"We'll try it," Gregor said. They stood up. Gregor picked up the canteen and walked stiffly to the far side of the cabin.
"What are you doing?" the lifeboat asked sharply.
"Going to get a little exercise," Gregor said. "Drome soldiers must stay fit, you know."
"That's true," the lifeboat said dubiously.
Gregor threw the canteen to Arnold.
Arnold chuckled synthetically and threw the canteen back to Gregor.
"Be careful with that receptacle," the lifeboat warned. "It is filled with a deadly poison."
"We'll be careful," Gregor said. "We're taking it back to headquarters." He threw the canteen to Arnold.
"Headquarters may spray it on the H'gen," Arnold said, throwing the canteen back.
"Really?" the lifeboat asked. "That's interesting. A new application of-"
Suddenly Gregor swung the canteen against the coolant tube. The tube broke and liquid poured over the floor.
"Bad shot, old man," Arnold said.
"How careless of me," Gregor cried.
"I should have taken precautions against internal accidents," the lifeboat esped gloomily. "It won't happen again. But the situation is very serious. I cannot repair the tube myself. I am unable to properly cool the boat."
"If you just drop us on the island-" Arnold began.
"Impossible!" the lifeboat said. "My first duty is to preserve your lives, and you could not live long in the climate of this planet. But I am going to take the necessary measures to ensure your safety."
"What are you going to do?" Gregor asked, with a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.
"There is no time to waste. I will scan the island once more. If our Drome forces are not present, we will go to the one place on this planet that can sustain Drome life."
"What place?"
"The southern polar cap," the lifeboat said. "The climate there is almost ideal-thirty below zero, I estimate."
The engines roared. Apologetically the boat added. "And, of course, I must guard against any further internal accidents."
As the lifeboat charged forward they could hear the click of the locks, sealing their cabin.
"Think!" Arnold said.
"I am thinking," Gregor answered. "But nothing's coming out."
"We must get off when he reaches the island. It'll be our last chance."
"You don't think we could jump overboard?" Gregor asked.
"Never. He's watching now. If you hadn't smashed the coolant tube, we'd still have a chance."
"I know," Gregor said bitterly. "You and your ideas."
"My ideas! I distinctly remember you suggesting it. You said-"
"It doesn't matter whose idea it was." Gregor thought deeply. "Look, we know his internal scanning isn't very good. When we reach the island, maybe we could cut his power cable."
"You wouldn't get within five feet of it," Arnold said, remembering the shock he had received from the instrument panel.
"Hmm." Gregor locked both hands around his head. An idea was beginning to form in the back of his mind. It was pretty tenuous, but under the circumstances…
"I am now scanning the island," the lifeboat announced.
Looking out the forward porthole, Gregor and Arnold could see the island, no more than a hundred yards away. The first flush of dawn was in the sky, and outlined against it was the scarred, beloved snout of their spaceship.
"Place looks fine to me," Arnold said.
"It sure does," Gregor agreed. "I'll bet our forces are dug in underground."
"They are not," the lifeboat said. "I scanned to a depth of a hundred feet."
"Well," Arnold said, "under the circumstances, I think we should examine a little more closely. I'd better go ashore and look around."
"It is deserted," the lifeboat said. "Believe me, my senses are infinitely more acute than yours. I cannot let you endanger your lives by going ashore. Drome needs her soldiers-especially sturdy, heat-resistant types like you."
"We like this climate," Arnold said.
"Spoken like a patriot!" the lifeboat said heartily. "I know how you must be suffering. But now I am going to the south pole, to give you veterans the rest you deserve."
Gregor decided it was time for his plan, no matter how vague it was. "That won't be necessary," he said.
"What?"
"We are operating under special orders," Gregor said. "We weren't supposed to disclose them to any vessel below the rank of super-dreadnaught. But under the circumstances-"
"Yes, under the circumstances," Arnold chimed in eagerly, "we will tell you."
"We are a suicide squad," Gregor said.
"Especially trained for hot climate work."
"Our orders," Gregor said, "are to land and secure that island for the Drome forces."
"I didn't know that," the boat said.
"You weren't supposed to," Arnold told it. "After all, you're only a lifeboat."
"Land us at once," Gregor said. "There's no time to lose."
"You should have told me sooner," the boat said. "I couldn't guess, you know." It began to move toward the island.
Gregor could hardly breathe. It didn't seem possible that the simple trick would work. But then, why not? The lifeboat was built to accept the word of its operators as the truth. As long as the 'truth' was consistent with the boat's operational premises, it would be carried out.
The beach was only fifty yards away now, gleaming white in the cold light of dawn.
Then the boat reversed its engines and stopped. "No," it said.
"No what?"
"I cannot do it."
"What do you mean?" Arnold shouted. "This is war! Orders-"
"I know," the lifeboat said sadly. "I am sorry. A differently type of vessel should have been chosen for this mission. Any other type. But not a lifeboat."
"You must," Gregor begged. "Think of our country, think of the barbaric H'gen-"
"It is physically impossible for me to carry out your orders," the lifeboat told them. "My prime directive is to protect my occupants from harm. That order is stamped on my every tape, giving priority over all others. I cannot let you go to your certain death."
The boat began to move away from the island.
"You'll be court-martialed for this!" Arnold screamed hysterically. "They'll decommission you."
"I must operate within my limitations," the boat said sadly. "If we find the fleet, I will transfer you to a killerboat. But in the meantime, I must take you to the safety of the south pole."
The lifeboat picked up speed, and the island receded behind them. Arnold rushed at the controls and was thrown flat. Gregor picked up the canteen and poised it, to hurl ineffectually at the sealed hatch. He stopped himself in mid-swing, struck by a sudden wild thought.
"Please don't attempt any more destruction," the boat pleaded. "I know how you feel, but-"
It was damned risky, Gregor thought, but the south pole was certain death anyhow.
He uncapped the canteen. "Since we cannot accomplish our mission," he said, "we can never again face our comrades. Suicide is the only alternative." He took a gulp of water and handed the canteen to Arnold.
"No! Don't!" the lifeboat shrieked. "That's water! It's a deadly poison-"
An electrical bolt leaped from the instrument panel, knocking the canteen from Arnold's hand.
Arnold grabbed the canteen. Before the boat could knock it again from his hand, he had taken a drink.
"We die for glorious Drome!" Gregor dropped to the floor. He motioned Arnold to lie still.
"There is no known antidote," the boat moaned. "If only I could contact a hospital ship…" Its engines idled indecisively. "Speak to me," the boat pleaded. "Are you still alive?"
Gregor and Arnold lay perfectly still, not breathing.
"Answer me!" the lifeboat begged. "Perhaps if you ate some geezel…" It thrust out two trays. The partners didn't stir.
"Dead," the lifeboat said. "Dead. I will read the burial service."
There was a pause. Then the lifeboat intoned, "Great Spirit of the Universe, take into your custody the souls of these, your servants. Although they died by their own hand, still it was in the service of their country, fighting for home and hearth. Judge them not harshly for their impious deed. Rather blame the spirit of war' that inflames and destroys all Drome."