Adventures in the Far Future & Tales of Outer Space — page 76: what you’re looking at

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

“Dad,” said Collins, and his voice was very small. He could not speak further. The captain had been a symbol to him all his life, a force, a principle, that held the ship together. But now, in death, he was only an old man again, an old man with snow-white hair, and Collins was his son. Collins felt a hand touch his. He looked up to see Helen, his wife, who knew that she could not comfort him but was brave enough to try. Collins squeezed her hand to show that he understood and then turned to his people. “We will elect a new captain soon,” he said quietly. “I will not try to assume the position unless | am asked. We have other problems before us now.” There were murmurs from the crowd, but Collins ignored them. He moved slowly over to where Owens was floating, guarded by Lanson. He looked at Owens coldly for a full minute, staring into his eyes. He waited, smiling very Slightly. Then he hit him in the face. Owens reeled back, shaking his head. Collins hit him again. “We're going to get through to the engine room,” Collins hissed, his face very close to his prisoner’s. “This time we’re going to get through, and you're going to take us.” He hit him again and watched the blood trickle from a split up. “Understand?” Lanson pressed in, knife blade gleaming. “Kill him,” he screamed. “Kill the—” “Shut up,” Collins looked at the man once, and that was enough. “We need our friend here. The other men are blocking off our air supply. This is our last chance. If we fail this time, we die.” The crowd shifted and moved with the shadows and tension filled the air. “If he won't take us through—” one voice began. “Hell take us,” Collins replied.“If we can’t fix the drive after we get there—” ” CORniclooo SS CO