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Fan, issue 2, July 1945
Page 5
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5 too late. He -- he fell down in one of the ravines. He's dead by now." "Dead!" The old man's face went pale. "But how do you know? Gravity here is so light! We've got to find him!" "No, it's no use." Hagist thought quickly. "Do you think I'd come back here otherwise? I saw his faceplate shatter on a projecting ledge. I tried to get down to his body, but its too risky. He's a goner." Adams' face beneath the glass helmet twisted in genuine grief. He shook his head sadly, accepting the story. "I had a feeling something was going to happen. I've always had a dread of these big rocks, that's why I hired you two, on Ceres. But why did you have to go off looking for another vein? Stuart, the poor lad -- and on our last day here!" He hesitated, then added: "I'll never forgive myself for bringing that lad here to his death." Hagist was hugely amuzed at the old man taking the blame, but he kept his face straight. "Wasn't your fault. We had a bargain, Stuart and I to do the prospecting, you to furnish the equipment and transportation. Stuart knew what he was doing, he's worked these rocks before. I'll admit, this one's rather treacherous." The last was added for effect; he knew the old man's fear of these asteroids amounted almost to a phobia. Now Hagist went on briskly, dismissing Stuart from his mind, "Let's get away from here. What about the tubes? All ready?" Adams nodded dully, and followed Hagist around to the lock. "Yes, all is ready except setting the course. I'll start charting for Ceres while you load the ore." Hagist whirled in his stride. His face was tense. "Ceres! You're going back there? What for?" "But certainly. If poor Stuart has a family, or friends there, they should be notified." Hagist cursed to himself. He'd been afraid of that; he mustn't go back to Ceres. Stuart did have friends there and they wouldn't swallow the "accident" story too readily, especially the part about the tough face-plate breaking in a light fall like that. But again Hagist thought quickly, cunningly. "If that's all that's worrying you, I'll save you the detour. Stuart's family is on Earth. A wife and -- and one child. I guess his share of this strike goes to them, by rights. I'll take care of it." Adams nodded mute agreement, entered the ship and moved to the control room. Hagist looked after him, and smiled thinly. What a happy thought that had been! Under that pretense he'd have no trouble in confiscating Stuart's share when they reached Earth! That meant two-thirds now, instead of one-
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5 too late. He -- he fell down in one of the ravines. He's dead by now." "Dead!" The old man's face went pale. "But how do you know? Gravity here is so light! We've got to find him!" "No, it's no use." Hagist thought quickly. "Do you think I'd come back here otherwise? I saw his faceplate shatter on a projecting ledge. I tried to get down to his body, but its too risky. He's a goner." Adams' face beneath the glass helmet twisted in genuine grief. He shook his head sadly, accepting the story. "I had a feeling something was going to happen. I've always had a dread of these big rocks, that's why I hired you two, on Ceres. But why did you have to go off looking for another vein? Stuart, the poor lad -- and on our last day here!" He hesitated, then added: "I'll never forgive myself for bringing that lad here to his death." Hagist was hugely amuzed at the old man taking the blame, but he kept his face straight. "Wasn't your fault. We had a bargain, Stuart and I to do the prospecting, you to furnish the equipment and transportation. Stuart knew what he was doing, he's worked these rocks before. I'll admit, this one's rather treacherous." The last was added for effect; he knew the old man's fear of these asteroids amounted almost to a phobia. Now Hagist went on briskly, dismissing Stuart from his mind, "Let's get away from here. What about the tubes? All ready?" Adams nodded dully, and followed Hagist around to the lock. "Yes, all is ready except setting the course. I'll start charting for Ceres while you load the ore." Hagist whirled in his stride. His face was tense. "Ceres! You're going back there? What for?" "But certainly. If poor Stuart has a family, or friends there, they should be notified." Hagist cursed to himself. He'd been afraid of that; he mustn't go back to Ceres. Stuart did have friends there and they wouldn't swallow the "accident" story too readily, especially the part about the tough face-plate breaking in a light fall like that. But again Hagist thought quickly, cunningly. "If that's all that's worrying you, I'll save you the detour. Stuart's family is on Earth. A wife and -- and one child. I guess his share of this strike goes to them, by rights. I'll take care of it." Adams nodded mute agreement, entered the ship and moved to the control room. Hagist looked after him, and smiled thinly. What a happy thought that had been! Under that pretense he'd have no trouble in confiscating Stuart's share when they reached Earth! That meant two-thirds now, instead of one-
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