Danger in Deep Space

ith you a minu

er and stared at a wizened little man standi

ou want?"

d the little man, taking the cadet by the arm. "Go

ring the vivid blue of the senior Space Cadet, he was now dressed in black trousers fitting snugly around the legs, a midnight blue pull-over jersey, and the black-billed hat of the mer

the warrant issued for his arrest, it had been necessary for him to assume some sort of disguise to elude the Solar Guard MP's. Roger had wound up on Spaceman'

oring. His one attempt to leave Spaceman's Row had nearly met with disaster. Running into a squad of Solar Guard MP's, he had made a hurried escape into a near-by jet taxi. Back on the Row, Roger had lo

astrogator, or skipper

know?" asked R

thing, come to me and I'll get it for you. I don't care why you're here. That ain't none of my business.

osely. "Suppose I am in something deep

want done?" as

casually, "I could

pened to

ed them up," answ

t?" aske

from the skipper's pet

ter spitting at a near-by cuspidor. He reached over and patted Roger on the arm. "You'

hat?" ask

inny. "Ain't you never

any of it." Roger liked the little man for some reason-he couldn't tell why. He had met several people on t

Luna City," said Roger. "I was read

on't mind if I have just a little one?" He p

up his finger-"

and bring a bottle of Martian fizz along with it!" The bartender nodded, and Shinny turned bac

lied Roger. "What a

an," said Shinny, "when you're ready

ttle of Martian fizz and a glass in front of Roger. Roger paid for the drinks and poured a glass of the

I am," he st

aceman's Oath. Escaped from the Venus space station on a jet liner. But one of the best men on a r

thought Roger. "He was test

thinking about the one-thousand-credit reward, standa

rd rewards," snapped Shinny. "We got our own spaceman's code here on the Row. It goes something lik

ers-space papers! Made out in any name, so that I can get out into space again.

gation deck, or control, or as

"Better make them for th

Shinny. "You h

h?" aske

nny, and then added, "and o

nteed

"I don't sell things that ai

small roll of crumpled credit notes. He counted

t the papers?

lace, same time,"

e of this place

é Co

little man in front of him. "Until tomorrow, Mr. Shinny, when you com

me!" snapped Shin

I know you'll be back, Mr. Shinny. You see, I really mean

ame time, same place," he s

humdrum existence on Spaceman's Row. He walked wearily back to his scrubby little bedroom to wait for night to come. He hated to go back to the room, b

who?" ask

astrogator in the deep

n suddenly burst out laughing,

?" demanded Shinny. "You go

the dirty hotel room, wa

st. "I wanta tell you something, Shinny. I was the one

ttle spaceman had come to like t

s on the radar watch at the station. At the same time we were gonna crash into the station he crossed a coup

l guy," commented S

that we can get him to astrogate us out to Tara! I tell

n a stupid grin, "but you have to be careful he never

he'll thank us for getting him off the station and then giving him a

aid Shinny, "there ain

ing. "A fortune waiting for us in the

id Shinny. "Not too g

" asked

be exact. Needs a little fixing, but i

belong to?" d

y, a strange twi

the craters of Luna, where

. I wanted to see if there was any grub I could swipe and save myself a trip back to Venusport for more supplies. Anyway, I went aboard and found the grub all right, but I got nosy about why they had made an emergency touchdown. I looked around the power deck and found they had busted t

me back looking for

t drove them poor fellers crazy. I guess they searched

till there-and in good c

obably a good overhaul, but I don't think t

" exclaimed Loring, "we'

nny. "I didn't say

ou want for it?"

igure to get as much as twenty million credits out of t

that's been rotting in the jungle f

ut there every six months or so and turn over t

do something with it

" answered Shinny. "Well,

," snappe

price," s

and not give you anyt

hs in that jungle, with a hundred men and

a fifth share

my price. You either take it or

nd let's get out of here. I'm getting jittery over

, "it's a deal. One quar

guess we'd better go talk

a little dangerous takin

you're right,

op to Mars or Titan. This is as deep as you can go. If I was you, I'd want the best there is in my crew. And from

asked

r spaceman," he said, "but a good one!" He rose quickly. "W

n a few moments they arrived at the Café Cosmos. Roger was already there, seated at the sam

k my advice and got away from 'Blast-off' Connel.

aking directly to Shinny. "Did you

nny. "I brought you

hand. "My one hun

said Loring, "we've got more

lm outstretched on the top of the table.

fully, Roger counted the bills, and then, after putting

thing important to disc

g with a crooked smile. "I wouldn't trust

her three merely glared at h

across the table. "I've gotta ship and I wanta make a

," said Roger.

ted to get out of it. Roger listened without comment. When Loring had finished, Shinny

e asked, "how do y

get out of it

h of the take

e full quarter-share, not

urth to him," whined Mason. "Tha

t now," snapped Loring. "Al

he first time. "Wh

pace wagon in shape we hi

Shinny. He yelled for the bartender, wh

s of the sweet water and

ace wagon you've got buried

no name," s

ers of his mouth. "Then I propose we name her af

hat?" ask

evil," s

ing slightly from his silent laughter

toast to the

evil," said the

ble she brings," a