There was, of course, no central lift in a ship this size, but merely narrow ladders between the compartments. These were necessary only under the pull of gravity or acceleration, and under the present circumstances, to be avoided. Stokely led the way "up" the inner hull and across the "overhead," placing his magnetized boots as softly as possible.
The inter compartment hatch, about three feet in diameter, was wide open. Stokely pointed at Archer's flashlight and made a fanlike motion with his hands. Archer nodded, reached out and aimed the light through the hole, full flood, while Stokely peered through the other side, gun in hand. The stratagem was simple—anyone firing at the light might hit Archer's arm, but probably not Stokely's less expendable head.
Nothing happened. After a tense moment, Archer moved the light about slowly, then Stokely turned his own over the edge.
"There are two men in there," he said slowly. "Both dead, I think."
There was no doubt at all about one of them, whose corpse floated not six feet away, tied by one wrist to a conduit. Part of the face seemed to have been gouged out, and closer inspection showed the explanation: a sizable bullet-hole in the opposite temple.
Whether or not the other was dead, he was certainly not conscious, despite his normal sitting posture in the control chair. That was to be expected anyhow, in a free fall with the safety belt fastened. His squat frame was stripped to the waist, his small black eyes stared blindly, and his unshaven jaw was clenched in an ugly grin. His right hand loosely held a hypodermic syringe, and a pistol was stuck in his belt.
Stokely gave a brief description, and added: "He looks dead, all right. Maybe he tried to give himself an anti-tetanus injection, but was too late."
"Dr. Grimwood will please go in immediately," said Captain Rogan. "In the meantime, Stokely and Archer will look at the tail compartment."
The tail, or engine, compartment contained nothing of abnormal interest, as it turned out. The ship appeared to be in running order, with adequate fuel. Its power had evidently been cut deliberately, for whatever mysterious reason.