"Alan E. Nourse - Scavengers in Space" - читать интересную книгу автора (Nourse Alan E)

PROLOGUE
 Roger Hunter had completed his work long before the marauders appeared.
For two days now he had spent his waking hours down on the rock, prospecting it,
taking samples of ore back to the little orbit ship for testing, doing the things that any miner
in the Asteroid Belt would be expected to do. But he didn't really care what he found on the
rock, because the important work was done. The incredible thing that he had found was
hidden now, hidden and safe in a place that no one would think of searching, and that was
all that mattered to Roger Hunter.
His treasure, he thought to himself as he worked. His big strike, safe now, until the time
came to reveal it. He had not expected to find it when he had come out here the last time.
He had never dreamed that such a thing was here, but when he found it he knew what he
had to do.
It was on the second day that he saw the dark ship appear, moving in swiftly on contact
course with his own ship. He knew what it was the instant he saw it, long before the golden
triangle-and-J insignia became visible on its hull.
He dropped the samples he had been working with and strapped himself quickly onto
the scooter. He opened the valve and saw the little asteroid drop away from him as he
moved swiftly up toward the loading lock of his ship. He knew what his visitors wanted, he
knew too well why they were here.
Once in the control cabin he tore the roll of microfilm from the camera he had been
using and thrust it into the storage bin. They would read it, of course, but it would have no
meaning to them. In the view screen he saw the dark ship move closer, almost close enough
for boarding.
Then he saw the leather gun case lying on the drafting board, and his heart sank.
He picked it up, searching wildly for a place to hide it. His eye stopped on his space
pack lying on the floor, the battered aluminum case he had used for so many years. Quickly
he threw open the lid, thrust the leather case under the pile of clothing, and slammed the lid
down again.
It was bad. If they searched it they might discover the truth, but it was a risk he had to
take.
For just a moment he thought of the boys and wondered if he would ever see them
again. Then he heard the lock crash open somewhere below. Heavy boots pounded the
corridor, and three men walked into the control cabin.
Quietly, Roger Hunger turned to face them.


Chapter One
TROUBLE TIMES TWO

The sun was glowing dull red as it slipped down behind the curving horizon of Mars, but
Gregory Hunter was not able to see it.
There was no view screen in the ship's cabin; it was too tiny for that. Greg twisted
around in the cockpit that had been built just big enough to hold him, and shifted his long
legs against the brace-webbing, trying to get them comfortable. He took a deep breath and
wrinkled his nose. Already the cabin was taking on the dank, musty smell of mechanically
replaced air that made him think of the locker rooms and crowded gymnasiums of his
school days. He shifted his legs again, fiddling with the straps across his chest to keep his
hands from trembling.