The Extra Man by E. C. Tubb

Author:E. C. Tubb [Tubb, E. C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780575107496
Publisher: Orion
Published: 2011-09-29T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XI

Five men sat in a room and discussed their future. Carter, his young features taut with the effort necessary to move his body in a, to him, three times normal gravity, slumped in a chair and stared at the sagging cheeks of the doctor. Wendis and Menson, used to a high G field while in space, didn’t seem to be affected by the gravity, though they gasped and sweated in the thick, humid air. Curt smiled as he stared through a window, savoring the green fields and blue sky, his healed body tingling with excitement as he thought of the new world waiting for his exploration.

‘I’ve heard from the Matriarch,’ said Lasser bitterly. ‘As I suspected they have dismantled the ships. We are here to stay.’

Wendis clenched his big hands. ‘That means that we never go into space again, never see the cold stars, feel the thrust of rockets.’ He swallowed as if ashamed of his outburst, then, almost defiantly, stared at the old doctor. ‘I’ve trained all my life for space,’ he gritted. ‘I know nothing else. What do they intend doing with me now?’

‘The Council will inform me as soon as they receive the answer from Comain.’ Lasser wiped sweat from his yellow features. ‘If you ask me to make a guess I’d say either the deserts, the poles, or, if they have work there, on a high mountain.’

‘What makes you say that, Doc?’

‘Logic, Menson. We need a dry climate, low gravity, and thin, cold air. The only place on Earth where we can get most of those things is on a high mountain. The isolation wouldn’t worry us, we’re used to it, and, from their point of view, it would be ideal.’

‘Why?’

‘We’d be out of the way, and yet under constant observation. Without ships or transport we couldn’t leave the area and we’d have to do as we were told or our supplies could be cut off.’

‘Do you think that they will keep us together?’ Carter licked his lips as he looked at the old man. ‘I thought that they might have split us up, a family here, a man there, and so on.’

‘Why should they? We aren’t rebels. They have nothing to fear from us. They only recalled us so that we could be fitted into the pattern. No, Carter, I think that they will keep us as a unit. All of us.’

‘What about Curt?’

‘Well? What about me?’ Attracted by the mention of his name the young man turned from the window and smiled down at the old doctor. ‘I’m home again, thanks to you, and I’m eager to explore. What happens now?’

‘We don’t know yet, not until the Matriarch informs me just what is to happen to us.’ Lasser wiped his face and neck as he glanced up at the young man. ‘How are you feeling?’

‘Fine.’ Curt grinned as he thumped his chest. ‘All the soreness has gone and I feel like a dog with two tails.’

‘Good. Got over the journey yet?’

‘Just about. I don’t want to do it again though.

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