Beyond the galactic lens by Gregory Kern

Author:Gregory Kern [Kern, Gregory]
Format: epub
Tags: Science fiction
Publisher: Daw books
Published: 1975-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter EIGHT

It came with a ghostly shimmer of blue, a glinting veil of lambent radiance which flashed, to vanish, to reveal the mirror-finish of a ship of space.

Crouched against the mottled hull of the coffin-ship Kennedy watched it as it drew near, to slow, to hang suspended a few hundred yards from the drifting hulk.

A thing of odd plains and contours, vanes set in curves of eye-twisting irregularity, the swell of turrets set among the bulge of launchers, spines, which winked with a cold green luminosity. The vessel of Kaifeng. Kennedy studied it with narrowed eyes, mentally cursing himself for having made a mistake, for not having taken an elementary precaution. He should have come with atomic bombs, charges which could have been detonated to destroy the ship, the carriers, Kaifeng himself. But he carried only the reaction pistol and a Dione. Pins with which to prick an elephant.

"Thok." The voice was familiar as it came from the speaker of the suit-radio. Kaifeng was using the normal communication channel unaware that he was being overheard. "Are you ready?"

"Yes, Master."

"Then proceed as ordered. Waste no time but make no error. Go!" A port opened in a cubic extrusion of the vessel and a suited figure carrying a large bundle glided across the gap, the wink of a reaction pistol caught and reflected by the mirror-finish of the hull behind. Kennedy moved, cautiously easing around the curve of the hull against which he pressed as the figure came close, landed with a force which sent small vibrations through the metal.

For a moment the man stood poised and Kennedy could see the apparatus set around the waist, the metal strips which ran to helmet and boots. The radio carried the sound of breathing, a harsh inhalation, a sighing exhalation and then a thin note which rose to dissolve in a high-pitched whine, rising to pass beyond the range of audibility.

As if he were made of smoke the man sank into the metal on which he stood, his feet, his legs, the waist and torso, the helmet, all vanishing as if a man of water had been poured on the surface of a sponge.

"Entry effected, Master." A report to which Kaifeng made no answer. Thoughtfully Kennedy looked at the hovering vessel. With luck a torpedo from the Mordain could reach it, destroy the menace of its master once and for all time, but the spines still held the green luminosity. Scanners would be alert, screens established, evasive action taken at the first sign of movement. The torpedoes were fast, but electronic-flows were faster. If the first shot missed or failed to destroy, then retaliatory action would be taken. A chance Kennedy would have taken had he been aboard, but while operational, the Mordain was at a disadvantage. With all equipment dead, even the drive still, precious seconds would be needed to establish full fighting efficiency. Seconds which could bring annihilation. A gamble with the odds too high against him. One Kennedy decided not to take.

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