Space Platform (PDF, MOBI, EPUB, FB2, TEXT)

rette. The ship flew with more steadiness than a railroad car rolls on rails. There was the oddly cushioned sound of the motors. It was all very matter-of-fact. But Joe said angrily: "Look! Is any of what you said--well--kidding?" "I wish it were, fella," said the co-pilot. "I can talk to you about it, but most of it's hushed up. I tell you----" "Why can you talk to me?" demanded Joe suspiciously. "What makes it all right for you to talk to me?" "You've got passage on this ship. That means something!" "Does it?" asked Joe. The pilot turned in his seat to glance at Joe. "Do you think we carry passengers regularly?" he asked mildly. "Why not?" Pilot and co-pilot looked at each other. "Tell him," said the pilot. "About five months ago," said the co-pilot, "there was an Army colonel wangled a ride to Bootstrap on a cargo plane. The plane took off. It flew all right until twenty miles from Bootstrap. Then it stopped checking. It dove stra