Danger in Deep Space

lly. "Sure wish we wuz on her." His eyes followed the be

demande

ort. What a stinking hole!" snort

there ain't another city in the system t

we been doing is hang around the spaceport, talk to the spacemen, and watch the sh

for the right bre

f break?" gr

space freighter. "There's our answer!" said Loring, a note of triumph in

t guy and the space freighter

to the nearest jet cab and hopped into

Loring directed, "

from the curb into the crowd of cars racing along Premier Highway Number One. In the

and pack our gear, see! Then meet me

Mason with alarm. "Ar

growled. "In a few hours we'll be on our way to Tara, and then

a revolving wheel to follow the precious sun, and constructed of pure Titan crystal. Farther ahead and looming magnificent in the late afternoon sun was the first and largest of Venusian cities

h the busy streets. Loring, in particular, thought as he had never thought before. He

d along the high

f the city. This was Spaceman's Row, and it dated back

as ghosts. Spaceman's Row was where suspended spacemen and space rats, prospectors of the asteroids for uranium and pitchblende, gathered and found short-lived and rowdy fun. Here, skippers of rocket ships, bound for de

signs began to flick on, their garish blues, reds, and whites bathing the street in a glow of synt

arrow flight of stairs leading to a dingy back hal

oors. Many years before, the Cosmos had been a sedate dining spot, a place where respectable family parties came to enjoy good food and the gentle breezes of a near-by lake. Now,

genteel beginnings, but the huge blaring teleceiver screen was filled with the pout

of the harsh bluish liquid, paid his credits, and downed the drink. Then he turned slowly and glanc

g for you,"

ing, "did'ja get any

man, with surprising vigor. "I'

Shinny!" sneered Lo

e market, Billy boy." He paused and aimed a s

st as well. I've got someth

ave a pretty big strike, Billy boy,

ittle ride upstairs, M

e a chance at getting caught by the Solar Guard, busting the void with a rocket ship and no papers."

. He carried two spaceman's traveling bags, sm

t's see now, I saw you two just before you blasted off for Tara!" He paused.

ld fool!" sn

toothless smile spread across his

and back at Loring. "Say!

o we've got a strike out in the deep, but one word o

t a word. I'll only charge you

Loring. "How muc

ake," said Shinny. "A

Loring, "but O.K. W

Mason. "One twentieth! Why, that c

there hasn't been a uranium strike that big since

at a table. He ordered a bottle of r

anium, Mr. Shi

pened wider sti

ous metal in the syste

old, I

to g

hey're making the artificial stuff cheaper'n it costs to mine it."

t," said Lor

eds of the expanding system. In an age of electronics, lack of copper had become a serious bottleneck in the production of electrical and scientific equipment. Search partie

ingers twitched w

ou want to buy a

nt to buy one now. The way things loo

nly jumped up. "So that's your angle! Well

inny looked u

lking about?" d

ging around the spaceport for the last two weeks. And what you m

ve caught on long ago." He eyed the shorter man from between

lling anything like

nded Shinny. "What're you tw

u what! He's

e shorter spaceman across the mouth. Ma

hissed Loring. "You'll do

ated Mason. "O.K. Anyt

his?" dema

up!" growl

se from the table. "You may be tough,

ally Loring smiled and patted Mason's shoulder. "S

," pleaded Shinny. "W

n," said

ack into th

n fearfully. "Loring wan

e drew in his breath sharply.

on this," Loring reminded h

rightened whisper. "Deal's off. I ain't gonna

Loring's hand darted toward t

it," said Shinny, pushing back his chair. Abruptly getting to

on, "get him. You

ceman's oath. Not Shinny." He got up. "Come on, Mason. We

do?" the shorter

get out into space, we dump the pilots and h

ike this'll

gh to go ahead o

up, hesitated, and

g to make you rich, Mason," he said quietly. "I'm going to make you on