</p> + +<p>"I wanted to be sure," she said.</p> + +<p>She beckoned to Nona, who was standing near. Together they went +forward, where the spacesuits were kept.</p> + +<p>Cameron scowled puzzledly and started to follow. Jordan waved the +toaster around.</p> + +<p>"All right," said the doctor, stopping. He rubbed his chin. "What is +she thinking about?"</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't know," said Docchi. "She's not scientifically trained, if +that's what you mean. But she has a good mind, as good as her body +once was."</p> + +<p>"And how good was that?"</p> + +<p>"We don't talk about it," said Jordan shortly.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_i.jpg" alt="I" width="19" height="40" /></div> +<p>t was a long time before the women came back—if the weird creature +that floated into the control compartment with Nona <i>was</i> Anti.</p> + +<p>Cameron stared at her and saw shudderingly that it was. "You need a +session with the psycho-computer," he said. "When we get back, that's +the first thing we do. Can't you understand...."</p> + +<p>"Be quiet," growled Jordan. "Now, Anti, explain what you've rigged +up."</p> + +<p>"Any kind of pressure is good enough as far as the outside of the body +is concerned," answered Anti, flipping back the helmet. "Mechanical +pressure will do as well as air pressure. I had Nona cut the +spacesuits into strips and wind them around me—hard. Then I found a +helmet that would fit over my head when the damaged part was cut away. +It won't hold much air pressure, even taped very tight to my skin. But +as long as it's pure oxygen—"</p> + +<p>"It might be satisfactory," admitted Docchi. "But the temperature?"</p> + +<p>"Do you think I'm going to worry about cold?" asked Anti. "Me? Way +down below all this flesh?"</p> + +<p>"Listen to me," said Cameron through his teeth. "You've already +seriously threatened my career with all this childish nonsense. I +won't permit you to ruin it altogether by a deliberate suicide."</p> + +<p>"You and your stinking career," retorted Jordan tiredly. "We're not +asking your permission to do anything." He turned away from the +doctor. "You understand the risk, Anti? It's possible that it won't +work at all."</p> + +<p>"I've thought about it," Anti replied soberly. "On the other hand, +I've thought about the asteroid."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Jordan. Docchi nodded. Nona bobbed her head; it was +doubtful that she knew what she was agreeing to.</p> + +<p>"Let's have some telecom viewers outside," said Docchi. "One directly +in back, one on each side. We've got to know what's happening."</p> + +<p>Jordan went to the control panel and flipped levers. "They're out and +working," he said, gazing at the screen. "Now, Anti, go to the freight +lock. Close your helmet and wait. I'll let the air out slowly. The +pressure change will be gradual. If anything seems wrong, let me know +over the helmet radio and I'll yank you in immediately. Once you're +outside I'll give you further instructions. Tools and equipment are in +a compartment that opens into space."</p> + +<p>Anti waddled away.</p> + +<p>Jordan looked down at his legless body. "I suppose we have to be +realistic about it—"</p> + +<p>"We do," answered Docchi. "Anti is the only one of us who has a chance +of doing the job and surviving."</p> + +<p>Jordan adjusted a dial. "It was Cameron who was responsible for it. +If Anti doesn't come back, you can be damn sure he'll join her."</p> + +<p>"No threats, please," said Docchi. "When are you going to let her +out?"</p> + +<p>"She's out," said Jordan. Deliberately, he had diverted their +attention while he had taken the burden of emotional strain.</p> + +<p>Docchi glanced hastily at the telecom. Anti was hanging free in space, +wrapped and strapped in strips torn from the useless spacesuits—that, +and more flesh than any human had ever borne. The helmet sat jauntily +on her head; the oxygen cylinder was strapped to her back. She was +still intact.</p> + +<p>"How is she?" he asked anxiously, unaware that the microphone was +open.</p> + +<p>"Fine," came Anti's reply, faint and ready. "The air's thin, but it's +pure oxygen."</p> + +<p>"Cold?" asked Docchi.</p> + +<p>"It hasn't penetrated yet. No worse than the acid, at any rate. What +do I do?"</p> + +<p>Jordan gave her directions. The others watched. It was work to find +the tools and examine the tubes for defectives, to loosen the tubes in +the sockets and pull them out and push them spinning into space. It +was still harder to replace them, though there was no gravity and Anti +was held to the hull by magneslippers.</p> + +<p>But it seemed more than work. To Cameron, who was watching, an odd +thought occurred: In her remote past, of which he knew nothing, Anti +had done something like this before. Ridiculous, of course. Yet there +was a rhythm to her motions, this shapeless giant creature whose bones +would break with her weight if she tried to stand at even only half +Earth gravity. Rhythm, a sense of purpose, a strange pattern, an +incredible gargantuan grace.</p> + +<p>The whale plowing the waves is graceful; it cannot be otherwise in its +natural habitat. The human race had produced, accidentally, one +unlikely person to whom interplanetary space was not an alien thing. +Anti was at last in her element.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Jordan, keeping the tension out of his voice, "go back to +the outside tool compartment. You'll find a lever. Pull. That will set +the combustion cap in place."</p> + +<p>"Done," said Anti, some minutes later.</p> + +<p>"That's all. You can come in now."</p> + +<p>"That's all? But I'm not cold. It hasn't reached any nerves yet."</p> + +<p>"Come in," repeated Jordan, showing the anger of alarm.</p> + +<p>She walked slowly over the hull to the cargo lock and, while she did, +Jordan reeled in the telecom viewers. The lock was no sooner closed +to the outside and the air hissing into the compartment than Jordan +was there, opening the inner lock.</p> + +<p>"Are you all right?" he asked.</p> + +<p>She flipped back the helmet. There was frost on her eyebrows and her +nose was a bright red. "Of course. My hands aren't a bit cold." She +stripped off the heated gloves and waggled her fingers.</p> + +<p>"It <i>can't</i> be!" protested Cameron. "You should be frozen stiff!"</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked Anti, laughing. "It's a matter of insulation and I have +plenty of that."</p> + +<p>Cameron turned to Docchi. "When I was a kid, I saw a film of a dancer. +She did a ballet, Life of the Cold Planets, I believe it was called. +For some cockeyed reason, I thought of it when Anti was out there. I +hadn't thought of it in years."</p> + +<p>He rubbed his hand fretfully over his forehead. "It fascinated me when +I first saw it. I couldn't get it out of my mind. When I grew older, I +found out a tragic thing happened to the dancer. She was on a tour of +Venus and the ship she was in disappeared. They sent out searching +parties, of course. They found her after she had spent a week on a +fungus plain. You know what that meant. The great ballerina was a +living spore culture medium."</p> + +<p>"Shut up," growled Jordan.</p> + +<p>Cameron didn't seem to hear. "Naturally, she died. I can't remember +her name, but I've always remembered the ballet she did. And that's +funny, because it reminded me of Anti out there—"</p> + +<p>A fist exploded in his face. If there had been more behind the blow +than shoulders and a fragment of a body, his jaw would have been +broken. As it was he floated through the air and crashed against the +wall.</p> + +<p>Angrily, he got to his feet. "I gave my word I wouldn't cause any +trouble. The agreement evidently doesn't work both ways." He glanced +significantly at the weapon Jordan carried. "Maybe you'd better be +sure to have that around at all times."</p> + +<p>"I told you to shut up," said Jordan. After that he ignored the +doctor. He didn't have a body with which to do it, but somehow Jordan +managed a bow. "A flawless performance. One of your very best, +Antoinette."</p> + +<p>"Do you think so?" sighed Anti. The frost had melted from her eyebrows +and was trickling down her cheek. She left with Jordan.</p> + +<p>Cameron remained behind. He felt his jaw. It was too bad about his +ambitions. He knew now that he was never going to be the spectacular +success he had once imagined. Not after these accidentals had escaped +from Handicap Haven. Still, he would always be able to practice +medicine somewhere in the Solar System. He'd done his best on the +asteroid and this ship, and he'd been a complete ass both times.</p> + +<p>The ballerina hadn't really died, as he had been told. It would have +been better for her if she had. He succeeded in recalling her name. It +had been Antoinette.</p> + +<p>Now it was Anti. He could have found that out by checking her case +history—<i>if</i> Handicap Haven had one on file. Probably not, he +comforted himself. Why keep case histories of hopeless cases?</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft1"><img src="images/image_w1.jpg" alt="W" width="77" height="40" /></div> +<p>e'll stick to the regular lanes," said Docchi. "I think we'll get +closer. They have no reason to suspect that we're heading toward +Earth. Mars is more logical, or one of the moons of Jupiter, or +another asteroid."</p> + +<p>Jordan shifted uneasily. "I'm not in favor of it. They'll pick us up +before we have a chance to say anything."</p> + +<p>"But there's nothing to distinguish us from an ordinary Earth-to-Mars +rocket. We have a ship's registry on board. Pick out a ship that's in +our class. Hereafter, we're going to be that ship. If Traffic blips +us, and they probably won't unless we try to land, have a recording +ready. Something like this: 'ME 21 zip crackle 9 reporting. Our +communication is acting up. We can't hear you, Traffic.' Don't overdo +the static effects but repeat that with suitable variations and I +don't think they will bother us."</p> + +<p>Shaking his head dubiously, Jordan swung away toward the repair shops.</p> + +<p>"You look worried," said Anti.</p> + +<p>Docchi turned around. "Yeah."</p> + +<p>"Won't it work?"</p> + +<p>"Sure. We'll get close to Earth. They're not looking for us around +here. They don't really know why we escaped in the rocket. That's why +they can't figure out where we're going."</p> + +<p>His face was taut and his eyes were tired. "It's not that. The entire +Solar Police Force has been alerted for us."</p> + +<p>"Which means?"</p> + +<p>"Look. We planned to bypass the Medicouncil and take our case directly +to the Solar Government. If they want us as much as the radio +indicates, it's not likely they'll be very sympathetic. If the Solar +Government doesn't support us all the way, we'll never get another +chance."</p> + +<p>"Well?" said Anti. She seemed trimmer, more vigorous. "What are we +waiting for? Let's take the last step first."</p> + +<p>He raised his head. "The Solar Government won't like it."</p> + +<p>"They won't, but there's nothing they can do about it."</p> + +<p>"I think there is—simply shoot us down. When we stole the ship, we +automatically stepped into the criminal class."</p> + +<p>"We knew that in advance."</p> + +<p>"Is it worth it?"</p> + +<p>"I think so," said Anti.</p> + +<p>"In that event," he said, "I'll need time to get ready."</p> + +<p>She scrutinized him carefully. "Maybe we can fix you up."</p> + +<p>"With fake arms and grease-paint? No. They'll have to accept us as we +are."</p> + +<p>"A good idea. I hadn't thought of the sympathy angle."</p> + +<p>"Not sympathy. Reality. I don't want them to approve of us as handsome +accidentals and have them change their minds when they discover what +we're really like."</p> + +<p>Anti looked doubtful, but she kept her objections to herself as she +waddled away.</p> + +<p>Sitting in silence, he watched her go. She, at least, would derive +some benefit. Dr. Cameron apparently hadn't noticed that exposure to +extreme cold had done more to inhibit her unceasing growth than the +acid bath. She'd never be normal again; that was obvious. But some +day, if the cold treatment were properly investigated, she might be +able to stand gravity.</p> + +<p>He examined the telecom. They were getting closer. No longer a bright +point of light, Earth was a perceptible disc. He could see the outline +of oceans, shapes of land; he could imagine people.</p> + +<p>Jordan came in. "The record is rigged up, though we haven't had to use +it. But we have a friend behind us. An official friend."</p> + +<p>"Has he blipped us?"</p> + +<p>"Not yet. He keeps hanging on."</p> + +<p>"Is he overtaking us?"</p> + +<p>"He would like to."</p> + +<p>"Don't let him."</p> + +<p>"With this bag of bolts?"</p> + +<p>"Shake it apart if you have to," Docchi impatiently said. "How soon +can you break into a broadcasting orbit?"</p> + +<p>"I thought that was our last resort."</p> + +<p>"Right. As far as Anti and I are concerned, this is it. Any argument +against?"</p> + +<p>"None that I can think of," answered Jordan. "With a heavy cruiser +behind us, no argument at all."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="36" height="40" /></div> +<p>hey were all in the control compartment. "I don't want a focus +exclusively on me," Docchi was saying. "To a world of perfect normals +I may look strange, but we have to avoid the family portrait effect."</p> + +<p>"Samples," suggested Anti.</p> + +<p>"In a sense, yes. A lot depends on whether they accept those +samples."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 800px;"> +<img src="images/image_006.jpg" width="800" height="313" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>For the first time Dr. Cameron began to realize what they were up to. +"Wait!" he exclaimed. "You've got to listen to me!"</p> + +<p>"We're not going to wait and we've already done enough listening to +you," said Docchi. "Jordan, see that Cameron stays out of the telecom +transmitting angle and doesn't interrupt. We've come too far for +that."</p> + +<p>"Sure," Jordan promised harshly. "If he makes a sound, I'll melt the +teeth out of his mouth." He held the toaster against his side, out of +line with the telecom, but aimed at Cameron's face.</p> + +<p>Cameron began to shake with urgency, but he kept still.</p> + +<p>"Ready?" Docchi asked.</p> + +<p>"Flip the switch and we will be, with everything we've got. If they +don't read us, it'll be because they don't want to."</p> + +<p>The rocket slipped out of the approach lanes. It spun down, the stern +tubes pulsing brightly, coming toward Earth in a tight trajectory.</p> + +<p>"Citizens of the Solar System!" began Docchi. "Everyone on Earth! This +is an unscheduled broadcast, an unauthorized appeal. We are using the +emergency bands because, for us, it is an emergency. Who are we? +Accidentals, of course, as you can see by looking at us. I know the +sight isn't pretty, but we consider other things more important than +appearance. Accomplishment, for example. Contributing to progress in +ways normals cannot do.</p> + +<p>"Shut away on Handicap Haven, we're denied this right. All we can do +there is exist in frustration and boredom; kept alive whether we want +to be or not. Yet we have a gigantic contribution to make ... if we +are allowed to leave the Solar System for Alpha Centauri! You can't +travel to the stars now, although eventually you will.</p> + +<p>"You must be puzzled, knowing how slow our present rockets are. No +normal person could make the round trip; he would die of old age. But +we accidentals can go! We would positively <i>not</i> die of old age! The +Medicouncil knows that is true ... and still will not allow us to go!"</p> + +<p>At the side of the control compartment, Cameron opened his mouth to +protest. Jordan, glancing at him, imperceptibly waggled the concealed +weapon. Cameron swallowed his words and subsided without a sound.</p> + +<p>"Biocompensation," continued Docchi evenly. "You may know about it, +but in case information on it has been suppressed, let me explain: The +principle of biocompensation has long been a matter of conjecture. +This is the first age in which medical technology is advanced enough +to explore it. Every cell, every organism, tends to survive, as an +individual, as a species. Injure it and it strives for survival +according to the seriousness of the injury. We accidentals have been +maimed and mutilated almost past belief.</p> + +<p>"Our organisms had the assistance of medical science. <i>Real</i> medical +science. Blood was supplied as long as we needed it, machines did all +our breathing, kidneys were replaced, hearts furnished, glandular +products supplied in the exact quantities necessary, nervous and +muscular systems were regenerated. In the extremity of our organic +struggle, because we had the proper treatment, our bodies were wiped +virtually free of death."</p> + +<p>Sweat ran down his face. He longed for hands to wipe it away.</p> + +<p>"Most accidentals are nearly immortal. Not quite—we'll die four or +five hundred years from now. Meanwhile, there is no reason why we +can't leave the Solar System. Rockets are slow; you would die before +you got back from Alpha Centauri. We won't. Time doesn't matter to us.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps better, faster rockets will be devised after we leave. You +may get to there long before we do. We won't mind. We will simply have +made our contribution to progress as best we could, and that will +satisfy us."</p> + +<p>With an effort Docchi smiled. The instant he did, he felt it was a +mistake, one that he couldn't rectify. Even to himself it felt more +like a snarl.</p> + +<p>"You know where we're kept That's a politer word than imprisoned. We +don't call it Handicap Haven; our name for it is the <i>junkpile</i>. And +to ourselves we're junkmen. Does this give you a clue to how we feel?</p> + +<p>"I don't know what you'll have to do to force the Medicouncil to grant +their permission. We appeal to you as our last resort. We have tried +all other ways and failed. Our future as human beings is at stake. +Whether we get what we want and need is something for you to settle +with your conscience."</p> + +<p>He nudged the switch and sat down.</p> + +<p>His face was gray.</p> + +<p>"I don't like to bother you," said Jordan, "but what shall we do about +them?"</p> + +<p>Docchi glanced at the telecom. "They" were uncomfortably close and +considerably more numerous than the last time he had looked.</p> + +<p>"Take evasive action," he said wearily. "Swing close to Earth and use +the planet's gravity to give us a good push. We've got to keep out of +their hands until people have time to react."</p> + +<p>"I think you ought to know—" began Cameron. There was an odd tone to +his voice.</p> + +<p>"Save it for later," said Docchi. "I'm going to sleep." His body +sagged. "Jordan, wake me up if anything important happens. And +remember that you don't have to listen to this fellow unless you want +to."</p> + +<p>Jordan nodded and touched the controls. Nona, leaning against the +gravital panel, paid no attention to the scene. She seemed to be +listening to something nobody else could hear. That was nothing new, +but it broke Docchi's heart whenever he saw it. His breath drew in +almost with a sob as he left the control room.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="36" height="40" /></div> +<p>he race went on. Backdrop: planets, stars, darkness. The little +flecks of light that edged nearer didn't seem cheerful to Jordan. His +lips were fixed in a straight, hard line. He could hear Docchi come in +behind him.</p> + +<p>"Nice speech," said Cameron.</p> + +<p>"Yeah." Docchi glanced at the telecom. The view didn't inspire further +comment.</p> + +<p>"That's the trouble, it was just a speech. It didn't do you any good. +My advice is to give up before you get hurt."</p> + +<p>"It would be."</p> + +<p>Cameron stood at the threshold. "I may as well tell you," he said +reluctantly. "I tried to before the broadcast, as soon as I found out +what you were going to do. But you wouldn't listen."</p> + +<p>He came into the control compartment. Nona was huddled in a seat, +motionless, expressionless. Anti was absent.</p> + +<p>"You know why the Medicouncil refused to let you go?"</p> + +<p>"Sure," said Docchi.</p> + +<p>"The general metabolism of accidentals is further from normal than +that of creatures we dredge from the bottom of the sea. Add to that an +enormously elongated life span and you ought to see the Medicouncil's +objection."</p> + +<p>"Get to the point!"</p> + +<p>"Look at it this way," Cameron continued almost desperately. "The +Centauri group contains quite a few planets. From what we know of +cosmology, intelligent life probably exists there to a greater or +lesser extent. You will be our representatives to them. What <i>they</i> +look like isn't important; it's their concern. But our ambassadors +have to meet certain minimum standards. They at least—damn it, don't +you see that they at least have to <i>look</i> like human beings?"</p> + +<p>"I know you feel that way," said Jordan, rigid with contempt.</p> + +<p>"I'm not talking for myself," Cameron said. "I'm a doctor. The +medicouncilors are doctors. We graft on or regenerate legs and arms +and eyes. We work with blood and bones and intestines. We know what a +thin borderline separates normal people from—from you.</p> + +<p>"Don't you understand? They're perfect, perhaps too much so. They +can't tolerate even small blemishes. They rush to us with things like +hangnails, pimples, simple dandruff. Health—or rather the appearance +of it—has become a fetish. They may think they're sympathetic to you, +but what they actually feel is something else."</p> + +<p>"What are you driving at?" whispered Docchi.</p> + +<p>"Just this: if it were up to the Medicouncil, you would be on your way +to the Centauri group. But it isn't. The decision always had to be +referred back to the Solar System as a whole. And the Medicouncil +can't go counter to the mass of public opinion."</p> + +<p>Docchi turned away in loathing.</p> + +<p>"Don't believe me," said Cameron. "You're not too far from Earth. Pick +up the reaction to your broadcast."</p> + +<p>Worriedly, Jordan looked at Docchi.</p> + +<p>"We may as well find out," said Docchi. "It's settled now, one way or +the other."</p> + +<p>They searched band after band. The reaction was always the same. +Obscure private citizen or prominent one, man or woman, they all told +how sorry they were for the accidentals, but—</p> + +<p>"Turn it off," said Docchi at last.</p> + +<p>"Now what?" Jordan asked numbly.</p> + +<p>"You have no choice," said the doctor.</p> + +<p>"No choice," repeated Docchi dully. "No choice but to give up. We +misjudged who our allies were."</p> + +<p>"We knew you had," said Cameron. "It seemed better to let you go on +thinking that way while you were on the asteroid. It gave you +something to hope for. It made you feel you weren't alone. The trouble +was that you got farther than we thought you would ever be able to."