PHANTOM DUEL
By FORD McCORMACK
Illustrated by STALLMAN
Farian jade was the most precious
jewel in history—and the most deadly!
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Infinity Science Fiction, November 1955.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
Will Archer idly poked one of the array of keys which studded the wings of his control chair. The pattern of stars which sprayed into a twelve-foot black bowl from a knobbed projector above his head winked out and was promptly replaced by the rounding, yellow-green bulk of Vega VII, less than two diameters away.
He was not sorry that its image was receding steadily. Faria, as it was called in the Vega system, was about the size of Earth and its atmosphere was tolerable to humans—there the resemblance all but ended. For its weather was insufferably hot, its topography fantastically tortuous, and its life-forms, both animal and vegetable—and yes, mineral!—were of a general aspect that only a biologist could gaze on with fondness.
In order to do so, a whole group of kindred scientists had come all the way from far Earth six months before, and had chartered a ship at the interstellar base on Vega IX.
They had also required an experienced and reliable "local" crew. The pay had been good, and Will Archer was looking forward to spending most of it quickly and freely on Vega IX.