Kenneth Bulmer by Behold the Stars

Author:Behold the Stars
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2012-02-10T12:58:50+00:00

“Come in, young man! Any friend of Steve’s is a friend of mine.”

Ted Zukowsky wheezed away a plump and affable welcome, leading the way through RSC laboratories’ anteroom to his office. Ward had shaken that doughy hand without the usual feeling of repugnance he held for overweight, soft and flabby men. Zukowsky’s brain made up for much of his physical deficiencies.

“It’s very good of you to see me so early, Mr. Zukowsky.” Ward knew enough from Steve not to call the ponderous scientist Doctor.

“Is Steve around?”

“Steve? No.” Zukowsky evidently raked up an old grievance. “That young man spends altogether too much time gadding about. He hasn’t been in the laboratory for two days or more. And I need him for-well, never mind that. If you see him tell him from me that the place will fall down if he doesn’t hurry back.”

“When did you last see him, then?”

“When? Oh-I don’t know. Day before yesterday. Yes, he was working on-well, again that needn’t concern you. He was supposed to transit to Hildesheim on a routine checkup. I heard he had returned but he didn’t report back to me-“

“Who told you he had returned?”

“Who? Why, Gerald. Gerald Mikardo.”

“I see.”

“We were planning to double up our transit schedules to Hildesheim. Traffic is increasing.” Zukowsky mopped his brow, panting. “As you are well aware, young man, within a distance of about thirty light years of Earth there are only one hundred and seventy stars. And not so very many of them are of use to us.”

“I know. That’s why the box bag system is so important.”

“True. Hildesheim is forty away-a far outpost compared with the closer stars. But, I suppose,” he said with a grin at Ward, “not so far to a carrier supervisor?”

“Depends in which sector you’re operating. Down in the Beta group they’re already reaching out to a hundred and fifty light years. They started earlier down there and send their carriers out at full bore-point seven of c in some cases-and shed to the stars as they pass.”

“Yes, a most interesting variation of technique. But now, young man-“

“Of course. I know you are busy. But-Hildesheim is a G-type star ten times as bright as the Sun with-ah-let me think-“

“Twenty planets, four of which are suitable for earthly life.”

“Exactly.”

“He went to Gordonstoun.”

“Thank you, Mister Zukowsky. You’ve been very helpful.”

Ward rode down to the taxi landing platform on the fortieth floor. He had to report in for duty at the Drain in forty-five minutes so that when reception at the RSC desk told him the Hildesheim box circuits were not scheduled for another half hour he took a taxi across to the GBI building. Galactic Bridges Inc. were just as big and impressive an outfit as Ransome Stellar and before Steve had become seriously interested in Stella he had often told Ward in moments of frustration with his job that he’d a good mind to stroll over and see old Arthur Spottiswood of GBI and grab himself a better job and one where there were no superannuated flunkeys breathing down his neck.

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