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yourself killed.
Yet he couldn't do it. Something stopped him in that instant and he wasn't
sure what. Even as he sawMacKenzie's finger curling backward he held his fire.
MacKenzie'slaser blast struck Justin's helmet just above his brow. The
ablative coating of the helmet vaporized, carrying away the intense heat, but
the recoil from the exploding vapors jerked Justin's head back.
Justin saw several of the enlisted men bringing their weapons up as well,
some pointing at him, others aiming back towards the door while cadets
scattered in every direction.
MacKenziefired again, and the recoil from the vaporized coating staggered
Justin as if a blow had hit him squarely in the chest, the battle armor
absorbing the blow.
If I don't drop him, Justin realized, others will die. Justin's finger
brushed against the trigger and then he sawMacKenzie go down, dropped by a
roundhouse punch delivered by O'Brian, who grabbed the gun that fell
fromMacKenzie's hand. Another gun fired and he heard Tanya scream. The
enlisted guard who fired started to draw a bead on Justin.
"Vincennes, I'll kill you where you stand," O'Brian growled. "Now drop it."
O'Brian was already up,MacKenzie's pistol and his own both aimed at the
guard. The guard released his gun and pushed it away. Justin turned his weapon
towards the other guards, several of them still trying to crawl their way out
of the pile-up.
"Grab their guns," someone shouted and in an instant half a dozen cadets were
on the enlisted personnel, relieving them of their weapons. The only one still
armed wasPetronovich , who stood in the corner with his gun half-raised.
"Come on,Petronovich ," Justin said. "It's over. Now drop it."
"It's not over,Bell ,"Petronovich replied coldly. "It's only just started."
He let go of his gun andIivollen , crossing the room, scooped it from the
air.
Justin turned back and saw Tanya curled up in the corner, hands wrapped
around her leg. She looked at him and gave a thumbs-up sign.
Grabbing hold of the airlock door, Justin tore it open. Matt was curled up in
the corner, and with a cry Justin went to his friend.
There was no movement as he grabbed Matt and pushed him through the airlock
door and up against a bulkhead wall. Pulling Matt's head up, Justin clamped
his mouth over Mart's and breathed hard into his friends lungs while fumbling
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to feel his throat for a pulse.
"Get the doc!" Tanya screamed.
Justin started to clamp his mouth on Matt again to give him another breath.
"I don't kiss guys," Matt groaned, "but thanks for the thought."
"Matt! You're alive!" Justin cried, clutching his friend.
"Cold, space is so cold," Matt whispered.
"Move aside,Bell ."
Justin looked up and sawZhing .
"Was this fair?" Justin screamed, reaching over to grabZhing . Suddenly all
his frustration and fear were exploding out.
"Let me be the doc right now,"Zhing said quietly. "You can shoot me later if
you want. God knows I deserve it."
Justin backed away fromZhing and Matt and saw all his comrades staring at
him. A few were crying, some were standing inawe, others were angry, turning
towardsMacKenzie who was firmly held by O'Brian.
"Mutiny!You're all mutinous scum now, and all of you will be spaced for
this,"MacKenzie cried.
Justin walked over towardsMacKenzie , who was still being held by O'Brian.
"Yes, we did take this ship," Justin announced, "but we're not mutineers.
This is an action taken under Article Twenty-five to resist any unlawful order
given by a superior officer. And you, sir, are hereby relieved of command
according to that Article."
"We should space the bastard," someone cried. "Do it right now the way he
wanted to do to Matt."
Justin looked atMacKenzie and the rage he had felt forZhing redoubled. At
that instant he would have gladly pulled the lever to the airlock
withMacKenzie on the outside for what he had done to Matt.
"Well, Mr. Bell, is that what you want?" O'Brian asked and he made a gesture
as if to shoveMacKenzie forward. Several of the cadets cheered at the
suggestion.
MacKenzielooked at him, and Justin saw a flicker of fear in the man's eyes.
There was a strange, intoxicating power to it. With a simple nod of his [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]