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I had never understood how they could appear in this dead silence
of hyperspace, where there are no stars, nor planets, where any law
of the universe does not work, where there is no even time. Where
is no anything...
But I saw the brilliant shine of their ships’ sides. They were like
the huge blocks of ice carefully cultivated by the great master.
They were moving toward me. The identification alarm on the
instrument panel had screamed busily. I knew already – it was a
patrol. I knew how to talk to any patrol. Experienced space wolf,
with tens of years of ploughing the Universe, could stand up, if it
was necessary, to any youths from the galactic police and patrol
services. Anyone, but not THEM.
It was too late to retreat. Borders of a narrow hyperspace corridor
had sharply parted. I looked at the instrument panel out of the
corner of my eye: now the energy is enough only for one jump. And
maybe not even for that. I did not even know where ship was
brought, when they have interrupted my hyperspace jump. And I had
no time for calculations.
I matched speed of my old, but rather powerful ship with that of
the patrol; after that I had quickly caught in crosshair sights the
multifaceted monster, which inevitably approached me. It went
forward self-confidently and rather quickly. Two other Artang ships
covered the leader from behind. How I wanted to strike with the
laser the glossy surface of alien ship! But I could not. The Artang
patrol is inviolable. But how could I permit them to examine the
cargo which I had on board? The cargo for which I was in for a
death penalty...
Artang civilization had made itself known two hundred years ago. In
those days the influence of Targons and Mankind has been weakened
by the many-years-long bloody war, which has undermined the power
of these two great centres of intelligent life of the Universe.
Artangs had roused the indignation of everybody when their huge
deadly squadrons, in infringement of all laws of the Incorporated
Galaxies, had intruded into the limits of the Central Union of
Human Colonies and had conquered several inhabited planets. At the
same time the diplomatic ships of omnipresent Targons were noticed
near the planets occupied by Artangs. Among solo pilots the rumours
began to circulate that the new powerful alliance was coming to be
in the Universe. Indeed, Targons with enviable persistence strived
for a treaty with Artangs in order to create a powerful fist and
crush achievements of human intelligence into dust with one
powerful strike. However, as it soon became clear, Artangs did not
want such alliance much. And what is more, one of the Targon
diplomatic ships had been destroyed while approaching the station
of latter-day aggressors, on which the Artang military base was
placed. All inhabited worlds of the Universe could view on the
channels of hypercommunication the small newsreel showing as
Artangs have disposed of the Targons. Here it is, the powerful
octahedral Targon ship coming near the Artang station. Here is the
small patrol ship, remotely similar to a crystal chandelier with
numerous pendants, flies out toward it. The Targons are turning on
the identification lights. In the central part of the Artang ship
the small hatch opens slowly, and on rotary carriage a laser cannon
appears. Bright flash, and a blue beam hitting the central part of
the Targon ship. A new star in space was born for a second and then
went out. The savage natives of nearby planets, who could see the
new star, had got convincing proof for the existence of the
majestic God they worshipped.
Ruthless Artangs have shown their power and deviousness to the
Universe. The panic reigned at the highest levels of Central Union
of the Human Colonies. Urgently arranged Military Council was about
to declare the next mobilization under influence of the just seen
reel, but sober heads have reasonably assumed that in the case of
open military actions against Artangs, there will not be left a
stone standing of the human civilization. Military experts
unanimously came to the conclusion what it is still early to
declare war with Artangs. It was necessary for mankind to establish
with them the truce, which, even if bad, would allow to delay the
war.
Negotiations were dragged out. Aggressors demanded full and
unconditional fulfilment of their conditions, which were the
following:
- Artangs completely control all the most advanced planets of the
galaxies and receive the most- favoured-nation treatment to their
trading ships;
- On the every planet, without exception, Artang stations of tax
police are placed;
- Their patrol ships receive all the necessary rights for search of
all trading, military, cargo and passenger ships;
- The military patrol gets through with all ships that have broken
the Artang laws;
- All the stations in all the inhabited worlds have no rights to
refuse the docking rights to any type of the ship with insignia of
Artang civilization.
The planets that are refusing to obey the laws would be destroyed
without a trial. Just a spoken consent of the Supreme Commander of
Expansion will be enough for destruction of a rebellious planet.
At last, with some clauses, the Central Union of the Human Colonies
had finally signed the peace treaty with Artangs on their
conditions. At that time humans were not yet ready to fight with
such serious and dangerous opponent. And so, the ext two hundred
years greenish-grey intelligent toads who called themselves Artangs
ruled the Universe in order not to push the aggressors into an
alliance with Targons, and into the cruel and hopeless war.
- The intergalactic patrol ship “Great Artang” is calling. Board
N-9, open the first docking module and follow the instructions. -
The pilot’s voice sounded exacting and hard.
