The Sword of Johnny Damokles

The mad dreams of a crazed dictator had reached from the past and taken root in the dread Tsom Clan on Neptune, threatening the peaceful existence of a dozen worlds. There was little Timmy Gordon and Johnny Damokles could do—for they were prisoners of the Tsom, working on the monster bomb that was to signal the invasion.
A cloudlet of dust whirled across Spaceport X and rose in the thin Callistonian air to beat against the window. The sound was gritty, abrasive. It hadn't rained for weeks, and the sky, clear of clouds, hovered blacker than Holofernes' soul. Jupiter touched the horizon. And far away, Neptune's pale blue light glowed softly.
Timmy Gordon walked to the window. I've never seen old Neptune so clear before, he said. And say, Johnny, where'd they ever get a name like that for a planet? Neptune! What's it mean?
Johnny Damokles laid one fat, hairy hand on the bar. He wiped a glass with his apron and smiled. Sure, boss, he said. All the time you talking space, eating space. What's a good if you don't know why planets get name?
Do you, chum?
Sure t'ing, boss. Greeks are all knowings about Neptune.
Well?
She's this way. Neptune are a old Greek god, and he are importants for rule the ocean. So what happens?
I'll bite, Johnny.
A fellows finds it this planet. She ain't got a names and deesa fellows t'ink she's all watery. So they name her for Mister Neptune. Dem times long ago ... two t'ousand year ... t'ree t'ousand. What them hells!
Aw for cripe's sake shut up! You dam' Greeks!
Timmy and Damokles turned. Shelton Thurner, head pilot of the Jup-Cal Line was sitting alone at a side table. He was drunk, very drunk, and a wisp of black hair hung over his forehead. Shut up! he screamed, talkin' about the past! Dam' dumb Greek dishwasher! Neptune was discovered 900 years ago, aroun' 1830 ... and who in hell cares what it's named ... excep' a Greek. Thurner staggered to his feet. Liquor spilled.

Hugh Frazier Parker
Содержание

О книге

Язык

Английский

Год издания

2020-06-04

Темы

Science fiction; Adventure stories; Prisoners -- Fiction; Human-alien encounters -- Fiction; Bombs -- Fiction; Neptune (Planet) -- Fiction

Reload 🗙