Son of Two Worlds by Edmond Hamilton

Author:Edmond Hamilton [Hamilton, Edmond]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-05-01T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER VI

Weightless Gardens

JO DUFF looked at Drew in amazement when he entered Gilson’s office the next morning.

“Why, Martian, you have become a fashion-plate,” she declared, her pert blue eyes incredulous, as she noted his expensive tan synthesuit. “I’ll bet you spent more for that outfit than you ever spent in a year on Mars.”

“Well, I had to spruce up a little,” Stephen Drew defended. “I couldn’t run around with Gloria and her friends in an old-fashioned suit.” Jo’s blue eyes narrowed a trifle.

“So you’ve been stepping out with Glamor Girl Number One and her sophisticated set? Martian, let me give you a word of warning—that gal is no good for you.”

“What do you mean by that?” Drew demanded resentfully.

Jo shrugged. “Only that she has a habit of decoying nice young fellows up into the stratosphere and then letting them drop. She’s picked on you because you’re a novelty—a Martian Earthman. But she’ll get tired of you and go back, as she always does, to Vincent Riskin.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about!” exploded Stephen Drew. “You’re saying these things just because you’re envious of Gloria’s wealth and position. I know her better than you, and I don’t believe a word of it.” Jo’s eyes were unfathomable, but there was in them a shade of what might have been pity.

“You’ve got it bad, haven’t you?” she remarked. “All right, it’s your rocket-ride, Martian.”

Walter Gilson, attracted by their voices, came hurrying out of the inner office. The chubby agent’s pink face was eagerly anxious.

“What did Jared Shane say, Drew?” he asked. “Did he agree to use his influence to help you retain your concession?”

Drew related Jared Shane’s proposal that his tranium mine be incorporated as a subsidiary of Transmutation.

“It seems like a good plan to me,” Drew concluded.

“Good?” echoed Walter Gilson. “It’s terrific! Why, if your mine becomes a subsidiary of Transmutation, Burdine won’t have influence enough to touch your concession. Say, I never even dreamed that Shane would go to such lengths to help you.”

He poked Drew slyly in the ribs.

“I’ll bet that daughter of his has been talking to him, eh? Nice going, Drew!”

Drew flushed. “Well, as a matter of fact, Mr. Shane wasn’t at all sure that he could get his directors to agree to this plan. But he said he’d do his best.”

“He ought to be able to swing them, if Vincent Riskin doesn’t put up too much of a fight,” Gilson said shrewdly. “Riskin is determined on selling out the whole company to Burdine. I sometimes wonder if he hasn’t made a secret deal with Burdine. Oh, well, Jared Shane should be able to overcome his opposition.”

Jo Duff had been listening, and spoke up now.

“If I were you, Martian,” she advised dryly, “I’d be mighty careful. People who go into deals with big corporations sometimes come out without their shirts.”

“You don’t understand,” Drew told her impatiently. “Even though my mine is incorporated as a subsidiary, I will still own it, for I will hold all the stock. All I do is agree to sell tranium only to Transmutation.

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