To the Galactic Rim: The John Grimes Saga by A. Bertram Chandler Read Free Book Online Page B

laser beams?” He seemed to require no answer; he pulled himself into the chair by his desk, strapped himself in and motioned to Grimes to be seated. Then he pulled out from a drawer a large sheet of paper, which he unfolded. It was a cargo plan. “Current voyage,” he grunted. “And we’re carrying more to Lindisfarne than one brand-new ensign.”
    “Such as, sir?” ventured Grimes.
    “Naval stores. I don’t mind admitting that I’m more than a little rusty insofar as Survey Service procedure is concerned, even though I still hold my Reserve Commission. You’re more familiar with fancy abbreviations than I am. Twenty cases RERAT, for example . . . .”
    “Reserve rations, sir. Canned and dehydrated.”
    “Good. And ATREG?”
    “Atmospheric regeneration units, complete.”
    “So if Epsilon Sextans’ ‘farm’ has been killed we shall be able to manage?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Do you think you’d be able to install an ATREG unit?”
    “Of course, sir. They’re very simple, as you know. Just synthetic chlorophyll and a UV source . . . . In any case, there are full instructions inside every container.”
    “And this? A double M, Mark XV?”
    “Anti-Missile Missile.”
    “And ALGE?”
    “Anti-Laser Gas Emitter.”
    “The things they do think of. I feel more at home with these AVMs—although I see that they’ve got as far as Mark XVII now.”
    “Anti-Vessel Missiles,” said Grimes. A slight enthusiasm crept into his voice. “The XVII’s a real honey.”
    “What does it do?”
    “I’m sorry, sir. Even though you are a Reserve Officer, I can’t tell you.”
    “But they’re effective?”
    “Yes. Very.”
    “And I think you’re Gunnery Branch, Mr. Grimes, aren’t you?”
    “I am sir.” He added hastily, “But I’m still quite capable of carrying out a watch officer’s duties aboard this vessel should the need arise.”
    “The main thing is, you’re familiar with naval stores and equipment. When we find and board Epsilon Sextans I shall be transshipping certain items of cargo . . . “
    “RERAT and ATREG, sir?”
    “Yes. And the others.”
    “But, sir, I can’t allow it. Not unless I have authority from the Flag Officer commanding Lindisfarne Base. As soon as your Mr. Letourneau can be spared I’ll get him to try and raise the station there.”
    “I’m afraid that’s out of the question, Mr. Grimes. In view of the rather peculiar political situation, I think that the answer would be No. Even if it were ‘Yes’, you know as well as I how sluggishly the tide flows through official channels. Furthermore, just in case it has escaped your notice, I am the Master.”
    “And I, sir, represent the Survey Service. As the only commissioned officer aboard this vessel I am responsible for Survey Service cargo.”
    “As a Reserve Officer, Mr. Grimes, I rank you.”
    “Only when you have been recalled to Active Service. Sir.”
    Craven said, “I was rather afraid that you’d take this attitude. That’s why I decided to get this interview over and done with, just so we all know where we stand.” He put away the cargo plan, swiveled his chair so that he could reach out to his liquor cabinet. He pulled out two bulbs, tossed one to Grimes. “No toasts. If we drank to Law and Order we should mean different things. So just drink. And listen.
    “To begin with, Epsilon Sextans doesn’t know where she is. But Letourneau is one of the rare telepaths with the direction finding talent, and as soon as he’s able to get lined up we shall alter course to home on the wreck. That’s what he’s trying to do now.
    “When we find her, we shall synchronize and board, of course. The first thing will be medical aid to the survivors. Then we patch the ship up. And then we arm her. And then, with a prize crew under myself, we put ourselves on the trajectory for Waverleythat those Waldegrenese frigates come back for another nibble.”
    “They’d never dare, sir.”
    “Wouldn’t they? The original