Read Online Delay in Transit by F. L. Wallace - Free Book Online Page B

Cassal knew he
should return to Earth immediately. But the Galaxy was wide and there
were lots of places to go.
     
     
Only one he was interested in, though -- Kettikat, as far from the center
of the Galaxy as Earth, but in the opposite direction, incredibly far
away in terms of trouble and transportation. It would be difficult even
for a man who had the services of Manche.
     
     
Cassal glanced at the board. Someone wanted to go to Zombo.
     
     
"Delly," he called to his assistant. "Try 13. This may be what you want
to get back to your own planet."
     
     
Delly Mortinbras nodded gratefully and cut in.
     
     
Cassal continued scanning. There was more to it than he imagined,
though he was learning fast. It wasn't enough to have identification,
money, and a destination. The right ship might come in with standing room
only. Someone had to be "persuaded" that Godolph was a cozy little place,
as good as any for an unscheduled stopover.
     
     
It wouldn't change appreciably during his lifetime. There were too many
billions of stars. First he had to perfect it, isolated from dependence
on the human element, and then there would come the installation. A slow
process, even with Murra to help him.
     
     
Someday he would go back to Earth. He should be welcome. The information
he was sending back to his former employers, Neuronics, Inc., would more
than compensate them for the loss of Dirnanche.
     
     
Suddenly he was alert. A report had just come in.
     
     
Once upon a time, he thought tenderly, scanning the report, there was
a Teddy bear that could reach to Kettikat. With claws -- but he didn't
think they would be needed.