Read Online Captain Future 19 - Outlaw World (Winter 1946) by Edmond Hamilton - Free Book Online
Authors: Edmond Hamilton
Tags: Sci Fi & Fantasy
Ads: Link
Jupiter’s flower moon.
“I’m going to find that Uranian if I have to search the whole universe for him!” the big Martian swore. “I thought maybe you might have an idea where his base is.”
Su Kuan shook his head. “There’s nothing I’d like better than to help you catch Ru Ghur. But none of us can figure where his base is. Ak Az and Blacky Malone will be back with their bands tomorrow. They might know something.”
Bork King nodded. “I’ll drop back tomorrow night.”
As Captain Future turned away with Bork King, he had an uncomfortable feeling that Su Kuan’s eyes were still following him speculatively.
Chapter 8: Disastrous Discovery
BORK KING, Captain Future, and Bork’s followers had headed for the door when a young Martian pirate wearing two heavy atom-guns stepped into their path. He had been watching Bork with smoldering eyes ever since his entrance.
“So you’re Bork King?” he said, in a voice thickened by drink. “I’ve been wanting to meet the greatest traitor to Mars who ever lived.”
Captain Future was startled by the haunted look of misery that suddenly came in Bork King’s bleak eyes.
“They still talk about you on Mars,” the young Martian sneered accusingly. “About Bork King, the only one of the Guardians of Mars who ever betrayed his trust.”
“What are you talking about?” Su Kuan asked curiously.
The young Martian never took his fierce eyes off Bork King’s face as he answered.
“This man Bork King held the highest, most sacred trust that the Martian people can bestow. He betrayed it and endangered his whole world. His name is cursed by every Martian alive, even by pirates like myself.”
Su Kuan made a gesture of indifference. “We don’t care here on Iskar what a man did before he was outlawed. Drop it.”
Bork King, with that haunting misery still in his eyes, turned away without answering.
“Come on, let’s get out of here,” he muttered to Curt Newton.
Out in the velvet darkness, under that sky of golden, flashing meteors, Curt looked up at the big outlaw curiously. “Bork, what did that young Martian mean when he accused you of betraying Mars. Is that why you were outlawed?”
“Yes, that’s why,” Bork King answered tonelessly. “I was one of the Guardians of Mars who hold the greatest secret trust on the Red Planet. I was accused of failing that trust.” His voice grew harsh. “They outlawed me from Mars, but Qi Thir and a few others who still believed in me stuck to me. We fitted a cruiser and took to the outlaw trail, and that’s all.”
Captain Future sensed omissions in the explanation. Bork King had nor explained why he and his Martians stole only radium, and why they hated Ru Ghur so intensely. But of one thing, Captain Future was sure.
“Bork,” he said positively, “I know a man when I see one. You’re no traitor.”
The big Martian looked down at him sharply. His voice softened as he said quietly, “Thanks, Jan.”
They started back our of Corsair City, following the dark street beneath the meteor-blazing sky to the landing field.
“Old Riah will truck out the new cycs I bought for the Red Hope ,” explained the Martian. “I paid him the last of a few Titanian moon jewels I had tucked away for the stuff.”
They reached the Red Hope just a little before two battered rocket-trucks lumbered up to it to deliver the eight cyclotrons that Bork King had bought.
The cyclotrons were not new. They had been salvaged from wrecked ships and had seen much wear, but were still serviceable and far better than none.
The crew started in that same night to install them in place of the exploded ones in the ship. Qi Thir and the other Martians worked with unabated speed because each was well aware that not until the repairs were completed could they take Ru Ghur’s trail and make a desperate attempt to recover their lost radium.
“I still don’t see how we’re to find the Uranian,” Curt Newton said. “So far,
“I’m going to find that Uranian if I have to search the whole universe for him!” the big Martian swore. “I thought maybe you might have an idea where his base is.”
Su Kuan shook his head. “There’s nothing I’d like better than to help you catch Ru Ghur. But none of us can figure where his base is. Ak Az and Blacky Malone will be back with their bands tomorrow. They might know something.”
Bork King nodded. “I’ll drop back tomorrow night.”
As Captain Future turned away with Bork King, he had an uncomfortable feeling that Su Kuan’s eyes were still following him speculatively.
Chapter 8: Disastrous Discovery
BORK KING, Captain Future, and Bork’s followers had headed for the door when a young Martian pirate wearing two heavy atom-guns stepped into their path. He had been watching Bork with smoldering eyes ever since his entrance.
“So you’re Bork King?” he said, in a voice thickened by drink. “I’ve been wanting to meet the greatest traitor to Mars who ever lived.”
Captain Future was startled by the haunted look of misery that suddenly came in Bork King’s bleak eyes.
“They still talk about you on Mars,” the young Martian sneered accusingly. “About Bork King, the only one of the Guardians of Mars who ever betrayed his trust.”
“What are you talking about?” Su Kuan asked curiously.
The young Martian never took his fierce eyes off Bork King’s face as he answered.
“This man Bork King held the highest, most sacred trust that the Martian people can bestow. He betrayed it and endangered his whole world. His name is cursed by every Martian alive, even by pirates like myself.”
Su Kuan made a gesture of indifference. “We don’t care here on Iskar what a man did before he was outlawed. Drop it.”
Bork King, with that haunting misery still in his eyes, turned away without answering.
“Come on, let’s get out of here,” he muttered to Curt Newton.
Out in the velvet darkness, under that sky of golden, flashing meteors, Curt looked up at the big outlaw curiously. “Bork, what did that young Martian mean when he accused you of betraying Mars. Is that why you were outlawed?”
“Yes, that’s why,” Bork King answered tonelessly. “I was one of the Guardians of Mars who hold the greatest secret trust on the Red Planet. I was accused of failing that trust.” His voice grew harsh. “They outlawed me from Mars, but Qi Thir and a few others who still believed in me stuck to me. We fitted a cruiser and took to the outlaw trail, and that’s all.”
Captain Future sensed omissions in the explanation. Bork King had nor explained why he and his Martians stole only radium, and why they hated Ru Ghur so intensely. But of one thing, Captain Future was sure.
“Bork,” he said positively, “I know a man when I see one. You’re no traitor.”
The big Martian looked down at him sharply. His voice softened as he said quietly, “Thanks, Jan.”
They started back our of Corsair City, following the dark street beneath the meteor-blazing sky to the landing field.
“Old Riah will truck out the new cycs I bought for the Red Hope ,” explained the Martian. “I paid him the last of a few Titanian moon jewels I had tucked away for the stuff.”
They reached the Red Hope just a little before two battered rocket-trucks lumbered up to it to deliver the eight cyclotrons that Bork King had bought.
The cyclotrons were not new. They had been salvaged from wrecked ships and had seen much wear, but were still serviceable and far better than none.
The crew started in that same night to install them in place of the exploded ones in the ship. Qi Thir and the other Martians worked with unabated speed because each was well aware that not until the repairs were completed could they take Ru Ghur’s trail and make a desperate attempt to recover their lost radium.
“I still don’t see how we’re to find the Uranian,” Curt Newton said. “So far,
Similar Books
