Edmond Hamilton by The Sun Smasher

Author:The Sun Smasher
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Published: 2011-08-25T01:30:06+00:00

VII

THE HEAVY cruiser Sunfire sped across the star-gulfs, homing toward Rigel.

Outwardly, she was what she had always been—one of the swiftest, most powerful craft in space, with the Empire crest bright on her haughty bow; carrying a full complement of officers and men, all correctly clad in Imperial uniform and armed with Imperial arms. Inwardly, she was a stalking-horse, a delusion and a snare.

"All the manuals are here," said Rolf, "signal code and all. With any luck—"

Banning worded a careful message, in a very secret code, and had it flashed ahead by the hyper-space radio-signal system that took almost no time at all.

Returning with conspirators, respectfully suggest utmost secrecy. Request instructions. He signed it with the name of the Sunfire's captain, who was sitting it out under Arraki guard, back on Katuun.

An answer came back. Come direct to Winter Palace. You are cleared through, It was signed Tharanya.

Rolf smiled grimly. "The Winter Palace—how very fitting! It was there they thought they had destroyed the Valkar, and now—they'll see! The palace is detached and quiet, with its own landing-field—"

"And very strong dungeons," said Horek. "Don't forget that."

"You'd better stay aboard the ship," Banning told him. "If they catch sight of your honest face, we'll all be under lock and key." He laughed. He was excited, growing more so with every star-league that dropped behind them. The venture itself was wild enough to get any man excited, but it was more than that. It was anticipation, and a name. Tharanya, He did not know why this should be, but it was so. Suddenly he wanted to see her, to hear her voice, to know what she looked like and how she moved.

"Always the boldest stroke," said Rolf softly. "She'll be there, not suspecting anything, all afire to see for herself whether or not this is really the Valkar. And Jommor will be with her. Even if his office as chief councillor didn't require it, he'd be there. He has his own reasons. He'll be anxious to assure himself that Zurdis told the truth." Rolf made a grasping motion with his hand. "And we'll have them both."

The mention of Jommor sent a little chill through Banning. He did not want to meet him. Jommor could be the last, the final test of the reality of Neil Banning, and Banning did not want to face that. He told himself savagely that there was nothing to fear, because he was Neil Banning and nobody could take that away from him. But still he was afraid.

Horek smiled, like a man who thinks of pleasant things. "When we have them," he said, "we have the secret of the Hammer. And with the Hammer, and a Valkar who knows how to wield it—" He made a gesture that could easily have taken in a universe.

The Hammer? Banning had been thinking about that, too. He had been looking at the guns of this cruiser, the great guns that fired powerful atom-shells far faster than light, sighted by hyper-space radar impulses.

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