The Cosmic Derelict
By JOHN BROOME
Ever-deeper into that Sargasso of space
the Earth-bound Lucifer bored. And guiding
her, mocking her, was the fabled,
gaunt-skeletoned Flying Dutchman of the stars.
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Planet Stories Summer 1942.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
It was Tug Skelly's fault that the Starways freighter, Lucifer,four hours out of Orion City, was running behind time; and CaptainChristopher Douglas, Starways' newest and youngest Old Man, found ithard to maintain the dignity befitting a transgalactic skipper, as heinveighed against the guilty bo'sun in his cabin.
"Twenty-four hours lost in port, Mr. Jackson," Captain Douglas groaned,dropping the latest triangulator readings to his desk. "A full day wecan't possibly make up! And no one to blame for it but bo'sun Skelly!"
First mate Pete Jackson, who had just brought the computator resultsinto the cabin, responded to the captain's forlorn glance with aclucking noise and a sympathetic grimace of his blue-eyed, terrier'sface. There was no doubt that Douglas' vexation with Tug Skelly wasjustified; but Jackson felt called upon to put in a word for hisunfortunate shipmate.
"I wouldn't be too hard on Tug, sir," Pete Jackson said placatingly."He may have some queer ways, but after you get to know him ye'lllikely find Tug a pretty valuable hand aboard ship."
"All I would like to know," Captain Douglas returned unhappily, "is whyin Old Nick he had to nose out that stowaway in Orion right at blastingtime? Why didn't he just keep that big turnip of his where it belonged!"
Jackson shrugged helplessly. The Lucifer's youngish, new skipperjust didn't know Tug Skelly yet, that was the truth. It was clearlyno part of a bo'sun's duties to hunt down stowaways; but then Tug hadnever been content to perform only his duties. The plain fact was thatthe stowaway, a pink-skinned Orionian, had sneaked aboard right afterloading was finished. He was apparently seen by no one except theusually sleepy-eyed Tug; but that alone proved more than enough tospell the poor devil's doom.
"If it hadn't been for the Orion port authorities, though," MateJackson essayed weakly, "we'd have blasted on schedule. I know Tugdidn't intend to stir them up, sir."
"No!" Captain Douglas jeered miserably. "I suppose not. But thatinfernal racket he raised chasing the stowaway was enough to bring thewhole city aboard!"
Jackson nodded sadly. The Orionian port officials, summoned by Tug'swild bellowings, had swarmed on the ship en masse, like a broodof pink and imperturbable owls. They helped Tug snag the firststowaway; and then, over Douglas' frantic protests, they very slowlyand assiduously fine-combed the Lucifer the rest of that night forothers. They didn't find any more stowaways, but by the time theLucifer got clearance an entire day had elapsed, leaving CaptainDouglas in a near catatonic state. The guilty Skelly meanwhile hadmysteriously disappeared underdeck—where, for all Jackson knew, hestill was.
First Mate Jackson stirred uneasily. A suspicion suddenly shot throughhis mind regarding Tug's possible motive in acting the way he did.But the little first carefully refrained from voicing his thought. Ifit were true, it would definitely not help the big bo'sun's case withCaptain Douglas!
"Like I said, sir," Pete Jackson contented himself by sighing, "Tug'smostly a first-rate bo'su