The Ethical Engineer Read Online Free Page B

your proof."
    "Bear with me," Jason told him. "I'll try and keep it simple. Now the
red dot on the green line is our ship's position. The number above the
screen our next navigational point, the spot where a star's
gravitational field it strong enough to be detected in jump space. The
number is the star's code listing. DB89-046-229. I'll look it up in
the book"—he quickly flipped the pages—"and find its listing. No
name. A row of code symbols though that tell a lot about it. This
little symbol means that there is a planet or planets suitable for man
to live on. Doesn't say if any people are there though."
    "Where does this all lead to?" Mikah interrupted.
    "Patience—you'll see in a moment. Now look, at the screen. The green
dot approaching on the course line is the PMP. Point of Maximum
Proximity. When the red dot and green dot coincide...."
    "Give me that book," Mikah ordered, stepping forward. Aware suddenly
that something was wrong. He was just an instant too late.
    "Here's your proof," Jason said, and hurled the heavy book through the
jump screen into the delicate circuits behind. Before it hit he had
thrown the second book. There was a tinkling crash, a flare of light
and the crackle of shorted circuits.
    The floor gave a tremendous heave as the relays snapped open, dropping
the ship through into normal space.
    Mikah grunted in pain, clubbed to the floor by the suddenness of the
transition. Locked into the chair, Jason fought the heaving of his
stomach and the blackness before his eyes. As Mikah dragged himself to
his feet, Jason took careful aim and sent the tray and dishes hurtling
into the smoking ruin of the jump computer.
    "There's your fact," he said in cheerful triumph. "Your
incontrovertible, gold-plated, uranium-cored fact.
    "We're not going to Cassylia any more!"

III
*
    "You've killed us both," Mikah said with his face strained and white
but his voice under control.
    "Not quite," Jason told him cheerily. "But I have killed the jump
control so we can't get to another star. However there's nothing wrong
with our space drive, so we can make a landing on one of the
planets—you saw for yourself that there is at least one suitable for
habitation."
    "Where I will fix the jump drive and continue the voyage to Cassylia.
You will have gained nothing."
    "Perhaps," Jason answered in his most noncommittal voice, since he did
not have the slightest intention of continuing the trip, no matter
what Mikah Samon thought.
    His captor had reached the same conclusion. "Put your hand back on the
chair arm," he ordered, and locked the cuff into place again. He
stumbled as the drive started and the ship changed direction. "What
was that?" he asked.
    "Emergency control. The ship's computer knows that something drastic
is wrong, so it has taken over. You can override it with the manuals,
but don't bother yet. The ship can do a better job than either of us
with its senses and stored data. It will find the planet we're looking
for, plot a course and get us there with the most economy of time and
fuel. When we get into the atmosphere you can take over and look for a
spot to set down."
    "I don't believe a word you say now," Mikah said grimly. "I'm going to
take control and get a call out on the emergency band. Someone will
hear it." As he started forward the ship lurched again and all the
lights went out. In the darkness flames could be seen flickering
inside the controls. There was a hiss of foam and they vanished. With
a weak flicker the emergency lighting circuit came on.
    "Shouldn't have thrown the Ramon Lull book," Jason said. "The ship
can't stomach it any more than I could."
    "You are irreverent and profane," Mikah said through his clenched
teeth, as he went to the controls. "You attempt to kill us both. You
have no respect for your own life or mine. You're a man who deserves
the worst punishment the law allows."
    "I'm a gambler," Jason laughed. "Not at all as bad as you say. I take
chances—but I only take them when the