Space Lawyer by Mike Jurist Page A

toward Planets and raise headquarters there, Kenton Space Enterprises will pay you well."
    "You forget," Kerry said softly, "we're in the salvage business; not a refueling station."
    "Damn it, man! You'll get your salvage fees. One third of the ship's value, isn't it? Mr. Kenton will pay, and gladly. I'll sign papers. Only give me the stuff—"
    "One third of the cargo, too."
    "All right. All right. But hurry and—"
    So there's nothing of value in the cargo, thought Kerry. Then why this all-fired hurry? He shook his head.
    "Sorry, captain. The laws of salvage are funny that way. No towing; no salvage. Read Section 21, Subdivision 6—"
    "You're too damn technical. You know as well as I that if I say so, Kenton will back me up, law or no law."
    "Still no sale."
    Ball scowled. "Blast you, Dale, have it your way then. Haul me all the way to Planets. Only let me use your radio. I want to notify my base as to what's happened."
    "Do you intend to use code, by any chance?" inquired Kerry. The captain stared. "Naturally."
    "Then still no sale. I have a strict rule on board my ship. No private wave lengths or private codes may be used on my instruments." fie winked surreptitiously to Jem. "Haven't I, Jem?"
    That worthy looked bewildered. "Huh? Oh, sure . . . sure! Uh . . . our Sparks, he's a funny guy that away."
    Ball said coldly: "You fellows aren't talking to a blasted landsman. Stop the nonsense and get down to brass tacks. What's your game?"
    Kerry was equally cold and crisp. "That works both ways. What's your game, Captain Ball?"
    "This is ridiculous!"
    "Oh, it is, is it? Let me run over a few things with you. The Flying Meteor was taken from its regular run and blasted off under sealed orders. I find it adrift ina sector of space where no one ever goes."
    "So you followed me, eh?"
    Kerry ignored that. He ticked off his points like relentless hammer blows. "I repeat, I find you adrift. Your fuel is gone; your radio smashed. You might possibly have run out of fuel, though you're too good an officer to have permitted that. But you didn't smash your own radio or lose your spares. Someone else did that for you. If it was a highjacker, you'd have made no bones about telling us. Yet you're holding out. Why?"
    Ball's face did not change so much as a muscle. It was a well-schooled face. "You're crazy!" he said.
    Kerry shrugged. "All right, if that's the way you want it." He turned to Jem. "Come on, Jem. Captain Ball obviously doesn't wish for our assistance. Let's get back to the Flash. I want to investigate that asteroid which showed up on our detectors, anyway. Since we don't have to tow this tub—"
     
    Ball lost his impassivity. "You mean you're going to let us drift out here like trapped animals?"
    Kerry pretended astonishment. "Isn't that what you wanted? I thought it was, since you refuse to co-operate."
    "You win, and be damned to you!" the captain said bitterly. "If there was any chance of getting through, I'd see you in hell first. But I can't let my men die like rats; and furthermore, it doesn't matter, anyway. They've got a good three-day start and they've got a fast ship. Faster than mine; and certainly faster than yours."
    "Ah!" said Kerry. "That's better. Now start from the beginning."
    Ball took a deep breath. "Well, we were hunting for something. On a tip."
    "Skip that part," Kerry advised. "I know about it. Did you find it; and what happened then?"
    The captain stared. "Damn!" he said with feeling. "And we thought we were very secret about it. That makes two at least who knew."
    "The other being—"
    "Jericho Foote, the louse! You know—Mammoth Exploitations."
    "Ah!" said Kerry again. "I know. The pot's beginning to boil. He followed you, too?"
    "Not that swamp snake! He's too cunning to get tangled up directly. He hired an outfit; one of those that's always hanging around the Belt looking for trouble. I didn't know they were following until I located the asteroid. They kept out of range, using their detectors. They