Part 17 (1/2)

Rip replied formally, ”This is Lieutenant Foster, Federation Special Order Squadrons, in charge on the asteroid. Your landing party is in our hands, as prisoners, two wounded, none dead. If you agree to withdraw, we will send the wounded men back to you in one boat. The rest will remain here as hostages for your good behavior.”

”Stand by,” the voice said. There was silence for several moments, then a new voice said, ”This is the cruiser commander. We make a counteroffer.

If you release our men and surrender to them, we will spare the lives of you and your men.”

Rip listened incredulously. The commanding officer didn't understand. He, Rip, held the whip hand, because the lives of the Connie prisoners were in his hands. He repeated his offer.

”And I repeat,” the commander retorted. ”Surrender or die. Choose now.”

”I refuse,” Rip stated flatly. ”Try anything, and your men will suffer, not us.”

”You are mistaken,” the harsh voice said. ”We will sweep the asteroid clean with our exhaust, but this time we will be more thorough. When we have finished, we will hammer you with guided missiles. Then we will send snapper-boats with rockets to hunt down any who remain. We intend to have that thorium. You had better surrender.”

Rip couldn't believe it. The cruiser commander had no hesitation in sacrificing his own men! And it was not a bluff. He knew instinctively that the Connie commander meant it. Instantly he unplugged the radio connection from his belt and spoke urgently. ”Koa, get everyone under cover in the cave. Hurry! Collect all the Connies and take them with you.”

Then he plugged in again. ”Commander, I must have time to think this over.”

”You have one minute.”

He watched his chronometer, planning the next move. When the minute ended, he asked, ”Commander, how do we know you will spare our lives if we surrender?” Through the transparent sh.e.l.l of the snapper-boat he saw lights moving toward the horizon and knew Koa was following orders.

”You don't know,” the cruiser answered. ”You must take our word for it.

But if you surrender, we have no reason to wish you harm.”

Rip remained silent. The seconds ticked past until the commander snapped, ”Quickly! You have no more time.”

”Sir,” Rip said plaintively, ”two of my men do not wish to surrender.”

”Shoot them, fool! Are you in command or not?”

Rip grinned. He made his voice whine. ”But, sir, it is against the law of the Federation to shoot men without a trial.”

The commander lapsed into his own language, caught himself, then barked, ”You are no longer under Federation law. You are under the Consolidation of People's Governments. Do you surrender or not? Answer at once, or we take action anyway. Quick!”

Rip knew he could stall no longer. He said coolly, ”If you had brains in your head instead of high vacuum, you'd know that Planeteers never surrender. Blast away, you filthy s.p.a.ce pirate!”

He jerked the plug loose, hesitated for a second over whether or not to take the snapper-boat, and decided against it. He wasn't familiar with Connie controls, and there wasn't time to experiment. He headed for the cave.

The Connie cruiser lost no time. Its stern tubes flamed, then its steering tubes. It was going to drive directly at the asteroid without making a long run! Rip estimated quickly and realized that the Connie would get to the asteroid at the same time that he reached the cave--if he made it.

He speeded up as fast as he dared. With little gravity on the asteroid, he couldn't fall, but a false step could lift him into s.p.a.ce and make him lose time while he got out an air bottle to propel him down again.

The thought gave him an idea. Without slowing he took two bottles from his belt, turned them so the openings pointed backward, squeezed the release valves.

The Connie was gaining speed, blasting straight toward him. Rip sped forward and crossed to the sun side, intent on the cave entrance but no longer sure he would make it. The Connie's nose tube shot a cylinder of flame forward, reaching for the asteroid. He saw the fire lick downward and sweep toward him with appalling speed as he put everything he had into a frantic dive for the cave entrance. The flaming rocket exhaust seemed to s.n.a.t.c.h at him as a dozen hands pulled him to safety, then beat the sparks from his suit.

He was safe. He leaned against Koa, his heart thumping wildly. For a moment or two he couldn't speak; then he managed, ”Thanks.”

Koa spoke for the Planeteers. ”We're the ones to say thanks, sir. If you hadn't thought of stalling the cruiser, and if you hadn't stayed behind to give us time, we'd have some casualties, and so would the Connies we captured.”

”There wasn't anything else I could do,” Rip replied. ”Come on, Koa.