Chapter 17

“Where do we cut off?” asked Vidac. He sat beside Winters in the converted jet boat, speeding down the smooth highway that Strong had passed over only a few minutes before.

“It’s right along here, somewhere,” said Winters.

“Better slow down,” said Vidac. “We don’t want to miss it. We haven’t much time. If Strong starts nosing around he might discover something.”

“Lucky for us we found out so quickly where the uranium is,” replied Winters.

“It won’t mean a thing unless we can get Logan to sign over his land holdings.”

Winters braked the jet car suddenly, throwing Vidac up against the windshield. “What are you doing?” snapped Vidac.

“Sorry, boss,” replied Winters. “There’s the road leading to the Logan place up ahead.”

Winters slowed for the turn off the main highway and then accelerated to full power again on the side road.

“How are you going to get old Logan to sign the release?” asked Winters. “Suppose he knows his land is worth about ten billion credits?”

“How could he know?” asked Vidac. “The only ones that know are me, you, Bush, and Sykes.”

Winters nodded. “Then as soon as we get Logan to sign over the land, we take care of Sykes, bring back his body as proof against the cadets, and everything’s set, eh?”

“Something like that,” said Vidac. “We still have to watch our step with Strong, though,” said Vidac.

The two men were silent as the jet car raced down the side road. A moment later they could see the lights in the small crystal farmhouse.

“Cut your lights,” said Vidac. “We don’t want to scare them.”

“O.K.,” replied Winters. He switched off the powerful beams and slowed the car to a crawl. They rolled past the outer farm buildings and came to a stop in front of the main house.

“Say, boss,” said Winters suddenly. “Look! Tracks in the road! Car tracks! Somebody’s been out here! Logan doesn’t have a car!”

“So what?” snarled Vidac. “Get hold of yourself. It could have been anyone.”

A powerful light from the farmhouse suddenly flooded them and Logan’s voice cracked in the night air.

“Who’s there?” called the farmer.

“Good evening, Mr. Logan,” said Vidac, climbing out of the car. “This is the governor.”

“Vidac!” said Logan, startled. “What do you want?”

“This is what we want!” snarled Winters, whipping his ray gun into view. “Get back inside!”

“Wha--?” gasped Logan. “What’s the meaning of this?”

“You’d better do as the man says, Mr. Logan,” said Vidac.

Jane suddenly appeared behind Logan, her hands still soapy from washing the supper dishes. “Who is it, Father?” she asked, and then seeing Vidac and Winters she stepped back inside the house.

“Nothing to get alarmed about,” said Vidac, pushing Logan into the house before him. “We just want to have a little talk.” He smiled. “Business talk.”

“Isn’t it too bad, Winters,” said Vidac, “that we just missed supper?”

“What do you want?” demanded Logan belligerently. He stepped in front of Jane protectively.

“Now don’t get excited Mr. Logan,” said Vidac, his voice smooth. “We just want you to sign a little paper, that’s all.”

“What kind of paper?” asked Logan.

“Say,” said Winters suddenly, “ain’t you got a kid?”

“If you mean my son, Billy,” said Logan, “he’s asleep.”

“I’d better check,” said Winters, starting forward.

“Never mind him,” said Vidac. “We haven’t got all night and there’s nothing a kid could do.”

He pulled out a paper from his pocket and unfolded it, keeping his eyes on Logan. “Mr. Logan, we’re going to foreclose your mortgage.”

“Foreclose!” gasped Logan. “But--but I haven’t even had time to gather in my first crop!”

“We’ve taken a look at your fields and we don’t think you’re doing a good job,” said Vidac. “In this mortgage you signed there’s a clause that states I can foreclose any time I want.”

“But how can you judge a crop by just looking at the fields?” asked Jane.

“Oh, we have ways, Miss Logan.” Vidac smiled. He walked to a near-by table, and pushing a stack of study spools to the floor, spread the paper in front of him. He looked up at Logan and indicated the paper. “Do you have a pen, or would you like to use mine?”

“I’m not signing anything until I read it,” snapped Logan.

Vidac smiled and pushed the paper across the table. Logan came forward and picked it up. He scanned it hurriedly and then glared at Vidac.

“You can’t do this!” he snapped. “I won’t sign!”

Winters suddenly leaped across the room and grabbed Jane by the wrist, jamming his gun in her back.

Vidac leered at the farmer. “Have you ever been frozen by a ray gun, Mr. Logan?”

Logan shook his head.

“Let me tell you about it,” said Vidac coolly. “The effects are very simple, but very powerful. You are paralyzed! You can still see, hear, think, and breathe. Your heart continues to beat, but otherwise, you are absolutely powerless. The aftereffects are even worse. The person who has been frozen comes out completely whole, but”--Vidac suddenly shuddered--”believe me, Mr. Logan, you feel like ten thousand bells were vibrating in your brain at one time. It isn’t pleasant!”