[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.It required a real effort to bring the tangle of forms into perspective.He noticed a set ofrazor-edged ridges, slanting down from the main wall to form three dark, little valleys, all more orless shaded from the Earth-light.Dick checked the spot on the crater floor where the rock hadstruck, turned back to the dark little pockets.From the first of these, a man could well have riggedhis catapult, fired a pair of test shots to check the accuracy of his aim, then waited until Dr.Murdock crossed the line of fire all completely unseen.Dick cautiously stepped forward into the gulch.For a moment he could see nothing; then hiseyes became accustomed to the reflected Earthlight, which seeped in to outline vaguely a fewboulders and ridges.He looked around uneasily.If traces of the catapult still remained in the dark hollow, he wouldbe unable to see them without a light.A new thought came to freeze him in his tracks: notimpossibly, some devilish arrangement might be waiting a deadfall, land mine, a gun trap.Dickstarted gingerly back out of the hollow, the sense of danger almost strong enough to taste.On the great luminous disk of Earth a black silhouette appeared.Dick s heart stood still.The shape paused, the head twisted, peered into the valley.Dick, sweating clammily inside hissuit, reached to the ground, picked tip a rock.The movement attracted the attention of thenewcomer, the head inside the helmet twisted sharply.The speaker inside Dick s helmet hummed. Is that you in there, Dick?Dick recognized the voice Hutchings, the pinch-faced young bookkeeper.He took a deepbreath. Yes, it's me." What are you doing up here, sneaking around these rocks?Dick came forward. What business is it of yours?Hutchings sniffed. Your father made it my business.He told me to keep an eye on you, not tolet you go off too far by yourself; although what difference it makes, I don t know. Well, you can forget it.I don t need you trailing around behind me. I ve got orders. The orders had been a few hasty words over Dr.Murdock s shoulder;Hutchings had received them sullenly; but now, observing Dick s resentment, a new vista ofentertainment opened before his eyes.By obeying Dr.Murdock s orders to the letter, he couldindulge himself in a good deal of subtle bullying, at the same time presenting an air ofrighteousness to anyone who called him to account.Hutchings had a thin monkey-face with black eyebrows and a perpetually sour mouth.He hadobtained his job because of a distant relationship with the late Dr.Vrosnek.He had come out to themoon expecting to scoop up diamonds and moon-rubies by the bucketful.A few halfheartedprospecting trips had shown him nothing but black rock and gloomy shadows.Observatory routinebored him, and the project of tormenting Dick came like a draught of cool water to a thirsty man. Yep, Hutchings said, gloating at the sight of Dick s angry face, your father told me to keep aneye on you, see that you didn t get lost or wander too far away from the observatory.And that swhat I m going to do.Dick s fury allowed him no words; he turned and marched back down the hill.Now he thoughtof a ruse to annoy Hutchings.If Hutchings planned to keep an eye on him, he d have to work at thejob.Dick gave a sudden spring which carried him thirty feet up the slope.Another, and another.Hedodged behind a jut of black rock, dived to the side, doubled back, scrambled up a slope of brokenrock, and came out on top of a sawtoothed ridge.Hutchings was nowhere in sight, but his voice came to Dick s ears by the radio: a stream ofangry calls and muttered threats.Dick laughed contentedly.A new idea occurred to him.Hescanned the crater wall; then, climbing a series of ledges, came out on the skyline.He called intothe microphone, Where are you, Hutchings? I thought you were planning to keep an eye on me.Hutchings appeared two hundred yards below, looking angrily around the rocks. I m up here, called Dick, and I m going down the other side.If you re going to keep an eyeon me, you ll have to move a little faster. When I catch up with you, you sneaky little blatherskite, you ll wish you d stayed on Venuswhere you belong! Hutchings started furiously up the hill.Dick dropped over the ridge, ran a hundred yards along a convenient ledge, jumped up to theridge, looked down along the crater wall.Hutchings was visible, clambering up the slope, progressing by ungainly, floundering leaps,Dick chuckled, now enjoying Hutchings crusade.Hutchings heard the chuckle, and shouted, I llbeat your ears in when I catch you!Dick carefully slipped down into the shadow of a tall spire of rock, and as Hutchingsdisappeared over the ridge, he dropped down the crater wall as fast as he could, reached the glass,and ran with fifty-foot bounds toward the observatory, He reached the administration building andducked into the lock chamber.Hutchings, nowhere in sight, presumably was searching for him, shouting threats on the far sideof the crater wall.With great satisfaction, Dick removed his space suit, hung it in the locker, and went up to hisroom to take a shower and change his clothes.Two hours later Hutchings returned.Dick was sitting alone in the lounge reading.Hutchingsstormed in, his face white with rage; without a word, he started across the lounge.Dick jumped to his feet, drew back the book to throw it.Hutchings was undersized, but wiry,and more than a match for Dick in a fight.Dick knew that he must use his wits as well as hisstrength if he wished to escape a beating.He sidled behind a chair. Come out from behind there, you miserable little coward, Hutchingspanted.For an answer, Dick hit him over the head with the book.Hutchings roared, lifted up the chair, flung it at Dick.Dick stumbled, fell; Hutchings was onhim, kicking viciously.Pain shot through Dick s ribs.He rolled, grabbed one of Hutchings feet justas the other caught him in the cheek.Stars blinded him, his teeth creaked; he pulled at the foot.Hutchings tottered, and beating the air, fell over backward.Dick dived at him, striking out withboth fists.He hit a chin and an eye.Hutchings bellowed. Here, here, said an angry voice, What s going on! Professor Dexter strode between them.Hutchings manner underwent an instant change. I m just protecting myself, Doctor; justbecause he s the Chief Astronomer s son, he thinks he can get away with murder! Nothing of the sort, cried Dick.Breathlessly, Hutchings went on. Dr.Murdock asked me to keep an eye on him, to see that hedidn t get into trouble.I was obeying my instructions, but Dick didn t like it, and as soon as I gotback in the building, he threw this book at me. That s not true, Dick protested vehemently. He came at me himself; he was angry because Iducked him and came back in.Professor Dexter allowed a rather annoyed smile to cross his face
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]