The Revolt on Venus | Page 6

before any real decision
is made."
Walters turned to Strong. "Steve?"
"I think Joan has the right idea, sir," he replied. "While the report
indicates that a group of people on Venus are meeting regularly and
secretly, and wearing some silly uniform, I think we need more
information before ordering a full-scale investigation."
"He's right, Commander," Connel broke in. "You just can't walk into an
outfit and demand a look at their records, books, and membership index,
unless you're pretty sure you'll find something."
"Send a man from here," Strong suggested. "If you use anyone out of
the Venus office, he might be recognized."
"Good idea," commented Sykes.
Joan nodded. "Sounds reasonable."
"How do you feel about it, Connel?" asked Walters.
Connel, still furious over Sykes's comment on his spectrum recorder,
shot an angry glance at the professor. "I think it's fine," he said bluntly.
"Who're you going to send?"
Walters paused before answering. He glanced at Strong and then back
at Connel. "What about yourself?"
"Me?"
"Why not?" continued Walters. "You know as much about Venus as
anyone, and you have a lot of friends there you can trust. Nose around a

while, see what you can learn, unofficially."
"But what about my work on the spectrum recorder?" asked Connel.
"That!" snorted Sykes derisively. "Huh, that can be completed any time
you want to listen to some plain facts about--"
"I'll never listen to anything you have to say, you dried-up old neutron
chaser!" blasted Connel.
"Of course not," cackled Sykes. "And it's the same bullheaded
stubbornness that'll keep you from finishing that recorder."
"I'm sorry, gentlemen," said Walters firmly. "I cannot allow personal
discussions to interfere with the problem at hand. How about it, Connel?
Will you go to Venus?"
Lou Connel was the oldest line officer in the Solar Guard, having
recommended the slightly younger Walters for the post of commandant
of Space Academy and the Solar Guard so that he himself could escape
a desk job and continue blasting through space where he had devoted
his entire life. While Walters had the authority to order him to accept
the assignment, Connel knew that if he begged off because of his work
on the recorder, Walters would understand and offer the assignment to
Strong. He paused and then growled, "When do I blast off?"
Walters smiled and answered, "As soon as we contact Venus
headquarters and tell them to expect you."
"Wouldn't it be better to let me go without any fanfare?" mused the
burly spaceman. "I could just take a ship and act as though I'm on some
kind of special detail. As a matter of fact, Higgleston at the Venusport
lab has some information I could use."
"Anything Higgleston could tell you," interjected Sykes, "I can tell you!
You're just too stubborn to listen to me."
Connel opened his mouth to blast the professor in return, but he caught

a sharp look from Walters and he clamped his lips together tightly.
"I guess that's it, then," said Walters. "Anyone have any other ideas?"
He glanced around the room. "Joan? Steve?"
Dr. Dale and Captain Strong shook their heads silently. Strong was
disappointed that he had not been given the assignment on Venus. Four
weeks at the deserted Academy would seem like living in a graveyard.
Walters sensed his feelings, and smiling, he said, "You've been going
like a hot rocket this past year, Steve. I have a specific assignment for
you."
"Yes, sir!" Strong looked up eagerly.
"I want you to go to the Sweet Water Lakes around New Chicago--"
"Yes, sir?"
"--go to my cabin--"
"Sir?"
"--and go fishing!"
Strong grinned. "Thanks, skipper," he said quietly. "I guess I could use
a little relaxation. I was almost tempted to join Corbett, Manning, and
Astro. They're going hunting in the jungle belt of Venus for a
tyrannosaurus!"
"Blast my jets!" roared Connel. "Those boys haven't killed themselves
in line of duty, so they go out and tangle with the biggest and most
dangerous monster in the entire solar system!"
"Well," said Joan with a smile, "I'll put my money on Astro against a
tyranno any time, pound for pound!"
"Hear, hear!" chimed in Sykes, and forgetting his argument with
Connel, he turned to the spaceman. "Say, Lou," he said, "when you get
to Venus tell Higgy I said to show you that magnetic ionoscope he's

rigging up. It might give you some ideas."
"Thanks," replied Connel, also forgetting the hot exchange of a few
minutes before. He stood up. "I'll take the Polaris, Commander. She's
the fastest ship available with automatic controls for a solo hop."
"She's been stripped of her reactant pile, Major," said Strong. "It'll take
a good eighteen hours to soup her up again."
"I'll take care of it," said Connel. "Are there any specific