Badge of Infamy

ac

given the equivalent of gravity in spinning compartments, but the crews rode "free". The lucky crewmen li

on the shuttle up to the orbital station, then was sick as acceleration stopped. But he was able to control himself enough to foll

d a mark for each on his checkoff sheet, and handed them back. "Deckmen forward, tubem

l the crew. Between the killing work, the heat of the tubes, and occasional d

ight the loaders were tossing from hand to hand. A bag hit h

u dent that bag and they'll brig you. Cantc

printed in block letters that shouted their identity before

choose this time

e'd be least likely to run into her. As a doctor and a courtesy passenger, she'd have compl

ssing, and he had to throw himself along by erratic leaps. He was gaining proficiency, but not enough to handle himself

ced himself. "Tube chief

ities of beer spacemen drank, and now he realized what really happened to it. Hard liquor was

nced at the clock. "

tle, since the big ships couldn't take high acceleration. Space had been conquered for more than a century, but the ships were still flimsy tubs that took m

h. The tube quarters had grown insufferably hot during the long blast, but the main tube-room

e go out in the tubes and pull the lining. I pry u

for the man who slipped. Ben began ripping out the eroded blocks with a special tool. Feldman carried them back and stacked them along with others. A plasma furnace melted them down into new block

labor, sleep, and the brief relief o

ly until they reached blow-point. Feldman in Number One would have gone sailing out into space, but Ben reacted at once. As the ship leaped slightly, Feldman

touched helmets briefl

ng in Number Two were charred

ept that they'd have to work harder fr

off work for a day. Then the pace picked up. The tubes were cleared and they began laying the new lining for the l

n. We all get six-day passes on Mars. Hit the sack now so you wo

e felt Ben shaking his shoulder, trying to dr

yes were fully open. He grabbed for it and missed. He grabbed again, with Ben's

ger laughing. A big hand grabbed up the space ticket su

h Art. He was saving his money, going to buy a farm on Mars. Five trips

There was no indecision. To them, apparent

Feldman began. "B

He bounced off a wall. A wrench sailed toward him, glanced of

ckwards. "Stow it! We can take care of him later. Right now, this is captain's business. You fools wa

through the tubes up towards the control section of the ship. Feldman took a quick glance at the

xit lock, apparently assisting the passengers to leave. Most of them went on into the shuttle, but

urned to Feldman. "Yo

cold and furious. "He was Doctor Danie

dea that she would denounce him had never entered his head. There was no Medical rule involved. She kn

criminal back to Earth in chains, I suppose. But he's hardly worth the

his forelock. "Thank you

ts to the ship's fun

st, but a fist lashed sa

shuttle that took off for Southport. He avoided their eyes a

Art's money? He

to h

s arm back toward his shoulder

en Billings died of space-stomac

will take. Umm. It could be, maybe." He shrugged. "Okay, re

ide, the tubemen took turns holding Feldman and beating him while the passengers disembarked from their shuttle. As he