Read Online Orphans of the Sky by Robert A. Heinlein - Free Book Online Page A

 
           Alan whistled and nodded his head slowly. "That explains a lot."  
           "How come? You know something?"  
           "Maybe, maybe not. After you went away he married Edris Baxter."  
           "So? Hm-m-m—yes, that clears up a lot." He remained silent for a time.  
           Presently Alan spoke up: "Look, Hugh. You're not going to sit here and take it, are you? Particularly with Tyler mixed in it. We gotta get you outa here."
           "How?"
           "I don't know. Pull a raid, maybe. I guess I could get a few knives to rally round and help us—all good boys, spoiling for a fight."
           "Then, when it's over, we'd all be for the Converter. You, me, and your pals. No, it wont wash."  
           "But we've got to do something. We can't just sit here and wait for them to burn you."  
           "I know that." Hugh studied Alan's face. Was it a fair thing to ask? He went on, reassured by what he had seen. "Listen. You would do anything you could to get me out of this, wouldn't you?"
           "You know that." Alan's tone showed hurt.
           "Very well, then. There is a dwarf named Bobo. I'll tell you how to find him—"
     
           Alan climbed, up and up, higher than he had ever been since Hugh had led him, as a boy, into fool-hardy peril. He was older now, more conservative; he had no stomach for it. To the very real danger of leaving the well-traveled lower levels was added his superstitious ignorance. But still he climbed.
           This should be about the place—unless he had lost count. But he saw nothing of the dwarf.
           Bobo saw him first. A slingshot load caught Alan in the pit of the stomach, even as he was shouting, "Bobo!"
           Bobo backed into Joe-Jim's compartment and dumped his load at the feet of the twins. "Fresh meat," he said proudly.
           "So it is," agreed Jim indifferently. "Well, it's yours; take it away."
           The dwarf dug a thumb into a twisted ear. "Funny," he said, "he knows Bobo's name."
           Joe looked up from the book he was reading—Browning's Collected Poems, L-Press, New York, London, Luna City, cr. 3/5. "That's interesting. Hold on a moment."
           Hugh had prepared Alan for the shock of Joe-Jim's appearance. In reasonably short order he collected his wits sufficiently to be able to tell his tale. Joe-Jim listened to it without much comment, Bobo with interest but little comprehension.
           When Alan concluded, Jim remarked, "Well, you win, Joe. He didn't make it." Then, turning to Alan, he added, "You can take Hoyland's place. Can you play checkers?"
           Alan looked from one head to the other. "But you don't understand," he said. "Aren't you going to do anything about it?"
           Joe looked puzzled. "Us? Why should we?"
           "But you've got to. Don't you see? He's depending on you. There's nobody else he can look to. That's why I came. Don't you see?"
           "Wait a moment," drawled Jim, "wait a moment. Keep your belt on. Supposing we did want to help him—which we don't—how in Jordan's Ship could we? Answer me that."
           "Why—why—" Alan stumbled in the face of such stupidity. "Why, get up a rescue party, of course, and go down and get him out!"
           "Why should we get ourselves killed in a fight to rescue your friend?"
           Bobo pricked his ears. "Fight?" he inquired eagerly.  
           "No, Bobo," Joe denied. "No fight. Just talk."  
           "Oh," said Bobo and returned to passivity.  
           Alan looked at the dwarf. "If you'd even let Bobo
    and me—"  
           "No," Joe said shortly. "It's out of the question. Shut up about it."  
           Alan sat in a corner, hugging his knees in despair. If only he could get out of there. He could still try to stir up some help down below. The dwarf seemed to be asleep, though it was difficult