FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96  
97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   >>   >|  
with its forepaws on the fellow's shoulder, looked out of the aircar's window. No one seemed to find anything peculiar in the dog's actions, its owner merely patting it as it stood there, as Hanlon could feel through the dog's senses. Now Hanlon could see they were nearing some mountains, and took particular notice of everything that might be remembered as a landmark. Soon they were settling down into a little hidden valley, where there was a fairly large space-freighter. They led him into this ship, and he lost the dog, so could not see just where they were taking him. Finally he sensed they were in a small room, and the adhesive was ripped from his face. The leader and Panek stood in the small cabin with Hanlon. "This is to be your cabin. Sorry for the precautions, but you can see why, I am sure. But if you behave, and make a good record, you won't have to ... uh ... worry about them any more. Take-off almost immediately, so we have to leave. Safe flights, and I hope you make out all right." He looked fixedly at Hanlon for a long, long minute, and the young man, returned his gaze as steadily. "I'll do my job," Hanlon said honestly after that moment--but it was his job for the Secret Service he meant. "Good-bye, and thanks. Thank you, too, Panek, for your help." "Glad to've done it, Pal, glad to." "See you in four months, then," and the two left. Hanlon stored his luggage in the racks made for it, then started to go outside and see what was going on. But the door was locked. "They sure don't want me to know where we're going," he grinned ruefully as he sat down on the edge of his bunk. "That makes me know it's important, and I'll get it some day--they can't keep it from me forever." Sirens screamed "take-off," and he strapped himself into his bunk. When he felt the pressure subside and knew they were in space he unstrapped and relaxed. But there was nothing he could do. Later there was the sound of a key in the lock. When the door opened a heavy-set man carrying a blaster stepped inside. "Stand back, Bud, and keep your hands in sight." Hanlon raised his hands while the messcook brought in a tray and set it on his bunk. As they were going out Hanlon spoke. "You got any books on board? I don't mind being locked in and won't make any trouble, but please give me something to do." They made no answer, but when they returned for the empty dishes they left a couple of dog-eared magazines.
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96  
97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Hanlon
 

locked

 

returned

 

looked

 

months

 
important
 
stored
 

started

 
grinned
 

luggage


ruefully

 

raised

 
messcook
 

brought

 
trouble
 

dishes

 
couple
 
magazines
 

answer

 

subside


pressure

 

unstrapped

 

relaxed

 

Sirens

 

screamed

 

strapped

 

stepped

 

blaster

 

inside

 

carrying


opened

 
forever
 

hidden

 

valley

 

fairly

 
settling
 

remembered

 
landmark
 

freighter

 
taking

Finally
 

sensed

 
notice
 
window
 

forepaws

 

fellow

 
shoulder
 

aircar

 
peculiar
 

actions