Silvia secretly planned to divorce George
when they reached Arcturus. But a space journey
can alter a careful plan—or hatch a worse one!
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy
August 1954
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
The trouble started when the Arcturus Queen was four billion milesout of Earth, heading for the star after which it was named. It pulledclear of the solar system using conventional drive, then switched intosubspace. A few minutes later the ship shuddered perceptibly, and anauthoritative voice came reassuringly from the public address system.
"Passengers will please remain in their seats. We are temporarilycutting the subspace drive due to mechanical difficulties which havedeveloped. There is no cause for alarm."
The message was repeated and George said, "What do you suppose is thematter?"
"How should I know," Silvia snapped. "I'm not a space mechanic. Whydon't you find out if you're so interested."
He glared at her. "I was just wondering. You don't have to get sodisagreeable. But then, why should now be any different?"
She smiled at that, though her blood raced and her fingers itchedto make red ribbons of his face. "I've got plenty of reason to bedisagreeable—"
"Okay, okay," he said; "let's not go through that again." He got up."I'm going up to the observation platform." And he went down theaisle between the rows of seats and disappeared through a door at thefarthest end.
She glared after him. That was always his way, running out on anargument. Well, when this trip was over, there would be no more runningaway.
A man dropped into the seat beside her.
"This seat's taken," she said automatically, and then realized theman must have known, since all seats were reserved.
"I know," the man said. "I'd like to talk to you."
She studied him for a moment. He had a rather common face, one withno particularly outstanding features, a face that would be difficultto remember, she thought. He wore a plain business suit, with aconventional white shirt and an unobtrusive tie. He did not appear thewolfish type to her, but rather the ordinary businessman you might seehanging onto helibus straps anyplace on Earth.
"You want to talk to me?" she said carefully. "About what?"
"Your divorce," the man said simply.
"My divorce? But—" She stopped. She was about to say, "But how did youknow?" when it suddenly occurred to her that George might have hiredthis man to find out if she were planning one of those rapid Arcturanseparations. She hadn't thought to wonder if he suspected she wasplanning one. If he knew about her divorce plans, he might take countermeasures just for spite; with Arcturan divorce regulations as theywere, that would be bad.
She said, "I'm not divorced, Mr...."
"Jones," the man supplied, smiling. "I know that, Mrs. Bennet, but Ialso know that you're going to Arcturus to obtain one. I'd like to talkto you about that, confidentially of course."
She was certain of it now. He knew her name and spoke about a divorceno one but she knew of. "I'm sorry," she said coldly, turning her headaway to indicate that as far as she was concerned the interview was atan end, "I gave no one to understand that. I'm accompanying my husbandon a business trip. Now, if you'll please—"
"Nevertheless," the man insisted, "your intentions are plain, perhapsnot to others or even your husband—but to us, very clear. Let me befrank, Mrs. Bennet. I represent an organization which can