The Tenth Planet Read Online Free Page A

black column of Number Three, and the figure crouching at its base, by the absence of stars. The walk along the torus would be a tricky operation. Titanium does not react to magnetism; but steel discs had been embedded in the titanium cladding so that some purchase could be obtained for magnetic space boots. The trouble was, if you hurried you were likely to take off into space then have to haul yourselfback by the lifeline and start from square one, half-way up the hull.
    Idris moved his feet cautiously, feeling for the pull of the steel discs, travelling as fast as he conveniently could. He swayed on his feet like a drunken man. Twice he almost lost contact with the torus. Eventually, he reached Number Three. His headlamp revealed a small metallic object shaped like an old-fashioned brick.
    “What do you make of it, sir?” asked Leo Davison anxiously.
    “Same as you. I’m not a specialist in explosive devices. But clearly it is some kind of limpet mine. No man would risk death to plant a heavily disguised box of chocolates here.”
    “What shall we do?”
    Idris thought for a moment or two. “It may blow the torus, but it can’t blow the
Dag
. If we lose the torus we can still go into Mars orbit and get ferried down … On the other hand, it may be possible to jettison this thing. Trouble is, we don’t know if it operates on a timing mechanism, a disturbance stimulus, or both … I think we are going to have to play safe, Leo. We’ll just have to torch that section of the leg off and send it on its merry way. We are already travelling at s.e.v. So, if we jettison, it is bound to go clean out of the system.” He gave a bitter laugh. “Sad, isn’t it? The only message we send out to the stars is a bloody unexploded bomb.”
    “Sir, with respect, it is not relevant that the
Dag
is at solar escape velocity. The bomb can’t hit Mars, and anywhere else doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is whether we can save the
Dag
intact. It would be a damned shame if we have to leave the ship in orbit just because some dead nut on Earth wanted his bit of revenge.”
    “What are your recommendations, Leo?”
    “It has to be a magnetic clamp. Otherwise, why plant it on the steel collar? If it is a chemical bond, they could have fixed it to the titanium skin of the torus.”
    “So?”
    “So I can prize it loose, captain. Then we chuck it away and forget about it.”
    “Too risky. For all we know, it could be programmed to detonate upon interference.”
    “It could also be programmed to blow any moment, sir. Torching it off the leg is going to take a couple of hours. We’d look damn silly if the thing goes pop while we are cutting through the steel.”
    “The possibility has to be accepted,” admitted Idris. “But it contains less risk. So let us not waste valuable time. You will continue the search to see if we have any more of these charming souvenirs, while I collect the laser torch. When I have the torch and am in position, you will abandon the search if incomplete and get back inboard.”
    “Sir,” expostulated Davison, “as Engineer Officer it is my duty to—”
    “Laddie,” said Idris, “I am about twice your age, I am master of this vessel, and I am backing my own hunch. Orlando is monitoring our conversation. You have your orders.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Well, then. On with the show.” Idris turned awkwardly and began to retrace his steps on the torus. As he moved, his lifeline automatically reeled itself in.
    He was back at the base of Number One leg and about to go back along it when Leo Davison came in once more.
    “Idris—for the record—I’m about to disobey your orders. I have tried my jemmy under one end of the bomb. It lifted a little. If I can work the jemmy a little further underneath, I’ll have the whole thing clear. When we are inboard, you can log me for mutiny but you will still owe me a bloody large whisky.”
    “Leo, don’t—”
    Idris glanced back across the torus. There