They made a half-turn to avoid a boulder and came to a stop as lights blinded them. The ship was surrounded by a circle of blazing flares. The fury of industry which had boiled about it during the loading had stemmed to a mere trickle. Dard could see no women at all and most of the men were gone also. The few who remained in sight were passing boxes up a ramp. Soon that would be done, and then those down there would enter that silvery shape. The hatch would close, the ship would rise on fire.
Muted by the pain in his head he heard the booming shout of a deep voice. Below, the loaders stopped work. Grouped together they faced the survivors of the barrier battle. Santee called again, and that group broke apart as the men ran up to them.
Dard sat down beside the injured man, his legs giving way under him. With detachment he watched the coming of that other party. One man had his shirt badly torn across the shoulder-would he land on another world across the void of space with that tatter still fluttering? The problem had some interest.
Now a circle of legs walled the boy in, boots spurted snow in his face. He was brought to his feet, arms about his shoulders, led along to the ship. But that wasnt right, he thought mistily. Kimber had said not room enough-he was one of the expendables-
But he could find no words to argue with those who helped him along, not even when he was pushed up that ramp into the ship. Kordov stood in the hatch door waving them ahead with an imperious arm. Then Dard found himself in a tiny room and a cup of milky liquid was thrust against his lips and held there until he docilely swallowed its contents to the last tasteless drop. When that was in him he was lowered onto a folding seat pulled down from the starkly bare metal wall and left to hold his spinning head in his hands.
Yeah- the force fields still holdin
Wont be able to plow through that last slide, eh?
Not with anything theyve got now.
Words, a lot of words, passing back and forth across him. Sometimes for a second or two they made good sense, then meaning faded again.
Can pretty well take your own time now Was that rumble from Santee?
And that quick, crisp voice cutting in, What about the kid?
Him? Hes some scrapper. Got a head on him, too. Just shaken up a lot when that last blowup hit us, but hes still in one piece.
Kimber! That had been Kimber asking about him. But Dard hadnt strength left to raise his head and look for the pilot.
Well patch up Tremont first and send him under. You two will have to wait a while. Give them the soup and that first powder, Lui
Again Dard was given a drink-this time of hot steamy stuff which carried the flavor of rich meat. After it there was a capsule to be swallowed.
Bruises and aches-when he moved his body he was just one huge ache. But he straightened up and tried to take an interest in his surroundings. Santee, his shirt a few rags about his thick hairy shoulders and arms, squatted on another pull-down seat directly across from Dard. Along the passage outside there was a constant coming and going. Scraps of conversation reached them, most of which he did not understand.
Feelin better, kid? the big man asked.
Dard answered that muffled question with a nod and then wished that he hadnt moved his head. Are we going along? he shaped the words with difficulty Santees beard wagged as he roared with laughter. Like to see em throw us off ship now! What made you think we werent, kid?
No room- Kimber said.
Laughter faded from the eyes of the man opposite him.
Might not have been, kid. Only a lot of good men died back there puttin such a plug in the valley that these buggers arent goin to git in til too late. Since the warps still workin, flyin wont bring em neither. So we aint needed out there no more. An maybe some good fightin men will be needed where this old girls headed. So in we come, an theyre gonna pack us away with the rest of the cargo. Aint that so, Doc? he ended by demanding of the tall young man who had just entered.
The newcomers parrot crest of blond hair stood up from his scalp in a twist like the stem of a pear and his wide eyes glowed with enthusiasm.
Youre young Nordis, arent you? he demanded of Dard, ignoring Santee. I wish I could have known your brother! He-what he did-! I wouldnt have believed such results possible if I hadnt seen the formula! Hibernation and freezing-his formula combined with Tass biological experiments! Why, weve even put three of Hammonds calves under-what grass theyll graze on before they die! And its all due to Lars Nordis!
Dard was too tired to show much interest in that. He wanted to go to sleep to forget everything and everybody.
"To sleep, perchance to dream"- the old words shaped pat- terns for him. Only-not to dream would be better now. Did one dream in space-and what queer dreams haunted men lying in slumber between worlds? Dard mentally shook himself-there was something important-something he had to ask before he dared let sleep come.
Wheres Dessie?
Nordis little girl? Shes with my daughter-and my wife-theyre already under.
Under what?
In cold sleep. Most of the gang are now. Just a few of us still loading. Then Kimber, Kordov and I. Well ride out until Kimber is sure of the course before we stow away. All the rest of you
Will be packed away before the take-off. Saves wear and tear on bodies and nerves under acceleration, cut in Kimher from the doorway. He nodded over the medicos shoulder at Dard. Glad to have you aboard, kid. Promise you- no forced landings on this voyage. Youre to be sealed up in crews quarters-so youll wake early to see the new world! And with that he was gone again.
Maybe it was the capsule acting now, maybe it was just that last reassurance from a man he had come to trust wholeheartedly, but Dard was warm and relaxed. To wake and see a new world!
Santee went away with Lui Skort, and Dard was alone. The noise in the corridor died away. At last he heard a warning bell. And a moment later the pound of heavy feet in a hurry roused him. The haste of that spoke of trouble, and with the support of the wall he got up to look out. Kimber was coming down a spiral stairway, the center core of the ship. In his hand was one of the snubnosed ray guns Sach had had. He passed Dard without a word.
Bracing his hands against the wall of the corridor, Dard shuffled along in his wake. Then he was peering out of an airlock to see the pilot squatting on the ramp. It was black night out-most of the flares had gone out.
Dard listened. He could hear at intervals the blast of the burper. The Peacemen were still doggedly attacking the cleft barrier. But what had Kimber come to guard and why? Have some important possessions been left in the caverns. Dard slumped against the lock and watched lights spark to life in the mouth of the tunnel. A man came out running, covering the ground to the foot of the ships ramp in ground-eating leaps. He dashed by Kimber, and Dard had just time enough to get back as Santee burst in.
Get going! The big man bore him along to the corridor and Kimber joined them. He touched some control and the hatch-lock was sealed.
Santee, panting, grinned. Nice neat job, if I do say so myself, he reported. The space warps off an the final charge is set for forty minutes from now. Well blast before that?
Yes. Better get along both of you. Luis waiting and we dont want to scrape a couple of acceleration cases off the floor later, returned Kimber.
With the aid of the other two Dard pulled his tired body up the stair, past various landing stages where sealed doors fronted them. Kordovs broad face appeared at last, surveying them anxiously, and it was he who lifted Dard up the last three steps. Kimber left them-climbing on through an opening above into the control chamber. He did not glance back or say any goodbyes.