Adventures in the Far Future & Tales of Outer Space — page 124: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“Smart man, the Skipper,” said Brent grimly. “He thinks fast. When | started sending him signals, he turned out our lights. If | demanded to have them back on again he’d know a passenger was responsible.” He ticked off: “| w-i-1-1 r-e-s-t-o-re Cc-o-n-t-r-o-1 t-o y-o-u I-f y-O-U p-r-o- c-e-e-d t-o n-e-a-r-e-s-t h-a-b-i-t-a-b-l-e p-l-a-n-e-t a-n-d 1-a-n- d a-n-sS-w-e-r v-i-a c-r-e-w 1-i-g-h-t-i-n-g s-y-s-t-e-m.” “What could he do?” asked Kit breathlessly, “if he won't believe you?” “He could pump air out of the passengers’ quarters,” said Brent. “But he couldn’t bleed it out into space while we’re In overdrive. Not unless he went crazy!” He watched a tiny dial on the relay-control box. A long time later, the dial on his control box kicked. He watched it. “He’s agreed,” he said skeptically. “My guess is he’d have to shoot all his crew if he didn’t. But he’s in a bad fix!” He Signalled again, for a long time. “I’ve told him his new speed and given him ten hours to find a planet. | told him how to handle the ship on planetary approach. Now we'll see what happens.” He put the case in his pocket. He unlocked the door. He put out the light from his bag before he opened it. Blackness pervaded the passengers’ lounge. A woman was weeping hysterically. Then someone flicked on a pocket lighter. It was a tiny point of light. The overdrive went off. It stayed off for minutes. Brent murmured: “He’s picking a nearby solar system—astrogation.” The overdrive went on again. Kit said: “Shouldn't the ... passengers be given some hope?” “Not yet,” said Brent. There was a long wait. A tense wait. Then the lights came on. There were crewmen coming out of the bar and the kitchen and the steward’s airlock. They had blasters bearing CORniclooo SS CO