</p> + +<p>"So we did," Docchi said. His lethargy seemed to lift a little. "And +there's no reason to stop now. Jordan, pick up the ships behind us. +Tell them we've got Cameron on board. A hostage. Play him up as a +hero. Basically, he's not with those who are against us."</p> + +<p>Anti came into the control compartment. Cheerfulness faded from her +face. "What's the matter?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Jordan will explain to you. I've got to think."</p> + +<p>Docchi closed his eyes. The ship lurched slightly, though the +vibration from the rockets did not change. There was no reason for +alarm; the flight of a ship was never completely steady. Docchi paid +no attention.</p> + +<p>At last he opened his eyes. "If we were properly fueled and +provisioned," he said without much hope, "I would be in favor of the +four of us heading for Alpha or Proxima. Maybe even Sirius. It +wouldn't matter where, since we wouldn't intend to come back. But we +can't make it with our small fuel reserve. If we can shake the ships +behind us, we might be able to hide until we can steal the necessary +fuel and food."</p> + +<p>"What'll we do with Doc?" asked Jordan.</p> + +<p>"We'd have to raid an unguarded outpost, of course. Probably a small +mining asteroid. We can leave him there."</p> + +<p>"Yeah," said Jordan. "A good idea, <i>if</i> we can run away from our +personal escort of bloodhounds. Offhand, that doesn't seem very +likely. They didn't come any closer when I told them we had Doc with +us, but they didn't drop back—"</p> + +<p>He stopped and raised his eyes to the telecom. He blinked, not +believing what he saw.</p> + +<p>"They're gone!" His voice broke with excitement.</p> + +<p>Almost instantly Docchi was beside him. "No," he corrected. "They're +still following, but they're very far behind." Even as he looked, the +pursuing ships visibly lost ground.</p> + +<p>"What's our relative speed?" asked Jordon. He looked at the dials +himself, frowned, tapped them as if the needles had gone crazy.</p> + +<p>"What did you do to the rockets?" demanded Docchi.</p> + +<p>"Nothing! There wasn't a thing I <i>could</i> do. We were already running +at top speed."</p> + +<p>"We're above it. Way above it. How?"</p> + +<p>There was nothing to explain their astonishing velocity. Cameron, +Anti, and Jordan were in the control compartment. Nona still sat +huddled up, hands pressed tight against her head. There was no +explanation at all, yet power was pouring into the gravital unit, as a +long unused, actually useless dial was indicating.</p> + +<p>"The gravital drive is working," Docchi blankly pointed out.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense," said Anti. "I don't feel any weight."</p> + +<p>"You don't," answered Docchi. "You won't. The gravital unit was +originally installed to drive the ship. When that proved +unsatisfactory, it was converted. The difference is slight but +important. An undirected general field produces weight effects inside +the ship. That's for passenger comfort. A directed field, outside the +ship, will drive it. You can have one or the other, not both."</p> + +<p>"But I didn't turn on the gravital drive," said Jordan in flat +bewilderment. "I couldn't if I wanted to. It's disconnected."</p> + +<p>"I would agree with you, except for one thing. It's working." Docchi +stared at Nona, whose eyes were closed. "Get her attention," he said.</p> + +<p>It was Jordan who gently touched her shoulder. She opened her eyes. On +the instrument board, the needle of a once useless dial rose and fell.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with the poor dear?" asked Anti. "She's shaking."</p> + +<p>"Let her alone," said Docchi.</p> + +<p>No one moved. No one said anything at all. Minutes passed while the +ancient ship creaked and groaned and ran away from the fastest rockets +in the Solar System.</p> + +<p>"I think I know," said Docchi at last, still frowning. "Consider the +gravity-generating plant. Part of it is an electronic computer, +capable of making the necessary calculations and juggling the +proportion of power required to produce, continuously, directed or +undirected gravity. In other words, a brain, a complex mechanical +intelligence. From the viewpoint of that intelligence, why should it +perform <i>ad infinitum</i> a complicated but meaningless routine? It +didn't know why, and because it didn't, very simply, it refused to do +so.</p> + +<p>"Now consider Nona. She's deaf, can't speak, can't communicate. In a +way she's comparable to the gravital computer. Like it, she has a very +high potential intelligence. Like it, she's had difficulty grasping +the facts of her environment. Unlike it, though, she has learned +something. How much, I don't know, but it's far more than the +Medicouncil psychologists credit her with."</p> + +<p>"Yeah," said Jordan dubiously. "But what's happening now?"</p> + +<p>"If there were two humans involved, you would call it telepathy," +answered Docchi hesitantly, fumbling for concepts he could only sense +without grasping. "One intelligence is electronic, the other organic. +You'll have to coin a new term, because the only one I know is +extrasensory perception, and that's obviously ridiculous. It is, isn't +it?"</p> + +<p>Jordan smiled and flexed his arms. Under the shapeless garment his +muscles rippled. "It isn't," he said. "The power was there, but we're +the only ones who know how to use it. Or rather Nona is."</p> + +<p>"Power?" repeated Anti, rising majestically. "You can keep it. I want +just enough to get to Centauri."</p> + +<p>"I think you'll get it," Docchi promised. "A lot of things seem +clearer now. For example, in the past, why didn't gravital units work +well at considerable distances from the Sun? As a matter of fact, the +efficiency of each unit was inversely proportional to the square of +the distance between it and the Sun.</p> + +<p>"The gravital computer is a deaf, blind, mass-sensitive brain. The +major fact in its existence is the Sun, the greatest mass in the Solar +System. To such a brain, leaving the Solar System would be like +stepping off the edge of a flat world, because it couldn't be aware of +stars.</p> + +<p>"Now that it knows about the Galaxy, the drive will work anywhere. +With Nona to direct it, even Sirius isn't far away."</p> + +<p>"Doc," said Jordan carelessly, "you'd better be figuring a way to get +off the ship. Remember, we're going faster than man ever went before." +He chuckled. "Unless, of course, you <i>like</i> our company and don't want +to leave."</p> + +<p>"We've got to do some figuring ourselves," interposed Docchi. "Such as +where we are heading now."</p> + +<p>"A good idea," said Jordan. He busied himself with charts and +calculations. Gradually his flying fingers slowed. His head bent low +over his work. At last he stopped and folded his arms.</p> + +<p>"Where?" asked Docchi.</p> + +<p>"There." Jordan dully punched the telecom selector and a view became +fixed on the screen. In the center glimmered a tiny world, a fragment +of a long-exploded planet. Their destination was easily recognizable.</p> + +<p>It was Handicap Haven.</p> + +<p>"But why do we want to go there?" asked Anti. She looked in amazement +at Docchi.</p> + +<p>"We're not going voluntarily," he answered, his voice flat and spent. +"We're going where the Medicouncil wants us to go. We forgot about the +monitor system. When Nona activated the gravital unit, that fact was +indicated at some central station. All the Medicouncil had to do was +use the monitor to take the gravital drive away from Nona."</p> + +<p>"We thought we were running away from the ships, which we were, but +only to beat them back to the junkpile?" asked Anti.</p> + +<p>Docchi nodded.</p> + +<p>"Well, it's over. We did our best. There's no use crying about it." +Yet she was. She passed by Nona, patting her gently. "It's all right, +darling. You tried."</p> + +<p>Jordan followed her from the compartment.</p> + +<p>Cameron remained; he came over to Docchi. "Everything isn't lost," he +said, somewhat awkwardly. "You're back where you started from, but +Nona at least will benefit."</p> + +<p>"Benefit?" said Docchi. "Someone will. It won't be Nona."</p> + +<p>"You're wrong. Now that she is an important factor—"</p> + +<p>"So is a special experimental machine. Very valuable. I don't think +she'll like that classification."</p> + +<p>Silence met silence. It was Dr. Cameron who turned away.</p> + +<p>"That ghastly glow of yours when you're angry always did upset me. +I'll come back when it's dimmer."</p> + +<p>Docchi glared after him. Cameron was the only normal aware that it was +Nona who controlled the gravital unit. All the outside world could +realize was that it was in operation, as it had been designed to work, +but never had. If Cameron could be disposed of—</p> + +<p>He shook his head. It wouldn't solve anything. He might fool them for +a while. They might think he was responsible. In the end, they'd find +out. Nona wasn't capable of that much deception, for she never knew +what a test was.</p> + +<p>He went over to her. Once he had hoped.... It didn't matter what he +had hoped.</p> + +<p>She looked up and smiled. She had a right to. No word had ever broken +the silence of her mind, but now she was communicating with something, +whatever it was that an electronic brain could say. Of course she +didn't understand that the conversation was taking place between two +captives, herself and the gravital computer.</p> + +<p>Abruptly he turned away. He stopped at the telecom panel and +methodically kicked it apart. Delicate tubes smashed into powder. The +emergency radio he thoroughly demolished.</p> + +<p>The ship was firmly in the grip of the gravital monitor. There was +nothing he could do about that. All that remained was to protect Nona +from their prying minds as long as he could.</p> + +<p>She didn't hear the noise, or didn't care. She sat there, head in her +hands, calm and smiling.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="36" height="40" /></div> +<p>he outer shell of the rocket dome opened before and closed behind +them. Jordan set the controls in neutral and lifted his hands, +muttering to himself. They were gliding through the lip of the inner +shell. Home.</p> + +<p>"Cheer up," said Cameron breezily. "You're not really prisoners, you +know."</p> + +<p>Nona seemed content, though Jordan didn't. Docchi said nothing, the +light gone from his face. Anti wasn't with them; she was floating in +the tank of acid. The gravity field of the asteroid made that +necessary.</p> + +<p>The ship scraped gently and they were down. Jordan touched a lever; +passenger and freight locks were open.</p> + +<p>"Let's go," said Dr. Cameron. "I imagine there's a reception committee +for you."</p> + +<p>There was. The little rocket dome held more ships than normally came +in a year. The precise confusion of military discipline was everywhere +in evidence. Armed guards lined either side of the landing ramp down +which they walked.</p> + +<p>At the bottom, a large telecom unit had been set up. If size indicated +anything, someone considered this an important occasion. From the +screen, larger than life, Medicouncilor Thorton looked out +approvingly.</p> + +<p>The procession from the ship halted in front of the telecom unit.</p> + +<p>"A good job, Dr. Cameron," said the medicouncilor. "We were quite +surprised at the escape of the four accidentals, and your +disappearance, which coincided with it. From what we were able to +piece together, you deliberately followed them. A splendid example of +quick thinking, Doctor. You deserve recognition for it."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," said Cameron.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry I can't be there to congratulate you in person, but I will +be soon." The medicouncilor paused discreetly. "At first the publicity +was bad. Very bad. We thought it unwise to conceal an affair of such +magnitude. Of course the unauthorized broadcast made it impossible. +Fortunately, the gravital discovery came along at just the right time. +I don't mind telling you that the net effect is now in our favor."</p> + +<p>"I hoped it would be," said Cameron. "Nona—"</p> + +<p>"You've spoken about her before." The medicouncilor frowned. "We can +discuss her later. For the moment, see that she and the rest of the +accidentals are returned to their usual places. Bring Docchi to your +office at once. I want to question him privately."</p> + +<p>Cameron stared at him in bewilderment. "But I thought—"</p> + +<p>"No objections, Doctor," snapped Thorton. "Important people are +waiting for you. That is all." The telecom darkened.</p> + +<p>"I think you heard what he said, Dr. Cameron." The officer at his side +was very polite. He could afford to be, with the rank of three big +planets on his tunic.</p> + +<p>"Very well," Cameron answered. "But as commander of the asteroid, I +request that you furnish a guard for the girl."</p> + +<p>"Commander?" repeated the officer. "That's funny—my orders indicate +that I am, until further notice. I haven't got that notice." He looked +around at his men and crooked a finger. "Lieutenant, see that the +little fellow—Jordan, I think his name is—gets a lift back to the +main dome. And you can walk the pretty lady to her room. Or whatever +it is she lives in." He smiled negligently at Cameron. "Anything to +oblige another commander."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="36" height="40" /></div> +<p>he medicouncilor, Thorton, was waiting impatiently on the telecom +when they got to Cameron's office.</p> + +<p>"We will arrive in about two hours," he said immediately. "When I say +we, I mean a number of top governmental officials and scientists. +Meanwhile, let's get on with this gravital business." He caught sight +of the commander. "General Judd, this is a technical matter. I don't +think you'll be interested in it."</p> + +<p>"Very well, sir. I'll stand guard outside."</p> + +<p>The medicouncilor was silent until the door closed behind General +Judd. "Sit down, Docchi," he said with unexpected kindness. He paused +to note the effect. "I can sympathize with you. You had everything you +wanted nearly within your reach. And, after that, to return to +Handicap Haven—well, I can understand how you feel. But since you did +return, I think we can arrange to do something for you."</p> + +<p>Docchi stared at the man on the screen. A spot of light pulsed on his +cheek and then flared rapidly over his face.</p> + +<p>"Sure," he said casually. "But there are criminal charges against me."</p> + +<p>"A formality," said the medicouncilor. "With a thing like the +discovery—or rediscovery—of the gravital drive to think about, no +one is going to worry much about your unauthorized departure from the +asteroid."</p> + +<p>Medicouncilor Thorton sounded pleased. "I don't want to mislead you. +We can't do any more for you medically than has already been done. +However, you will find yourself the center of a more adequate social +life. Friends, work, whatever you want. Naturally, in return for this, +we will expect your full cooperation."</p> + +<p>"Naturally." Docchi blinked at him and got to his feet. "Sounds +interesting. I'd like to think about it for a minute."</p> + +<p>Cameron planted himself squarely in front of the screen. "Maybe I +don't understand. I think you've got the wrong person."</p> + +<p>"Dr. Cameron!" Thorton glowered. "Please explain."</p> + +<p>"It was an easy mistake to make," said Cameron. "Cut off from +communication, the gravital drive began to work. How? Why? Mostly, who +did it? You knew it wasn't I. I'm a doctor, not a physicist. Nor +Jordan, he's at best a mechanic. Therefore it had to be Docchi, +because he's an engineer. He could make it work. But it wasn't Docchi. +He had nothing to do with—"</p> + +<p>"Look out!" cried Thorton too late.</p> + +<p>Cameron fell to his knees. The same foot that brought him down crashed +into his chin. His head snapped back and he sprawled on the floor. +Blood trickled from his face.</p> + +<p>"Docchi!" shouted Thorton from the screen.</p> + +<p>Docchi didn't answer. He was crashing through the door. The commander +was lounging against the wall. Head down, Docchi ran into him. The +toaster fell from his belt to the floor. With scarcely a pause, Docchi +stamped on it and continued running.</p> + +<p>The commander got to his feet and retrieved the weapon. He aimed it +tentatively at the retreating figure; a thought occurred to him and he +lowered it. He examined the damaged mechanism. After that, it went +gingerly into a tunic pocket.</p> + +<p>Muffled shouts were coming from Cameron's office. The general broke +in.</p> + +<p>The medicouncilor glared at him from the screen. "I can see that you +let him get away."</p> + +<p>The disheveled officer straightened his uniform. "I'm sorry, sir. I'll +alert the guards immediately."</p> + +<p>"Never mind now. Revive that man."</p> + +<p>The general wasn't accustomed to giving resuscitation; it was out of +his line. Nevertheless, in a few minutes Cameron was conscious, though +somewhat dazed.</p> + +<p>"Now then, Doctor, if it wasn't Docchi who was responsible for the +sudden functioning of the gravital drive, who was it?"</p> + +<p>With satisfaction, Cameron told him. He had not been wrong about the +girl. Listening to the detailed explanation of Nona's mental +abilities, the general was perplexed, as generals sometimes are.</p> + +<p>"I see." The medicouncilor nodded. "We overlooked that possibility +altogether. Not the mechanical genius of an engineer. Instead, the +strange telepathic sense of a girl. That puts the problem in a +different light."</p> + +<p>"It does." Cameron pressed his aching jaw. "She can't tell us how she +does it. We'll have to experiment. Fortunately, it won't involve any +danger. With the monitor system we can always control the gravital +drive."</p> + +<p>The medicouncilor leaned perilously backward and shook his head. +"You're wrong. It's supposed to, but it doesn't. We tried. For a +microsecond, the monitor did take over, but the gravital computer is +smarter than we thought, if it <i>was</i> the computer that figured out the +method. It found a way of cutting the power from the monitor circuit. +It didn't respond at all."</p> + +<p>Cameron forgot his jaw. "If you didn't bring the rocket back on +remote, why did she come?"</p> + +<p>"Docchi knows," growled the medicouncilor. "He found out in this room. +That's why he escaped." He tapped on his desk with blunt fingers. "She +could have taken the ship anywhere she pleased and we couldn't have +stopped her. Since she voluntarily came back, it's obvious that she +wants the asteroid!"</p> + +<p>Medicouncilor Thorton tried to shove his face out of the screen and +into the room. "Don't you ever think, General? There isn't any real +difference between gravital units except size and power. What she did +to the ship she can do as easily to the asteroid." He thrust out a +finger and pointed angrily. "Don't stand there, General Judd. Find +that girl!"</p> + +<p>It was late for that kind of command. The great dome overhead trembled +and creaked in countless joints. The little world shivered, groaned as +if it had lain too long in an age-old orbit. It began to move.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_v.jpg" alt="V" width="36" height="40" /></div> +<p>ague shapes stirred, crawled, walked if they could. Fantastic and +near-fantastic figures came to the assembly. Huge or tiny, on their +own legs or borrowed ones, they arrived, with or without arms, faces. +The word had spread by voice, by moving lips, by sign languages of +every sort.</p> + +<p>"Remember, it will be hours or perhaps days before we're safe," said +Docchi. His voice was growing hoarse. "It's up to us to see that Nona +has all the time she needs."</p> + +<p>"Where is she hiding?" asked someone from the crowd.</p> + +<p>"I don't know. If I did, I still wouldn't tell you. It's our job to +keep them from finding her."</p> + +<p>"How?" demanded one near the front. "Fight the guards?"</p> + +<p>"Not directly," said Docchi. "We have no arms in the sense of weapons. +Many of us have no arms in any sense. All we can hope to do is +obstruct their search. Unless someone has a better idea, this is what +I plan:</p> + +<p>"I want all the men, older women, and the younger ones who aren't +suitable for reasons I'll explain later. The guards won't be here for +another half hour—it will take that long to get them together and +give them the orders that the Medicouncil must be working out now. +When they do come, get in their way.</p> + +<p>"How you do that, I'll leave to your imagination. Appeal to their +sympathy as long as they have any. Put yourself in dangerous +situations. They have ethics; at first they'll be inclined to help +you. When they do, try to steal their weapons. Avoid physical violence +as much as you can. We don't want to force them into retaliation. Make +the most of that phase of their behavior. It won't last long."</p> + +<p>Docchi paused and looked over the crowd. "Each of you will have to +decide for himself when to drop that kind of resistance and start an +active battle campaign. We have to disrupt the light and scanning and +ventilation systems, for instance. They'll be forced to keep them in +repair. Perhaps they'll try to guard these strategic points. So much +the better for us—there will be fewer guards to contend with."</p> + +<p>"What about me?" called a woman from far in back. "What do I do?"</p> + +<p>"You are in for a rough time," Docchi promised her. "Is Jerian here?"</p> + +<p>She elbowed her way to his side through the crowd.</p> + +<p>"Jerian," said Docchi to the accidentals, "is a normal, pretty +woman—outwardly. She has, however, no trace of a digestive system. +The maximum time she can go without food and fluid injections is ten +hours. That's why she's here."</p> + +<p>Again Docchi scanned the group. "I need a cosmetech, someone who has +her equipment with her."</p> + +<p>A legless woman propelled herself forward. Docchi conferred with her. +She seemed startled, but she complied. Under her deft fingers Jerian +was transformed—into Nona.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/image_007.jpg" width="300" height="470" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"She will be the first Nona they'll find," explained Docchi, "because +she can get away with the disguise longer. I think—I hope—they'll +call off the search for a few hours while they test her. Eventually +they are sure to find out. In Jerian's case, fingerprints or X-rays +would reveal who she is. But that won't occur to them immediately. +Nona is impossible to question, as you know, and Jerian will act +exactly as Nona would.