- Carrying out, - I answered dryly.
I could not act otherwise. In case of disobedience Artangs would
not leave me even a chance.
“Great Artang” slowly came nearer. I have noticed that other two
ships, like a great space bumblebees, have begun to spin in smooth
dance ahead, depriving me an opportunity of fast start. I had only
some minutes of live left. These toads will go to a cargo
compartment without fail. I have already imagined their reaction
when they will see tons of the advanced weapons...
Amazing situation: the ship, overloaded by DEATH, could not even try
to fight with Artangs. My fists were itching, but I estimated forces
reasonably. I had just one chance out of million. And I had to,
simply had been obliged to use it right. Because of that, I had gone
to meet the patrol like a lamb, with a wide smile on the face.
When lock-chamber’s doors had opened with faint hissing, I bowed to
three visitors, not without loathing. Pimply heads in high green
uniform caps slightly nodded in answer.
Artangs moved on two thick, brawny legs. All three of them were
dressed in thin, closely fitting clothes from some light gauze
material. Wide purple bands girded grossly big stomachs of these
toadlike creatures. One of Artangs, probably of the highest rank,
had closely looked at me from under dark glasses and wiped wet
forehead with six-fingered palm.
It’s hot in here, - the officer has spoken these words in his own
language, but the autotranslator on the wall of the hall there we
were standing had snapped into action, and I had heard an even
man's voice.
I had shrugged and smiled instead of an answer. I looked down on
them from my height. Even the highest Artang barely reached my
shoulder. Nevertheless, the sight of these toads was terrible
enough. All three had gravthrowers on the shoulders. I knew what
that was. I saw this stuff in operation...
Once I found myself on some God-forgotten station, and I had went
to a rotten local bar to stock up on some provisions. Right before
my eyes a drunken Artang, who had got into a shouting match with
some desperate hermit, had shot the poor man down with a
gravthrower right near the bar counter, where they quarrelled.
After that the Artang was allowed to leave easily. But, as soon as
this toad had left the bar, the crowd started to murmur
discontentedly. From all directions had come curses and comments of
experienced pilots. I could not listen to all this drunken
symphony, and so had quickly filled containers with suitable food
and left this out-of-the-way station.Since then I had not meet any
more Artangs, but knew all about them. Pilots like to tell about
their misadventures and meetings with Artangs in the brightest
colours. And if someone exaggerated bloodthirstiness and
deviousness of the toads, it was not by much. Also, it was
difficult for any story-teller to exaggerate his own daring, as
nobody was courageous enough to even hint that he has met with an
Artang ship in a close fight and won. All knew the possible
consequences of even mentioning about destroying patrol or any
other ship of aggressors. Artangs did not stint paying for
informers...
- Do you have any forbidden goods, weapons, classified machinery
onboard? - rapidly said the officer, inspecting a ragged hall.
- Never was interested in it. I am just a trader. I want to make
some money and retire, - I answered, holding out the documents and
the cargo card.
The Artang fiddled about with my documents and with his miniature
equipment for a long time, checking all nuances. At last from a
slot in the little box held by the officer the cargo card has
jumped out; then my personal papers followed. I extended a hand to
take it away, but Artang transferred my documents to his partner
with a grimace on the pimply face. He hid them in a pocket without
hesitation.
"Already started”, - I thought, preparing for the worst.
- It appears you are a high-class pilot, - the officer had told
with odd intonation.
- Yes, I fly since childhood.
- Excellent. - He came closer, and I had felt unpleasant marsh
smell flowing from his body.
- So you, possibly, could be serving your Military Council?
Artang had struck the bull’s-eye. Indeed, recently I was helping
humans to prepare well for the beginning of the war. Yes, I was
transporting weapons on weakly protected stations. And now, on the
fifth or sixth flight, I was intercepted by Artang patrol. It seems
the Military Council cannot seriously rely on me after this
anymore. It is a pity. I know and able to do a lot...
- Why are you silent?
- What? Ah, yes, excuse me. I tried to remember if I have relatives
who served the Military Council from the moment of its formation.
It was, I think, about six hundred years ago? So, as far as I
remember, I have no such relatives. And as for me, I’m just a small
fry...
Artang had looked narrowly at me, but had not questioned me any
more. He walked a few steps to the cargo hatch and turned back.
- Let’s look at the cargo.
- I have to go for the keys, - it was a silly phrase, obviously:
Artang knew perfectly well that the cargo hatch could be opened with
a code.
- What? Have you forgotten the code?
- But you have taken the cargo card. I simply am not obliged to
remember these figures.
During these minutes I was speaking first that came into my head.
My brains have been busy with other thing. I was waiting, when two
others Artangs become distracted. I just had to intercept the
initiative.
