The Mile Long Spaceship Read Online Free PDF

nothing that made it all so hard.
    A vampire, he thought and he got Rawlins on the communication screen. "I don't know what it could be listed under—if it is listed at all. Invisible, parasitic, non-intelligent. Try them all. Pull anything from the index that could pertain. I'll be in touch." Rawlins saluted and signed off and Royle called Custens.
    "I'm all right, sir. After a time you don't mind the cold quite so much." His haggard face and haunted eyes gave the lie to the words. The medic bag was beside him.
    "Custens, I'm bringing your food to you. This is more insane than letting the cold get you. Man, you're starving yourself."
    "No, really, sir. I brought enough provisions. Enough to see if it would keep going down."
    "I'm coming down there, Custens. I want to talk to you."
    Royle disconnected while the man was still protesting and called Giroden to come to the engine room.
    "Now what's up?"
    "Look, Giroden, I have to leave, but I can't leave the room alone. I want you to stay here and not let anyone else in," Royle said crisply.
    "Hmm. That suggests someone might try and I'm to use whatever means I find available to prevent him. Right?"
    "Exactly," Royle said. "Someone might try. He's already tried to steal a life ship. If he thinks I'm in here, he won't try to get in so don't open the door to anyone."
    "You intrigue me, Captain. Such ambiguity. Who is this skulking scoundrel who would steal one of the last remaining lifeboats?" Giroden's broad grin faded turning into a dark scowl as Royle answered.
    "Windlass. And he was alone when he tried to get away. He went to the airlock with a wrench he found somewhere. By now he may have dug up a knife or even a stun gun, so don't play games with him."
    "Windlass? Where's the child bride?"
    "Still in their stateroom, I guess. If she comes, you can let her in. I have a feeling it won't be long until she breaks and runs for help."
    "I'll let her in, Captain," Giroden said simply, but his tone made Royle turn and study him thoughtfully for a second. Then he left.
    In the galley Royle selected steak, milk, cheese, and peaches for Custens. On both sides of him doors yawned wide giving the large ship a look of complete desolation. The open doors to the storerooms and crews' quarters gave way to the tightly closed and locked rooms of the passengers and on to the sumptuous lounge now deserted. Nearly past it he stopped.
    Someone was in there crying. A woman was weeping softly with the complete abandon of utter hopelessness. Royle went in to investigate. It could be that someone's temperature hadn't registered normal, and in that event, it was his business.
    "Mrs. Windlass!" he exclaimed, surprised, feeling a lurching in his stomach. Not her, he groaned to himself. Not that lovely, shining creature. "Mrs. Windlass, what is it?" He put the tray on a table and sat down beside her reaching out for her hand, finding it reassuringly warm and perspiring in his.
    "N—nothing—Ca—Captain. I'm sorry. Please go away and leave me alone. You have enough worries," she said brokenly through sobs.
    "That's all right, Mrs. Windlass," Royle said awkwardly, patting her hand in what he hoped was a soothing fashion. She wasn't the first to break and she was regaining her composure.
    "I'm a fool, Captain. I was watching the monitor, seeing all the stars like lights on strings and before I knew it I was crying like a baby. I'll be all right."
    "Sure you will, honey." It slipped out before he could know he would say it but it seemed more appropriate than continuing to call her Mrs.
    "Captain, what can I do? I can't go back there to our room. I can't stay here any longer." Her little girl's face was tear-streaked and one of her hands must have been dirty for she had rubbed smudges around her eyes. Her hair was coming free of the gold band that held it smoothly from her forehead and where it lay against her damp face, little tendrils of curls formed. She was watching his face anxiously as she moaned, "I