The Planet Jupiter by Anthology

Author:Anthology [Anthology]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-04-12T04:00:00+00:00

Donavan hoped that the name Orm would loosen the older man’s tongue and possibly make him talkative. Pogo Joe gave no sign, however, and Conavan went on.

“Val Orm loaned me a burro so I could get here and get located with some outfit. I haven’t got enough money to get my ship fixed, and I’ll have to throw in with some outfit until I can build up a bankroll.”

“And you want me to stake you with supplies until you get some money?” queried Pogo Joe matter-of-factly. “Well, you’re an Earthman and I’m an Earthman, but I’m afraid things is too uncertain on this planet to be staking anyone. Because. . .”

“Things are uncertain?” Quirk Conavan pretended he was puzzled. “I don’t understand. I was told on Earth that this was one of the most promising planets under the Martian Federation. How come the reports don’t check?”

“I think I can explain that.” Conavan turned to face the man with the bushy black eyebrows, who now stepped forward. The fellow continued in a light carefree tone.

“Let me introduce myself. I’m Jim Arnold and this other man here is my boss, Art Kellet. He doesn’t like to speak up like me, but he’s losing his shirt on account of a guy named Shag Gorrell. Gorrell’s why this planet is going to the dogs!” Arnold seemed bitter and a little sad.

Conavan stepped over to the two men and shook hands, introducing himself again.

“The Orms have told me about this Gorrell fellow. What’s he done? Why is he such a menace?”

“What’s he done!” Pogo Joe roared with indignation. “Just take a look at this here peg leg, and you can see what he and his kind have done!”

Pogo Joe pulled up his trouser leg and tapped his wooden peg significantly with the bowl of his pipe.

“That’s what he’s done, the lousy rat. It was when I had a ranch of my own and a good herd of netlers that his gang swooped down one night and drove off all of my cattle. I set out after ’em, but they had mined the trail and when I hit the mined section, the explosion tore this leg off.”

Pogo Joe puffed and steamed with indignation. He banged his fist on the counter and spat into a spittoon.

“Take it easy, Joe,” cautioned the blond rancher Conavan now knew as Art Kellet. “It would be bad for you if Shag Gorrell should hear you talk like that. Our time will come, but we’ve got to be careful.”

Suddenly Kellet remembered Conavan. He eyed him warily and stopped talking, as if realizing he had already said too much.

“If I’m not mistaken,” said Jim Arnold, sensing Art Kellet’s sudden caution, “this is supposed to be a free planet and we are supposed to have freedom of speech. Well, I for one intend to have my say about Shag Gorrell’s highhanded grab of our land, as well as his strong-arm methods to force Pogo Joe here to stop delivering supplies to the Orms.”

It was quite evident that Quirk Conavan’s intrusion had set off a bombshell of conversation.

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