</p> + +<p>"As soon as they discover that Jerian isn't Nona—well, they won't +bother to be polite, if that's the word for it. The guards will like +the idea of finding an attractive girl they can manhandle in the line +of duty, especially if they think that will help them find Nona. It +won't, of course. But it will hold up the search and that's what we +want."</p> + +<p>They stood still, no one moving. Women looked at each other in silent +apprehension.</p> + +<p>"Let's go," said Jordan grimly.</p> + +<p>"Wait," advised Docchi. "I have one volunteer Nona. I need about fifty +more. It doesn't matter if you're physically sound or not—we'll raid +the lab for plastissue. If you think you can be made up to look like +Nona, come forward."</p> + +<p>Slowly, singly and by twos and threes, they came to him. There were +few indeed who wouldn't require liberal use of camouflage.</p> + +<p>The rest followed Jordan out.</p> + +<p>Mass production of an individual. Not perfect in every instance. Good +enough to pass in most. Docchi watched approvingly, suggesting +occasional touches of makeup.</p> + +<p>"She can't speak or hear," he reminded the volunteers. "Remember that +at all times, no matter what they do. Hide in difficult places. After +Jerian is taken and the search called off and then resumed, let +yourselves be found one at a time. Every guard that has to take you +for examination is one less to look for the real Nona. They have to +find her soon or get off the asteroid."</p> + +<p>The cosmetechs were busy; none stopped. There was one who looked up.</p> + +<p>"Get off?" she asked. "Why?"</p> + +<p>"The Sun is getting smaller."</p> + +<p>"Smaller!" exclaimed the woman.</p> + +<p>He nodded. "Handicap Haven is leaving the Solar System."</p> + +<p>Her fingers flew and molded the beautiful curve of a jaw where there +had been none. Next, plastissue lips were applied.</p> + +<p>Nona was soon hiding in half a hundred places.</p> + +<p>And one more....</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/image_008.jpg" width="600" height="394" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="36" height="40" /></div> +<p>he orbit of Neptune was far behind and still the asteroid was +accelerating. Two giant gravital units strained at the core of +Handicap Haven. The third clamped an abnormally heavy gravity on the +isolated world. Prolonged physical exertion was awkward and doubly +exhausting. Hours turned into a day, but the units never faltered.</p> + +<p>"Have you figured it out as precisely as you should?" asked Docchi +easily. "You share our velocity away from the Sun. You'll have to +overcome it before you can start going back."</p> + +<p>The general ignored him. "If we could only turn off that damned +drive!"</p> + +<p>Engineer Vogel shrugged sickly. "You try it," he suggested. "I don't +want to be around when you do. It sounds easy: just a gravital unit. +But remember there's a good-sized nuclear pile involved."</p> + +<p>"I know we can't," admitted the general, morosely looking at the +darkness overhead. "On the other hand, we can take off and blow this +rock apart from a safe distance."</p> + +<p>"And lose all hope of finding her?" taunted Docchi.</p> + +<p>"We're losing her anyway," Cameron commented sourly.</p> + +<p>"It's not as bad as all that," consoled Docchi. "Now that you know +where the difficulty is, you can always build another computer and +furnish it with auxiliary senses. Or maybe build into it the facts of +elementary astronomy."</p> + +<p>Cautiously, he shifted his frail body under the heavy gravity. +"There's another solution, though it may not appeal to you. I can't +believe Nona is altogether unique. There must be others like her. +So-called 'born' mechanics, maybe, whose understanding of machinery is +a form of empathy we've never suspected. Look hard enough and you may +find them, perhaps in the most unlikely or unlovely body."</p> + +<p>General Judd grunted wearily, "If I thought you knew where she is—"</p> + +<p>"You can try to find out," Docchi invited, glowing involuntarily.</p> + +<p>"Forget about the dramatics, General," said Cameron in disgust. "We've +questioned him thoroughly. Resistance we would have had in any event. +He's responsible merely for making it more effective than we thought +possible."</p> + +<p>He added slowly: "At the moment, obviously, he's trying to tear down +our morale. He doesn't have to bother. The situation is so bad that it +looks hopeless. I can't think of a thing we can do that would help +us."</p> + +<p>The Sun was high in the center of the dome. Sun? More like a very +bright star. It cast no shadows; the lights in the dome did. They +flickered and with monotonous regularity went out again. The general +swore constantly and emotionlessly until service was restored.</p> + +<p>A guard approached with his captive. "I think I've found her, sir."</p> + +<p>Cameron looked at the girl in dismay. "Guard, where's your decency?"</p> + +<p>"Orders, sir," the man said.</p> + +<p>"Whose orders?"</p> + +<p>"Yours, sir. You said she was sound of body. How else could I find +out?"</p> + +<p>Cameron scowled and thrust a scalpel deep into the girl's thigh. She +looked at him with a tear-stained face, but didn't move a muscle.</p> + +<p>"Plastissue, as any fool can see," he commented dourly.</p> + +<p>The guard looked revolted and started to lead her out.</p> + +<p>"Let her go," snapped the doctor. "Both of you will be safer, I +think."</p> + +<p>The girl darted away. The guard followed her, shuddering, his eyes +filled with a self-loathing that Cameron realized would require hours +of psychiatric work to remove.</p> + +<p>Docchi smiled. "I have a request to make."</p> + +<p>"Go ahead and make it," snorted the general. "We're likely to give you +anything you want."</p> + +<p>"You probably will. You're going to leave without her. Very soon. When +you do go, don't take all your ships. We'll need about three when we +come to another solar system."</p> + +<p>General Judd opened his mouth in rage.</p> + +<p>"Don't you say anything you'll regret," cautioned Docchi. "When you +get back, what will you report to your superiors? Can you tell them +that you left in good order, while there was still time to continue +the search? Or will they like it better if they know you stayed until +the last moment? So late that you had to abandon some of your ships?"</p> + +<p>The general closed his mouth and stamped away. Wordlessly, Cameron +dragged after him.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="36" height="40" /></div> +<p>he last ship had blasted off and the rocket trails had faded into +overwhelming darkness. The Sun, which had been trying to lose itself +among the other stars, finally succeeded. The asteroid was no longer +the junkpile. It was a small world that had become a swift ship.</p> + +<p>"We can survive," said Docchi. "Power and oxygen, we have, and we can +grow or synthesize our food."</p> + +<p>He sat beside Anti's tank, which had been returned to the usual place. +A small tree nodded overhead in the artificial breeze. It was peaceful +enough. But Nona wasn't there.</p> + +<p>"We'll get you out of the tank," promised Jordan. "When she comes +back, we'll rig up a place where there's no gravity. And we'll +continue cold treatment."</p> + +<p>"I can wait," said Anti. "On this world I'm normal."</p> + +<p>Docchi stared forlornly about. The one thing he wanted to see wasn't +there.</p> + +<p>"If you're worrying about Nona," advised Anti, "don't. The guards were +pretty rough with the women, but plastissue doesn't feel pain. They +didn't find her."</p> + +<p>"How do you know?"</p> + +<p>"Listen," said Anti. The ground shivered with the power of the +gravital units. "As long as they're running, how can you doubt?"</p> + +<p>"If I could be sure—"</p> + +<p>"You can start now," Jordan said. "First, though, you'd better get up +and turn around."</p> + +<p>Docchi scrambled to his feet. She was coming toward him.</p> + +<p>She showed no sign of strain. Except for a slight smudge on her +wonderfully smooth and scar-less cheek, she might just have stepped +out of a beauty cubicle. Without question, she was the most beautiful +woman in the world. This world, of course, though she could have done +well on any world—if she could have communicated with people as well +as with machines.</p> + +<p>"Where were you hiding?" Docchi asked, expecting no answer.</p> + +<p>She smiled. He wondered, with a feeling of helplessness, if machines +could sense and appreciate her lovely smile, or whether they could +somehow smile themselves.</p> + +<p>"I wish I could take you in my arms," he said bitterly.</p> + +<p>"It's not as silly as you think," said Anti, watching from the surface +of the tank. "You don't have any arms, but she has two. You can talk +and hear, but she can't. Between you, you're a complete couple."</p> + +<p>"Except that she would never get the idea," he answered unhappily.</p> + +<p>Jordan, rocking on his hands, looked up quizzically. "I must be +something like her. They used to call me a born mechanic; just put a +wrench in my hand and I can do anything with a piece of machinery. +It's as if I sense what the machine wants done to it. Not to the +extent that Nona can understand, naturally. You might say it's +reversed, that she's the one who can hear while I have to lip-read."</p> + +<p>"You never just gabble," Docchi prompted. "You have something in +mind."</p> + +<p>Jordan hesitated. "I don't know if it's stupid or what. I was thinking +of a kind of sign language with machines. You know, start with the +simple ones, like clocks and such, and see what they mean to her. +Since they'd be basic machines, she'd probably have pretty basic +reactions. Then it's just a matter of—"</p> + +<p>"You don't have to blueprint it," Docchi cut in excitedly. "That would +be fine for determining elementary reactions, but I can't carry around +a machine shop; it wouldn't be practical. There ought to be one +variable machine that would be portable and yet convey all meanings to +her."</p> + +<p>"An electronic oscillator?"</p> + +<p>Acid waves washed at the sides of the tank as Anti stirred +impatiently. "Will you two great brains work it out in the lab, +please? And when you get through with that problem, you'll have plenty +more to keep you occupied until we get to the stars. Jordan and me, +for instance. What future is there for a girl unless she can get +married?"</p> + +<p>"That's right," Docchi said. "I've got an idea we can do better than +normal doctors. Being accidentals ourselves, we won't stop +experimenting till we succeed. And we have hundreds of years to do it +in."</p> + +<p>Glowing, literally, with pleasure, he bent over for Jordan to climb on +his back. Then he kissed Nona and headed for the laboratory.</p> + +<p>Nona smiled and followed.</p> + +<p>"There are some things you don't need words or machines to express," +Anti called out. "Keep that in mind, will you?"</p> + +<p>She submerged contentedly in the acid bath. Above the dome, the stars +gleamed a bright welcome to the little world that flashed through +interstellar space.</p> + +<p class="p1">—<b>F. L. WALLACE</b></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Accidental Flight, by Floyd L. 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Wallace + +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: Accidental Flight + +Author: Floyd L. Wallace + +Illustrator: Ed Alexander + +Release Date: May 30, 2010 [EBook #32597] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ACCIDENTAL FLIGHT *** + + + + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + Transcriber's Note: + + This etext was produced from Galaxy Science Fiction April 1952. + Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. + copyright on this publication was renewed. + + + [Illustration] + + + Accidental Flight + + + By F. L. WALLACE + + + Illustrated by Ed Alexander + + + _Outcasts of a society of physically perfect people, they + couldn't stay and they couldn't go home again--yet there had + to be some escape for them. Oddly enough, there was!_ + + * * * * * + + + + +Cameron frowned intently at the top of the desk. It was difficult to +concentrate under the circumstances. "Your request was turned over to +the Medicouncil," he said. "After studying it, they reported back to +the Solar Committee." + +Docchi edged forward, his face literally lighting up. + +Dr. Cameron kept his eyes averted; the man was damnably disconcerting. +"You know what the answer is. A flat no, for the present." + +Docchi leaned back. "We should have expected that," he said wearily. + +"It's not entirely hopeless. Decisions like this can always be +changed." + +"Sure," said Docchi. "We've got centuries." His face was +flushed--_blazing_ would be a better description. + +Absently, Cameron lowered the lights in the room as much as he could. +It was still uncomfortably bright. Docchi was a nuisance. + +"But why?" asked Docchi. "You know that we're capable. Why did they +refuse?" + +Cameron had tried to avoid that question. Now it had to be answered +with blunt brutality. "Did you think you would be chosen? Or Nona, or +Jordan, or Anti?" + +Docchi winced. "Maybe not. But we've told you that we're willing to +abide by what the experts say. Surely from a thousand of us they can +select one qualified crew." + +"Perhaps so," said Cameron. He switched on the lights and resumed +staring at the top of the desk. "Most of you are biocompensators. +Ninety per cent, I believe. I concede that we ought to be able to get +together a competent crew." He sighed. "But you're wasting your time +discussing this with me. I'm not responsible for the decision. I can't +do anything about it." + +Docchi stood up. His face was colorless and bright. + +Dr. Cameron looked at him directly for the first time. "I suggest you +calm down. Be patient and wait; you may get your chance." + +"You wait," said Docchi. "We don't intend to." + +The door opened for him and closed behind him. + +Cameron concentrated on the desk. Actually he was trying to look +through it. He wrote down the card sequence he expected to find. He +opened a drawer and gazed at the contents, then grimaced in +disappointment. No matter how many times he tried, he never got better +than strictly average results. Maybe there was something to telepathy, +but he hadn't found it yet. + +He dismissed it from his mind. It was a private game, a method of +avoiding involvement while Docchi was present. But Docchi was gone +now, and he had better come up with some answers. The right ones. + +He switched on the telecom. "Get me Medicouncilor Thorton," he told +the robot operator. "Direct, if you can; indirect if you have to. I'll +wait." + +With an approximate mean diameter of thirty miles, the asteroid was +listed on the charts as Handicap Haven. The regular inhabitants were +willing to admit the handicap part of the name, but they didn't call +it haven. There were other terms, none of them suggesting sanctuary. + +It was a hospital, of course, but even more like a convalescent home, +_the permanent kind_. A healthy and vigorous humanity had built it for +those few who were less fortunate. A splendid gesture, but, like many +such gestures, the reality fell somewhat short of the original +intentions. + +The robot operator interrupted his thoughts. "Medicouncilor Thorton +will speak to you." + +The face of an older man filled the screen. "On my way to the +satellites of Jupiter. I'll be in direct range for the next half +hour." At such distance, transmission and reception were practically +instantaneous. "You wanted to speak to me about the Solar Committee +reply?" + +"I do. I informed Docchi a few minutes ago." + +"How did he react?" + +"He didn't like it. As a matter of fact, he was mad all the way +through." + +"That speaks well for his mental resiliency." + +"They all seem to have enough spirit, though, and nothing to use it +on," said Dr. Cameron. "I confess I didn't look at him often, in spite +of the fact that he was quite presentable. Handsome, even, in a +startling way." + +Thorton nodded. "Presentable. That means he had arms." + +"He did. Is that important?" + +"I think it is. He expected a favorable reply and wanted to look his +best. As nearly normal as possible." + +"Trouble?" + +"I don't see how," said the medicouncilor uncertainly. "In any event, +not immediately. It will take them some time to get over the shock of +refusal. They can't do anything, really. Individually they're +helpless. Collectively--there aren't parts for a dozen sound bodies on +the asteroid." + +"I've looked over the records," said Dr. Cameron. "Not one accidental +has ever _liked_ being on Handicap Haven, and that covers quite a few +years. But there has never been so much open discontent as there is +now." + +"Someone is organizing them. Find out who and keep a close watch." + +"I know who. Docchi, Nona, Anti, and Jordan. But it doesn't do any +good merely to watch them. I want your permission to break up that +combination. Humanely, of course." + +"How do you propose to do it?" + +"Docchi, for instance. With prosthetic arms he appears physically +normal, except for that uncanny luminescence. That is repulsive to the +average person. Medically there's nothing we can do about it, but +psychologically we might be able to make it into an asset. You're +aware that Gland Opera is the most popular program in the Solar +System. Telepaths, teleports, pyrotics and so forth are the heroes. +All fake, of course: makeup and trick camera shots. But Docchi can be +made into a real live star. The death-ray man, say. When his face +shines, men fall dead or paralyzed. He'd have a chance to return to +normal society under conditions that would be mentally acceptable to +him." + +"Acceptable to him, perhaps, but not to society," reflected the +medicouncilor. "An ingenious idea, one which does credit to your +humanitarian outlook. Only it won't work. You have Docchi's medical +record, but you probably don't know his complete history. He was an +electrochemical engineer, specializing in cold lighting. He seemed on +his way to a brilliant career when a particularly messy accident +occurred. The details aren't important. He was badly mangled and +tossed into a tank of cold lighting fluid by automatic machinery. It +was some time before he was discovered. + +"There was a spark of life left and we managed to save him. We had to +amputate his arms and ribs practically to his spinal column. The +problem of regeneration wasn't as easy as it usually is. We were able +to build up a new rib case; that's as much as we could do. Under such +conditions, prosthetic arms are merely ornaments. They can be fastened +to him and they look all right, but he can't use them. He has no back +or shoulder muscles to anchor them to. + +"And add to that the adaptation his body made while he was in the +tank. The basic cold lighting fluid, as you know, is semi-organic. It +permeated every tissue in his body. By the time we got him, it was +actually a necessary part of his metabolism. A corollary, I suppose, +of the fundamental biocompensation theory." + +The medicouncilor paused and shook his head. "I'm afraid your idea is +out, Dr. Cameron. I don't doubt that he would be successful on the +program you mention. But there is more to life on the outside than +success. Can you picture the dead silence when he walks into a room of +normal people?" + +"I see," said Cameron, though he didn't, at least not eye to eye. The +medicouncilor was convinced and there was nothing Cameron could do to +alter that conviction. "The other one I had in mind was Nona," he +added. + +"I thought so." Thorton glanced at the solar chronometer. "I haven't +much time, but I'd better explain. You're new to the post and I don't +think you've learned yet to evaluate the patients and their problems +properly. In a sense, Nona is more impossible than Docchi. He was once +a normal person. She never was. Her appearance is satisfactory; +perhaps she's quite pretty, though you must remember that you're +seeing her under circumstances that may make her seem more attractive +than she really is. + +"She can't talk or hear. She never will. She doesn't have a larynx, +and it wouldn't help if we gave her one. She simply doesn't have the +nervous system necessary for speech or hearing. Her brain is +definitely not structurally normal. As far as we're concerned, that +abnormality is not in the nature of a mutation. It's more like an +anomaly. Once cleft palates were frequent--prenatal nutritional +deficiencies or traumas. Occasionally we still run into cases like +that, but our surgical techniques are always adequate. Not with Nona, +however. + +"She can't be taught to read or write; we've tried it. We dug out the +old Helen Keller techniques and brought them up to date with no +results. Apparently her mind doesn't work in a human fashion. We +question whether very much of it works at all." + +"That might be a starting point," said Cameron. "If her brain--" + +"Gland Opera stuff," interrupted Thorton. "Or Rhine Opera, if you'll +permit me to coin a term. We've thought of it, but it isn't true. +We've tested her for every telepathic quality that the Rhine people +list. Again no results. She has no special mental capacities. Just to +make sure of that, we've given her periodic checkups. One last year, +in fact." + +Cameron frowned in frustration. "Then it's your opinion that she's not +able to survive in a normal society?" + +"That's it," answered the medicouncilor bluntly. "You'll have to face +the truth--you can't get rid of any of them." + +"With or without their cooperation, I'll manage," said Cameron. + +"I'm sure you will." The medicouncilor's manner didn't ooze +confidence. "Of course, if you need help we can send reinforcements." + +The implication was clear enough. "I'll keep them out of trouble," +Cameron promised. + +The picture and the voice were fading. "It's up to you. If it turns +out to be too difficult, get in touch with the Medicouncil...." + +The robot operator broke in: "The ship is beyond direct telecom range. +If you wish to continue the conversation, it will have to be relayed +through the nearest main station. At present, that is Mars." + +Aside from the time element, which was considerable, it wasn't likely +that he would get any better answers than he could supply for himself. +Cameron shook his head. "We are through, thanks." + +He got heavily to his feet. That wasn't a psychological reaction at +all. He really was heavier. He made a mental note. He would have to +investigate. + +In a way they were pathetic--the patchwork humans, the half or quarter +men and women, the fractional organisms masquerading as people--an +illusion which died hard for them. Medicine and surgery were partly to +blame. Techniques were too good, or not good enough, depending on the +viewpoint. + +Too good in that the most horribly injured person, if he were still +alive, could be kept alive! Not good enough because a percentage of +the injured couldn't be returned to society completely sound and +whole. There weren't many like that; but there were some, and all of +them were on the asteroid. + +They didn't like