"Okay." He wished that he would get off easy when it came to the showdown. Then he decided that wasn't right; he ought to wish old Sam out of his jam--not that he believed in it, either way.
She turned and faced him. "What did you wish?"
"Huh?" He was suddenly self-conscious. "Oh, mustn't tell, that spoils it."
"All right. But I'll bet you get your wish," she added softly.
He thought for a moment that he could have kissed her, right then, if he had played his cards right. But the moment passed and they went inside. The feeling stayed with him on the ride back, made him elated. It was a good old world, even if there were some tough spots. Here he was, practically a junior astrogator on his first trip--and it hadn't been more than weeks since he was borrowing McAllister's mules to work the crop and going barefooted a lot to save shoes.
And yet here he was in uniform, riding beside the best-dressed girl in four planets.
He fingered the insignia on his chest. Marrying Ellie wasn't such an impossible idea now that he was an officer--if he ever decided to marry. Maybe her old man wouldn't consider an officer--and an astrogator at that--completely ineligible. Ellie wasn't bad; she had spunk and she played a fair game of three-dee-- most girls wouldn't even be able to learn the rules.
He was still in a warm glow when they reached the ship and were hoisted in.
Kelly met him at the lock. "Mr. Jones--the Captain wants to see you."
"Huh? Oh. G'night, Ellie--I'll have to run." He hurried after Kelly. "What's up?"
"Dr. Hendrix is dead."
13 TRANSITION
Max questioned Kelly as they hurried up to the Captain's cabin.
"I don't know. I just don't know, Max." Kelly seemed close to tears. "I saw him before dinner--he came into the Hole to check what you and Kovak have been doing. He seemed all right. But the Purser found him dead in his bunk, the middle of the evening." He added worriedly, "I don't know what is going to happen now."
"What do you mean?"
"Well ... if I was captain, I'd lay over and send for a relief. But I don't know."
For the first time Max realized that this change would make Mr. Simes the astrogator. "How long would it take to get a relief?"
"Figure it out. The _Dragon_ is about three months behind us; she'd pick up our mail. A year about." In the contradictions of interstellar travel the ships themselves were the fastest method of communication; a radio message (had such a silly thing been attempted) would have taken more than two centuries to reach Earth, a like time for a reply.
Max found the Captain's cabin open and crowded with officers, all standing around, saying nothing, and looking solemn; he slipped inside without announcing himself and tried to be inconspicuous. Kelly did not go in. Captain Blaine sat at his desk with head bent. Several stragglers, members of the gay party at the Josephine, arrived after Max; First Officer Walther checked them off with his eyes, then said quietly to Blaine, "Ship's officers all present, sir."
Captain Blaine raised his head and Max was shocked to see how old he looked. "Gentlemen," he said in a low voice, "you know the sad news. Dr. Hendrix was found dead in his room this evening. Heart attack. The Surgeon tells me that he passed on about two hours before he was found--and that his death was probably almost painless."
His voice broke, then he continued. "Brother Hendrix will be placed in his last orbit two hours after we raise ship tomorrow. That is how he would have wished it, the Galaxy was his home. He gave unstintingly of himself that men should ride safely among the stars."
He paused so long that Max thought that the old man had forgotten that others were present. But when he resumed his voice was almost brisk. "That is all, gentlemen. Astrogators will please remain."
Max was not sure that he counted as an astrogator but the use of the plural decided him. First Officer Walther started to leave; Blaine called him back. When the four were alone, the Captain said, "Mr. Simes, you will take over head-of-department duties at once. Mr., uh ..."; his eyes rested on Max.
"Jones, sir."
"Mr. Jones will assume your routine duties, of course. This tragedy leaves you short-handed; for the rest of this trip I will stand a regular watch."
Simes spoke up. "That isn't necessary, Captain. We'll make out."
"Perhaps. But those are my wishes."
"Aye aye, sir."
"Prepare to lift on schedule. Any questions?"
"No, sir."
"Goodnight, gentlemen. Dutch, stay a moment, please?"
Outside the door Simes started to turn away; Max stopped him. "Mr. Simes?"
"Huh? Yes?"
"Any instructions for me, sir?"
Simes looked him over. "You stand your watch, Mister. I'll handle everything else."
The next morning Max found a crepe armband on his desk and a notice from the First Officer that mourning would continue for one week. The _Asgard_ raised on schedule, with the Captain sitting quietly in his chair, with Simes at the control console. Max stood near the Captain, with nothing to do. Aside from the absence of Hendrix all was routine--except that Kelly was quite bad-tempered. Simes, Max admitted, handled the maneuver smartly--but it was precomputed, anyone could have done it; shucks, Ellie could have been sitting there. Or Chipsie.
Max had the first watch. Simes left him after enjoining him not to deviate from schedule without phoning him first. An hour later Kovak relieved Max temporarily and Max hurried to the passenger lock. There were five honorary pall bearers, the Captain, Mr. Walther, Simes, Max, and Kelly. Behind them, crowding the passageways, were officers and most of the crew. Max saw no passengers.
The inner door of the lock was opened; two steward's mates carried the body in and placed it against the outer door. Max was relieved to see that it had been wrapped in a shroud covering it completely. They closed the inner door and withdrew.
The Captain stood facing the door, with Simes and the First Officer standing guard on one side of the door and, on the other side facing them, Max and Kelly. The Captain flung one word over his shoulder: "Pressure!"
Behind stood Bennett wearing a portable phone; he relayed the word to the power room. The pressure gauge over the lock door showed one atmosphere; now it started to crawl upward. The Captain took a little book from his pocket and began to read the service for the dead. Feeling that he could not stand to listen Max watched the pressure gauge. Steadily it climbed. Max reflected that the ship had already passed escape speed for the Nu Pegasi system before he had been relieved; the body would take an open orbit.
The gauge reached ten atmospheres; Captain Blaine closed his book. "Warn the passengers," he said to Bennett.
Shortly the loudspeakers sounded: "All hands! All passengers! The ship will be in free fall for thirty seconds. Anchor yourselves and do not change position." Max reached behind him, found one of the many hand holds always present around an airlock and pulled down so that his grip would keep his feet in contact with the deck. A warning siren howled--then suddenly he was weightless as the ship's boost and the artificial anomalous gravity field were both cut out.
He heard the Captain say loudly and firmly, "'Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.' Let the body be cast forth."
The pressure gauge dropped suddenly to zero and Dr. Hendrix was launched into space, there to roam the stars for all eternity.
Max felt weight again as the power room brought them back to ship-normal. The pressure gauge showed gradually building pressure. People turned away and left, their voices murmuring low. Max went up and relieved the watch.
The following morning Simes moved into Dr. Hendrix's cabin. There was trouble with First Officer Walther about it--Max heard only third-hand reports-- but the Captain upheld Simes; he stayed in the Astrogator's quarters. The Worry Hole settled into routine not much different from what had gone before, except that Simes' personality spread through everything. There had never been a posted watch list before; Kelly had always assigned the crewmen and the Doctor had simply informed the top-watch standers orally of his wishes. Now a typed list appeared: