More sounds inside the spaceship, the U.S.S. Benjamin Franklin:
the humming and whispering of air renewers, ventilators, thermostats, electric generators, weight maintainers, instruments and nuclear converter;
three hundred all-male crew, buzzing "...like an upset beehive..." (p. 10)
Captain Strathey
Executive Officer Bowman
Astronomer Kunz
Planetographer Easterling
Engineer Donnan
civilian scientist, Wright
unspecified Goldspring
passenger, Ramri of Monwaing's Katkinu
Would you like to be the only member of your species among three hundred beings whose home planet has just been destroyed? Even one of the three hundred might suspect and strike out at the only available alien target. At least, we know that that is true of the psychology of our race.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Weight maintainers? That sounds like gravity control to me. The problem of how to make sure humans will be HEAVY enough to maintain their health in space ships is one good SF writers have to remember to solve.
True, at least for a while, Ramri of Monwaing would or might be at risk of being attacked by a hysterical crew man.
Sean
Post a Comment