Chad Oliver by Stardust

Author:Stardust [Stardust]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2012-02-11T00:27:02+00:00

“How about that?” questioned Jim McConnell thoughtfully. “If we find anyone alive in there, and manage to do anything for them, what becomes of them when they chug into Capella some twenty-thirty years from now and find out that interstellar travel is already old-hat? You talk about destroying their values, Stan, but how do you think they’re going to feel when they find out that it’s all been for nothing, that they might as well have stayed home?”

The launch hovered next to the black hulk of the Viking and Mark Langston swung her abreast of the engine room and clamped her there with gravitraction beams.

“Spacesuits,” he said shortly.

“That isn’t quite as tough a problem as it looks like,” Stan Owens explained as he struggled into his suit. “Remember that these are not the original members of the crew—they are a wholly new group, with new values. If they manage somehow to bring the Viking in, that in itself will be enough. Anyhow, in a sense they are the first. We’ve got lots of time before the Viking lands, if she does, and we can set the psychology boys to work in that interval. Don’t worry—when the Viking approaches the Capella system she’ll get a hero’s—or is it heroine’s—welcome that’ll put all others to shame, and what’s more it’ll be completely genuine. There are other distinctions in life besides winning the race, you know.”

“You seem to have this all figured to the last decimal point,” laughed McConnell, “and we don’t even know whether or not the Viking is empty. Nothing like looking ahead.”

“The time to make your plans is before the action starts,” Mark Langston said, talking now through the suit phones. “It’s only in quaint types of fiction that the hero strolls thoughtlessly into a hornet’s nest and then formulates stunning plans with his brilliant brain while being clubbed to death with crowbars. If he’s got brains enough to think his way out of a situation, then he’s got brains enough to do a little thinking before he gets up to his neck in hot water.”

“You’re mixing your metaphors, boy,” said Jim McConnell, moving into position. “What happens to all your fine plans if I can’t fix the drive on that baby?”

Mark Langston grinned. “One vote for technology,” he said.

The efficient team of the launch, spacesuited for protection, swung the emergency air lock and cutter into position between the launch and the dark shell of the Viking. McConnell’s crew set the cutters with meticulous care. There was a brief whine and the lights dimmed. That was all.

“Let’s go,” said Mark Langston.

Cautiously, ready for anything, the men moved through the air lock one by one into the black interior of the dead Viking.

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