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Astronaut, v. 1, issue 1, September 1947

Page 14

14
ASTRONAUT

different, assumed an expectant, listening quality. It was as though she might be waiting to hear something that she had to steel herself to meet. Something that would come as sure as doom; something, perhaps, that was doom.

They were almost to the plantation when Martin spoke again.

"Well, Karin, we're all alone now."

The woman clenched her hands. Still waiting...

Then, as a man says, "I'm tired tonight" or "It's good to be home" -- as unconsciously as that, from years of habit, Martin said, "What would you have done, Karin, if I hadn't been a man of honor and made an honest woman of you?"

The airsled was on auto-control, and Martin twisted in his seat to gaze into her face, white in the filtered light of the Venus-mist. Her eyes were like an animal's at bay.

Suddenly, her lip curled, and she laughed -- horribly. "For nearly nineteen years you've asked me that, Martin," she said in a rough, choked voice. "Day and night you've asked and asked and asked -- but you've never got an answer, nor did you expect one. You thought there wasn't any answer. What, indeed, is there for a poor sinful girl to do if a man of honor won't make a honest woman of her? Man of honor! Honest woman!"

Again she laughed. "For nineteen years you've bragged that you made me an honest woman. But you've patted yourself on the back for nothing. Get this, Martin, our marriage didn't make an honest woman of me. But now, at last, I'm ready to be one! I'm ready to answer that question you've asked so smugly for so long."

Martin raised his voice desperately in incoherent protest, but her words went relentlessly on.

"If you hadn't made me an 'honest woman', Martin, I'd have told the world that I was married to my son's father. For my baby's sake, I'd have sworn I married his father -- before he went to space with the pirates and never came back."

Martin's voice was hoarse. "Karin, you're crazy! The boy is my son!"

"Is he, Martin? What a wise father you are."

"Stop it, Karin. You've lost your head because you had to part with the boy. Listen to me. He is my son. He is my son!"

Karin made a gesture as if she were divesting herself of chains. She lifted her chin a new, free movement.

"Martin Kinnison," she said slowly, "how will you know that Kimball is your son? How will you ever know?"

...ooOoo...

Saving...

14 ASTRONAUT different, assumed an expectant, listening quality. It was as though she might be waiting to hear something that she had to steel herself to meet. Something that would come as sure as doom; something, perhaps, that was doom. They were almost to the plantation when Martin spoke again. "Well, Karin, we're all alone now." The woman clenched her hands. Still waiting... Then, as a man says, "I'm tired tonight" or "It's good to be home" -- as unconsciously as that, from years of habit, Martin said, "What would you have done, Karin, if I hadn't been a man of honor and made an honest woman of you?" The airsled was on auto-control, and Martin twisted in his seat to gaze into her face, white in the filtered light of the Venus-mist. Her eyes were like an animal's at bay. Suddenly, her lip curled, and she laughed -- horribly. "For nearly nineteen years you've asked me that, Martin," she said in a rough, choked voice. "Day and night you've asked and asked and asked -- but you've never got an answer, nor did you expect one. You thought there wasn't any answer. What, indeed, is there for a poor sinful girl to do if a man of honor won't make a honest woman of her? Man of honor! Honest woman!" Again she laughed. "For nineteen years you've bragged that you made me an honest woman. But you've patted yourself on the back for nothing. Get this, Martin, our marriage didn't make an honest woman of me. But now, at last, I'm ready to be one! I'm ready to answer that question you've asked so smugly for so long." Martin raised his voice desperately in incoherent protest, but her words went relentlessly on. "If you hadn't made me an 'honest woman', Martin, I'd have told the world that I was married to my son's father. For my baby's sake, I'd have sworn I married his father -- before he went to space with the pirates and never came back." Martin's voice was hoarse. "Karin, you're crazy! The boy is my son!" "Is he, Martin? What a wise father you are." "Stop it, Karin. You've lost your head because you had to part with the boy. Listen to me. He is my son. He is my son!" Karin made a gesture as if she were divesting herself of chains. She lifted her chin a new, free movement. "Martin Kinnison," she said slowly, "how will you know that Kimball is your son? How will you ever know?" ...ooOoo...