THE PLANET THAT LOVED PEOPLE (standard:science fiction, 1967 words) [15/18] show all parts
Author: Danny Raven	Added: Mar 05 2016	Views/Reads: 1920/1441	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
PART 1 - CH 14

FOURTEEN 

They were all in Kane's room having a drink after the day's briefing
session. Blaze had been refused one by Kane and Corthan and was sitting 
beside Miller, sulking and eyeing the bottle. 

“Christ, a Corridor inside a Black Hole!” said Sinto and whistled.
“We've got no fucking chance!” 

Miller choked on his drink. “Well thanks a lot, Sinto,” he spluttered.
“You've really made my night.” 

Sinto roared with laughter and the lightning bolt tattoos on his face
creased up. He slapped Miller on the back, nearly sending him flying 
out of his chair. 

“So how do you rate our chances, Frank?” he asked Kane. 

Kane ran a hand through his black hair and his piercing blue eyes held
Sinto's. “We don't know what comes next in the Corridor where the Zenon 
had to branch off, do we?” 

“Which means we're looking at totally uncharted territory,” said Muslik.


“Our chances, man, our chances?” Sinto persisted. 

Kane sighed and finished his drink. “As Muslik just said, we'll be
entering uncharted territory which means we don't know what we'll run 
into. Could be anything. I'd say our chances of making it are slim.” 

“Oh great!” moaned Miller. 

“Did you get the co-ordinates for entry to the Corridor?” Kane asked
Muslik. 

Muslik smiled. He tapped the side of his head with the stem of his short
pipe. “They're up here,” he said. “Very kind of the Professor to give 
us them.” 

Kane grinned. “Good. Pick up anything from Tyler?” 

Muslik shook his head. “It's all been the truth so far. He knows I could
read his mind and he's not even bothering to wear a mind-blocker.” 

“Well he doesn't have to lie, does he?” said Miller. “He's got us
cloned, remember? He can make us do anything he wants.” 

They were all quiet for a while, staring into their drinks or out the
window, the truth of what Miller had said getting home to them. Kane 
went round and topped up their drinks. Blaze looked hopefully at him 
but he shook his head. 

“What does Tyler think our chances are?” he asked Muslik. 

“Same as you – slim.” 

Miller groaned. 

“Would you rather go back to Sirene?” Kane asked him. 

Miller pulled a face and shook his head. 

“Look at it this way,” Corthan said to him and they all turned to
listen. “We're all going to die someday. Some of us may die on this 
mission – so what? Death may come early or it may come late but it 
comes eventually.” 

Sinto nodded agreement. “Corthan's right,” he said. “Whatever the hell
happens it beats rotting on fucking Sirene.” 

Miller still looked unhappy. 

“Come on,” Sinto said, throwing an arm round his shoulder, “let's go and
have some fun.” He tapped his breast pocket. “I've got something you 


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