Read Captain Future 06 - Star Trail to Glory (Spring 1941) for Free Online

have to fight that outfit. But first we're following this trail to Venus. It's vital that we regain possession of the Comet and rescue Otho, if he's still alive. This trail is also our best lead to the space ship hijacking ring. They must have a secret base on Venus."
    "How're you goin' to find it if they have?" Ezra demanded. "They got a big start on us and we can't well comb all of Venus."
    "I brought along an electroscope," Curt replied, showing the compact instrument under his arm. "Simon and I can use it to spot their space-trail by the ionized rocket blast, if we're lucky."
    "I know you can do wonders with them electroscopes of yours, Cap'n Future," Ezra scoffed. "But plenty of ships call at Venus all the time. How in space can you spot the Comet's trail among 'em all?"
    "The Comet," Curt reminded, "is a unique ship. Its cyclotrons produce an atomic discharge unlike any other. We'll know its ionized rocket-trail, if we find it."
    "Hope you're right," Ezra said gloomily. "I'm goin' to see if we can't pump up a little more speed. Space knows we'll need it." He limped off along the corridors. They heard his sharp voice exhorting the crew. "Rev those cycs up, you loafers! We're crawlin'."
    Curt Newton prepared to set up his portable electroscopic finder in the bridge of the cruiser. The Brain glided ahead. Joan lingered beside Curt.
    "You're really glad I came along, aren't you?" she asked him.
    "Of course, Joan," Curt replied blandly. "You're a first-class secret agent and you may be a lot of help to us."
    "I'm not talking about that and you know it!" she cried exasperatedly. "I might as well use my feminine wiles on Grag."
    Grag was plucking Curt's arm.
    "Do you really think they would kill Otho when they captured the Comet?" he asked.
    "I hope not," Captain Future answered soberly. "Otho's pretty hard to kill, anyway. I wouldn't worry about him, Grag."
    "Worry about him?" Grag boomed. "The only thing I'm worried about is that maybe he escaped!"
    He clanked away indignantly. Curt looked after him.
    "Poor old Grag, he's worried sick about Otho, and doesn't want anyone to know it."
    Hour followed hour as the fast cruiser flashed on toward Venus. The steady broom-boom of the cyclotrons and the roar of the rockets never faltered. The white speck of the cloudy planet grew slowly in size. Captain Future and Simon constantly checked and rechecked with the electroscope. Only the two greatest masters of science in the System could have detected that faint, impalpable trail of ionized atoms which they were following.
    "There are two trails, lad," Simon had reported. "One is the distinctive rocket-trail of the Comet, the other that of an ordinary ship."
    Curt nodded. "The ship the thieves came to the Moon in, of course. It's accompanying the Comet now. That's a break for us. They've had to hold down the Comet to the other craft's maximum speed."
     
    AS VENUS finally broadened out in full planetary splendor before them, Captain Future never left the electroscope. They were now crossing the rocket-trails left by other ships in passing, and he had to use all his powers of concentration to keep onto the Comet's distinctive spoor.
    "They headed for the southern hemisphere," Curt muttered to the others in the bridge. "That's where their base must be hidden."
    "It's the least inhabited part of Venus, so it'd be the likeliest spot for a secret hideout," Ezra Gurney agreed.
    Down into the cloudy atmosphere of the planet they dropped, in the southern hemisphere. Here the rocket-trail ended. Though an ionized rocket-discharge will remain constant a long time in space, it will not do so in an atmosphere, for the currents soon sweep it away.
    "From here on, we just hunt," Curt said grimly. "Drop down to low altitude and start sweeping over the surface in a widening spiral. If my calculations are correct, we're over the Great South Marsh."
    "There can't be no secret base in that hole!" Ezra blurted. "Why, there ain't even enough solid ground in