Robots -- Fiction; Science fiction; Space ships -- Fiction
"Never mind. Got to make the best of it. I'm a corner away from Area
Four. Where's your nearest man?"
"At the corner near the freight office."
"I'll go to him. What's he look like?"
"Five-nine. Black, curly hair. Your age. Fat. Name's Peter Quilp. He
knows you."
"Peter Quilp?"
"Right."
"Good. Circulate a report that Jack has been seen in the vicinity of
the main gate to Area Four. Put it out that there's a reward of five
thousand for the person who finds her. I'm going to have Quilp gather
a crowd."
He didn't ask a one of the million questions that must have popped
into his mind. "Right. Anything else?"
"No." I hung up.
* * * * *
Within ten minutes, there was a mob milling through the corridor.
Everybody in the neighborhood was looking for Jaqueline Ravenhurst.
Then Peter Quilp yelled.
"I've got her! I've got her! Guard!"
With a scene like that going on, the guard couldn't help but step out
of his cubicle to see what was going on.
I used the key I was carrying, stepped inside, and relocked the door.
No one in the crowd paid any attention.
From then on up, it was simply a matter of evading patrolling
guards--a relatively easy job. Finally, I put on my vac suit and went
out through the air lock.
McGuire was still sitting there, a bright blue needle that reflected
the distant sun as it moved across the ebon sky. Ceres' rotation took
it from horizon to horizon in less than two hours, and you could see
it and the stars move against the spire of the ship.
I made it to the air lock in one long jump.
Jack Ravenhurst had gone into the ship through the tube that led to
the passenger lock. She might or might not have her vac suit on; I
knew she had several of them on Ceres. It was probable that she was
wearing it without the fishbowl.
I used the cargo lock.
It took a few minutes for the pumps to cycle, wasting more precious
time. I was fairly certain that she would be in the control cabin,
talking, but I was thankful that the pumps were silent.
Finally, I took off my fishbowl and stepped into the companionway.
And something about the size of Luna came out of nowhere and clobbered
me on the occiput. I had time to yell, "Get away!" Then I was as one
with intergalactic space.
* * * * *
_Please!_ said the voice. _Please! Stop the drive! Go back! McGuire!
I_ demand _that you stop! I_ order _you to stop! Please! PLEASE!_
It went on and on. A voice that shifted around every possible mode of
emotion. Fear. Demand. Pleading. Anger. Cajoling. Hate. Threat.
Around and around and around.
_Can't you speak, McGuire? Say something to me!_ A shrill, soft,
throaty, harsh, murmuring, screaming voice that had one basic
characteristic. It was a female voice.
And then another voice.
_I am sorry, Jack. I can speak with you. I can record your data. But I
cannot accept your orders. I can take orders from only One. And he has
given me his orders._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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