inal try, letting Larry absorb the
punishment now so he--

Yes, Larry remembered thinking vaguely. It had to be that. For Mayhem
knew how to work the controls, and he did not. Now his mind receded into
a fog of semi-consciousness, but he was aware that his blistered fingers
were fairly flying across the control board, aware then of an inward
sigh--whether of relief or triumph, he was never to know--then aware,
abruptly and terribly, of a wrenching pain which seemed to strip his
skin from his flesh, his flesh from his bones, the marrow from....

* * * * *

"Can you see?" the doctor asked.

"Yes," Larry said as the bandages were removed from his eyes. Three
people were in the room with the doctor--Admiral Stapleton, the
President--and Sheila. Somehow, Sheila was most important.

"We are now in subspace, thanks to you," the Admiral said. "We all have
minor injuries as a result of the transfer, but there were only two
fatalities, I'm happy to say. And naturally, the ship is now out of
danger."

"What gets me, Grange," the President said, "is how you managed to work
those controls. What the devil do you know about sub-space, my boy?"

"The two fatalities," the Admiral said, "were Ackerman Boone and the man
he had killed." Then the Admiral grinned. "Can't you see, Mr. President,
that he's not paying any attention to us? I think, at the moment, the
hero of the hour only has eyes for Miss Kelly here."

"Begging your pardons, sirs, yes," Larry said happily.

Nodding and smiling, the President of the Galactic Federation and
Admiral Stapleton left the dispensary room--with the doctor.

"Well, hero," Sheila said, and smiled.

Larry realized--quite suddenly--that, inside himself, he was alone.
Mayhem had done his job--and vanished utterly.

"You know," Sheila said, "it's as if you--well, I hope this doesn't get
you sore at me--as if you grew up overnight."

Before he kissed her Larry said: "Maybe you're right. Maybe I'll tell
you about it someday. But you'd never believe me."

THE END

Transcriber's Note: A few typographical errors have been repaired.
cornea CHANGED TO corona (2 places)
The squack box blared: CHANGED TO The squawk box blared:
_bead_ on his elan CHANGED TO bead on his _elan_
liason CHANGED TO liaison (1 place)

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Place in the Sun, by C.H. Thames

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