f turning into
some hideous thing was preying on her mind. She spoke rapidly, her voice
breaking a little. "I've been talking to several of the crew, the
old-timers, trying to get an understanding of why nothing is done. It's
this way: when the ships land, guards come aboard. They're posted at the
cargo locks and the passenger entrances. The only door aboard the ship
that leads to the passenger compartment is in the Captain's cabin, and
it's locked from both sides. Even our Captain never meets the
passengers. There's only one chance, a mutiny. Then we could open the
door, show the passengers."

"It wouldn't do any good. When we landed, they'd find a way to shut us
all up before we got to anybody. They've had a lot of practice keeping
this quiet. They know the answers."

She stamped a foot angrily. "It was you who said we had to fight! Now
you say it's hopeless!"

Gene leaned against the wall and passed a hand across his eyes. He
looked at Ann's flushed beauty and managed a grin. "Guess I'm getting as
bad as the rest of them, baby. We'll fight. Sure we'll fight."

* * * * *

It started with Schwenky. Schwenky was a gigantic Swede. He was the boss
freight handler. It was his job to sort the cargo for the next port of
call. He would get it into the cargo lock, then seal the doors so nobody
would try to smuggle themselves out with the freight. Schwenky was
intensely loyal and stupid enough not to understand the real reason
behind their imprisonment--which was why he held his job. No one got by
Schwenky.

But this time, in Marsport, something was missing. They'd driven the
trucks up to the cargo port, unloaded everything, and then compared
invoices with the material. They swore some claimed machinery parts were
due them. Schwenky swore he'd placed them in the cargo lock, and that
the truckers were trying to hold up the Company.

The Captain allowed the truckers claim and after the ship had blasted
off into space, called Schwenky in to bawl him out. They must have
gotten really steamed up, because Gene and Frank Maher heard the racket
clear down on the next deck where they were cleaning freight out of a
sealed compartment for the next stop.

Gene and Frank raced up the ladders to the top deck, and Gene found the
break he had prayed for. Schwenky holding the Captain against the wall;
beating the monstrosity that had once been a man with terrible fists.
Gene felt a sudden thrill. In a si