it. At least they didn't like being _confined_ to +Handicap Haven. It wasn't that they wanted to go back to the society +of the normals, for they realized how conspicuous they'd be among the +multitudes of beautiful, healthy people on the planets. + +What the accidentals did want was ridiculous. They desired, they +hoped, they petitioned to be the first to make the long, hard journey +to Alpha and Proxima Centauri in rockets. Trails of glory for those +that went; a vicarious share in it for those who couldn't. + +Nonsense. The broken people, those without a face they could call +their own, those who wore their hearts not on their sleeves, but in a +blood-pumping chamber, those either without limbs or organs--or too +many. The categories seemed endless. + +The accidentals were qualified, true. In fact, of all the billions of +solar citizens, _they alone could make the journey and return_. But +there were other factors that ruled them out. The first point was +never safe to discuss with them, especially if the second had to be +explained. It would take a sadistic nature that Cameron didn't +possess. + + * * * * * + +Docchi sat beside the pool. It was pleasant enough, a pastoral scene +transplanted from Earth. A small tree stretched shade overhead. Waves +lapped and made gurgling sounds against the sides. No plant life of +any kind grew and no fish swam in the liquid. It looked like water, +but it wasn't. It was acid. In it floated something that monstrously +resembled a woman. + +[Illustration] + +"They turned us down, Anti," Docchi said bitterly. + +"Didn't you expect it?" the creature in the pool asked. + +"I guess I didn't." + +"You don't know the Medicouncil very well." + +"Evidently I don't." He stared sullenly at the faintly blue fluid. +"Why did they turn us down?" + +"Don't you know?" + +"All right, I know," he said. "They're pretty irrational." + +"Of course, irrational. Let them be that way, as long as we don't +follow their example." + +"I wish I knew what to do," he said. "Cameron suggested we wait." + +"Biocompensation," murmured Anti, stirring restlessly. "They've always +said that. Up to now it's always worked." + +"What else can we do?" asked Docchi. Angrily he kicked at an anemic +tuft of grass. "Draw up another request?" + +"Memorandum number ten? Let's not be naive about it. Things get lost +so easily in the Medicouncil's filing system." + +"Or distorted," grunted Docchi. + +"Maybe we should give the Medicouncil a rest. They're tired of hearing +us anyway." + +"I see what you mean," said Docchi, rising. + +"Better talk to Jordan about it." + +"I intend to. I'll need arms." + +"Good. I'll see you when you leave for far Centauri." + +"Sooner than that, Anti. Much sooner." + +Stars were beginning to wink. Twilight brought out shadows and tracery +of the structure that supported the transparent dome overhead. Soon +controlled slow rotation would bring darkness to this side of the +asteroid. + + * * * * * + +Cameron leaned back and looked speculatively at the gravital engineer, +Vogel. The man could give him considerable assistance, if he would. +There was no reason why he shouldn't; but any man who had voluntarily +remained on Handicap Haven as long as Vogel had was a doubtful +quantity. + +"Usually we maintain about half Earth-normal gravity," Cameron said. +"Isn't that correct?" + +Engineer Vogel nodded. + +"It isn't important why those limits were set," Cameron continued. +"Perhaps it's easier on the weakened bodies of the accidentals. There +may be economic factors." + +"No reason for those limits except the gravital units themselves," +Vogel said. "Theoretically it should be easy to get any gravity you +want. Practically, though, we get between a quarter and almost full +Earth gravity. Now take the fluctuations. The gravital computer is set +at fifty per cent. Sometimes we get fifty per cent and sometimes +seventy-five. Whatever it is, it just is and we have to be satisfied." + +The big engineer shrugged. "I hear the units were designed especially +for this asteroid," he went on. "Some fancy medical reason. Easier on +the accidentals to have less gravity change, you say. Me, I dunno. I'd +guess the designers couldn't help it and the reason was dug up later." + +Cameron concealed his irritation. He wanted information, not a +heart-to-heart confession. "All practical sciences try to justify +whatever they can't escape but would like to. Medicine, I'm sure, is +no exception." He paused thoughtfully. "Now, there are three separate +gravital units on the asteroid. One runs for forty-five minutes while +the other two are idle. Then it cuts off and another takes over. This +is supposed to be synchronized. I don't have to tell you that it +isn't. You felt your weight increase suddenly at the same time I did. +What is wrong?" + +"Nothing wrong," said the engineer. "That's what you get with +gravital." + +"You mean they're supposed to run that way? Overlapping so that for +five minutes we have Earth or Earth-and-a-half gravity and then none?" + +"It's not _supposed_ to be that way," said Vogel. "But nobody ever +built a setup like this that worked any better." He added defensively: +"Of course, if you want, you can check with the company that makes +these units." + +"I'm not trying to challenge your knowledge, and I'm not anxious to +make myself look silly. I have a sound reason for asking these +questions. There is a possibility of sabotage." + +The engineer's grin was wider than the remark seemed to require. + +"All right," said Cameron tiredly. "Suppose you tell me why sabotage +is so unlikely." + +"Well," explained the gravital engineer, "it would have to be someone +living here, and he wouldn't like it if he suddenly got double or +triple gravity or maybe none at all. But there's another reason. Now +take a gravital unit. Any gravital unit. Most people think of it as +just that--a unit. It isn't really that at all. It has three parts. + +"One part is a power source that can be anything as long as it's big +enough. Our power source is a nuclear pile, buried deep in the +asteroid. You'd have to take Handicap Haven apart to get to it. Part +two is the gravital coil, which actually produces the gravity and is +simple and just about indestructible. Part three is the gravital +control. It calculates the relationship between the amount of power +flowing through the gravital coil and the strength of the created +gravity field in any one microsecond. It uses the computed +relationship to alter the power flowing through in the next +microsecond to get the same gravity. No change of power, no gravity. I +guess you could call the control unit a computer, as good a one as is +made for any purpose." + +The engineer rubbed his chin. "Fatigue," he continued. "The gravital +control is an intricate computer that's subject to fatigue. That's why +it has to rest an hour and a half to do forty-five minutes of work. +Naturally they don't want anyone tinkering with it. It's +non-repairable. Crack the case open and it won't work. But first you +have to open it. Mind you, that can be done. But I wouldn't want to +try it without a high-powered lab setup." + +If it didn't seem completely foolproof, neither did it seem a likely +source of trouble. "Then we can forget about the gravital units," said +Cameron, arising. "But what about hand weapons? Are there any +available?" + +"You mean toasters?" + +"Anything that's lethal." + +"Nothing. No knives even. Maybe a stray bar or so of metal." Vogel +scratched his head. "There is something dangerous, though. Dangerous +if you know how to take hold of it." + +Instantly Cameron was alert. "What's that?" + +"Why, the asteroid itself. You can't physically touch any part of the +gravital unit. But if you could somehow sneak an impulse into the +computer and change the direction of the field...." Vogel was very +grave. "You could pick up Handicap Haven and throw it anywhere you +wanted. At the Earth, say. Thirty miles in diameter is a big hunk of +rock." + +It was this kind of information Cameron was looking for, though the +engineer seemed to regard the occasion as merely a social call. "Is +there any possibility of that occurring?" he asked quietly. + +The engineer grinned. "Never happened, but they're ready for things +like that with any gravital system. They got monitor stations all +over--the moons of Jupiter, Mars, Earth, Venus. + +"Any time the gravital computer gets dizzy, the monitor overrides it. +If that fails, they send a jammer impulse and freeze it up tight. It +won't work until they let loose." + +Cameron sighed. He was getting very little help or information from +Vogel. "All right," he said. "You've told me what I wanted to know." + +He watched the engineer depart for the gravity-generating chamber far +below the surface of the asteroid. + + * * * * * + +The post on Handicap Haven wasn't pleasant; it wasn't an experience a +normal human would desire. It did have advantages--advancement came in +sizes directly proportional to the disagreeableness of the place. + +Ten months to go on a year's assignment. If Cameron could survive that +period with nothing to mar his administration, he was in line for +better positions. A suicide or any other kind of unpleasantness that +would focus the attention of the outside world on the forgotten +asteroid was definitely unwelcome. + +He flipped on the telecom. "Rocket dome. Get me the pilot." + +When the robot finally answered, it wasn't encouraging. "I'm sorry. +There is no answer." + +"Then trace him," he snapped. "If he's not in the rocket dome, he's in +the main dome. I want you to get him at once." + +A few seconds of silence followed. "There is no record of the pilot +leaving the rocket dome." + +His heart skipped; with an effort he spoke carefully. "Scan the whole +area. Understand? You've got to find him." + +"Scanning is not possible. The system is out of operation in that +area." + +"All right," he said, starting to shake. "Send out repair robots." +They were efficient in the sense they always did the work they were +set to do, but not in terms of speed. + +"The robots were dispatched as soon as scanning failed to work. Are +there any other instructions?" + +He thought about that. He needed help, plenty of it. Vogel? He'd be +ready and willing, but that would leave the gravity-generating setup +unprotected. Better do without him. + +Who else? The sour old nurse who'd signed up because she wanted quick +credits toward retirement? Or the sweet young thing who had bravely +volunteered because someone ought to help those poor unfortunate men? +Not the women, of course. She had a bad habit of fainting when she saw +blood. Probably that was why she couldn't get a position in a regular +planetary hospital. + +That was all, except the robots, who weren't much help in a case like +this. That and the rocket pilot. For some reason he wasn't available. + +The damned place was under-manned. Always had been. Nobody wanted to +come except the mildly psychotic, the inefficient and lazy, or, +conceivably, an ambitious young doctor like himself. Mentally, Cameron +berated the last category. If anything serious happened here, such a +doctor might end his career bandaging scratches at a children's +playground. + +"Instructions," he said. "Yes. Leave word in gravity-generating for +Vogel. Tell him to throw everything he's got around the units. Watch +them." + +"Is that all?" + +"Not quite. Send six general purpose robots. I'll pick them up at the +entrance to the rocket dome." + +"Repair robots are already in that area. Will they do as well?" + +"They will not. I want geepees for another reason." They wouldn't be +much help, true, but the best he could manage. + + * * * * * + +Docchi waited near the rocket dome. Not hiding, merely inconspicuous +among the carefully nurtured shrubbery that was supposed to give the +illusion of Earth. If the plants failed in that respect, at least they +contributed to the oxygen supply of the asteroid. + +"Good girl," said Docchi. "That Nona is wonderful." + +Jordan could feel him relax. "A regular mechanical marvel," he agreed. +"But we can gas about that later. Let's get going." + +Docchi glanced around and then walked boldly into the passageway that +connected the main dome with the much smaller, adjacent rocket dome. +Normally, it was never dark in the inhabited parts of the asteroid; a +modulated twilight was considered more conducive to the slumber of the +handicapped. But it wasn't twilight as they neared the rocket dome--it +was a full-scale rehearsal for the darkness of interplanetary space. + +Docchi stopped before the emergency airlock which loomed solidly in +front of them. "I hope Nona was able to cut this out of the circuit," +he said anxiously. + +"She understood, didn't she?" asked Jordan. He reached out and the +great slab moved easily aside in its grooves. "The trouble with you is +that you lack confidence." + +Docchi, listening with a frown, didn't answer. + +"Okay, I hear it, too," whispered Jordan. "We'd better get well inside +before he reaches us." + +Docchi walked rapidly into the darkness of the rocket dome. He allowed +his face to become faintly luminescent, the one part of his altered +metabolism that he had learned to control, when he wasn't under +emotional strain. + +He was nervous now, but his control had to be right. Enough light so +that he'd be noticed, not so much that details of his appearance would +be plain. + +The footsteps came nearer, accompanied by a steady volume of +profanity. Docchi flashed his face once and then lowered the intensity +almost immediately. + +The footsteps stopped. "Docchi?" + +"No. Just a lonely little light bulb out for an evening stroll." + +The rocket pilot's laughter wasn't altogether friendly. "I know it's +you. I meant, what are you doing here?" + +"I saw the lights in the rocket dome go out. The entrance was open, so +I came in. Maybe I can help." + +"They're off, all right. Everything. Even the standby system." The +rocket pilot moved closer. The deadly little toaster was in his hand. +"You can't help. You'd better get out. It's against regulations for +you to be in here." + +Docchi ignored the weapon. "What happened? Did a meteor strike?" + +The pilot grunted. "Not likely." He peered intently at the barely +visible silhouette. "Well, I see you're getting smart. You should do +that all the time. You look better that way, even if they're not +usable arms. You look...." His voice faded away. + +"Sure, almost human," Docchi finished for him. "Not like a pair of +legs and a spinal column with a lightning bug stuck on top." + +"I didn't say that. So you're sensitive about it, eh? Maybe that's not +your fault. Anyway, you'd better get going." + +"But I don't want to go," said Docchi deliberately. "I'm not afraid of +the dark. Are you?" + +"Cut the psycho talk, Docchi. All your circuits are working and you +know it. Now get out of here before I take your fake hand and drag you +out." + +"Now you've hurt my feelings," declared Docchi reproachfully, nimbly +stepping away. + +"You asked for it," growled the pilot, lunging after him. What he took +hold of wasn't an imitation hand, made of plastic. It was flesh and +blood. That was why the pilot screamed, once, before he was lifted off +his feet and slammed to the floor. + +Docchi bent double. The dark figure on his back came over his head +like a sword from a scabbard. + +"Jor--" + +"Yeah," said Jordan. + +He wrapped one arm around the pilot's throat and clamped it tight. +With the other he felt for the toaster the pilot still held. +Effortlessly he tore it away and used the butt with just enough force +to knock the pilot unconscious without smashing the skull. Docchi +stood by until it was over. All he could offer was an ineffectual +kick, not balanced by arms. + +It wasn't needed. + +"Let there be light," ordered Jordan, laughing, and there was, a +feeble, flickering illumination from Docchi. + +Jordan was balancing himself on his hands. A strong head, massive, +powerful arms and shoulders. His body ended at his chest. A round +metal capsule contained his digestive system. + +"Dead?" Docchi looked down at the pilot. + +Jordan rocked forward and listened for the heartbeat. "Nah," he said. +"I remembered in time that we can't afford to kill anyone." + +"Good," said Docchi, and stifled an exclamation as something coiled +around his leg. His reactions were fast; he broke loose almost +instantly. + +"Repair robot," said Jordan, looking around. "The place is lousy with +them." + +Docchi blinked on and off involuntarily and the robot came toward him. + +"Friendly creature," observed Jordan. "He's offering to fix your +lighting system for you." + +Docchi ignored the squat contrivance and stared at the pilot. "Now +what?" he asked. + +"Agreed," said Jordan. "He needs attention. _Not_ the kind I gave +him." He balanced the toaster in his hand and burned a small hole in +the little wheeled monster. Tentacles emerged from the side of the +machine and felt puzzledly at the damaged area. The tentacles were +withdrawn and presently reappeared with a small torch and began +welding. + +Jordan pulled the unconscious pilot toward him. He leaned against the +machine, raised the inert form over his head and laid it gently on the +top flat surface. Another tentacle reached out to investigate the body +of the pilot. Jordan welded the joints solid with the toaster. Three +times he repeated the process until the pilot was fastened to the +robot. + +"The thing will stay here, repairing itself, until it's completely +sound again," remarked Jordan. "However, that can be fixed." He +adjusted the toaster beam to an imperceptible thickness. Deftly he +sliced through the control case and removed a circular section. He +reached inside and ripped out circuits. "No further self-repair," he +said cheerfully. "Now I'm going to need your help. From a time +stand-point, I think it's a good idea to run the robot around the +main dome a few times before it delivers the pilot to the hospital. No +point in giving ourselves away before we're ready." + +Docchi bent over the robot, and with his help the proper sequence was +implanted. The machine scurried erratically away. + +Docchi watched it go. "Time for us to be on our way." He bent double +for Jordan. The arms folded around his neck, but Jordan made no effort +to climb up onto his back. For a panic moment Docchi knew how the +pilot felt when strength, where there shouldn't have been strength, +reached out from the darkness and gripped his throat. + +He shook the thought from his mind. "Get on my back," he insisted. + +[Illustration] + +"You're tired," said Jordan. "Half gravity or not, you can't carry me +any farther." His fingers worked swiftly and the carrying harness fell +to the floor. "Stay down," growled Jordan. "Listen." + +Docchi listened. "Geepees!" + +"Yeah," said Jordan. "Now get to the rocket." + +"What can I do when I get there? You'll have to help me." + +"You'll figure something out when the time comes. Hurry up!" + +"Not without you," said Docchi stubbornly, without moving. + +[Illustration] + +A huge paw clamped around the back of his skull. "Listen to me," +whispered Jordan fiercely. "Together we were a better man than the +pilot--your legs and my arms. It's up to us to prove that separately +we are a match for Cameron and his geepees." + +"We're not trying to _prove_ anything," said Docchi. + +A brilliant light sliced through the darkness and swept around the +rocket dome. + +"Maybe we are," said Jordan. Impatiently, he hitched himself along the +ground. "I think I am." + +"What are you going to do?" + +"I'm going up. With no legs, that's where I belong." + +He grasped the structural steel member in his great hands, and in the +light gravity, ascended rapidly. + +"Careful," warned Docchi. + +"This is no time to be careful." His voice floated down from high in +the lacy structure. It wasn't completely dark; the lights were getting +nearer. Docchi decided it was possible for Jordan to see what he was +doing. + +They hadn't expected to be discovered so soon. But the issue had not +yet been settled against them. Docchi settled into a long stride, +avoiding the low-slung repair robots that seemed to be everywhere. If +Jordan refused to give up, Docchi had to try. + +He stayed well ahead of the oncoming general purpose robots. + + * * * * * + +He reached the rocket and barely had time to look around. It was +enough, however. The ship's passenger and freight locks were closed. +Nona had either not understood all their instructions, or she hadn't +been able to carry them out. The first, probably. She had put the +light and scanning circuits out of commission with no tools except her +hands. That and her uncanny knowledge of the inner workings of +machines. It was too much to expect that she should also have the ship +ready and waiting for them. + +It was up to him to get in. If he had the toaster they'd taken from +the pilot, he might have been able to soften the proper area of the +passenger lock. But he didn't. Not having arms, he couldn't have used +it. For that reason Jordan had kept the weapon. + +The alternative was to search the surrounding mechanical jungle for an +external control of the rocket. There had to be one, at least for the +airlocks. Then it was a matter of luck whether he could work it. + +The approaching lights warned him that he no longer had that +alternative. If Cameron hadn't tried to search the rocket dome as he +came along, the geepees would be solidly ringed around the ship now. +That was Cameron's mistake, however, and he might make more. + +In all probability Jordan was still at large. Perhaps nearby. Would +Cameron know that? He might not. + +Docchi descended into the shallow landing pit. Until both of them were +caught, there was always a chance. He had to hide, but the landing pit +seemed remarkably ill-suited for that purpose. + +He leaned against the stern tube cluster and tried to shake his brain +into activity. The metal pressed hard into the thin flesh that covered +his back. In the smooth glazed surface of the landing pit, the only +answer was the tubes. + +He straightened up and looked into them. A small boy might climb +inside and crawl out of sight. Or a grown man who had no shoulders or +arms to get wedged in the narrow cylinder. + +Out in space, the inner ends of the tubes were closed with a +combustion cap wherein the fuel was ignited. But in the dome, where +the ship was not used for months at a time.... + +Yes, there was that possibility. + +He tried a lower tube. He lay on the floor and thrust his head inside. +He wriggled and shoved with his feet until he had forced himself +entirely in. It was dark and terrifying, but no time for +claustrophobia. + +He stopped momentarily and listened. A geepee descended noisily into +the landing pit. The absence of any other sound indicated to Docchi +that it was radio-controlled. + +He drove himself on, though it was slow progress. The walls were +smooth and it was difficult to get much purchase. The going became +even