Always a Qurono

By JIM HARMON
Illustrated by RITTER
You too can be a Qurono. All you need do is geoplanct. All you need know is when to stop!
Barnhart sauntered right into the middle of them. He covertly watched the crew close in around him and he never twitched an eyelash. Officers must never panic , he reminded himself, and manipulated the morning sighting on the nearest sun through the Fitzgerald lens. It was exactly 900:25:30, Galactic Time.
He jotted the reading in, satisfied. The warm breath tickling the back of his neck was unnerving. If he showed fear and grabbed a blaster from the locker he could probably control them, but he was devastingly aware that a captain must never show fear.
Captain Barnhart, Simmons, the mate, drawled politely, do you still plan on making the jump at 900 thirty?
The captain removed his eyeglasses and polished the lenses.
Simmons, he said in comforting, confiding tones, you are well aware that regulations clearly state that a spaceship that phases in on a star in major trans-spot activity is required to re-phase within twenty-four hours to avoid being caught in turbulence.
Yes, sir, Simmons said. But, as I have stated before, it is my belief that regulation means that a ship should phase to avoid the possibility of being caught in an energy storm. We landed right in the middle of one. As you are aware, sir, if we phase now there is an excellent chance we will warp right into the sun!
Barnhart shook his lean, bronze head wearily. Simmons, the Admiralty has gone through this thousands of times. Obviously they know our danger is greater by staying where we are. Why, Ignatz 6Y out there may nova ! We'll have to take our chances.
No, sir. Simmons thrust his pale, blue-veined jaw at him, his light eyes Nordicly cold below a blond cropping. The storm spots are dying down. We aren't phasing yet.
Barnhart drew himself up and looked down at the mate. Behind Simmons, York moved closer. The captain was suddenly aware of York's low forehead and muscular, free-swinging arms. It was probably sheer bias, but he had frequently entertained the idea that Englishmen were closer to our apelike ancestor than most people ... the way they ran around painted blue when everybody was civilly wearing clothes and all. Obviously York was incapable of thinking for himself and was willing to do anything Simmons commanded him to do.