"Murray Leinster - Space Platform" - читать интересную книгу автора (Leinster Murray)

There seemed little use in it, but Joe told it baldly as the car went on. The great halfball of metal loomed
larger and larger but did not seem to grow nearer as Sally practised first aid. They came to a convoy of
trucks, and the horn blared, and they turned out and passed it. Once they passed another convoy of empty
vehicles on the way back to Bootstrap. They went on.
Joe finished drearily. "The pilots did everything anybody could, sir. They even checked off the parcels as
they were dumped. We reported one that blew up."
"Those were orders," Major Holt said detachedly. "We've gained some information, anyhow. The pilots
are probably right about the plane having been boobytrapped during its last overhaul and the traps armed
later. I'll have that checked immediately, and we'll see if we can find out how it was done. The man you
think armed the trap on this planeтАФAn order for his arrest is on the way now. I told my secretary. AndтАФ
Hmmmm. That CO2тАФ"
"I didn't understand that," said Joe, depressedly.
"Planes have fire alarm warning systems and CO2 bottles to put fires out," said the Major. "A fire in flight
lights a red light on the instrument panel, telling where it is. The pilofpulls a handle and CO2 floods the
compartment, putting it out. Since the plane was coming hi for a crash landing, the pilot obeyed standard
orders and flooded all compartments with CO2. Only it was something else."
"Oh, no!" Sally said hi horror.
"The CO2 bottles were filled with an inflammable or an explosive gas," said her father, unbending.
"Instead of making a fire impossible, they made it certain. We'll have to watch out for that trick now!"
Joe was too much disheartened for any feelings, save bitter gloom and a much more bitter hatred of those
who were ready to commit any crimeтАФand had committed mostтАФin the attempt to destroy the Platform.
The Shed that housed it rose against the skyline. It became huge. It became monstrous. It became
unbelievable. But Joe could have wept when the car pulled up at an angular, three story building jutting
out from its base. From the air, this substantial building had looked like a mere chip. The car stopped.
They got out. A sentry saluted as Major Holt led the way inside. Joe and Sally followed. The Major jerked
his thumb at Joe and spoke briefly to a uniformed man.
"Get him some clothes. Get him a longdistance telephone connection to the Kenmore Precision Tool
Company. Let him talk. Then bring him to me again."
He disappeared. Sally tried to smile at Joe. She was still quite pale.
"That's Dad, Joe. He means well, but he's not cordial. I was in his office when the report of sabotage to
your
plane came through. We started for Bootstrap. We were on the way when we saw the first explosion.
IтАФthought it was your ship." She winced a little at the memory. "I knew you were on board. It wasтАФ
not nice, Joe!"
She'd been badly scared. Joe was minded to thump her encouragingly on the back, but he suddenly
realized that it would no longer be appropriate. So he said gruffly, "I'm all right."
He followed the uniformed man. He began to get out of his scorched and tattered garments. The
sergeant brought him more clothes. He put them on. He was just changing his personal possessions to
the new pockets when the sergeant came back again.
"Kenmore plant on the line, sir."
Joe went to the phone. On the way he discovered that the banging around he'd been through had
produced a number of places that hurt.
He talked to his father.
Afterward, he realized that it was a queer conversation. He felt guilty because something had
happened to a job that had taken eight months to do and that he was escorting to its destination. He
told his father about that. But his father didn't seem concerned. Not nearly as much as he should have
been. He asked urgent questions about Joe himself. Was he hurt? How much? Where? Joe was
astonished that his father seemed to think such matters more important than the pilot gyros. But he
answered the questions and explained the exact situation and a certain desperate hope he was trying to
cherish. His father give him advice.