[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Astounding Science-Fiction, December 1946.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
Lieutenant Jeffries blinked at his superior. "I appreciate thecompliment," he said dryly. "For which thanks. But what happens if Idon't produce?"
His superior, Captain Edwards of the Solar Police, smiled vaguely."I have a dual purpose," he said. "First-off, you need a vacation ofsorts. Knowing you as I do, I know that sheer vacation would bringabout seventeen kinds of psychoneuroses, some mental aberrations, andpossible revolt. However, this job is unattached."
"Unattached?" gasped Jeffries.
"Uh-huh. You have six months in which to track down, and/or procureevidence which will result in the identification, arrest, andconviction of the man known as Black Morgan, the Pirate."
"I ... ah—?"
"This is your only order. You will not be called upon to do anythingelse for six months. If at the end of that time you bring about suchevidence, et cetera, you will be promptly promoted. If you do not, wewill not hold it against you, for all of us have tried and all of ushave failed. I'll not punish a man for failing to do that which I havebeen unable to do. You're an excellent officer, Jeffries, and you'veearned a rest. You are now on unattached duty, and can command anythingthat your job requires, providing your weekly report to this officejustifies the expense."
Jeffries smiled weakly. "Frankly, you expect me to fail?"
Captain Edwards nodded. "I do. But the junketing around will give youa bit of a rest and the seeking for this character will keep your mindalert. So, Lieutenant Jeffries, go out and catch me Black Morgan, thePirate!"
Jeffries grinned. "And meanwhile I shall also make a landing on themythical planet Vulcan, locate the Gegenschein, and bring back a coveyof Voimaids with their equally mythical pet, the Hydrae."
Edwards laughed. "Yup," he said, still chuckling. "Now scat, because Ihave work to do."
Jeffries nodded and saluted genially. "I'm it," he said. Then he turnedand left the office.
Captain Edwards looked after the leaving officer and nodded paternally.Jeffries was an excellent officer. He was loyal, ambitious, andzealous. Cases assigned to him came in after a reasonable length oftime, and they were sealed shut and glued down with all the necessaryevidence. Those cases that were not to go to court, complete, werethose in which the criminal preferred to shoot it out, and LieutenantJeffries was both brave and an excellent shot—as well as being a goodstrategist. He'd been working too hard, and as Edwards said, a realvacation would have been boring.
The will-o'-the-wisp known as Black Morgan, the Pirate, would give hima rest.
Jeffries went home to pack. Black Morgan was a space pirate and theplace to look for him was in space. That space piracy was impossiblefor divers reasons seemed to make little difference to Black Morgan. Hedid it.
Lieutenant Jeffries made his plans, knowing the facts. First was toencounter Black Morgan. Theorizing how it would be possible to commitpiracy on a ship traveling at twenty-five hundred miles per second,running at 3-Gs constant acceleration would do no good. It had beenagreed impossible. Yet Black Morgan did it.
So Jeffries must first encounter the villain and then take after him.With but six months, Jeffries could not even begin to inspect thecorners of the solar system that hadn't been covered before.
But unlike straight hunting, in which the hunter must locate hisquarry, when hunting rats, you