tougher--the tube was getting smaller. Not much, but enough to +matter. + +Again he stopped. Outside, there was the characteristic sputter, like +frying, that the toaster beam made when it struck metal. A great +clatter followed. + +"Get him!" shouted Cameron. "He's up there!" + +Jordan had arrived and had picked off a geepee. And it wasn't going to +be easy for Cameron to capture him. The diversion would help. + +"Don't use heat," ordered Cameron. "Get your lights on him. Blind him. +Drive him in a corner and then go up and get him." + +Docchi had been wrong; the geepees were controlled by voice, not +radio. That would make it easier for him once he got inside the ship. +If he did. + +It looked as though he would. The tube wasn't getting narrower. More +important, the air was not noticeably stale. The combustion cap had +been retracted, which was a lucky break. His feet slipped. It didn't +matter; somehow he inched along. Blood was pounding in his veins from +the constriction, but his head emerged in the rocket. + +He stared at the retracted combustion cap a few feet away. If he had +arms, he could grasp it and pull himself free. But if he had arms, he +would never have gotten this far. He wriggled until his body was +nearly out and only his legs were in the tube. He kicked hard, fell to +the floor. + +He lay there while his head cleared, then rolled to his feet and +staggered forward to the control compartment. The rocket was his, but +he didn't want it for himself alone. + +He stared thoughtfully at the instrument panel. It had been a long +time since he had operated a ship. When he understood the controls, he +bent down and thrust his chin against the gravital dial. Laboriously +he turned it to the proper setting. Then he sat down and kicked on a +switch. The ship rocked and rose a few inches. + +Chances were that Cameron wouldn't notice that in the confusion +outside. If he did, he had thirty seconds in which to stop Docchi. +That wouldn't be enough for Cameron. + +"Rocket landing," said Docchi when the allotted time passed. +"Emergency instructions. Emergency instructions. Stand by." Strictly +speaking, that wasn't necessary, for the frequency he was using +assured him of complete control. + +"All energized geepees lend assistance. This order supersedes previous +orders. Additional equipment necessary." After listing the equipment, +he sat back and chuckled. + +With his knee he turned on the external lights, got up and walked to +the passenger lock, brushing against the switch. The airlock opened. +He stood boldly at the threshold and looked out. The rocket dome was +floodlighted by the ship. + +"All right, Jordan, you can come down now," he called. + +Jordan appeared overhead, hanging from a beam. He swung along it until +he reached a column, down which he descended. He propelled himself +over the floor and up the ramp in his awkward fashion. Balancing on +his hands, he gazed up at Docchi. + +"Well, monster, how did you do it?" + +"Monster yourself," said Docchi. "Do what?" + +"I saw you crawl in the rocket tubes," said Jordan. "But what did you +do after you got inside?" + +"Cameron's a medic," said Docchi, "not mechanically inclined. He +forgot that an emergency rocket landing cancels any verbal orders. So +I took the ship up a few inches. Geepees aren't very bright; that +satisfied them that I was coming in for a landing. What Cameron should +have done was splash some heat against a gravital unit, and then, +having created an artificial emergency condition in the main dome, he +could have directed the geepees from the gravity control center. After +that, he would have had top priority, not me." + +"But they rushed off, carrying Cameron with them." Jordan looked +puzzled. + +"Easy. I told the geepees that there was danger of crashing and that +they must remove any human beings nearby, whether they were willing or +not. You weren't nearby and that let you out. They took Cameron +because he was." + +"It's ours!" breathed Jordan. "But what about Anti and Nona?" + +"Anti's taken care of. As far as the geepees are concerned, she comes +under the heading of emergency landing material. They'll bring her. +Nona is supposed to be waiting with Anti." Docchi frowned. "There's +nothing we can do if she isn't. Meanwhile you'd better get ready to +take the ship off." + +Jordan swung himself inside. + +Docchi remained at the passenger lock, waiting. He heard the geepees +first and saw them seconds later. They came into sight half pushing, +half carrying a huge rectangular tank. With unexpected robotic +ingenuity, they had mounted it on four of their smaller brethren, the +squat repair robots, which served to support the tremendous weight. + +The tank was filled with blue liquid. Twisted pipes dangled from the +ends; it had been torn and lifted from its foundation. Broken plants +still clung to the narrow ledge on top and moist soil adhered to the +sides. Five geepees pushed it rapidly toward the ship, mechanically +oblivious to the disheveled man who frustratedly shouted and struck at +them. + +"Jordan, open the freight lock." + +In response the ship rose a few more inches and hung quivering. A +section of the ship hinged outward and downward to form a ramp. The +ship was ready to take on cargo. + +Docchi stood at his post. That damn fool Cameron should have stayed in +the main dome where the geepees had released him. His presence added +an unwelcome complication. Still, it should be easy enough to get rid +of him when the time came. + +It was Nona who really worried him. She wasn't anywhere to be seen. He +took an uncertain step down the ramp, came back, shaking his head. It +was impossible to look for her now, though he wanted to. + +The tank neared the ship. A few feet of it projected onto the ramp. +The geepees stopped; their efforts lost momentum. They looked +bewildered. + +The tank rolled backward. The geepees shook, buzzed and looked around, +primarily at Docchi. He didn't wait any longer. He leaped into the +ship. + +"Close the passenger lock!" he shouted. + +Jordan looked up questioningly from the controls. + +"Vogel, the engineer," explained Docchi. "He must have seen the +geepees on scanning when they entered the main dome. He's trying to do +what Cameron should have done, but didn't have enough sense to do." + +The passenger lock swung ponderously shut behind him. + +"Now what?" Jordan asked, worried. + +"First, let's see what you can get on the telecom," said Docchi. + +The angle was impossible, so close to the ship, but they did manage to +get a corner of the tank on the screen. Apparently it was resting +where Docchi had last seen it, though it was difficult to be sure +because the curve of the ship loomed so large. + +"Maybe we'd better get out of here," suggested Jordan nervously. + +"Without the tank? Not a chance. Vogel hasn't got complete control of +them yet." That seemed to be true. The geepees were nearly motionless, +paralyzed. + +"What shall I do?" asked Jordan. + +"Give me full power on the radio," said Docchi. "Burn it out if you +have to. I think the engineer is at the wrong angle to broadcast much +power to them. Besides, the intervening structure is absorbing most of +his signal." + +He waited until Jordan had complied. "The tank must be placed in the +ship," he added. + +Geepees were not designed to sift contradictory commands that were +nearly at the same level of urgency. Their reasoning power was feeble, +but the mechanism was complicated enough. In that respect they +resembled humans. Borderline decisions were difficult. + +"More power," whispered Docchi. + +Sweating, Jordan obeyed. + +Marionettes. This string led toward a certain action. Another, +intrinsically more important, but suddenly far less powerful, pulled +for something else. Circuits burned within electronic brains. +Micro-relays fluttered under the stress. + +Choice.... + +Stiffly the geepees moved and grasped the tank. The quality of +decision, in this case, was strained. Inch by inch the tank rolled up +the ramp. + +"When it's completely on, raise the ramp," Docchi whispered to Jordan +in an even lower voice. + +One geepee wavered and fell. Motionless, it lay there. The remaining +four were barely equal to the task. + +"Now," said Docchi. + +The freight ramp began to rise. The tank picked up speed as it rolled +into the ship. + +"Geepees, save yourselves!" shouted Docchi. + +They leaped from the ramp. + +Jordan breathed deeply. "I don't think they can hurt us now." + +Docchi nodded. "Get me ship-to-asteroid communication, if there's any +radio left." + +"There is." Jordan made the adjustment. + +"Vogel, we're going out. Give us the proper sequence and save the dome +some damage." + +There was no reply. + +"He's trying to bluff," said Jordan. "He knows the airlocks to the +main dome will automatically close if we do break through." + +"Sure," said Docchi. "Everyone in the main dome is safe, _if_ +everyone is in there. Vogel, we'll give you time to think about +that." + +Jordan gave him the time until it hurt, waiting. Meanwhile he flipped +on the telecom and searched the rocket dome. Nothing was moving; no +geepee was in sight. Docchi watched the screen with interest. What he +thought didn't show on his face. + +Still there was no reply from Vogel. + +"All right," Docchi said in a low, hard voice. "Jordan, take it out. +Hit the shell with the bow of the rocket." + +The ship hardly quivered as it ripped through the transparent covering +of the rocket dome. The worst sound was unheard: the hiss of air +escaping through the great hole in the envelope. + +Jordan sat at the controls, gripping the levers. "I couldn't tell," he +said slowly. "It happened too fast for me to be sure. Maybe Vogel did +have the inner shell out of the way. In that event, it's all right +because it would close immediately. The outer shell is supposed to be +self-sealing, but I doubt if it could handle that much damage." + +He twisted the lever and the ship leaped forward. + +"Cameron I don't mind. He had enough time to get out if he wanted to. +But I keep thinking that Nona might be in there." + +Docchi avoided his eyes. There was no light at all in his face. He +walked away. + +Jordan rocked back and forth. The hemisphere that held what remained +of his body was well suited for that. He set the auto-controls and +reduced the gravity to one-quarter Earth normal. He bent his great +arms and shoved himself into the air, deftly catching hold of a guide +rail. He would have to go with Docchi. But not at the moment. He felt +bad. + +That is, he did until he saw a light blinking at a cabin door. He had +to investigate that first. + + * * * * * + +Jordan caught up before Docchi reached the cargo hold. In the lesser +gravity of the ship Jordan was truly at home. + +Docchi turned and waited for him. Jordan still carried the weapon he +had taken from the pilot. It was clipped to the sacklike garment he +wore, dangling from his midsection, which, for him was just below his +shoulders. Down the corridor he flew, swinging from the guide rails +lightly, though gravity on the ship was as erratic as on the asteroid. + +Docchi braced himself. Locomotion was not so easy for him. + +Jordan halted beside him and dangled from one hand. "We have another +passenger." + +Docchi stiffened. "Who?" + +"I could describe her," said Jordan. "But why, when a name will do at +least as well?" + +"Nona!" said Docchi. He slumped in sudden relief against the wall. +"How did she get in the ship?" + +"A good question," said Jordan. "Remind me to ask her that sometime +when she's able to answer. But since I don't know, I'll have to use my +imagination. My guess is that, after she jammed the lights and +scanners in the rocket dome, she walked to the ship and tapped the +passenger lock three times in the right places, or something just as +improbable. The lock opened for her whether it was supposed to or +not." + +"As good a guess as any," agreed Docchi. + +"We may as well make our assumptions complete. Once inside, she felt +tired. She found a comfortable cabin and fell asleep in it. She +remained asleep throughout our skirmish with the geepees." + +"She deserves a rest," said Docchi. + +"She does. But if she had waited a few minutes to take it, she'd have +saved you the trouble of crawling through the tubes." + +"She did her part and more," Docchi argued. "We depend too much on +her. Next we'll expect her to escort us personally to the stars." He +straightened up. "Let's go. Anti is waiting for us." + +The cargo hold was sizable. It had to be to contain the tank, battered +and twisted though it was. Equipment had been jarred from storage +racks and lay in tangled heaps on the floor. + +"Anti!" called Docchi. + +"Here." + +"Are you hurt?" + +"Never felt a thing," came the cheerful reply. + + * * * * * + +Jordan scaled the side of the tank. He reached the top and peered +over. "She seems all right," he called down. "Part of the acid's gone. +Otherwise no damage." + +Damage enough, however. Acid was a matter of life for Anti. It had +been splashed from the tank and, where it had spilled, metal was +corroding rapidly. The wall against which the tank had crashed was +bent and partly eaten through. That was no reason for alarm; the +scavenging system of the ship would handle acid. The real question was +what to do for Anti. + +"I've stewed in this soup for years," said Anti. "Get me out of here." + +"How?" + +"If you weren't as stupid as doctors pretend to be, you'd know how. No +gravity, of course. I've got muscles, more than you think. I can walk +as long as my bones don't break from the weight." + +No gravity would be rough on Docchi; having no arms, he would be +virtually helpless. The prospect of floating free without being able +to grasp something was terrifying. + +"As soon as we can manage it," he said, forcing down his fear. "First +we've got to drain and store the acid." + +Jordan had anticipated that. He'd swung off the tank and was busy +expelling the water from an auxiliary compartment into space. As soon +as the compartment was empty, he led a hose from it to the tank. + +The pumps sucked and the acid level fell slowly. + +Docchi felt the ship lurch familiarly. "Hurry," he called out to +Jordan. + +The gravital unit was acting up. Presumably it was getting ready to +cut out. If it did--well, a free-floating globe of acid would be as +destructive to the ship and those in it as a high velocity meteor +cluster. + +Jordan jammed the lever as far as it would go and held it there. "All +out," said Jordan presently, and let the hose roll back into the wall. +Done in plenty of time. The gravital unit remained in operation for a +full minute. + +As soon as she was weightless, Anti rose out of the tank. + +In all the time Docchi had known her, he had seen no more than a face +framed in blue acid. Periodic surgery, where it was necessary, had +trimmed the flesh from her face. For the rest, she lived submerged in +a corrosive liquid that destroyed the wild tissue as fast as it grew. +Or nearly as fast. + +Docchi averted his eyes. + +"Well, junkman, look at a real monster," snapped Anti. + + * * * * * + +Humans were not meant to grow that large. But it was not obscene to +Docchi, merely unbelievable. Jupiter is not repulsive because it is +the bulging giant of planets; it is overwhelming, and so was Anti. + +"How will you live out of the acid?" he stammered. + +"How really unobservant some men are," said Anti loftily. "I +anticipated our little journey and prepared for it. If you look +closely, you will notice I have on a special surgery robe. It's the +only thing in the Solar System that will fit me. It's fabricated from +a spongelike substance and holds enough acid to last me about +thirty-six hours." + +She grasped a rail and propelled herself toward the corridor. Normally +that was a spacious passageway. For her it was a close fit. + +Satellites, one glowing and the other swinging in an eccentric orbit, +followed after her. + + * * * * * + +Nona was standing before the instrument panel when they came back. +There was an impressive array of dials, lights and levers in front of +her, but she wasn't interested in these. A single small dial, separate +from the rest, held her complete attention. She seemed disturbed by +what she saw or didn't see. Disturbed or excited, it was difficult to +say which. + +Anti stopped. "Look at her. If I didn't know she's a freak like the +rest of us, the only one, in fact, who was born that way, it would be +easy to hate her--she's so disgustingly normal." + +Normal? True and yet not true. Surgical techniques that could take a +body apart and put it back together again with a skill once reserved +for the repair of machines had made beauty commonplace. No more +sagging muscles, wrinkles; even the aged were attractive and +youthful-seeming until the day they died. No more ill-formed limbs, +misshapen bodies. Everyone was handsome or beautiful. No exceptions. + +None to speak of, at least. + +The accidentals didn't belong, of course. In another day most of them +would have been candidates for a waxworks or the formaldehyde of a +specimen bottle. + +Nona fitted neither category; she wasn't a repair job. Looking at her +closely--and why not?--she was an original work as far from the normal +in one direction as Anti, for example, was in the other. + +"Why is she staring at the little dial?" asked Anti as the others +slipped past her and came into the compartment. "Is there something +wrong with it?" She shrugged. "I would be interested in the big dials. +The ones with colored lights." + +"That's Nona." Docchi smiled. "I'm sure she's never been in the +control room of a rocket before, and yet she went straight to the most +curious thing in it. She's looking at the gravital indicator. Directly +behind it is the gravital unit." + +"How do you know? Does it say so?" + +"It doesn't. You have to be trained to recognize it, or else be Nona." + +Anti dismissed that intellectual feat. "What are you waiting for? You +know she can't hear us. Go stand in front of her." + +"How do I get there?" Docchi had risen a few inches from the floor, +now that Jordan had released him from his grip. + +"A good engineer would have enough sense to put on magneslippers. Nona +did." Anti grasped his jacket. How she was able to move was uncertain. +The tissues that surrounded the woman were too vast to permit the +perception of individual motions. Nevertheless, she proceeded to the +center of the compartment, and with her came Docchi. + +Nona turned before they reached her. + +"My poor boy," sighed Anti. "You do a very bad job of concealing your +emotions, if that's what you're trying to do. Anyway, stop glowing +like a rainbow and say something." + +"Hello," said Docchi. + +Nona smiled at him, though it was Anti that she came to. + +"No, not too close, child. Don't touch the surgery robe unless you +want your pretty face to peel off like a plastiwrapper." + +Nona stopped; she said nothing. + +Anti shook her head hopelessly. "I wish you would learn to read lips +or at least recognize written words. It's so difficult to communicate +with you." + +"She knows facial expressions and actions, I think," said Docchi. +"She's good at emotions. Words are a foreign concept to her." + +"What other concepts does anyone think with?" asked Anti dubiously. + +"Maybe mathematical relationships," answered Docchi. "Though she +doesn't. They've tested her for that." He frowned. "I don't know what +concepts she does think with. I wish I did." + +"Save some of that worry and apply it to our present situation," said +Anti. "The object of your concern doesn't seem to be interested in +it." + +That was true. Nona had wandered back and was staring at the gravital +indicator again. What she saw to hold her attention was a puzzle. + +In some ways she seemed irresponsible and childlike. That was an +elusive thought, though: whose child? Not really, of course. Her +parents were obscure technicians and mechanics, descendants of a long +line of mechanics and technicians. The question he had asked himself +was this: where and how does she belong? He couldn't answer. + +With an effort Docchi came back to reality. "We appealed to the +Medicouncil," he said. "We asked for a ship to go to the nearest star. +It would have to be a rocket, naturally. Even allowing for a better +design than any we now have, the journey would take a long time, forty +or fifty years going and the same length of time back. That's entirely +too long for a normal, but it wouldn't matter to a biocompensator." + +"Why a rocket?" interrupted Jordan. "Why not some form of gravity +drive?" + +"An attractive idea," admitted Docchi. "Theoretically, there's no +limit to gravity drive except light speed, and even that's not +certain. If it would work, the time element could be cut to a +fraction. But the last twenty years have proved that gravity drives +won't work at all outside the Solar System. They function very poorly +even when the ship is as far out as Jupiter's orbit." + +"I thought the gravity drive on a ship was nearly the same as the +gravital unit on the asteroid," said Jordan. "Why won't they +function?" + +"I don't know why," answered Docchi impatiently. "If I did, I wouldn't +be marooned on Handicap Haven. Arms or no arms, biocompensator or not, +I'd be the most important scientist on Earth." + +"With a multitude of pretty women competing for your affections," +added Anti. + +"I think he'd settle for one. A certain one," suggested Jordan. + +"Poor, unimaginative boy," said Anti. "In my youth...." + +"We've heard about your youth," said Jordan. + +"Youth and love are long since past, for both of you. Talk about them +privately if you want, but not now." Docchi glowered at them. +"Anyway," he resumed, "gravity drive is out. One time they had hopes +for it, but no longer. It should be able to drive this ship. Actually, +its sole function is to provide an artificial gravity _inside_ the +ship, for passenger comfort. So rocket ship it is. That's what we +asked for. The Medicouncil refused. Therefore we're going to appeal to +a higher authority." + +"Fine," said Anti. "How?" + +"We've discussed it," answered Docchi. "Ultimately the Medicouncil is +responsible to the Solar Government. And in turn--" + +"All right, I'm in favor of it," said Anti. "I just wanted to know." + +"Mars is closer," continued Docchi. "But Earth is the seat of +government. As soon as we get there...." He stopped suddenly and +listened. + +Anti listened with him and waited until she could stand it no longer. +"What's the matter?" she asked. "I don't hear anything." + +Jordan leaned forward in his seat and looked at the instrument panel. +"That's the trouble, Anti. You're not supposed to hear anything. But +you should be able to _feel_ the vibration from the rocket exhaust, as +long as it's on." + +"I don't feel anything, either." + +"Yeah," said Jordan. He looked at Docchi. "There's plenty of fuel." + + * * * * * + +Momentum of the ship didn't cease when the rockets stopped, of course. +They were still moving, but