"Edmond Hamilton - Calling Captain Future" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hamilton Edmond)

dromedan binaries is only half completed, and here I They started forward in the corridor. Curt was look-
am, being hauled off to the wild outer regions of the ing for something as he advanced. Then he saw what he
System! And you, sir, can make jests about it!" sought.
Curt chuckled. "Calm down, Kansu. If my idea There was a small gun-locker at the side of the corri-
works, we'll get you back to the Andromedan binaries." dor, hung with atomic weapons and tools. In there,
The cruiser throbbed on and on. As he worked on upon a hook, hung his own gray tungstite belt and pro-
the minute parts of the ring mechanism, Curt was think- ton-pistol.
ing of the Futuremen. He knew that they would never "I was hoping I could find this," he exclaimed joy-
rest until they found him. But they would have no idea fully, taking a rapid step toward the locker.
of whither he had been taken. Lacking a clue, they "Captain Future!" Joan's cry was low, agonized.
would have to comb space helplessly in blind search. A stiff-faced Legionary had just entered the corridor
"We must be well beyond the orbit of Jupiter," Kan- from the control-rooms forward. The man reached for
su Kane declared. "And still flying on outward. I his gun.
thought you had some wonderful idea for getting us out Curt was already diving for the gun-locker. With the
of here." phenomenal speed that Otho the android had taught
"It isn't very wonderful, but it may do the trick," him, he snatched his proton-pistol, whirled, and fired.
Curt replied, getting to his feet. He held out the tiny in- The thin, pale beam lanced down the corridor and
strument in his hand. "I've made the little atomic engine dropped the Legionary stunned in his tracks.
of my ring into an atomic blast. It will spend all its en- "Quick!" cried Captain Future, buckling his belt on
ergy in a few minutes, but it may be able to cut through hastily. "They'll find this man in a minute."
the metal of the door and the bar." He was leading them into a low, cramped compart-
"And even if it does, and we get out of this dismal ment at the starboard side. Outside its wall, bolted to
chamber, what then?" asked Kansu Kane gloomily. the hull of the cruiser, was one of the little space-boats
"Are you going to try to capture the ship?" intended for use as life-boats in case of wreck. A round
"Too many of them for that," Captain Future said. door gave entrance through the wall of the cruiser into
"We'll try to sneak away in one of the space-boats. If the little craft.
we can do that, we can get to a televisor somewhere Joan Randall scrambled through into the space-boat.

16
 Edmond Hamilton тАУ CALLING CAPTAIN FUTURE

Kansu Kane was following, when the little astronomer The old thrill of space-fighting came to Captain Fu-
stopped. ture as he twisted and dodged out here between the
"I've got to go back to our cell!" he exclaimed. "I stars. But the cruiser had too great an advantage in
left some of my notes on the Andromedan binaries speed to be shaken off. And twice the space-boat ran
there тАУ I was studying them and left them on the floor" into strong ether-currents that tossed it violently, mak-
The little Venusian actually started back. But Cap- ing it lose ground. The Legion cruiser was steadily
tain Future grabbed him in time. overtaking them.
"Are you crazy?" Curt demanded. "Get in there after Curt wondered why the cruiser didn't blast them out
Joan." of space with its atom-guns. They could have done it,
Kansu Kane sputtered. "You can 't order me around he knew. Why had Doctor Zarro been so determined to
like a servant, sir! I have rights тАУ" make them prisoners?
Curt ended the argument by shoving the irate little "They're getting closer ," Joan faltered.
astronomer bodily into the space-boat. He leaped in af- The space-boat was suddenly caught by another and
ter him, spun shut the round door of the space-boat; and stronger ether-current, that gripped it and swept it away
then began hastily unscrewing the bolts that held it to despite the force of its rocket-tubes.
the cruiser hull, With the wrench hung there for the

C
purpose. APTAIN FUTURE fought to break clear of this