Chapter 39 Chapter nine

"Far Star" has been in space for two days. Huber Marlow called Captain Drott to his quarters and handed him an envelope, a roll of microfilm, and a small silver ball. "In an hour, Captain, you will be the acting captain of the Far Star until I return—and you may be required to act forever." Trotter was about to stand up, but Marlowe immediately waved him to stay still. "Don't talk, listen carefully. The envelope contains the exact coordinates of a planet. You lead the Far Star to fly to that planet and wait for me there for two months. If between these two months, people at the base find For you, that roll of microfilm is my report to the base."

"However," Marlowe's voice became a little melancholy: "if I haven't come back after two months, and the ships of the base haven't found you, go back to Terminus immediately and hand over the timed envelope to the base. The government, as the report of this mission, understand?" "Report to the captain, I understand." "No matter at any time and under any circumstances, you or other crew members are not allowed to leak the contents of my report." "Report to the captain, what if someone asks us?" "Then you don't know anything."

"Report to the captain, remember." Thus ended their meeting, and fifty minutes later a lifeboat flicked away from the belly of the Far Star.