"But you have no real proof, Axel," said Gail.
He shook his head. "I did not suspect it was anything but an accident until I learned that Spartan killed Morrie Grover and then tried to kill Bill. Also, Bill told me of that little death list Spartan had. Only then did I know that Spartan had killed Willy Zinder."
"Just to get me aboard!" Gail said. Her voice was almost a whisper.
"He wanted to marry you, of course, but you changed his plans. His objections to your plans would have looked suspect and he did not have unlimited power on the earth to force you into marriage against your will. Besides, the platonic marriage finally decided on did not interfere with his plan. He'd decided Bill would die before the return to earth."
"He'd made such a big thing of a six-man crew so he could take you along," I told Gail. "We're doing okay now with five—" I stopped. Dr. Spartan had entered the room.
He surveyed the group with angry eyes. I wondered how long he had been listening and how much he had heard.
"Relieve Warner Joel in the control room, Ludson," he said.
Joel had another hour to go before his relief was due, but Axel rose. "Yes, sir," he said.
"Miss Loring, it is time you started preparing our next meal, isn't it?"
"It's Bill Drake's turn in the galley, sir," she said.