The Icerigger Trilogy: Icerigger, Mission to Moulokin, and The Deluge Drivers Read Free Page B

vision.
    There was no warning siren when the boat door snapped shut. That, at least, had been cut in advance to prevent warning the ship’s computer. It seemed certain they’d be noticed as soon as the boat left the ship’s hull, but Ethan was no engineer and couldn’t be certain.
    Walther was muttering something that sounded like, “… set enough apart… hope …”
    “Better strap in tight, everybody,” Ethan advised the others. “I don’t think we’ll be setting down at the regular port.”
    “Brilliant!” Colette du Kane’s voice was as easily defined as her shape.
    “And it will probably be rough,” he concluded lamely.
    “Two Einsteinian deductions in a row. Father, I don’t think we’ve a thing to worry about. Not with a genius of this peasant’s caliber along. Next he’ll astound us with the knowledge that these two megalocephalic proteinoids mean us no good.”
    “Listen,” Ethan began, trying to locate her in the dark. His eyes were growing accustomed to the dim light. How Walther could manipulate the controls in it he couldn’t imagine. They must have rehearsed this a hundred times.
    “I’m still not entirely sure what’s going on here. Along I come intending to inspect my samples, minding my own business, and your little family problem has to intrude.”
    “I hypothesize a ransom attempt,” said the elder du Kane. “As these thersitical traducers are no doubt aware, I am not without resources.”
    “Watch your mouth,” blurted the hulking Kotabit, not quite sure what to make of the manufacturer’s charge.
    “I am sorry you and Mr. Williams had to be drawn into this. Clearly those two did not expect to be interrupted at this hour.”
    “I’m sorry too,” said Ethan feelingly. A low vibration passed through the little vessel, then another. Soon there was a continuous, steady thrumming at their backs.
    “They’ll find us once we’re down,” he continued, trying to encourage the other. “It shouldn’t be hard to plot our descent.”
    “I would concur, young man, except the thoroughness which our vile companions have displayed thus far …”
    There was a lurch and Ethan found himself rapidly becoming lighter. They’d detached from the ship and were moving out of its passenger field.
    “We’ve left the ship,” he began. A familiar tone interrupted him.
    “Oh god, I am amazed once again!” Colette said with mock piety.
    “Well, you go ahead and interpret everything for yourself, then!” Ethan replied peevishly. “Nothing’s likely to happen until we’re ready for setdown.”
    He was wrong, of course.
    In fact, several unlikely things happened right away.
    Something hit the boat a giant hammerblow on its side, set it tumbling crazily. Ethan got a fast glimpse of the planet running all around the circumference of a port, much too fast. Colette started screaming. Forward, Walther was cursing and groaning as he worked the controls, yelling about the time he no longer had and the time he’d wasted.
    Another sickening lunge brought the sunlit Antares into view. It was far off and receding rapidly. But not so rapidly that Ethan couldn’t make out the gaping hole in its near side.
    He turned back to the interior of the boat. All of a sudden there seemed to be a fifth figure in the passenger section. It was not strapped in and lurched about drunkenly back near the storage section. For a moment Ethan thought his eyes hadn’t become properly adapted.
    The boat rolled insanely and Walther yelled helplessly. Williams shouted “Oh my!” And this strange rearward apparition bellowed in slurred Terranglo, “A joke is a joke, but by all the Black Holes and Purpling Prominences, enough is enough !”
    At that point Ethan’s eyes unadjusted to the darkness and everything else.

II
    H E WAS INDISPUTABLY DEAD , frozen alive. He shivered.
    Wait a minute. If he was dead he shouldn’t have been able to shiver. To make sure, he shivered again. His body jerked, once, twice. It