The Runaway Asteroid | Page 9

a charismatic leader who gave them visions of grandeur and made them think that they could pull off the impossible. But they are afraid of Zimbardo-for good reason, from what we hear. He is a merciless, calculating spaceman, patiently willing to play second-in-command to Putnam while waiting for his chance to take over. That chance has now come.
"The pirates are greatly reduced in number now, but those who are left are extremely dangerous. They will be fierce, uncompromising enemies. St. George is the only person outside of the pirates who knows where the asteroid is, how to find it, and has some knowledge of how it works. Where Putnam was willing to let St. George go about his business, Zimbardo will certainly determine to eliminate him. Zimbardo will try hard to find St. George. You must find him first. Protect him, and learn from him where the asteroid is."
"What do we know about him? How can he be found?" asked Zip.
"He hasn't been heard from for over a year, and he could be anywhere in the Belt. But he has a friend named Montezuma Vly. If anyone knows where St. George is, Vly will know-and we know where Vly is."
"Why not just ask Vly where St. George is?" asked Mark.
"That's where your assignment begins," answered Konig. "Like St. George, Montezuma Vly is an asteroid miner. Unlike St. George, he doesn't wander far from his home. But Vly has a deep distrust of any authority figures. He lives on an asteroid he calls Montezuma's Castle. He claimed it over thirty years ago and enjoys his privacy. No government officials have any right to enter his domain. He is completely independent. We're hoping that where officialdom can't act, you young Starmen can. When he knows that George St. George is at risk, I'm sure he'll help you."
"Where do we find Montezuma Vly?" asked Mark, who was the navigator for the trio of Starmen.
"Montezuma's Castle is not far from Ceres. You can get to Vly in less than a day from Yellow City." Yellow City was the major center on Ceres, the largest and most important asteroid in the system, with a population of around 100,000. It doubled as a spaceport, and was a stopping-over and refueling point on the long voyage between the Inner and Outer Planets.
"Go to Ceres first and check in there. Since the pirates will be searching for St. George, you'll have to conduct your search quietly-using the Star Ranger and wearing Starman's red uniforms won't do on this assignment. You'll need to change ships and clothes in Yellow City. The rest of the information you'll need will be provided for you in files which you can read as you travel."

Lurton Zimbardo called his five most trusted leaders to a meeting in one of the libraries on the pirates' asteroid. Each was dressed in the gray and black uniform that Troy Putnam had designed for the pirates for their failed mission to take over Mars. The meeting had been going on for several hours and had involved a lot of detailed organizational work. The men were tired and showing it. As usual, Zimbardo showed no signs of fatigue.
"Yes, gentlemen," said Zimbardo, "You know what to do now. We will need to get all of our men busy and you must drive them, drive them relentlessly! I don't want to take any longer on this work than we need to. We've been moving slowly out of the Asteroid Belt for almost three days."
His laser pointer made a few small red circles on a chart in the library. "This is where we were, and this is where we're going to be." The chart was nearly a full wall of smooth quartz, illumined from the inside and showing the nearby configuration of asteroids.
The table was strewn with large books opened to star maps, note pads, a couple of small computers and calculating machines, and a huge number of crumpled balls of paper. One man reached for a pitcher of water that was on the table and slowly filled his glass. Zimbardo continued.
"The manufacturing will begin tomorrow-that'll be for Stubb to oversee. Once the sheathing device has proven effective we can begin work on restoring and disguising our fleet. After that, Crass, you'll take care of the rest."
One of the men looked up. "What about St. George? If anyone discovers him he could put a serious crimp in our plans."
Zimbardo looked annoyed. "St. George will be dealt with, Mr. Slant. I have not forgotten him; you can leave that to me. He will never speak to the Starmen or anyone else."
Another spoke. "Is it really necessary to silence him? It will take a large number of men to make a search-men we could use on the urgent projects at hand. Since you've moved