Free Haladras by Michael M. Farnsworth Page B

closer to his fate. What would
happen? He knew the winch had malfunctioned before. He couldn’t be sure it
would happen again. Perhaps it had been a fluke. Perhaps when he had detached
the cable from Arturo’s ship, the problem had somehow righted itself.
    “We are nearing maximum load, Captain,” said the chief
engineer. “It could take more load, but I advise against it.”
    Arturo acknowledged the engineer’s statement by turning to
Skylar. “What was the pressure reading on your cable when you first attempted
the emergency release?”
    “15,000 terapascals, Sir.”
    “Very good. What does our chief engineer read from the
gauge?”
    “14,500.”
    “Take it to 15,000.”
    The chief engineer shook his head and spat on the ground. “I
don’t like it,” he grumbled, as he turned back to the controls and brought the
winch back to life. After a minute, he halted it again.
    “15,000, Captain,” he said gruffly. “And no more. We’re in
dangerous territory.”
    “Proceed, then, Mr. Chief Engineer. Activate the emergency
release.”
    The chief engineer lifted the cover for the emergency
release button. Skylar squeezed his fists, his fingernails digging into his
palms. The engineer pressed the red button. Skylar clenched his teeth and
closed his eyes, willing the contraption to fail.
    He waited to hear the clinking of the winch cable.
    After several breathless moments, Skylar ventured a peek.
The engineer had lifted his grease-stained finger from the button, and now
stared at it irritably. Nothing had happened. The chief engineer pressed it
again. Nothing. He tried pressing harder. He struck at it with his fist, his
face beginning to redden. Muttering to himself, he tried, just as Skylar had
done to back out the cable by putting it into full reverse. The winch refused
to budge. In pure desperation, the engineer grabbed at the massive pipe wrench
hanging from his belt, clearly intending to beat the winch into submission.
    “That will do,” said Arturo, holding back the man’s arm. “I
think we have our answer. Put everything back in order. We shall report our
findings to the court.”
    So saying, the captain turned and strode back toward the
port station, leaving Skylar standing, staring at the winch, unable to believe
what had happened.
    An energetic slap on the back woke Skylar from his trance.
    “Congratulations, Skylar,” said Kindor. “Only a fool would
not believe you now.”
    The chief engineer turned and glared at them.
    The results of Arturo’s test had a dramatic effect on the
outcome of the investigation. The court found both Skylar and Kindor guiltless
of any wrongdoing. The board ordered Rasbus to replace the faulty winch. And
the investigation closed.
    As Skylar left the court chamber with Kindor, Captain Arturo
approached him.
    “That was a brave move you made with your jetwing,” he said.
“And quick thinking, too. Would that more of my men had that kind of mettle.
I’ll be watching you.”
    Then he turned and walked out of the chamber.

 
    SEVEN
    “T HAT’S WONDERFUL!” EXCLAIMED Kendyl after hearing from Skylar about the court of investigation. “That’ll
teach Drake a lesson. Did Rasbus say anything about your apprenticeship? He has
to let you come back now—you’re a hero.”
    “He told me to report for duty in two days. He’s letting
Kindor return, too. Although, I don’t think he felt happy about it.”
    “Let Rasbus be sour all he wants. Arturo’s opinion is worth
ten times what Rasbus thinks.”
    Skylar smiled and laughed. Things were almost too good to be
true. Somehow all the horrible repercussions from the incident had
reversed themselves. The situation in which he now found himself far exceeded
his greatest hopes.
    “I think we should celebrate,” said Kendyl.
    “Celebrate?” he said with surprise. “Celebrate what?”
    “The good news, silly,” she said, giving him a playful nudge
with her elbow.
    “Um, sure.”
    Kendyl frowned.
    “That is, of course,