Five men were stationed on Earth's space
satellite when the alien starship moored itself
nearby. So the question—who would investigate?
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy
December 1957
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
There were five aboard the orbiting wheel in the sky—an American, aRussian, a Frenchman, an Englishman, an Indian. Their job was to keepwatch—over each other. The Wheel held enough fission-fusion bombs toblast all of Earth but the five watchdogs saw to it that those bombsremained stored, a potential threat and no more to aggressors below.
And then Gregson and Lal discovered the alien spaceship moored outsideSupplementary Airlock One.
It looked like no spaceship they had ever set eyes on before. Gregson,the American, said, "You see that thing out there?"
The Indian, Lal, nodded and rubbed his aquiline nose reflectively. "Isee it—but what is it?"
"Spaceship of some kind," said Gregson. "Damndest-looking spaceshipI've ever seen, though. Looks like it's moored near the airlock.Wonder if we have visitors?"
He peered at the ship. It had little in common with the unstreamlineddumbbells Earth used for spaceflight; it was slim and tapering, with novisible rocket orifices; it was made of some strange iridescent metalthat glimmered in the moonlight.
"Let's investigate," Gregson said.
"We should call the others," said Lal. "All five should be on hand."
"You're right." Gregson touched his belt-stud, giving the signal thatcalled all five crewmen to hand. They appeared quickly—Lasseux,Beveridge, Golovunoff. Silently, Gregson pointed through the view-plateat the newcomer.
After a long look Beveridge shook his head. "That didn't come fromEarth," the Englishman said. "Not unless they've developed an entirelynew drive principle. And look at the design...."
"That's an alien spaceship, all right," Lasseux said.
"From the stars," added Golovunoff. A cold chill seemed to sweepthrough the space satellite as he spoke the words.
Quietly Gregson said, "We'd better go out there and see what's inside.Since Lal and I saw the ship first, we'll be the ones to go look."
"No," said Golovunoff. "I wish to go also."
"I'd rather like to get first look too," said Beveridge.
"I think we'd all better go," Lasseux suggested. "The station canoperate without us for a while. And we'll never agree on who's to go,eh?"
Five figures in spacesuits clustered about the alien ship. Atclose range its iridescent skin looked other-worldly and vaguelyfrightening, gleaming purple and green and dull-bronze by moonlight. Aquartz window gave a view of the ship's interior.
"I don't see anyone in there," said Gregson. "You?"
"Looks empty to me," commented Beveridge.
"Empty! Impossible!" said Lasseux vehemently. "Empty spaceships do notpilot themselves across the void to Earth. Empty spaceships do notcomplicatedly moor themselves outside a space satellite's airlock.Empty spaceships...."
"That's enough, Lasseux," growled the Russian. "Whether it makes senseor no, that spaceship's empty."
"Let's find the hatch," suggested Lal. "Perhaps there's someone injuredinside, out of the line of sight."
The five Earthmen covered the surface of the ship, looking for anexterior hatch control. Beveridge found it first—a narrow leverextruding a few inches from the skin of the alien vessel. He calledto the others, then yanked down on the lever. The hatch pivoted back,opening into an airlock.