not very fast and not in the direction +they wanted to go. Gingerly Docchi tried out the magneslippers; he +was clumsy, but no longer helpless in the gravityless ship. He stared +futilely at the instruments as if he could wring more secrets than the +panel had electronic access to. + +"It's mechanical trouble of some sort," he said uneasily. "There's one +way of finding out." + +Before he could move, Anti was in the corridor that led away from the +control compartment. + +"Stay here, Anti," he said. "I'll see what's wrong." + +She reached nearly from the floor to the ceiling. She missed by scant +inches the sides of the passageway. Locomotion was easy enough for +her; turning around wasn't. Anti didn't turn. + +"Look, honey," her voice floated back. "You brought me along for the +ride. That's fine, but I'm not satisfied with it. I want to earn my +fare. You stay and run the ship because you know how and I don't. I'll +find out what's wrong." + +"But you won't know what to do, Anti." There was no answer. "All +right," he said in defeat. "Both of us ought to go. Jordan, you stay +at the controls." + +Anti led the way because Docchi couldn't get around her. Determinedly +he shuffled along. There was a trick to magneslippers that he had +nearly forgotten. Slowly it was coming back to him--shuffle instead of +striding. + +It was a dingy, poorly lighted passageway in an older ship. Handicap +Haven definitely didn't rate the best equipment that was produced. On +one side was the hull of the ship; on the other, a few small cabins. +None were occupied. Anti stopped. The passageway ended in a cross +corridor that led to the other side of the ship. + +"We'd better check the stern rocket tubes," he said, still unable to +see around her. "Open it up and we'll take a look." + +"I can't," said Anti. "There are handles, but the thing won't open. +There's a red light, too. Does that mean anything?" + +His heart sank. "It does. Don't try to open it. With your strength, +you might be unlucky enough to do it." + +"That's a man for you," said Anti sharply. "First he wants me to open +it, and then he tells me not to." + +"There's a vacuum in there. The combustion cap has been retracted. +That's the only thing that will actuate the warning signal. You'd die +in a few seconds if you somehow managed to open the lock to the rocket +compartment." + +"What are we waiting for? Let's get busy and fix it." + +"Sure, fix it. You see, Anti, that didn't happen by itself. Someone, +or something, was responsible." + +"Who?" + +"Did you see anyone when we were loading your tank in the ship?" + +"Nothing. I heard Cameron shouting, a lot of noise. All I could see +was what was directly overhead. What does that have to do with it?" + +"I think it has to do with a geepee. I thought they all dropped +outside. Maybe there was one that didn't." + +"Why a geepee?" she asked blankly. + +"In the first place, no man is strong enough to move the combustion +cap. But if he should somehow manage to exert super-human effort, as +soon as the cap cleared the tubes, rocket action would cease. The air +in the compartment would exhaust into space and anyone in there would +die." + +"So we have a dead geepee in there." + +"A geepee doesn't die. Not even become inactive; it doesn't need air." +Docchi tried to think the thing through. "Not only that, a geepee +might be able to escape from the compartment. The lock would close as +soon as the pressure dropped. But a geepee...." + +Anti settled down grimly. "Then there's a geepee on the loose, intent +on sabotage?" + +"I'm afraid so," he admitted worriedly. + +"What are we standing here for? We'll go back to controls and pick up +the robot on radio. What it damaged, it can repair." She was partly +turned around now and saw Docchi's face. "Don't tell me," she said. "I +suppose I should have thought of it. The signal doesn't work inside +the ship." + +Docchi nodded. "It doesn't. Robots are never used aboard, so the +control is set in the bow antenna and the ship, of course, is +insulated." + +"Well," said Anti happily, "we've got a robot hunt ahead of us." + +"We do. And our bare hands to hunt it with." + +"Oh, come now! It's not as bad as all that. Look, the geepee was back +here when the rockets stopped. Could it get by the control compartment +without our seeing it?" + +"It couldn't. There are two corridors leading through the compartment, +one on each side of the ship." + +"That's what I thought. We came down one corridor and no geepee was in +it. It has to be in the other. If it goes into a cabin, a light will +shine on the outside. It can't really hide from us." + +"Sure, we'll find out where it is. But what are we going to do with it +when we find it?" + +"I was thinking," said Anti. "Can you get around me when I'm standing +like this?" + +"I can't." + +"Neither can a geepee. All I need is a toaster, or something that +looks like one, and I can drive the robot into the control compartment +for Jordan to pick off." Determinedly, she began to move toward the +opposite corridor. "Hurry back to Jordan and tell him what we're +doing. There ought to be another toaster on the ship. Probably there's +one somewhere in the control compartment. Bring it back to me." + +Docchi bit his lip and stared at the back of the huge woman. "All +right," he answered. "But stay where you are. Don't try anything until +I get back." + +Anti laughed. "I value my big, fat life," she said. There were other +things she valued, but she didn't mention them. + +Docchi went as fast as the magneslippers would allow, which wasn't +very fast. The strategy was simple, but it didn't follow that it was +sound--a toaster for Jordan and one for Anti, if another could be +found. + +Anti would block the corridor. A geepee might go through her, but it +could never squeeze past her. The robot would have to run for it. If +it came toward Anti, she might be able to burn it down. But she would +be firing directly into the control room. If she missed even +partially-- + +The instruments were delicate. + +It wasn't better if Jordan got the chance to bring down the robot. +Anti would be in the line of fire. No, that wasn't good, either. +They'd have to think of something else. + +"Jordan," called Docchi as he entered the control compartment. Jordan +wasn't there. Nona was, still gazing serenely at the gravity +indicator. + +Lights were streaming from the corridor on the opposite side of the +compartment. Docchi hurried over. Jordan was just inside the entrance, +the toaster clutched grimly in his hand. He was hitching his truncated +body slowly toward the stern. + +Coming to meet him was Anti--unarmed, enormously fat Anti. She wasn't +walking; somehow it seemed more like swimming, a bulbous, flabby sea +animal moving through the air. She waved her fins against the wall and +propelled herself forward. + +"Melt him down!" she cried. + +It was difficult to make out the vaguely human form of the geepee. The +powerful, shining body blended into the structure of the ship +itself--unintentional camouflage, though the robot wasn't aware of +that. It was crouched at the threshold of a cabin, hesitating between +the approaching dangers. + +Jordan raised the weapon and as instantly lowered it. "Get out of the +way," he told Anti. + +There was no place for her to go. She was too big to enter a cabin, +too massive to let the geepee squeeze by her even if she wanted it to. + +"Never mind that. Get him," she answered. + +A geepee was not a genius even by robot standards. It didn't need to +be. Heat is deadly; a human body is a fragile thing. This it knew. It +ran toward Anti. Unlike man, it didn't need magneslippers. It had +magnetic metal feet which could move fast, and did. + +Docchi couldn't close his eyes, though he wanted to. He had to watch. +The geepee torpedoed into Anti. And it was the robot that was thrown +back. Relative mass favored the monstrous woman. + +The electronic brain obeyed its original instructions, whatever those +were. It got to its feet and rushed toward Anti. Metal arms shot out +with dazzling speed and crashed against the flesh of the fat woman. +Docchi could hear the thud. No ordinary person could take that kind of +punishment and live. + +Anti wasn't ordinary; she was strange, even for an accidental, living +far inside a deep armor of flesh. It was possible that she never felt +the crushing force of those blows. Amazingly, she grasped the robot +and drew it to her. And the geepee lost the advantage of leverage. The +bright arms didn't flash so fast nor with such lethal power. + +"Gravity!" cried Anti. "All you've got!" + +She leaned against the struggling machine. + +Gravity. That was something he could do. Docchi turned, took two steps +before the surge of gravity hit him. It came in waves, the sequence of +which he was never able to disentangle. The first wave staggered him; +at the second his knees buckled and he sank to the floor. After that +his eardrums hurt. He thought he could feel the ship quiver. He knew +dazedly that an artificial gravity field of this magnitude was +impossible, but that knowledge didn't help him move. + +It vanished as suddenly as it had come. Painfully his lungs expanded. +Each muscle ached. He rolled to his feet and lurched past Jordan. + +He didn't find the mass of broken flesh he expected. Anti was already +standing. + +"Oof!" she grunted and gazed with satisfaction at the twisted +grotesque shape at her feet. The electronic brain had been smashed, +the body flattened. + +[Illustration] + +"Are you hurt?" asked Docchi gently, awed. + +She waggled the extremities of her body. "Nope, I can't feel anything +broken," she said solemnly. She moved back to get a better view of the +robot. "I'd call that throwing my weight around. At the right time, of +course. The secret's timing. And I must say you picked up your cue +with the gravity well." Her laughter rolled through the ship. + +"It wasn't I," said Docchi. + +"Jordan? No, he's just getting up. Then who?" + +"Nona," said Docchi. "It had to be her. She saw what had to be done +and did it. But how she got that amount of gravity--" + +"Ask her," said Anti with fond irony. + +Docchi grimaced and limped back into the control room, followed by +Anti and Jordan. Nona was at the gravity panel, her face pleasant and +childlike. + +"Gravity can be turned on or off," said Docchi puzzledly, searching +her face for some sign. "And regulated, within certain narrow limits. +But somehow you doubled or tripled the normal amount. How?" + +Nona smiled questioningly. + +"Gravity engineers would like to know that too," said Jordan. + +"Everybody would like to know," Anti interrupted irritably. "Except +me. I'm too pragmatic, I suppose, but I want to know when we start the +rockets and be on our way." + +"It isn't that easy," sighed Jordan. "A retracted combustion cap in +flight generally means at least one burned-out tube." He made his way +to the instrument panel and looked at it glumly. "Three." + +"A factor." Docchi nodded. "But I was thinking about the robot." + +Anti was impatient. "An interesting subject, no doubt. What about it?" + +"Where did it get instructions? Not radio; the hull of the ship cuts +off all radiation. The last we knew, it was in our control." + +"All right, how?" + +"Voice," said Docchi. "Cameron's voice, to be exact." + +"But he was in the rocket dome," Jordan objected. + +"Think back to when we were loading the tank. We had to look through +the telecom and the angle of vision was bad. We couldn't see much of +the cargo lock. Anti couldn't see anything that wasn't directly +overhead. Both Cameron and the geepee managed to get inside and we +didn't know it." + +Jordan hefted his weapon. "Looks like we've got another hunt on our +hands. This time a nice normal doctor." + +"Keep it handy," said Docchi, glancing at the toaster. "But be careful +how you use it. One homicide and we can forget what we came for. I +think he'll be ready to surrender. The ship's temporarily disabled; +he'll consider that damage enough." + + * * * * * + +Jordan found the doctor in the forward section of the ship. Cameron +knew better than to argue with a toaster. In a matter of minutes he +was in the control room. + +"Now that you've got me, what are you going to do with me?" he asked. + +Docchi swiveled away from the instrument panel. "I don't expect active +cooperation, of course, but I like to think you'll give your word not +to hinder us hereafter." + +Cameron glared. "I promise nothing of the kind." + +"We can chain him to Anti," suggested Jordan. "That will keep him out +of trouble." + +"Like leading a poodle on a leash? Nope," said Anti indignantly. "A +girl has to have some privacy." + +"Don't wince, Cameron," objected Docchi. "She really was a girl once, +an attractive one." + +"We can put him in a spacesuit and lock his hands behind his back," +said Jordan. "Something like an ancient straitjacket." + +Cameron laughed. + +"No, that's inhuman," said Docchi. + +Jordan juggled the toaster. "I can weld with this. Let's put him in a +cabin and weld the door closed. We can cut a slot to shove food in. A +very narrow slot." + +"Excellent. I think you have the solution. That is, unless Dr. Cameron +will reconsider his decision." + +Cameron shrugged. "They'll pick you up in a day or less anyway. I +suppose I'm not compromising myself by agreeing to your terms." + +"Good." + +"A doctor's word is as good as his oath," observed Anti. "Hippocratic +or hypocritic." + +"Now, Anti, don't be cynical. Doctors have an economic sense as well +as the next person," said Docchi gravely. He turned to Cameron. "You +see, after Anti grew too massive for her skeletal structure, doctors +reasoned she'd be most comfortable in the absence of gravity. That was +in the early days, before successful ship gravital units were +developed. They put her on an interplanetary ship and kept +transferring her before each landing. + +"But that grew troublesome and--expensive. They devised a new +treatment; the asteroid and the tank of acid. Not being aquatic by +nature, Anti resented the change. She still does." + +"I knew nothing about that," Cameron pointed out defensively. + +"It was before your time." Docchi frowned at the doctor. "Tell me, why +did you laugh when Jordan mentioned a spacesuit?" + +Cameron grinned. "That was my project while you were busy with the +robot." + +"To do what? Jordan--" + +But Jordan was already on his way. He was gone for some time. + +"Well?" asked Docchi on his return. It really wasn't necessary; +Jordan's gloomy face told the story. + +"Cut to ribbons." + +"All of them?" + +"Every one. Beyond repair." + +"What's the excitement about?" rumbled Anti. "We don't need spacesuits +unless something happens to the ship and we have to go outside." + +"Exactly, Anti. How do you suppose we go about replacing the defective +tubes? From the outside, of course. By destroying the spacesuits, +Cameron made sure we can't." + +Anti opened her mouth with surprise and closed it in anger. She +glowered at the doctor. + +"We're still in the asteroid zone," said Cameron. "In itself, that's +not dangerous. Without power to avoid stray rocks, it is. I advise you +to contact the Medicouncil. They'll send a ship to pick us up and tow +us in." + +"No, thanks. I don't like Handicap Haven as well as you do," Anti said +brusquely. She turned to Docchi. "Maybe I'm stupid for asking, but +exactly what is it that's deadly about being out in space without a +spacesuit?" + +"Cold. Lack of air pressure. Lack of oxygen." + +"Is that all? Nothing else?" + +His laugh was too loud. "Isn't that enough?" + +"I wanted to be sure," she said. + +She beckoned to Nona, who was standing near. Together they went +forward, where the spacesuits were kept. + +Cameron scowled puzzledly and started to follow. Jordan waved the +toaster around. + +"All right," said the doctor, stopping. He rubbed his chin. "What is +she thinking about?" + +"I wouldn't know," said Docchi. "She's not scientifically trained, if +that's what you mean. But she has a good mind, as good as her body +once was." + +"And how good was that?" + +"We don't talk about it," said Jordan shortly. + + * * * * * + +It was a long time before the women came back--if the weird creature +that floated into the control compartment with Nona _was_ Anti. + +Cameron stared at her and saw shudderingly that it was. "You need a +session with the psycho-computer," he said. "When we get back, that's +the first thing we do. Can't you understand...." + +"Be quiet," growled Jordan. "Now, Anti, explain what you've rigged +up." + +"Any kind of pressure is good enough as far as the outside of the body +is concerned," answered Anti, flipping back the helmet. "Mechanical +pressure will do as well as air pressure. I had Nona cut the +spacesuits into strips and wind them around me--hard. Then I found a +helmet that would fit over my head when the damaged part was cut away. +It won't hold much air pressure, even taped very tight to my skin. But +as long as it's pure oxygen--" + +"It might be satisfactory," admitted Docchi. "But the temperature?" + +"Do you think I'm going to worry about cold?" asked Anti. "Me? Way +down below all this flesh?" + +"Listen to me," said Cameron through his teeth. "You've already +seriously threatened my career with all this childish nonsense. I +won't permit you to ruin it altogether by a deliberate suicide." + +"You and your stinking career," retorted Jordan tiredly. "We're not +asking your permission to do anything." He turned away from the +doctor. "You understand the risk, Anti? It's possible that it won't +work at all." + +"I've thought about it," Anti replied soberly. "On the other hand, +I've thought about the asteroid." + +"All right," said Jordan. Docchi nodded. Nona bobbed her head; it was +doubtful that she knew what she was agreeing to. + +"Let's have some telecom viewers outside," said Docchi. "One directly +in back, one on each side. We've got to know what's happening." + +Jordan went to the control panel and flipped levers. "They're out and +working," he said, gazing at the screen. "Now, Anti, go to the freight +lock. Close your helmet and wait. I'll let the air out slowly. The +pressure change will be gradual. If anything seems wrong, let me know +over the helmet radio and I'll yank you in immediately. Once you're +outside I'll give you further instructions. Tools and equipment are in +a compartment that opens into space." + +Anti waddled away. + +Jordan looked down at his legless body. "I suppose we have to be +realistic about it--" + +"We do," answered Docchi. "Anti is the only one of us who has a chance +of doing the job and surviving." + +Jordan adjusted a dial. "It was Cameron who was responsible for it. +If Anti doesn't come back, you can be damn sure he'll join her." + +"No threats, please," said Docchi. "When are you going to let her +out?" + +"She's out," said Jordan. Deliberately, he had diverted their +attention while he had taken the burden of emotional strain. + +Docchi glanced hastily at the telecom. Anti was hanging free in space, +wrapped and strapped in strips torn from the useless spacesuits--that, +and more flesh than any human had ever borne. The helmet sat jauntily +on her head; the oxygen cylinder was strapped to her back. She was +still intact. + +"How is she?" he asked anxiously, unaware that the microphone was +open. + +"Fine," came Anti's reply, faint and ready. "The air's thin, but it's +pure oxygen." + +"Cold?" asked Docchi. + +"It hasn't penetrated yet. No worse than the acid, at any rate. What +do I do?" + +Jordan gave her directions. The others watched. It was work to find +the tools and examine the tubes for defectives, to loosen the tubes in +the sockets and pull them out and push them spinning into space. It +was still harder to replace them, though there was no gravity and Anti +was held to the hull by magneslippers. + +But it seemed more than work. To Cameron, who was watching, an odd +thought occurred: In her remote past, of which he knew nothing, Anti +had done something like this before. Ridiculous, of course. Yet there +was a rhythm to her motions, this shapeless giant creature whose bones +would break with her weight if she tried to stand at even only half +Earth gravity. Rhythm, a sense of purpose, a strange pattern, an +incredible gargantuan grace. + +The whale plowing the waves is graceful; it cannot be otherwise in its +natural habitat. The human race had produced, accidentally, one +unlikely person to whom interplanetary space was not an alien thing. +Anti was at last in her element. + +"Now," said Jordan, keeping the tension out of his voice, "go back to +the outside tool compartment. You'll find a lever. Pull. That will set +the combustion cap in place." + +"Done," said Anti, some minutes later. + +"That's all. You can come in now." + +"That's all? But I'm not cold. It hasn't reached any nerves yet." + +"Come in," repeated Jordan, showing the anger of alarm. + +She walked slowly over the hull to the cargo lock and, while she did, +Jordan reeled in the telecom viewers. The lock was no sooner closed +to the outside and the air hissing into the compartment than Jordan +was there, opening the inner lock. + +"Are you all right?" he asked. + +She flipped back the helmet. There was frost on her eyebrows and her +nose was a bright red. "Of course. My hands aren't a bit cold." She +stripped off the heated gloves and waggled her fingers. + +"It _can't_ be!" protested Cameron. "You should be frozen stiff!" + +"Why?" asked Anti, laughing. "It's a matter of insulation and I have +plenty of that." + +Cameron turned to Docchi. "When I was a kid, I saw a film of a dancer. +She did a ballet, Life of the Cold Planets, I believe it was called. +For some cockeyed reason, I thought of it when Anti was out there. I +hadn't thought of it in years." + +He rubbed his hand fretfully over his forehead. "It fascinated me when +I first saw it. I couldn't get it out of my mind. When I grew older, I +found out a tragic thing happened to the dancer. She was on a tour of +Venus and the ship she was in disappeared. They sent out searching +parties, of course. They found her after she had spent a week on a +fungus plain. You know what that meant. The great ballerina was a +living spore culture medium." + +"Shut up," growled Jordan. + +Cameron didn't seem to hear. "Naturally, she died. I can't remember +her name, but I've always remembered the ballet she did. And that's +funny, because it reminded me of Anti out there--" + +A fist exploded in his face. If there had been more behind the blow +than shoulders and a fragment of a body, his jaw would have been +broken. As it was he floated through the air and crashed against the +wall. + +Angrily, he got to his feet. "I gave my word I wouldn't cause any +trouble. The agreement evidently doesn't work both ways." He glanced +significantly at the weapon Jordan carried. "Maybe you'd better be +sure to have that around at all times." + +"I told you to shut up," said Jordan. After that he ignored the +doctor. He didn't have a body with