Read Starbridge for Free Online

about you all. Please come here to visit us when you have time.' "
    "Right now," Mahree said, as Yoki sat down, "we have a chance nobody's ever had before. Something our ancestors hoped would happen to them, but it never did. Can we turn our backs on it? Wouldn't that be letting them down, the people whose dreams and efforts made spaceflight possible in the beginning? If it hadn't been for them, none of us would be where we are now, that's for sure."
    She cleared her throat again. "This is our chance to be explorers, not 'just a freighter crew.' If we don't check this signal out, I know I'll spend the rest of my life wondering what we missed."
    There was silence for a moment when she finished, then Yoki and Rob began clapping furiously. Slowly, many of the other crew members joined in, until the room was filled with applause. When the noise finally died away, Raoul nodded agreement. "All right, folks. We'll stay sublight and search this area, trying to pick up any other transmissions"--an excited babble broke out and he raised a hand for quiet before he continued--"but only for thirty-six hours. That'll keep us well within our fuel reserve limits. If at the end of that time, we find nothing, we get back on course and report the incident when we reach Earth."
    The Captain gave them all a searching look. "Jerry, please organize a roster of volunteers to staff a constant communications watch. Joan, I'll need you in navigation."
    He turned and left, and the uproar broke out again as Joan Atwood high-stepped her way over feet and legs to follow him.
    25
    "Wow!" Rob Gable turned to grin at Mahree from his tabletop. "You were positively eloquent! That little speech of yours turned the tide!"
    Mahree blushed.
    "Now, if we can just pick up some traces of that transmission within the next thirty-six hours!" Rob leaped down from the table, so excited that Mahree laughed.
    "Take it easy, Rob, or you'll float right off the deck plates even with the gravity on!"
    "I feel as though I could," he admitted, grinning and bouncing on his toes.
    Then his gaze fell on Yoki and he gave the younger woman a significant glance. "Mahree, I haven't been formally introduced to your friend yet."
    "Oh, I keep forgetting that you came aboard after some of us were hibernating! Cargo Chief Yuriko Masuto, Dr. Robert Gable."
    Yoki extended her hand. "Hi, Doc. It's a pleasure."
    "Make it Rob, and the pleasure is all mine."
    Mahree looked around at the crew members who still filled the galley, talking in small groups. "Now what?" she said. "I can't imagine just going off to bed after this. Anyone want to play cards?"
    "I've got a better idea," Rob said, his dark eyes lighting up. He clambered up to stand on top of the nearest table, ducking his head to avoid hitting the ceiling, and waved his arms for attention. "Hey! Fellow explorers! If anyone here is too excited to sleep, you're welcome to watch some films with me.
    I've got a bunch of them."
    "Films?" Yoki stared up at him. "You mean old ones? Where the hell did you get them?''
    "It's my hobby," Gable explained, still grinning. "I collect them. I've got some goodies, too. All the Astaire and Rogers classics, Bogart, Errol Flynn . . . but tonight, in honor of our search, I'll show space movies."
    "I'm game," Yoki said. "I couldn't sleep right now unless you stuck me in a hibernation capsule and gassed me."
    Within minutes Rob, Yoki, and Mahree had lined up seats to make an impromptu theater. The doctor activated the viewscreen covering one wall, then hooked a small machine to it and slipped in a cassette. He dimmed the lights as introductory music began. "This is the prize of my collection ... a real rarity."
    Mahree began to laugh when she saw the title. "Invaders 26
    From Mars." Don't tell me they really believed that Mars had indigenous life?"
    "Count your blessings." Rob grinned. "I'm sparing you the remake . . . this is the original. Believe me, you'll never walk over a sand dune again without remembering