PRISON PLANET
By BOB TUCKER
To remain on Mars meant death from agonizing
space-sickness, but Earth-surgery lay
days of flight away. And there was only
a surface rocket in which to escape—with
a traitorous Ganymedean for its pilot.
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Planet Stories Fall 1942.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
"Listen, Rat!" Roberds said, "what I say goes around here. It doesn'thappen to be any of your business. I'm still in possession of my wits,and I know Peterson can't handle that ship. Furthermore Gladney willbe in it too, right along side of that sick girl in there! And Rat,get this: I'm going to pilot that ship. Understand? Consulate orno Consulate, job or no job, I'm wheeling that crate to Earth becausethis is an emergency. And the emergency happens to be bigger than myposition, to me at any rate." His tone dropped to a deadly softness."Now will you kindly remove your stinking carcass from this office?"
Unheeding, Rat swung his eyes around in the gloom and discovered thewoman, a nurse in uniform. He blinked at her and she returned the look,wavering. She bit her lip and determination flowed back. She met thestare of his boring, off-colored eyes. Rat grinned suddenly. Nurse Grayalmost smiled back, stopped before the others could see it.
"Won't go!" The Centaurian resumed his fight. "You not go, lose job,black-listed. Never get another. Look at me. I know." He retreateda precious step to escape a rolled up fist. "Little ship carry fournice. Rip out lockers and bunks. Swing hammocks. Put fuel in watertanks. Live on concentrates. Earth hospital fix bellyache afterwards,allright. I pilot ship. Yes?"
"No!" Roberds screamed.
Almost in answer, a moan issued from a small side room. The men in theoffice froze as Nurse Gray ran across the room. She disappeared throughthe narrow door.
"Peterson," the field manager ordered, "come over here and help methrow this rat out...." He went for Rat. Peterson swung up out of hischair with balled fist. The outlander backed rapidly.
"No need, no need, no need!" he said quickly. "I go." Still backing, heblindly kicked at the door and stepped into the night.
When the door slammed shut Roberds locked it. Peterson slumped in thechair.
"Do you mean that, Chief? About taking the ship yourself?"
"True enough." Roberds cast an anxious glance at the partly closeddoor, lowered his voice. "It'll cost me my job, but that girl in therehas to be taken to a hospital quickly! And it's her luck to be landedon a planet that doesn't boast even one! So it's Earth ... or shedies. I'd feel a lot better too if we could get Gladney to a hospital,I'm not too confident of that patching job." He pulled a pipe from ajacket pocket. "So, might as well kill two birds with one stone ... andthat wasn't meant to be funny!"
Peterson said nothing, sat watching the door.
"Rat has the right idea," Roberds continued, "but I had already thoughtof it. About the bunks and lockers. Greaseball has been out there allnight tearing them out. We just might be able to hop by dawn ... andhell of a long, grinding hop it will be!"
The nurse came out of the door.
"How is she?" Roberds asked.
"Sleeping," Gray whispered. "But sinking...."
"We can take off at dawn, I think." He filled the pipe and didn't lookat her. "You'll have to spend most of the trip in a hammock."
"I can take it."