which to do it, but somehow Jordan +managed a bow. "A flawless performance. One of your very best, +Antoinette." + +"Do you think so?" sighed Anti. The frost had melted from her eyebrows +and was trickling down her cheek. She left with Jordan. + +Cameron remained behind. He felt his jaw. It was too bad about his +ambitions. He knew now that he was never going to be the spectacular +success he had once imagined. Not after these accidentals had escaped +from Handicap Haven. Still, he would always be able to practice +medicine somewhere in the Solar System. He'd done his best on the +asteroid and this ship, and he'd been a complete ass both times. + +The ballerina hadn't really died, as he had been told. It would have +been better for her if she had. He succeeded in recalling her name. It +had been Antoinette. + +Now it was Anti. He could have found that out by checking her case +history--_if_ Handicap Haven had one on file. Probably not, he +comforted himself. Why keep case histories of hopeless cases? + + * * * * * + +"We'll stick to the regular lanes," said Docchi. "I think we'll get +closer. They have no reason to suspect that we're heading toward +Earth. Mars is more logical, or one of the moons of Jupiter, or +another asteroid." + +Jordan shifted uneasily. "I'm not in favor of it. They'll pick us up +before we have a chance to say anything." + +"But there's nothing to distinguish us from an ordinary Earth-to-Mars +rocket. We have a ship's registry on board. Pick out a ship that's in +our class. Hereafter, we're going to be that ship. If Traffic blips +us, and they probably won't unless we try to land, have a recording +ready. Something like this: 'ME 21 zip crackle 9 reporting. Our +communication is acting up. We can't hear you, Traffic.' Don't overdo +the static effects but repeat that with suitable variations and I +don't think they will bother us." + +Shaking his head dubiously, Jordan swung away toward the repair shops. + +"You look worried," said Anti. + +Docchi turned around. "Yeah." + +"Won't it work?" + +"Sure. We'll get close to Earth. They're not looking for us around +here. They don't really know why we escaped in the rocket. That's why +they can't figure out where we're going." + +His face was taut and his eyes were tired. "It's not that. The entire +Solar Police Force has been alerted for us." + +"Which means?" + +"Look. We planned to bypass the Medicouncil and take our case directly +to the Solar Government. If they want us as much as the radio +indicates, it's not likely they'll be very sympathetic. If the Solar +Government doesn't support us all the way, we'll never get another +chance." + +"Well?" said Anti. She seemed trimmer, more vigorous. "What are we +waiting for? Let's take the last step first." + +He raised his head. "The Solar Government won't like it." + +"They won't, but there's nothing they can do about it." + +"I think there is--simply shoot us down. When we stole the ship, we +automatically stepped into the criminal class." + +"We knew that in advance." + +"Is it worth it?" + +"I think so," said Anti. + +"In that event," he said, "I'll need time to get ready." + +She scrutinized him carefully. "Maybe we can fix you up." + +"With fake arms and grease-paint? No. They'll have to accept us as we +are." + +"A good idea. I hadn't thought of the sympathy angle." + +"Not sympathy. Reality. I don't want them to approve of us as handsome +accidentals and have them change their minds when they discover what +we're really like." + +Anti looked doubtful, but she kept her objections to herself as she +waddled away. + +Sitting in silence, he watched her go. She, at least, would derive +some benefit. Dr. Cameron apparently hadn't noticed that exposure to +extreme cold had done more to inhibit her unceasing growth than the +acid bath. She'd never be normal again; that was obvious. But some +day, if the cold treatment were properly investigated, she might be +able to stand gravity. + +He examined the telecom. They were getting closer. No longer a bright +point of light, Earth was a perceptible disc. He could see the outline +of oceans, shapes of land; he could imagine people. + +Jordan came in. "The record is rigged up, though we haven't had to use +it. But we have a friend behind us. An official friend." + +"Has he blipped us?" + +"Not yet. He keeps hanging on." + +"Is he overtaking us?" + +"He would like to." + +"Don't let him." + +"With this bag of bolts?" + +"Shake it apart if you have to," Docchi impatiently said. "How soon +can you break into a broadcasting orbit?" + +"I thought that was our last resort." + +"Right. As far as Anti and I are concerned, this is it. Any argument +against?" + +"None that I can think of," answered Jordan. "With a heavy cruiser +behind us, no argument at all." + + * * * * * + +They were all in the control compartment. "I don't want a focus +exclusively on me," Docchi was saying. "To a world of perfect normals +I may look strange, but we have to avoid the family portrait effect." + +"Samples," suggested Anti. + +"In a sense, yes. A lot depends on whether they accept those +samples." + +[Illustration] + +For the first time Dr. Cameron began to realize what they were up to. +"Wait!" he exclaimed. "You've got to listen to me!" + +"We're not going to wait and we've already done enough listening to +you," said Docchi. "Jordan, see that Cameron stays out of the telecom +transmitting angle and doesn't interrupt. We've come too far for +that." + +"Sure," Jordan promised harshly. "If he makes a sound, I'll melt the +teeth out of his mouth." He held the toaster against his side, out of +line with the telecom, but aimed at Cameron's face. + +Cameron began to shake with urgency, but he kept still. + +"Ready?" Docchi asked. + +"Flip the switch and we will be, with everything we've got. If they +don't read us, it'll be because they don't want to." + +The rocket slipped out of the approach lanes. It spun down, the stern +tubes pulsing brightly, coming toward Earth in a tight trajectory. + +[Illustration] + +"Citizens of the Solar System!" began Docchi. "Everyone on Earth! This +is an unscheduled broadcast, an unauthorized appeal. We are using the +emergency bands because, for us, it is an emergency. Who are we? +Accidentals, of course, as you can see by looking at us. I know the +sight isn't pretty, but we consider other things more important than +appearance. Accomplishment, for example. Contributing to progress in +ways normals cannot do. + +"Shut away on Handicap Haven, we're denied this right. All we can do +there is exist in frustration and boredom; kept alive whether we want +to be or not. Yet we have a gigantic contribution to make ... if we +are allowed to leave the Solar System for Alpha Centauri! You can't +travel to the stars now, although eventually you will. + +"You must be puzzled, knowing how slow our present rockets are. No +normal person could make the round trip; he would die of old age. But +we accidentals can go! We would positively _not_ die of old age! The +Medicouncil knows that is true ... and still will not allow us to go!" + +At the side of the control compartment, Cameron opened his mouth to +protest. Jordan, glancing at him, imperceptibly waggled the concealed +weapon. Cameron swallowed his words and subsided without a sound. + +"Biocompensation," continued Docchi evenly. "You may know about it, +but in case information on it has been suppressed, let me explain: The +principle of biocompensation has long been a matter of conjecture. +This is the first age in which medical technology is advanced enough +to explore it. Every cell, every organism, tends to survive, as an +individual, as a species. Injure it and it strives for survival +according to the seriousness of the injury. We accidentals have been +maimed and mutilated almost past belief. + +"Our organisms had the assistance of medical science. _Real_ medical +science. Blood was supplied as long as we needed it, machines did all +our breathing, kidneys were replaced, hearts furnished, glandular +products supplied in the exact quantities necessary, nervous and +muscular systems were regenerated. In the extremity of our organic +struggle, because we had the proper treatment, our bodies were wiped +virtually free of death." + +Sweat ran down his face. He longed for hands to wipe it away. + +"Most accidentals are nearly immortal. Not quite--we'll die four or +five hundred years from now. Meanwhile, there is no reason why we +can't leave the Solar System. Rockets are slow; you would die before +you got back from Alpha Centauri. We won't. Time doesn't matter to us. + +"Perhaps better, faster rockets will be devised after we leave. You +may get to there long before we do. We won't mind. We will simply have +made our contribution to progress as best we could, and that will +satisfy us." + +With an effort Docchi smiled. The instant he did, he felt it was a +mistake, one that he couldn't rectify. Even to himself it felt more +like a snarl. + +"You know where we're kept That's a politer word than imprisoned. We +don't call it Handicap Haven; our name for it is the _junkpile_. And +to ourselves we're junkmen. Does this give you a clue to how we feel? + +"I don't know what you'll have to do to force the Medicouncil to grant +their permission. We appeal to you as our last resort. We have tried +all other ways and failed. Our future as human beings is at stake. +Whether we get what we want and need is something for you to settle +with your conscience." + +He nudged the switch and sat down. + +His face was gray. + +"I don't like to bother you," said Jordan, "but what shall we do about +them?" + +Docchi glanced at the telecom. "They" were uncomfortably close and +considerably more numerous than the last time he had looked. + +"Take evasive action," he said wearily. "Swing close to Earth and use +the planet's gravity to give us a good push. We've got to keep out of +their hands until people have time to react." + +"I think you ought to know--" began Cameron. There was an odd tone to +his voice. + +"Save it for later," said Docchi. "I'm going to sleep." His body +sagged. "Jordan, wake me up if anything important happens. And +remember that you don't have to listen to this fellow unless you want +to." + +Jordan nodded and touched the controls. Nona, leaning against the +gravital panel, paid no attention to the scene. She seemed to be +listening to something nobody else could hear. That was nothing new, +but it broke Docchi's heart whenever he saw it. His breath drew in +almost with a sob as he left the control room. + + * * * * * + +The race went on. Backdrop: planets, stars, darkness. The little +flecks of light that edged nearer didn't seem cheerful to Jordan. His +lips were fixed in a straight, hard line. He could hear Docchi come in +behind him. + +"Nice speech," said Cameron. + +"Yeah." Docchi glanced at the telecom. The view didn't inspire further +comment. + +"That's the trouble, it was just a speech. It didn't do you any good. +My advice is to give up before you get hurt." + +"It would be." + +Cameron stood at the threshold. "I may as well tell you," he said +reluctantly. "I tried to before the broadcast, as soon as I found out +what you were going to do. But you wouldn't listen." + +He came into the control compartment. Nona was huddled in a seat, +motionless, expressionless. Anti was absent. + +"You know why the Medicouncil refused to let you go?" + +"Sure," said Docchi. + +"The general metabolism of accidentals is further from normal than +that of creatures we dredge from the bottom of the sea. Add to that an +enormously elongated life span and you ought to see the Medicouncil's +objection." + +"Get to the point!" + +"Look at it this way," Cameron continued almost desperately. "The +Centauri group contains quite a few planets. From what we know of +cosmology, intelligent life probably exists there to a greater or +lesser extent. You will be our representatives to them. What _they_ +look like isn't important; it's their concern. But our ambassadors +have to meet certain minimum standards. They at least--damn it, don't +you see that they at least have to _look_ like human beings?" + +"I know you feel that way," said Jordan, rigid with contempt. + +"I'm not talking for myself," Cameron said. "I'm a doctor. The +medicouncilors are doctors. We graft on or regenerate legs and arms +and eyes. We work with blood and bones and intestines. We know what a +thin borderline separates normal people from--from you. + +"Don't you understand? They're perfect, perhaps too much so. They +can't tolerate even small blemishes. They rush to us with things like +hangnails, pimples, simple dandruff. Health--or rather the appearance +of it--has become a fetish. They may think they're sympathetic to you, +but what they actually feel is something else." + +"What are you driving at?" whispered Docchi. + +"Just this: if it were up to the Medicouncil, you would be on your way +to the Centauri group. But it isn't. The decision always had to be +referred back to the Solar System as a whole. And the Medicouncil +can't go counter to the mass of public opinion." + +Docchi turned away in loathing. + +"Don't believe me," said Cameron. "You're not too far from Earth. Pick +up the reaction to your broadcast." + +Worriedly, Jordan looked at Docchi. + +"We may as well find out," said Docchi. "It's settled now, one way or +the other." + +They searched band after band. The reaction was always the same. +Obscure private citizen or prominent one, man or woman, they all told +how sorry they were for the accidentals, but-- + +"Turn it off," said Docchi at last. + +"Now what?" Jordan asked numbly. + +"You have no choice," said the doctor. + +"No choice," repeated Docchi dully. "No choice but to give up. We +misjudged who our allies were." + +"We knew you had," said Cameron. "It seemed better to let you go on +thinking that way while you were on the asteroid. It gave you +something to hope for. It made you feel you weren't alone. The trouble +was that you got farther than we thought you would ever be able to." + +"So we did," Docchi said. His lethargy seemed to lift a little. "And +there's no reason to stop now. Jordan, pick up the ships behind us. +Tell them we've got Cameron on board. A hostage. Play him up as a +hero. Basically, he's not with those who are against us." + +Anti came into the control compartment. Cheerfulness faded from her +face. "What's the matter?" she asked. + +"Jordan will explain to you. I've got to think." + +Docchi closed his eyes. The ship lurched slightly, though the +vibration from the rockets did not change. There was no reason for +alarm; the flight of a ship was never completely steady. Docchi paid +no attention. + +At last he opened his eyes. "If we were properly fueled and +provisioned," he said without much hope, "I would be in favor of the +four of us heading for Alpha or Proxima. Maybe even Sirius. It +wouldn't matter where, since we wouldn't intend to come back. But we +can't make it with our small fuel reserve. If we can shake the ships +behind us, we might be able to hide until we can steal the necessary +fuel and food." + +"What'll we do with Doc?" asked Jordan. + +"We'd have to raid an unguarded outpost, of course. Probably a small +mining asteroid. We can leave him there." + +"Yeah," said Jordan. "A good idea, _if_ we can run away from our +personal escort of bloodhounds. Offhand, that doesn't seem very +likely. They didn't come any closer when I told them we had Doc with +us, but they didn't drop back--" + +He stopped and raised his eyes to the telecom. He blinked, not +believing what he saw. + +"They're gone!" His voice broke with excitement. + +Almost instantly Docchi was beside him. "No," he corrected. "They're +still following, but they're very far behind." Even as he looked, the +pursuing ships visibly lost ground. + +"What's our relative speed?" asked Jordon. He looked at the dials +himself, frowned, tapped them as if the needles had gone crazy. + +"What did you do to the rockets?" demanded Docchi. + +"Nothing! There wasn't a thing I _could_ do. We were already running +at top speed." + +"We're above it. Way above it. How?" + +There was nothing to explain their astonishing velocity. Cameron, +Anti, and Jordan were in the control compartment. Nona still sat +huddled up, hands pressed tight against her head. There was no +explanation at all, yet power was pouring into the gravital unit, as a +long unused, actually useless dial was indicating. + +"The gravital drive is working," Docchi blankly pointed out. + +"Nonsense," said Anti. "I don't feel any weight." + +"You don't," answered Docchi. "You won't. The gravital unit was +originally installed to drive the ship. When that proved +unsatisfactory, it was converted. The difference is slight but +important. An undirected general field produces weight effects inside +the ship. That's for passenger comfort. A directed field, outside the +ship, will drive it. You can have one or the other, not both." + +"But I didn't turn on the gravital drive," said Jordan in flat +bewilderment. "I couldn't if I wanted to. It's disconnected." + +"I would agree with you, except for one thing. It's working." Docchi +stared at Nona, whose eyes were closed. "Get her attention," he said. + +It was Jordan who gently touched her shoulder. She opened her eyes. On +the instrument board, the needle of a once useless dial rose and fell. + +"What's the matter with the poor dear?" asked Anti. "She's shaking." + +"Let her alone," said Docchi. + +No one moved. No one said anything at all. Minutes passed while the +ancient ship creaked and groaned and ran away from the fastest rockets +in the Solar System. + +"I think I know," said Docchi at last, still frowning. "Consider the +gravity-generating plant. Part of it is an electronic computer, +capable of making the necessary calculations and juggling the +proportion of power required to produce, continuously, directed or +undirected gravity. In other words, a brain, a complex mechanical +intelligence. From the viewpoint of that intelligence, why should it +perform _ad infinitum_ a complicated but meaningless routine? It +didn't know why, and because it didn't, very simply, it refused to do +so. + +"Now consider Nona. She's deaf, can't speak, can't communicate. In a +way she's comparable to the gravital computer. Like it, she has a very +high potential intelligence. Like it, she's had difficulty grasping +the facts of her environment. Unlike it, though, she has learned +something. How much, I don't know, but it's far more than the +Medicouncil psychologists credit her with." + +"Yeah," said Jordan dubiously. "But what's happening now?" + +"If there were two humans involved, you would call it telepathy," +answered Docchi hesitantly, fumbling for concepts he could only sense +without grasping. "One intelligence is electronic, the other organic. +You'll have to coin a new term, because the only one I know is +extrasensory perception, and that's obviously ridiculous. It is, isn't +it?" + +Jordan smiled and flexed his arms. Under the shapeless garment his +muscles rippled. "It isn't," he said. "The power was there, but we're +the only ones who know how to use it. Or rather Nona is." + +"Power?" repeated Anti, rising majestically. "You can keep it. I want +just enough to get to Centauri." + +"I think you'll get it," Docchi promised. "A lot of things seem +clearer now. For example, in the past, why didn't gravital units work +well at considerable distances from the Sun? As a matter of fact, the +efficiency of each unit was inversely proportional to the square of +the distance between it and the Sun. + +"The gravital computer is a deaf, blind, mass-sensitive brain. The +major fact in its existence is the Sun, the greatest mass in the Solar +System. To such a brain, leaving the Solar System would be like +stepping off the edge of a flat world, because it couldn't be aware of +stars. + +"Now that it knows about the Galaxy, the drive will work anywhere. +With Nona to direct it, even Sirius isn't far away." + +"Doc," said Jordan carelessly, "you'd better be figuring a way to get +off the ship. Remember, we're going faster than man ever went before." +He chuckled. "Unless, of course, you _like_ our company and don't want +to leave." + +"We've got to do some figuring ourselves," interposed Docchi. "Such as +where we are heading now." + +"A good idea," said Jordan. He busied himself with charts and +calculations. Gradually his flying fingers slowed. His head bent low +over his work. At last he stopped and folded his arms. + +"Where?" asked Docchi. + +"There." Jordan dully punched the telecom selector and a view became +fixed on the screen. In the center glimmered a tiny world, a fragment +of a long-exploded planet. Their destination was easily recognizable. + +It was Handicap Haven. + +"But why do we want to go there?" asked Anti. She looked in amazement +at Docchi. + +"We're not going voluntarily," he answered, his voice flat and spent. +"We're going where the Medicouncil wants us to go. We forgot about the +monitor system. When Nona activated the gravital unit, that fact was +indicated at some central station. All the Medicouncil had to do was +use the monitor to take the gravital drive away from Nona." + +"We thought we were running away from the ships, which we were, but +only to beat them back to the junkpile?" asked Anti. + +Docchi nodded. + +"Well, it's over. We did our best. There's no use crying about it." +Yet she was. She passed by Nona, patting her gently. "It's all right, +darling. You tried." + +Jordan followed her from the compartment. + +Cameron remained; he came over to Docchi. "Everything isn't lost," he +said, somewhat awkwardly. "You're back where you started from, but +Nona at least will benefit." + +"Benefit?" said Docchi. "Someone will. It won't be Nona." + +"You're wrong. Now that she is an important factor--" + +"So is a special experimental machine. Very valuable. I don't think +she'll like that classification." + +Silence met silence. It was Dr. Cameron who turned away. + +"That ghastly glow of yours when you're angry always did upset me. +I'll come back when it's dimmer." + +Docchi glared after him. Cameron was the only normal aware that it was +Nona who controlled the gravital unit. All the outside world could +realize was that it was in operation, as it had been designed to work, +but never had. If Cameron could be disposed of-- + +He shook his head. It wouldn't solve anything. He might fool them for +a while. They might think he was responsible. In the end, they'd find +out. Nona wasn't capable of that much deception, for she never knew +what a test was. + +He went over to her. Once he had hoped.... It didn't matter what he +had hoped. + +She looked up and smiled. She had a right to. No word had ever broken +the silence of her mind, but now she was communicating with something, +whatever it was that an electronic brain could say. Of course she +didn't understand that the conversation was taking place between two +captives, herself and the gravital