The 43rd Golden Age of Science Fiction by Chester S. Geier

Author:Chester S. Geier [Geier, Chester S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: science fiction;pulp;sci-fi;adventure;space
Publisher: Wildside Press LLC
Published: 2018-09-13T00:00:00+00:00

TREASURE DERELICT

Originally published in Amazing Stories, July 1947, under the pseudonym “Guy Archett.”

“Say—what’s this?” Carl Selby snapped in angry surprise. “You’ve got us ten degrees off course, you young fool!”

Dick Ingram, seated before the control panels of the little expedition rocket Martian Maid, turned apologetically. “I…I know it, sir. You see, I caught sight of an object ahead of us in space, and thought it would be a good idea to investigate. Take a look in the view-plate.”

Carl Selby ignored the suggestion. His heavy, dark features were twisted in a scowl. “Haven’t I told you never to do anything like this without consulting me first?” he demanded.

Dick Ingram gave an apprehensive nod. “Yes, sir,” he answered hesitantly. “But at the time I sighted the object, you were asleep. I thought it best not to disturb you. I…I decided you’d have suggested a change in course anyway. The object we’re heading for seems to be a ship, sir.”

“A ship!” In spite of himself, Selby was startled out of his anger. His sharp, brown eyes darted to the view-plate, then narrowed to glittering slits. Against the ebon backdrop of space, a tiny shape glinted dully. It was still very far away, but Selby could see that it was cigar-shaped and obviously metallic. It might very well be a ship. And if so, its position in this part of space meant—

Selby gestured irritably, resenting the fact that Ingram should have discovered it first. “I’ll take over now,” he growled.

Ingram rose from the pilot chair and stood aside deferentially as Selby seated himself. Selby shot a cold glance at the youngster.

“Next time ask for my advice before you take a step of this sort. I don’t care what I happen to be doing, but see me first—understand?”

“Yes, sir.” Ingram’s voice was barely audible. His boyish features were abject and hurt. “I’m sorry, sir.”

Selby grunted and turned his scowling gaze to the instruments before him. He studied the various dials, meters, and gauges for a moment, then whirled in angry impatience. “Well, what are you waiting for?” he snapped at Ingram.

Ingram straightened with a nervous jerk of his slender body. “I…I was just watching the view-plate, sir. Do you know what I think? That ship ahead of us might be the Intrepid, Verne Rikker’s Uranus expedition rocket!”

“Get out!” Selby snarled in sudden fury. “Get out—do you hear?”

Ingram’s face grew tense and pale. For a moment his lips trembled with long-pent indignation. But no words spilled from the youth. Something that might have been fear or a superb self-control held them back. He turned and quietly left the control room.

Selby looked for a long moment at the door through which Ingram had gone. His eyes were at once raging and sharply shrewd. That damned kid, he thought. He decided he had made a bad mistake in choosing young Ingram for this two-man scientific expedition into deep space. Ingram was a bit too smart. Selby regretted now that he hadn’t obeyed his earlier impulse and hired instead an ordinary commercial pilot.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.