The getaway special Read Online Free Page B

again.
    Still nothing.
    "Something's wrong."
    "Allen." Gerry had the gun pointed at him now.
    "I'm not lying! It's not working! It's hardly surprising, with all the jumps we've been doing in a row. Something's probably burned out. It's still an experimental model, you know."
    "Then you will find the problem and fix it." Gerry glanced out the window and added, "I suggest you do it quickly."
    Judy followed his glance. The Moon's surface was definitely closer now. Allen said, "You'll have to go out and get the canister."
    "Not until you've exhausted the possibilities inside. The problem may be in the computer."
    "It isn't. The signal is reaching the radio, and all the data uses one line. The problem is in the canister."
    Gerry thought it through and nodded. "All right, but Judy will go out and get it. I prefer to remain here where I can watch you."
    The Moon was larger still by the time Judy stepped out into the cargo bay. She had cut the suiting-up time to its bare minimum, but it still took time breathing pure oxygen to wash the nitrogen out of her bloodstream, and even Gerry with his pistol couldn't force her to go outside before she was sure she was safe from the bends. Once she was out she took time for one quick look—she could see their motion now, the cratered surface growing inexorably closer by the minute—then she unfastened the
    "mystery" canister and climbed back into the airlock with it under her arm. When she got back inside she handed it to Allen and started to pull off her helmet.
    "Leave it on," Gerry said. Judy could hear the tension in his voice even through the intercom. She understood the reason for it, and for his order. She wouldn't have time to become uncomfortable in the suit. If Allen found the problem she would have to take the canister back outside, and if he didn't they would crash into the Moon; either way she wouldn't have to worry about the suit for very long. Allen floated over to the wall of lockers in the mid-deck and opened the one holding the tool kit. Then he opened the canister and held it so the light shone down inside. Judy looked over his shoulder and saw a maze of wires and circuit boards. Allen looked at them for a minute, then reached in and pushed a few wires around. He let go of the canister and left it floating in front of him, looked up, and said, "I think I've found it. Judy, could you help hold this a minute?" She nodded and reached out to take it from him.
    "Here, over on this side," he said, pulling her around so she was on his left. Gerry floated to his right with the gun at the ready. Carl was still unconscious in his bunk beside Judy; evidently Gerry had given him a sedative when he had the chance.
    Allen handed the canister to Judy, positioning her like a piece of lab equipment until she held it at the right angle, then he pulled a screwdriver out of the tool kit, reached into the canister's open end with it, and looked sideways at Gerry.
    "I've just taken over the ship," he said. "Now float that gun over here, very gently." Gerry didn't look amused. "What are you talking about? Get busy and fix that before I—"
    "Before you what? I give you ten seconds to surrender or I take this screwdriver and stir. Shoot me before I make the repairs and you get the same result. Maybe they'll name the crater after you." Gerry shifted the gun to point at Judy. She felt her breath catch, but Allen shifted his head to be the target again. "Won't work. You can't risk hitting me and you know it. Float the gun over. Five seconds." Allen slowly threaded the screwdriver in between the wires until his hand was inside the canister, saying all the while, "Four seconds, three seconds, two seconds, one—very good, Gerry. Judy, catch that." She let go of the canister and fielded the gun, sandwiching it between her gloved hands, but she couldn't get her finger in the trigger guard. Her heart pounding, she said, "Allen. . ." He saw the problem. "Trade me," he said, letting go of the canister and