Planetoid Disposals Ltd by E. C. Tubb

Author:E. C. Tubb [Tubb, E. C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780575107236
Publisher: Orion
Published: 2014-04-30T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

Silence, and the deep, deep restfulness of a child unborn. Silence, and the crisp wonderful cold of outer space where the distant suns blazed like the scattered jewels of bright adventure. Silence, and the sweet soothing sleep of unknowing innocence.

He slept.

Pain! Pain and the low murmur of muffled voices, the tinkling sound of metal and glass, the sharp stab of needles and the dull searing fire of roasting flesh. Desperately he strove to move, to fight this terrible agony of his dumb body, to give shrieking voice to his ghastly pain.

Footsteps echoed sharply from the distant floor. Someone stood over him murmuring softly through his haze of agony, then something stung his arm, and blackness rose to wrap him with its deep oblivion. When next he awoke the pain had gone.

He rested quietly, staring at the soft green of the ceiling, and hearing the gentle whine of the air-conditioning apparatus as if it were a sound from some other world. He moved a little, and the movement seemed awkward and stiff, and with the return of memory came surging fear.

“My arms!” He almost screamed the words. “My arms!”

Someone moved beside him, and he caught the fragrance of soft perfume.

“Steve! You’re awake at last! I’m so glad, Steve. I’m so glad!”

“Madge!” He stared at the girl and tried to smile, but his features felt stiff, and he sunk in the quick return of fear. “What happened to me, Madge? What have they done to me?”

“Nothing, Steve, nothing. You’ve been ill, very ill, for a while we thought—” She swallowed, and smiled through her tears. “Never mind that now, you’ve recovered and the rest is a matter of time.”

“I must know!” He stared at her, and tried to rise in the bed. “What happened to me?”

“Lie down, Steve. Lie down!” Gently she pressed him back onto the inflated mattress. “You almost died. You were terribly burnt from the blast which killed my father,” she swallowed again and blinked the tears from her eyes, “and then you had to go and almost kill yourself by chasing that ship. Edwards told me how you drove the ship, faster than any other ship has been known to travel, you almost killed three of the crew.”

“I didn’t know that.” He stared at the ceiling and tried to calm his mind. “You haven’t told me yet, Madge. What have they done to me?”

“Done to you? Why nothing, Steve.” Suddenly she understood and smiled at the worry on his strained features.

“I don’t believe you! My arms, I can’t move them as I should.” He forced himself to remain calm. “Tell me, Madge, did they amputate?”

“Of course not, Steve. You haven’t been fitted with artificial arms.”

“Then what happened?”

“You lost almost all of your skin, they had to put you into a saline tank and give you intravenous feeding and artificial oxygenation. You have a new skin, Steve, and naturally it feels tight and uncomfortable, you’ll have to have massage and exercise.”

“I see.” Relief flooded him, leaving him weak and trembling with reaction.

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