Free Rocket from Infinity by Lester del Rey Page A

There was someone in it.”
    â€œWho was in it, son?” Joe Mason asked.
    â€œJane Barry.”
    â€œWell, great gadgets!” Betcha marveled. “You make a strike and it just happens that one of the Barrys, the finest pirates in the business, is drifting by at the moment in a crippled car.”
    â€œNo. I answered a call. She was way across the stream—in the Badlands. A big space liner hit her there.”
    â€œA space liner—in the Badlands. It gets thicker and thicker. I’ll betcha it had pink spots on it, and the jets were done up in blue ribbons.”
    â€œThat was her story, and I didn’t believe it either, but her car was disabled.”
    Joe Mason waved an impatient hand. “What else could he do?” Then to Pete, “Did you lose the claim form on the way?”
    â€œOf course he didn’t,” Betcha snorted. “She made eyes at him and swiped it.”
    â€œI went in with her for a cup of tea.”
    Betcha gaped in amazement. “Well, glory be to Leo, if that isn’t—”
    â€œGo get the boy something to eat,” Joe Mason snapped. “He’s had a hard day and he’s hungry.” Betcha got up and grumbled his way to the bedroom door. Soon he was slamming pots around in the kitchen.
    â€œDo you think they picked your pocket, son?”
    â€œNo, Dad. I honestly don’t think the Barrys are dishonest. I mean—well, she is a lone woman trying to raise a family—”
    â€œWhat about Homer?”
    â€œI don’t know about Homer.”
    â€œWas he there when you were?”
    â€œHe came as I was leaving.”
    â€œI heard there was some trouble at the meeting last night.”
    â€œYes, I didn’t get a chance to tell you. Milt Blaney accused Homer. He said Homer was one of three men who raided his claim and shot him.” Pete almost added his suspicions of Homer Barry. But his father was quick to flare, so Pete decided to wait for more concrete evidence. Unnecessary excitement at the moment would serve no purpose.
    â€œYou helped Homer escape.”
    â€œYes—yes, I did. It seemed the right thing to do.”
    â€œIt was, Pete.” Joe Mason stopped to scowl and Pete was struck by what he could only term as his father’s new mildness. Not mild exactly, but that was the best word Pete could think of. The inherent storminess had gone out of Joe Mason. This was a mixed blessing for Pete. His father was more gentle and understanding now, but this might also indicate that his injuries from the accident were more than physical; that his morale had become a matter of concern.
    â€œIt was the right thing to do,” Joe Mason repeated. “Charges of that kind should be made to the authorities, not in front of a bunch of hot-headed miners.”
    â€œThat’s the way I felt about it.”
    â€œNow—what about the claim form? Where do you think you lost it?”
    â€œI don’t know. I was wrestling with the Barry children when I visited their ship. Maybe…”
    Joe Mason’s eyebrows went up. “I didn’t know you knew them that well.”
    â€œI don’t—I didn’t, that is. They’re—well, they kind of move in and climb all over you. I’ll call and ask them if—”
    â€œI wouldn’t do that. They found it or they didn’t. Calling won’t change that. It would only make them realize how important it is.”
    â€œYou still think they’re thieves.”
    â€œI didn’t say that. But I think it would be smarter to keep your business to yourself. Go back and rework the orbit tomorrow and take it straight to the claim office.”
    â€œI’d better not wait. I’d better do it right now.”
    â€œYou’ve had a long day. Get some rest first. We can’t have you running yourself down and getting sick.”
    Pete obeyed, mainly to humor his father. Again, a different Joe Mason had