The Man-Kzin Wars 01 Read Free Page B

the pain stops? ”
    “ M ine's gone away. You got your pills a little after I did, right?"
    “ R ight. Thanks, Doc."
    They didn't take pain well, these people. They were unused to it. In single file they walked or floated into the lounge. Low-pitched conversations started. People took couches, using the sticky plastic strips on their falling jumpers. Others stood or floated near walls. The lounge was big enough to hold them all in comfort .
    Steve wriggled near the ceiling, trying to pull on his sandals. “ I hope they don't try that again," he heard Sue say. “ I t hurt." “ T ry what?" Someone Steve didn't recognize, half listening as he was.
    “ W hatever they tried. Telepathy, perhaps. ”
    “ N o. I don't believe in telepathy. Could they have set up ultrasonic vibrations in the walls? ”
    Steve had his sandals on. He left the magnets turned off .
    " ... a cold beer. Do you realize we'll never taste beer again?" Jim Davis' voice .
    I miss waterskiing." Ann Harrison sounded wistful. “ T he feel of a pusher unit shoving into the small of your back, the water beating against your feet, the sun .. .
    Steve pushed himself toward them. “ T aboo subject," he called. “ W e're on it anyway," Jim boomed cheerfully. “ U nless you'd rather talk about the alien, which everyone else is doing. I'd rather drop it for the moment. What's your greatest regret at leaving Earth? ”
    “ O nly that I didn't stay long enough to really see it. “
    “ O h, of course." Jim suddenly remembered the drinking bulb in his hand. He drank from it, hospitality passed it to Steve .
    “ T his waiting makes me restless," said Steve. “ W hat are they likely to try next? Shake the ship in Morse code? ”
    Jim smiled. “ M aybe they won't try anything next. They may give up and leave."
    “ O h, I hope not!" said Ann .
    “ W ould that be so bad? ”
    Steve had a start. What was Jim thinking?
    “ O f course!" Ann protested. “ W e've got to find out what they’re like! And think of what they can teach us, Jim! ”
    When conversation got controversial it was good manners to change the subject. “ S ay," said Steve, I happened to notice the wall was warm when I pushed off. Is that good or bad? ”
    “ T hat's funny. it should be cold, if anything," said Jim. “ T here's nothing out there but starlight. Except-" A most peculiar expression flitted across his face. He drew his feet up and touched the magnetic soles with his fingertips.
    “ E eeee! Jim! Jim! ”
    Steve tried to whirl around and got nowhere. That was Sue! He switched on his shoes, thumped to the floor, and went to help .
    Sue was surrounded by bewildered people. They split to let Jim Davis through, and he tried to lead her out of the lounge. lie looked frightened. Sue was moaning and thrashing, paying no attention to his efforts . Steve pushed through to her. “ A ll the metal is heating up," Davis shouted. “ W e've got to get her hearing aid out."
    “ infirmary," Sue shouted .
    Four of them took Sue down the hall to the infirmary. She was still crying and struggling feebly when they got her in, but Jim was there ahead of them with a spray hypo. He used it and she went to sleep .
    The four watched anxiously as Jim went to work. The autodoc would have taken precious time for diagnosis. Jim operated by hand. He was able to do a fast job, for the tiny instrument was buried just below the skin behind her ear. still, the scalpel must have burned his fingers before he was done. Steve could fe el the growing warmth against the soles of his feet .
    Did the aliens know what they were doing?
    Did it matter? The ship was being attacked. His ship .
    Steve slipped into the corridor and ran for the control room. Running on magnetic soles, he looked like a terrified penguin, but he moved fast. He knew he might be making a terrible mistake; the aliens might be trying desperately to reach the Angel's Pencil; he would never know. They had to be stopped before everyone was roasted