computer. + +Abruptly he turned away. He stopped at the telecom panel and +methodically kicked it apart. Delicate tubes smashed into powder. The +emergency radio he thoroughly demolished. + +The ship was firmly in the grip of the gravital monitor. There was +nothing he could do about that. All that remained was to protect Nona +from their prying minds as long as he could. + +She didn't hear the noise, or didn't care. She sat there, head in her +hands, calm and smiling. + + * * * * * + +The outer shell of the rocket dome opened before and closed behind +them. Jordan set the controls in neutral and lifted his hands, +muttering to himself. They were gliding through the lip of the inner +shell. Home. + +"Cheer up," said Cameron breezily. "You're not really prisoners, you +know." + +Nona seemed content, though Jordan didn't. Docchi said nothing, the +light gone from his face. Anti wasn't with them; she was floating in +the tank of acid. The gravity field of the asteroid made that +necessary. + +The ship scraped gently and they were down. Jordan touched a lever; +passenger and freight locks were open. + +"Let's go," said Dr. Cameron. "I imagine there's a reception committee +for you." + +There was. The little rocket dome held more ships than normally came +in a year. The precise confusion of military discipline was everywhere +in evidence. Armed guards lined either side of the landing ramp down +which they walked. + +At the bottom, a large telecom unit had been set up. If size indicated +anything, someone considered this an important occasion. From the +screen, larger than life, Medicouncilor Thorton looked out +approvingly. + +The procession from the ship halted in front of the telecom unit. + +"A good job, Dr. Cameron," said the medicouncilor. "We were quite +surprised at the escape of the four accidentals, and your +disappearance, which coincided with it. From what we were able to +piece together, you deliberately followed them. A splendid example of +quick thinking, Doctor. You deserve recognition for it." + +"Thank you," said Cameron. + +"I'm sorry I can't be there to congratulate you in person, but I will +be soon." The medicouncilor paused discreetly. "At first the publicity +was bad. Very bad. We thought it unwise to conceal an affair of such +magnitude. Of course the unauthorized broadcast made it impossible. +Fortunately, the gravital discovery came along at just the right time. +I don't mind telling you that the net effect is now in our favor." + +"I hoped it would be," said Cameron. "Nona--" + +"You've spoken about her before." The medicouncilor frowned. "We can +discuss her later. For the moment, see that she and the rest of the +accidentals are returned to their usual places. Bring Docchi to your +office at once. I want to question him privately." + +Cameron stared at him in bewilderment. "But I thought--" + +"No objections, Doctor," snapped Thorton. "Important people are +waiting for you. That is all." The telecom darkened. + +"I think you heard what he said, Dr. Cameron." The officer at his side +was very polite. He could afford to be, with the rank of three big +planets on his tunic. + +"Very well," Cameron answered. "But as commander of the asteroid, I +request that you furnish a guard for the girl." + +"Commander?" repeated the officer. "That's funny--my orders indicate +that I am, until further notice. I haven't got that notice." He looked +around at his men and crooked a finger. "Lieutenant, see that the +little fellow--Jordan, I think his name is--gets a lift back to the +main dome. And you can walk the pretty lady to her room. Or whatever +it is she lives in." He smiled negligently at Cameron. "Anything to +oblige another commander." + + * * * * * + +The medicouncilor, Thorton, was waiting impatiently on the telecom +when they got to Cameron's office. + +"We will arrive in about two hours," he said immediately. "When I say +we, I mean a number of top governmental officials and scientists. +Meanwhile, let's get on with this gravital business." He caught sight +of the commander. "General Judd, this is a technical matter. I don't +think you'll be interested in it." + +"Very well, sir. I'll stand guard outside." + +The medicouncilor was silent until the door closed behind General +Judd. "Sit down, Docchi," he said with unexpected kindness. He paused +to note the effect. "I can sympathize with you. You had everything you +wanted nearly within your reach. And, after that, to return to +Handicap Haven--well, I can understand how you feel. But since you did +return, I think we can arrange to do something for you." + +Docchi stared at the man on the screen. A spot of light pulsed on his +cheek and then flared rapidly over his face. + +"Sure," he said casually. "But there are criminal charges against me." + +"A formality," said the medicouncilor. "With a thing like the +discovery--or rediscovery--of the gravital drive to think about, no +one is going to worry much about your unauthorized departure from the +asteroid." + +Medicouncilor Thorton sounded pleased. "I don't want to mislead you. +We can't do any more for you medically than has already been done. +However, you will find yourself the center of a more adequate social +life. Friends, work, whatever you want. Naturally, in return for this, +we will expect your full cooperation." + +"Naturally." Docchi blinked at him and got to his feet. "Sounds +interesting. I'd like to think about it for a minute." + +Cameron planted himself squarely in front of the screen. "Maybe I +don't understand. I think you've got the wrong person." + +"Dr. Cameron!" Thorton glowered. "Please explain." + +"It was an easy mistake to make," said Cameron. "Cut off from +communication, the gravital drive began to work. How? Why? Mostly, who +did it? You knew it wasn't I. I'm a doctor, not a physicist. Nor +Jordan, he's at best a mechanic. Therefore it had to be Docchi, +because he's an engineer. He could make it work. But it wasn't Docchi. +He had nothing to do with--" + +"Look out!" cried Thorton too late. + +Cameron fell to his knees. The same foot that brought him down crashed +into his chin. His head snapped back and he sprawled on the floor. +Blood trickled from his face. + +"Docchi!" shouted Thorton from the screen. + +Docchi didn't answer. He was crashing through the door. The commander +was lounging against the wall. Head down, Docchi ran into him. The +toaster fell from his belt to the floor. With scarcely a pause, Docchi +stamped on it and continued running. + +The commander got to his feet and retrieved the weapon. He aimed it +tentatively at the retreating figure; a thought occurred to him and he +lowered it. He examined the damaged mechanism. After that, it went +gingerly into a tunic pocket. + +Muffled shouts were coming from Cameron's office. The general broke +in. + +The medicouncilor glared at him from the screen. "I can see that you +let him get away." + +The disheveled officer straightened his uniform. "I'm sorry, sir. I'll +alert the guards immediately." + +"Never mind now. Revive that man." + +The general wasn't accustomed to giving resuscitation; it was out of +his line. Nevertheless, in a few minutes Cameron was conscious, though +somewhat dazed. + +"Now then, Doctor, if it wasn't Docchi who was responsible for the +sudden functioning of the gravital drive, who was it?" + +With satisfaction, Cameron told him. He had not been wrong about the +girl. Listening to the detailed explanation of Nona's mental +abilities, the general was perplexed, as generals sometimes are. + +"I see." The medicouncilor nodded. "We overlooked that possibility +altogether. Not the mechanical genius of an engineer. Instead, the +strange telepathic sense of a girl. That puts the problem in a +different light." + +"It does." Cameron pressed his aching jaw. "She can't tell us how she +does it. We'll have to experiment. Fortunately, it won't involve any +danger. With the monitor system we can always control the gravital +drive." + +The medicouncilor leaned perilously backward and shook his head. +"You're wrong. It's supposed to, but it doesn't. We tried. For a +microsecond, the monitor did take over, but the gravital computer is +smarter than we thought, if it _was_ the computer that figured out the +method. It found a way of cutting the power from the monitor circuit. +It didn't respond at all." + +Cameron forgot his jaw. "If you didn't bring the rocket back on +remote, why did she come?" + +"Docchi knows," growled the medicouncilor. "He found out in this room. +That's why he escaped." He tapped on his desk with blunt fingers. "She +could have taken the ship anywhere she pleased and we couldn't have +stopped her. Since she voluntarily came back, it's obvious that she +wants the asteroid!" + +Medicouncilor Thorton tried to shove his face out of the screen and +into the room. "Don't you ever think, General? There isn't any real +difference between gravital units except size and power. What she did +to the ship she can do as easily to the asteroid." He thrust out a +finger and pointed angrily. "Don't stand there, General Judd. Find +that girl!" + +It was late for that kind of command. The great dome overhead trembled +and creaked in countless joints. The little world shivered, groaned as +if it had lain too long in an age-old orbit. It began to move. + + * * * * * + +Vague shapes stirred, crawled, walked if they could. Fantastic and +near-fantastic figures came to the assembly. Huge or tiny, on their +own legs or borrowed ones, they arrived, with or without arms, faces. +The word had spread by voice, by moving lips, by sign languages of +every sort. + +"Remember, it will be hours or perhaps days before we're safe," said +Docchi. His voice was growing hoarse. "It's up to us to see that Nona +has all the time she needs." + +"Where is she hiding?" asked someone from the crowd. + +"I don't know. If I did, I still wouldn't tell you. It's our job to +keep them from finding her." + +"How?" demanded one near the front. "Fight the guards?" + +"Not directly," said Docchi. "We have no arms in the sense of weapons. +Many of us have no arms in any sense. All we can hope to do is +obstruct their search. Unless someone has a better idea, this is what +I plan: + +"I want all the men, older women, and the younger ones who aren't +suitable for reasons I'll explain later. The guards won't be here for +another half hour--it will take that long to get them together and +give them the orders that the Medicouncil must be working out now. +When they do come, get in their way. + +"How you do that, I'll leave to your imagination. Appeal to their +sympathy as long as they have any. Put yourself in dangerous +situations. They have ethics; at first they'll be inclined to help +you. When they do, try to steal their weapons. Avoid physical violence +as much as you can. We don't want to force them into retaliation. Make +the most of that phase of their behavior. It won't last long." + +Docchi paused and looked over the crowd. "Each of you will have to +decide for himself when to drop that kind of resistance and start an +active battle campaign. We have to disrupt the light and scanning and +ventilation systems, for instance. They'll be forced to keep them in +repair. Perhaps they'll try to guard these strategic points. So much +the better for us--there will be fewer guards to contend with." + +"What about me?" called a woman from far in back. "What do I do?" + +"You are in for a rough time," Docchi promised her. "Is Jerian here?" + +She elbowed her way to his side through the crowd. + +"Jerian," said Docchi to the accidentals, "is a normal, pretty +woman--outwardly. She has, however, no trace of a digestive system. +The maximum time she can go without food and fluid injections is ten +hours. That's why she's here." + +Again Docchi scanned the group. "I need a cosmetech, someone who has +her equipment with her." + +A legless woman propelled herself forward. Docchi conferred with her. +She seemed startled, but she complied. Under her deft fingers Jerian +was transformed--into Nona. + +"She will be the first Nona they'll find," explained Docchi, "because +she can get away with the disguise longer. I think--I hope--they'll +call off the search for a few hours while they test her. Eventually +they are sure to find out. In Jerian's case, fingerprints or X-rays +would reveal who she is. But that won't occur to them immediately. +Nona is impossible to question, as you know, and Jerian will act +exactly as Nona would. + +"As soon as they discover that Jerian isn't Nona--well, they won't +bother to be polite, if that's the word for it. The guards will like +the idea of finding an attractive girl they can manhandle in the line +of duty, especially if they think that will help them find Nona. It +won't, of course. But it will hold up the search and that's what we +want." + +They stood still, no one moving. Women looked at each other in silent +apprehension. + +"Let's go," said Jordan grimly. + +"Wait," advised Docchi. "I have one volunteer Nona. I need about fifty +more. It doesn't matter if you're physically sound or not--we'll raid +the lab for plastissue. If you think you can be made up to look like +Nona, come forward." + +[Illustration] + +Slowly, singly and by twos and threes, they came to him. There were +few indeed who wouldn't require liberal use of camouflage. + +The rest followed Jordan out. + +Mass production of an individual. Not perfect in every instance. Good +enough to pass in most. Docchi watched approvingly, suggesting +occasional touches of makeup. + +"She can't speak or hear," he reminded the volunteers. "Remember that +at all times, no matter what they do. Hide in difficult places. After +Jerian is taken and the search called off and then resumed, let +yourselves be found one at a time. Every guard that has to take you +for examination is one less to look for the real Nona. They have to +find her soon or get off the asteroid." + +The cosmetechs were busy; none stopped. There was one who looked up. + +"Get off?" she asked. "Why?" + +"The Sun is getting smaller." + +"Smaller!" exclaimed the woman. + +He nodded. "Handicap Haven is leaving the Solar System." + +Her fingers flew and molded the beautiful curve of a jaw where there +had been none. Next, plastissue lips were applied. + +Nona was soon hiding in half a hundred places. + +And one more.... + +[Illustration] + + * * * * * + +The orbit of Neptune was far behind and still the asteroid was +accelerating. Two giant gravital units strained at the core of +Handicap Haven. The third clamped an abnormally heavy gravity on the +isolated world. Prolonged physical exertion was awkward and doubly +exhausting. Hours turned into a day, but the units never faltered. + +"Have you figured it out as precisely as you should?" asked Docchi +easily. "You share our velocity away from the Sun. You'll have to +overcome it before you can start going back." + +The general ignored him. "If we could only turn off that damned +drive!" + +Engineer Vogel shrugged sickly. "You try it," he suggested. "I don't +want to be around when you do. It sounds easy: just a gravital unit. +But remember there's a good-sized nuclear pile involved." + +"I know we can't," admitted the general, morosely looking at the +darkness overhead. "On the other hand, we can take off and blow this +rock apart from a safe distance." + +"And lose all hope of finding her?" taunted Docchi. + +"We're losing her anyway," Cameron commented sourly. + +"It's not as bad as all that," consoled Docchi. "Now that you know +where the difficulty is, you can always build another computer and +furnish it with auxiliary senses. Or maybe build into it the facts of +elementary astronomy." + +Cautiously, he shifted his frail body under the heavy gravity. +"There's another solution, though it may not appeal to you. I can't +believe Nona is altogether unique. There must be others like her. +So-called 'born' mechanics, maybe, whose understanding of machinery is +a form of empathy we've never suspected. Look hard enough and you may +find them, perhaps in the most unlikely or unlovely body." + +General Judd grunted wearily, "If I thought you knew where she is--" + +"You can try to find out," Docchi invited, glowing involuntarily. + +"Forget about the dramatics, General," said Cameron in disgust. "We've +questioned him thoroughly. Resistance we would have had in any event. +He's responsible merely for making it more effective than we thought +possible." + +He added slowly: "At the moment, obviously, he's trying to tear down +our morale. He doesn't have to bother. The situation is so bad that it +looks hopeless. I can't think of a thing we can do that would help +us." + +The Sun was high in the center of the dome. Sun? More like a very +bright star. It cast no shadows; the lights in the dome did. They +flickered and with monotonous regularity went out again. The general +swore constantly and emotionlessly until service was restored. + +A guard approached with his captive. "I think I've found her, sir." + +Cameron looked at the girl in dismay. "Guard, where's your decency?" + +"Orders, sir," the man said. + +"Whose orders?" + +"Yours, sir. You said she was sound of body. How else could I find +out?" + +Cameron scowled and thrust a scalpel deep into the girl's thigh. She +looked at him with a tear-stained face, but didn't move a muscle. + +"Plastissue, as any fool can see," he commented dourly. + +The guard looked revolted and started to lead her out. + +"Let her go," snapped the doctor. "Both of you will be safer, I +think." + +The girl darted away. The guard followed her, shuddering, his eyes +filled with a self-loathing that Cameron realized would require hours +of psychiatric work to remove. + +Docchi smiled. "I have a request to make." + +"Go ahead and make it," snorted the general. "We're likely to give you +anything you want." + +"You probably will. You're going to leave without her. Very soon. When +you do go, don't take all your ships. We'll need about three when we +come to another solar system." + +General Judd opened his mouth in rage. + +"Don't you say anything you'll regret," cautioned Docchi. "When you +get back, what will you report to your superiors? Can you tell them +that you left in good order, while there was still time to continue +the search? Or will they like it better if they know you stayed until +the last moment? So late that you had to abandon some of your ships?" + +The general closed his mouth and stamped away. Wordlessly, Cameron +dragged after him. + + * * * * * + +The last ship had blasted off and the rocket trails had faded into +overwhelming darkness. The Sun, which had been trying to lose itself +among the other stars, finally succeeded. The asteroid was no longer +the junkpile. It was a small world that had become a swift ship. + +"We can survive," said Docchi. "Power and oxygen, we have, and we can +grow or synthesize our food." + +He sat beside Anti's tank, which had been returned to the usual place. +A small tree nodded overhead in the artificial breeze. It was peaceful +enough. But Nona wasn't there. + +"We'll get you out of the tank," promised Jordan. "When she comes +back, we'll rig up a place where there's no gravity. And we'll +continue cold treatment." + +"I can wait," said Anti. "On this world I'm normal." + +Docchi stared forlornly about. The one thing he wanted to see wasn't +there. + +"If you're worrying about Nona," advised Anti, "don't. The guards were +pretty rough with the women, but plastissue doesn't feel pain. They +didn't find her." + +"How do you know?" + +"Listen," said Anti. The ground shivered with the power of the +gravital units. "As long as they're running, how can you doubt?" + +"If I could be sure--" + +"You can start now," Jordan said. "First, though, you'd better get up +and turn around." + +Docchi scrambled to his feet. She was coming toward him. + +She showed no sign of strain. Except for a slight smudge on her +wonderfully smooth and scar-less cheek, she might just have stepped +out of a beauty cubicle. Without question, she was the most beautiful +woman in the world. This world, of course, though she could have done +well on any world--if she could have communicated with people as well +as with machines. + +"Where were you hiding?" Docchi asked, expecting no answer. + +She smiled. He wondered, with a feeling of helplessness, if machines +could sense and appreciate her lovely smile, or whether they could +somehow smile themselves. + +"I wish I could take you in my arms," he said bitterly. + +"It's not as silly as you think," said Anti, watching from the surface +of the tank. "You don't have any arms, but she has two. You can talk +and hear, but she can't. Between you, you're a complete couple." + +"Except that she would never get the idea," he answered unhappily. + +Jordan, rocking on his hands, looked up quizzically. "I must be +something like her. They used to call me a born mechanic; just put a +wrench in my hand and I can do anything with a piece of machinery. +It's as if I sense what the machine wants done to it. Not to the +extent that Nona can understand, naturally. You might say it's +reversed, that she's the one who can hear while I have to lip-read." + +"You never just gabble," Docchi prompted. "You have something in +mind." + +Jordan hesitated. "I don't know if it's stupid or what. I was thinking +of a kind of sign language with machines. You know, start with the +simple ones, like clocks and such, and see what they mean to her. +Since they'd be basic machines, she'd probably have pretty basic +reactions. Then it's just a matter of--" + +"You don't have to blueprint it," Docchi cut in excitedly. "That would +be fine for determining elementary reactions, but I can't carry around +a machine shop; it wouldn't be practical. There ought to be one +variable machine that would be portable and yet convey all meanings to +her." + +"An electronic oscillator?" + +Acid waves washed at the sides of the tank as Anti stirred +impatiently. "Will you two great brains work it out in the lab, +please? And when you get through with that problem, you'll have plenty +more to keep you occupied until we get to the stars. Jordan and me, +for instance. What future is there for a girl unless she can get +married?" + +"That's right," Docchi said. "I've got an idea we can do better than +normal doctors. Being accidentals ourselves, we won't stop +experimenting till we succeed. And we have hundreds of years to do it +in." + +Glowing, literally, with pleasure, he bent over for Jordan to climb on +his back. Then he kissed Nona and headed for the laboratory. + +Nona smiled and followed. + +"There are some things you don't need words or machines to express," +Anti called out. "Keep that in mind, will you?" + +She submerged contentedly in the acid bath. Above the dome, the stars +gleamed a bright welcome to the little world that flashed through +interstellar space. + + --F. L. WALLACE + + * * * * * + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Accidental Flight, by Floyd L. 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