Adventures in the Far Future & Tales of Outer Space — page 94: what you’re looking at

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

“! doubt it. That might make things worse. After all, the loudspeakers may have spoken the truth. The overdrive may only be turned off. It may not be blown.” Brent shook his head as if to clear it. He wasn’t* thinking very straight, and he knew it. Nobody does, immediately after discovering that he cannot have any possible hope. Kit Said sharply: “You really think that?” “I’ve been thinking it out,” said her father bitterly. “You know what happened where we were! It would be most indiscreet to murder me in any ordinary way. Or you.” Then he said harshly, “This young man had better not talk to us.” The girl caught her breath. She went paler. “| hadn’t thought of that!” Then she turned to Brent and Said quietly, “My father is right. We do not think this ... accident is just what it seems. There will be confusion and horror, of course. People will go mad, and people will be Killed. We ... will be among those killed. But we think that ultimately the overdrive will be repaired. Probably, when it is repaired, the ship will go back to Khem IV.” Brent still could not think very straight. His mind was possessed by the horrors which could be anticipated. “But you can do us a very great favor,” said the girl. She moistened her lips and looked at her father. He nodded. “It is ... very important. Much more important than my father’s life or mine. Will you try?” Brent had been carefully trained to think clearly in emergencies, but this was not an emergency. It still seemed to him pure disaster. There was nothing for his mind to take hold of, to think about. “First,” said Kit, very pale, “you mustn't talk to us again. Don’t avoid us conspicuously, but—especially don’t try to keep us from being killed. That’s necessary.” Brent tried to listen, with the back of his mind trying to tell him something that fitted in. CORniclooo SS CO