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through the great hole that had been torn in the stern of the Saturnian ship.
The interior of the Gargol was a scene of utter devastation. The terrific violence of the explosion had
bent solid inertrum like tin, had slain most of the crew outright. A few space-suited Saturnians who had
survived dazedly raised their hands in token of surrender.
"The radite? Where is it" Thorn demanded fiercely of them.
"In the lower bow-compartment, answered the stunned, shaking men.
The Planeteers pushed through the wreck toward that compartment. They burst into it, and Thorn sprang
forward with a cry.
The asterium-wrapped mass of radite was in this metal chamber. But toward the precious element was
crawling Jenk Cheerly, his body badly crushed inside his space-suit, but with a heavy atom-gun in his
hand. The Uranian, fatally injured by the explosion, was making a dying attempt to destroy the radite.
Thorn tore the gun from his hand. Cheerly looked up, his face livid graygreen inside his glassite helmet,
his small eyes glistening with undying hatred.
"You've not won, Planeteers! he choked.  You're too late. I notified the Leader days ago by audio that
I had the radite, and the League fleet rocketed then to conquer the Alliance! Already they're driving the
Alliance navies sunward!
"And what is more, he gloated in a dying whisper,  Haskell Trask himself and a picked strong force
have landed on Earth's moon and seized Philip Blaine and his weapon! The radite is useless to you now!"
A last flicker of life throbbed in Cheerly's little eyes, a last gleam of triumph.
"I was always too clever for you Planeteers! he choked. And then his broken body relaxed as death
came.
Thorn looked up at the others, his brown face grave inside his helmet.  If what he said is true "
"I'll find out with the Gargol's audio! Sual Av cried, and sprang toward the control-room.
When the Venusian came back, his face was pale, his green eyes stricken. He spoke unsteadily.
"It's true, John! I heard the audiocalls. The Alliance navies have retreated sunward past the orbit of
Venus, attacked by the League's tremendous fleet. The inner worlds are in wild panic, and Haskell Trask
is directing the League operations from the advanced base he's established on Earth's moon!"
Thorn's body sagged inside his space-suit. For the first time, ultimate despair claimed him.
"Then this radite that might have saved the Alliance is useless, he said hoarsely.  With Trask holding the
moon Blaine's weapon in his possession the Alliance is doomed!"
CHAPTER XXI
The Fight on the Moon
LANA CAIN gripped Thorn's arm. The pirate girl's blue eyes blazed with compelling force into his.
"No, John! she exclaimed.  There's still a chance. We can attack Trask's force on the moon and
recapture Blaine's weapon. We can give Blaine a chance to operate it!"
"Recapture the moon? Thorn echoed deadly. He laughed bitterly.  With the few dozen of us, with this
one ship, against the strong force Haskell Trask has there?"
"We can get a force strong enough to take the moon! Lana cried.
"Where? he asked dully.  Every ship of the Alliance navies is inside Venus orbit, retreating from the
League fleet."
"We can get a force at Turkoon! the pirate girl flared.  The Companions of Space my pirates! There's
enough of them to capture the moon, if they'll follow me!"
Thorn's dead, hopeless eyes lit with a faint spark of desperate hope. He gripped Lana's shoulders.
"It could be done! he cried hoarsely.  But will they follow you in such an attack, Lana?"
"I'm afraid they won't, lass, Stilicho said apprehensively.  To the Companions, the war between the
League and the Alliance doesn't mean anything."
"I think I can get them to follow me, Lana insisted with desperate determination.  It's the last chance for
the Alliance, John!"
"We'll take it! Thorn cried.  Quick, get the radite into the Venture! Every minute counts now!"
With urgent haste, the precious radite was transferred to the pirate ship. Also the few dazed survivors in
the Saturnian cruiser were brought along as prisoners by Thorn and his party. In a few moments it had
been done, and Thorn ordered Stilicho to start.
"Top speed toward the Zone, Stilicho! he cried.  Everything may depend on how soon we reach
Turkoon."
Like a shooting star, the Venture swept sunward as it again built up to phenomenal speed. For hour after
hour it raced toward the Zone, while the Planeteers and Lana took turns relieving the old pirate at the
controls.
Thorn's state of mind was chaotic, hope alternating with despair. The knowledge that the long-menaced
attack of the League had finally been launched, that the Alliance navies were desperately retreating from
the overpowering armada of the outer planets, was a goading agony.
Stilicho was again at the firing-keys when the Venture at last swept into the Zone. Speed had necessarily
been reduced, and Thorn chafed at the delay as the old pirate navigated through the wilderness of great [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]