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that night before we left Earth, I slipped Carey saw Lowther s face whiten and
into Lowther's ship and used it to kill his crumble until it was hardly human. Then
Number Six, Seven and Eight fuel-tanks. Newton said,  However, I might sell you
He shrugged again.  One to Five would fuel to get back to Pluto.
take him out around Neptune, I knew. But Shrewd and biting even through the
then he'd run out and couldn't curve in terror Lowther's eyes fastened on him.
toward Pluto.  Now we re getting to it, he muttered.
 But why? Carey asked puzzedly.  All right, what's the price?
 Why do it and then save him?  As you know, said Curt,  fuel is very
Simon said,  I can guess why. But I tell high these days. But I m not out for profit.
you, Curtis, even if you succeed it was You sign over all rights in all your Pluto
harebrained. Once in the past your rashness mines and refineries to a Government
made outlaws of us four. It could happen foundation, for the furtherance of travel
again. and exploration among the stars. And I'll
No more was said until Curt Newton's let you have a bunker full.
masterful piloting brought the Comet at Something like a smile touched
last alongside the dark silent ship that was Lowther s mouth. He smothered it at once,
steadily falling toward infinity. The beginning to protest and threaten, but Curt
emergency locks were coupled together shook his head.  Oh, no, he said.  There
with magnetic grapples. Curt and Otho will be no repudiation of this deal later on
were armed and Grag stood behind them when you're safe on Pluto. You re going to
like an iron colossus, guarding the narrow make out a full confession of your
passage. activities in gaining control of the five
The locks were opened and Curt stood other companies. It will be kept in a safe
facing Lowther. Watching from the place. And just to make doubly sure& 
background Carey caught a glimpse of Here he pointed to a fat-joweled little
Lowther's face, ugly with fear, with hatred. man behind Lowther's shoulder a man
 I might have known it would be you, whom Carey recognized as one of the
he said to Curt Newton.  You caused our group who had been with Lowther that
fuel to go dead. How you did it I don't other time on Earth.
know but   & to make doubly sure, Curt was
 You can't prove that, said Newton. saying,  you will go into another cabin and
He spoke to the men who were crowding write out a separate confession. As
behind Lowther.  Take it easy, he told Lowther s secretary you know every angle
them.  You re in no danger. of that deal because you helped him. And
A ray of hope crept into Lowther's eyes. if the two confessions don t match I will
 You're going to take us back? know that someone is lying and that will
 Well, said Newton,  I can't tow you be two people there won't be room for in
for my stern-grapples aren t working. And my ship.
my ship is small. I could take off your He turned again to Lowther and waited.
officers and crew but I'm afraid there Three different times Carey saw Lowther
wouldn t be any room for you. start to speak, and give it up. At last he
Lowther thought about that. Carey could made a gesture of defeat and Curt
see it in his face the visualization of his motioned him into the Comet. The
ship plunging on and on into the great secretary whimpered once and
deeps with him alone in it. disappeared.
 You couldn't do that, he whispered.
17
 Less than an hour later, Curt Newton The red-haired man nodded.  I knew that
had the signed irrevocable papers and only out on the edge, out on the frontier,
Lowther had his fuel. would you find your own kind again.
Newton paused and added,  You're not
* * * * * the only one, Carey. I've seen it happen
over and over again to spacemen in my
Time had passed. The two great ships own time. They go out young and eager,
on the white plain of Pluto were readying dreaming and talking of how someday
for take-off. Rock and ice quivered to the they ll come back to Earth with wealth and
deep hum of great generators running on glory and live there happy the rest of their
test. Men were feverishly busy around the lives. And when they come back they find
gangways. they can't do it, they find they're Earthmen
Carey came hastening across the ice to no more.
where Newton and the Futuremen were  Earthmen no more, Carey repeated,
watching. And as he ran he felt buoyantly wonderingly.  Why, yes. That was it, of
and fully alive for the first time since his course. It wasn't Earth that changed so
strange awakening. much. It was me.
 I'm going with them! he cried.  I From the distance, amplified by an
talked to Burke. He signed me on and I'm annunciator loudspeaker, roared Burke s
going with them out to the stars! voice.  Time to lift, starmen!
Otho laughed and said to Newton,
 You were right about him. And Carey, slipping and hurrying, went
Suddenly Carey understood. He said, back across the frozen plain, toward the
 That's why you brought me out here with ships and stars that waited.
you? You knew!
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