- All right, - the highest-ranking Artang turned grey and turned to
the guards behind him. - Sergeant, look at the code. Sergeant has
got into a pocket. I watched intently his other hand. He held it
securely on a gravthrower’s barrel. Looks like I could not get
anything out of from this situation. I had to wait while sergeant
was reading aloud the code combination of cargo compartment’s lock.
The officer, having heard a code, had quickly pressed the
necessary keys on the digital panel. The hatch swung open.
Follow me, - the officer had ordered and entered. I slowed down a
little have and politely gestured for a sergeant to pass. The third
Artang had gently pushed me in the back, letting me know that he
will go behind me.
Now it was a matter of seconds. If I shall not have time to act
here, in this rather narrow corridor which goes into the cargo
compartment, I can order music for my funeral. There, twenty meters
from us, tons of weapons were stored. And I had decided to risk.
Even more so because I couldn’t expect any mercy.
I had dived sharply and, moving backwards, strongly pushed with my
back the Artang behind me. I had tried to make it so that he had to
gulp some air. For a split second the Artang’s gravthrower remained
without supervision. It was not handy to remove the weapon from the
podgy body; so, I’ve pressed the Artang, who has gone limp, to a
wall, and then seized the gravthrower and pointed the barrel at
sergeant and officer, who had already turned to me. If I had no
time to shoot, then I, together with the Artang pressed to the
wall, would be blown to pieces by his partners the next moment. But
I had beaten them to it. The gravthrower whumped, and the cargo
compartment’s corridor was lit up with blue lightning. Two toads
have been smeared on walls. I did not expect that it would be so
easy. The third Artang practically did not resist. I had torn the
gravthrower off him and, without hesitation, sent him to his marsh
forefathers.
I had sprung out into the hall, wiping the face splashed with a
smelly swill. The decision was ready in a moment. Having opened the
hatch leading to the lock-chamber, I had quickly reached an
entrance into the Artang patrol ship. Now all I needed was to pray
to God that all the rest would pass like clockwork. It is not
pleasant work to shoot Artangs with gravthrower. There was too much
water in these monsters.
This time I was lucky. Nobody was on board of the moored ship. I
had put gravthrower aside and set down at the control panel. Once I
had to study Artang ships. It was two years ago, when we were
preparing for forthcoming fights on the target ranges of Military
Council. I think I wasn’t so bad then. Now I could test myself in a
fight against Artangs. And we were equal. Let them show, what their
praised pilots are capable of.
I had turned on the engines and slowly guided “Great Artang” away
from my ship for the decisive fight. Artangs, probably, had the time
to suspect something wrong. I had not answered their ships’
inquiries for several minutes. But I should have time to turn around
and face the enemies, before they will open fire. Disgusting pimply
mugs flashed and faded on ship’s monitors. Someone persistently
tried to squeeze out of me at least a couple of words in their
gurgling language...
At last, the maneuver is finished. Now I can see perfectly well two
confused ships on the forward screen. It seems, they still had not
understood, what had happened with their colleagues. Well, so be
it. I am firing a volley of Artang missiles. After such a volley a
usual ship, like “Cobra” or “Sirius”, turns into a handful of
fragments, which without effort can be put into any backpack. But
it is not any usual opponent I have in front of me now. Artangs
have an antidote even for these missiles. But I have never saw, how
such system works.
All right, now I see it. A blue wall has flashed for a second and
faded. And where are the missiles? Excellent. Only one missile has
reached the target. But it was enough to break one of the ships in
half. For the first time in my life I happened to see how Artangs,
brought into the open space by explosion, burst like soap bubbles.
The second ship, probably in fright, fired a powerful volley from
all its weapons first at my ship, forsaken in the emptiness, and
then at me.I maneuvered desperately, but couldn’t escape this
attack. Protective fields began to crackle. Panels of the alarm
system had flashed. I thought I still had time to meet the opponent
with a final shot. I had jerked the ship downwards, trying to get
under a belly of the Artang ship, which was quickly turning after
the last maneuver. But at this moment the Universe was shaken with
terrible explosion. Only later I had understood that Artang
missiles had reached my old forsaken ship, overloaded with death.
Tens of tons of weapons, explosives, and bombs in a split second
had turned into dazzlingly bright fiery sphere, which had eclipsed
all stars in velvet emptiness of bottomless space.
I had gone blind for some time. After a moment I already knew that
I did not exist in this world anymore. Of course, I had not died,
unlike the Artangs who tried to punish me for obstinacy. But I was
not a Universe pilot anymore. My tormented body in a broken escape
capsule was falling on the unknown plain-looking planet, which, by
a lucky chance, was situated near the place of our fight. Now
another life completely, a "dusty life", as pilots named lingering
on planets, was waiting for me. Who would think that I shall finish
my existence here, on this forgotten island of life far from the
main space lines?..
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