Public-domain ebook
Satellite of Death
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Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #65242.
The opening · free to read
By Randall Garrett
Five men were stationed on Earth's space satellite when the alien starship moored itself nearby. So the question--who would investigate?
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy December 1957 Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
There were five aboard the orbiting wheel in the sky--an American, a Russian, a Frenchman, an Englishman, an Indian. Their job was to keep watch--over each other. The Wheel held enough fission-fusion bombs to blast all of Earth but the five watchdogs saw to it that those bombs remained stored, a potential threat and no more to aggressors below.
And then Gregson and Lal discovered the alien spaceship moored outside Supplementary Airlock One.
It looked like no spaceship they had ever set eyes on before. Gregson, the American, said, "You see that thing out there?"
The Indian, Lal, nodded and rubbed his aquiline nose reflectively. "I see it--but what is it?"
"Spaceship of some kind," said Gregson. "Damndest-looking spaceship I've ever seen, though. Looks like it's moored near the airlock. Wonder if we have visitors?"
He peered at the ship. It had little in common with the unstreamlined dumbbells Earth used for spaceflight; it was slim and tapering, with no visible rocket orifices; it was made of some strange iridescent metal that glimmered in the moonlight.
"Let's investigate," Gregson said.
"We should call the others," said Lal. "All five should be on hand."
"You're right." Gregson touched his belt-stud, giving the signal that called all five crewmen to hand. They appeared quickly--Lasseux, Beveridge, Golovunoff. Silently, Gregson pointed through the view-plate at the newcomer.
After a long look Beveridge shook his head. "That didn't come from Earth," the Englishman said. "Not unless they've developed an entirely new drive principle. And look at the design...."
"That's an alien spaceship, all right," Lasseux said.
"From the stars," added Golovunoff. A cold chill seemed to sweep through the space satellite as he spoke the words.
Quietly Gregson said, "We'd better go out there and see what's inside. Since Lal and I saw the ship first, we'll be the ones to go look."
"No," said Golovunoff. "I wish to go also."
"I'd rather like to get first look too," said Beveridge.
"I think we'd all better go," Lasseux suggested. "The station can operate without us for a while. And we'll never agree on who's to go, eh?"
Five figures in spacesuits clustered about the alien ship. At close range its iridescent skin looked other-worldly and vaguely frightening, gleaming purple and green and dull-bronze by moonlight. A quartz window gave a view of the ship's interior.
"I don't see anyone in there," said Gregson. "You?"
"Looks empty to me," commented Beveridge.
"Empty! Impossible!" said Lasseux vehemently. "Empty spaceships do not pilot themselves across the void to Earth. Empty spaceships do not complicatedly moor themselves outside a space satellite's airlock. Empty spaceships...."
"That's enough, Lasseux," growled the Russian. "Whether it makes sense or no, that spaceship's empty."
"Let's find the hatch," suggested Lal. "Perhaps there's someone injured inside, out of the line of sight."
The five Earthmen covered the surface of the ship, looking for an exterior hatch control. Beveridge found it first--a narrow lever extruding a few inches from the skin of the alien vessel. He called to the others, then yanked down on the lever. The hatch pivoted back, opening into an airlock.
There was the usual moment of Alphonse-Gaston as the five crewmen jockeyed for position, none willing to let any of the others get ahead of him on anything. Then Lasseux slipped through and into the alien spaceship, followed by Gregson and Beveridge almost simultaneously, and then Golovunoff and Lal.
The ship was empty.
There was not the slightest sign of life. The five men roamed through the vessel, noting the utterly alien control-panel, the strange furnishings, the peculiar fixtures and appurtenances. But the ship was void of life.
Finally they returned to the Wheel and, puzzled, discussed the situation.
"It makes no sense," objected Lasseux. The small Frenchman was plainly obsessed with the inconsistency of the thing. "The ship crosses the interstellar void ... alone? Can remote control extend so far?"
"Looks like it did," said Gregson.
"Impossible!" Lasseux sputtered.
"In any case," said Beveridge, "we have a prize--a gift from the stars. An alien spaceship, free and without strings of any kind. We should notify Earth of our find."
"Do you suppose," said Lal, "that the pilot of that ship may be around yet?"
"Huh?" From Gregson and Beveridge at the same time.
"What I mean is, suppose that pilot is not like you and me--suppose, that is, that he is invisible? Perhaps he is still aboard his ship, and we passed over him unknowing? Or perhaps he has come right in here with us and listens to our very words?"
Gregson shuddered. "You've got a wild imagination, Lal. But we have enough problems on our hands without worrying about ghosts from outer space."
"I said not ghosts--"
"Enough," boomed Golovunoff. "We can continue this silly quarrel indefinitely. Let us assume, since we see no one and nothing aboard the ship, that it arrived empty. And therefore that it is ours for study."
"Do empty ships moor themselves to airlock hatches?" asked the Frenchman sarcastically. "I tell you Lal's right--there must have been intelligence guiding that ship!"
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