Footsteps of Angels by E. C. Tubb

Author:E. C. Tubb [Tubb, E. C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780575107694
Publisher: Orion
Published: 2011-09-29T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

GANYMEDE was a torn and furrowed ball of stone some thirty-three hundred miles in diameter. A portion of it, facing Jupiter, was laced with underground tunnels and installations, blotched with domes and segmented runways, which ran between jagged peaks. A rough, tough place with a mining camp’s air of urgency and bustle. The rest was as it had been since the beginning of time.

“Welcome to Ganymede.” Pietro Ludovice thrust out his hand, face illuminated with a smile as he greeted the new arrivals. “A nice trip? Sorry about the landing delay but there’s been a little trouble over at Beta 2. I’ve arranged for you to stay at the Golden Bucket.” His eyes moved towards Lynne. “A suite. Is that satisfactory?”

Feyman nodded. “Any news of Devin?”

“Nothing definite as yet. I got working on it as soon as I received your instructions but the trouble with these dredgers is that they move around a lot. Devin worked for the Chi-Juscara Combine at one time then moved to the Helmond Corporation. Now, as far as I can learn, he’s operating as a cowboy.”

“A freelance?” Lynne frowned. “How did he manage to get a ship?”

“A dredge.” The agent smiled as he made the correction. “We call them dredges.”

“Do they give them away?”

“Of course not, but there are ways; old vessels bought from the established companies as scrap and put back into service, others knocked up in small yards. Deathtraps mostly but the cowboys are always willing to take risks. Give them a hull, a zipdrive, a radio and air and they’ll dredge the sun if the price is right.” He added, sourly, “Most of them are subsidized by the big companies though no one will ever admit it. A form of blackleg labor and a cheap source of supply. A cowboy is paid by the load on delivery so will work his butt off to make it rich. The unions insist on limited operations, safeguards, regular inspections and all the rest of it. They’re even talking of two-man crews.”

“Featherbedding?”

“What else?” Ludovice scowled his anger. “Damned unions. They’ve fought computerization of the landing fields ever since the first dredge brought in the first load. We’ve managed to get some equipment in-even the unions could see it was murder to reject it-but with the increased demand it isn’t enough. Anyway, now that Callisto is setting up as a receiving base they’ll have to give way. You’ve luggage?”

Two cases which the agent loaded on the moving way, taking his place beside them once the others had been settled, As they moved towards their hotel Feyman said, “What about Devin?”

“He’s one of the tough ones. He’s been dredging for years and had more lives than a cat. Goes real deep-to grab the heavy stuff and takes chances which proves he’s crazy. They’re all crazy. It’s a hell of a way to make a living.”

To zip across more than a half million miles of space. To fall into the gaseous atmosphere of Jupiter and continue to fall until the layer was right.

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