All his life he had been searching for the
big strike. But always he had failed. Now he had
come to Mars—his last chance. This had to be—
Gunnison's Bonanza
By Dick Purcell
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy
June 1956
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
"That's damned expensive," Gunnison said.
The pilot grinned. "A man wanting to be set down by the Ghanati should expect to pay high." The pilot had a battered old ship, a forged license, a questionable bill of sale. He trafficked only in desperate trips for desperate people and he knew Gunnison would pay the price.
Scowling, Gunnison counted out the highbinding tribute from a leather sack containing the coins of all the planets. Terran gold eagles, Venusian phalada, Mercurian scoz.
The pilot inspected each coin, bagged the total, "When can you have your gear aboard?"
"In twenty minutes."