The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Beasts in the Void, by Paul W. Fairman

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Title: The Beasts in the Void

Author: Paul W. Fairman

Illustrator: W. E. Terry

Release Date: April 28, 2010 [EBook #32162]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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Transcriber's Note:

This etext was produced from Imagination April 1956. Extensive
research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this
publication was renewed.

The Beasts In The Void

_by_

_Paul W. Fairman_

Illustrated by W. E. Terry

Holloway was used to big game hunters and their expeditions
to other worlds. But this trip was sheer madness--a space
ship stalking among--

* * * * *

The examiner looked doubtful and said, "But Mr. Holloway, regulations
require that I read your log before I take verbal testimony."

Holloway's face was drawn and ravaged. His bloodshot eyes sat in
black pits. They were trained on the Examiner but looked through him
rather than at him.

Holloway said, "But, I _must_ talk! I've got to tell you about it. I
have to keep talking."

"But--"

Holloway's words tumbled out. "It started in the control cabin there
in deep space. When Mrs. Kelvey came in. She was the blonde one. I
turned around and she said, 'Captain, there's a great big tiger in the
companionway.'"

The desperate Holloway, fearful of being stopped or running out of
words, went into minute detail. "She made the statement as a pouting
complaint, almost casually. Then, before I could speak, she realized
what she'd said and her face changed. A kind of horrified double-take.
'_A tiger? In the companionway of a space ship?_' This last was an
incredulous question she asked herself. Then she fainted. I looked
outside. I thought I saw something blurred and indistinct but it
vanished quickly if it wa