Read Between Planets for Free Online

while, talking of nothing in particular and never mentioning names. Presently I will see to it that we end up near a public common booth and you will call the Caravansary . If the package is there, you will leave me, go back to the Station, get your bags, then go to the hotel, register and pick up your mail. Tomorrow morning you will get your ship and leave. Don’t call me. Do you understand all that?”
    “Uh, I think so, sir.” Don waited, then blurted out, “But why? Maybe I’m talking out of turn, but it seems to me I ought to know why we are doing this.”
    “What do you want to know?”
    “Well…what’s in the package?”
    “You will see. You can open it, examine it, and decide for yourself. If you decide not to deliver it, that’s your privilege. As for the rest—what are your political convictions, Don?”
    “Why…that’s rather hard to say, sir.”
    “Mmmm—mine weren’t too clear at your age either. Let’s put it this way: would you be willing to string along with your parents for the time being? Until you form your own?”
    “Why, of course!”
    “Did it seem a bit odd to you that your mother insisted that you look me up? Don’t be shy—I know that a young fellow arriving in the big town doesn’t look up semi-strangers through choice. Now—she must have considered it important for you to see me. Eh?”
    “I guess she must have.”
    “Will you let it stand at that? What you don’t know, you can’t tell—and can’t get you into trouble.”
    Don thought it over. The doctor’s words seemed to make sense, yet it went mightily against the grain to be asked to do something mysterious without knowing all the whys and wherefors. On the other hand, had he simply received the package, he undoubtedly would have delivered it to his father without thinking much about it.
    He was about to ask further questions when the lights came on and the little car started to purr. Dr. Jefferson said, “Here we go!” leaned over the board and quickly dialed a destination. The autocab moved forward. Don started to speak but the doctor shook his head.
    The car threaded its way through several tunnels, down a ramp and stopped in a large underground square. Dr. Jefferson paid it off and led Don through the square and to a passenger elevator. The square was jammed and one could sense the crowd’s frenetic mood resulting from the space raid alarm. They had to shove their way through a mass of people gathered around a public telescreen in the center of the square. Don was glad to get on the elevator, even though it too was packed.
    Dr. Jefferson’s immediate destination was another cab stand in a square several levels higher. They got into a cab and moved away; this one they rode for several minutes, then changed cabs again. Don was completely confused and could not have told whether they were north, south, high, low, east, or west. The doctor glanced at his watch as they left the last autocab and said, “We’ve killed enough time. Here.” He indicated a communication booth near them.
    Don went in and phoned the Caravansary . Was there any mail being held for him? No, there was not. He explained that he was not registered at the hotel; the clerk looked again. No, sorry sir.
    Don came out and told Dr. Jefferson. The doctor chewed his lip. “Son, I’ve made a bad error in judgment.” He glanced around; there was no one near them. “And I’ve wasted time.”
    “Can I help, sir?”
    “Eh? Yes, I think you can—I’m sure you can.” He paused to think. “We’ll go back to my apartment. We must. But we won’t stay there. We’ll find some other hotel—not the Caravansary —and I’m afraid we must work all night. Are you up to it?”
    “Oh, certainly!”
    “I’ve some ‘borrowed-time’ pills; they’ll help. See here Don, whatever happens, you are to catch that ship tomorrow. Understand?”
    Don agreed. He intended to catch the ship in any case and could not conceive of a reason for missing it.