WHISTLE STOP IN SPACE
A Novel by
KENDELL FOSTER CROSSEN
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Thrilling Wonder Stories August 1953.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
I
The Draco Vacation Service occupied one floor in Interplanetary Towersin Nuyork. The seventy-second floor, to be exact. It had been decoratedby one of the best robot-decorators in the Federation and looked it.On one wall of the large reception room there was a three-dimensionalmural of Caph II. The blue sand and towering purple trees seemed soreal that many of the more bucolic visitors bumped into the wall beforethey realized it was a painting. In front of the mural there was afountain spouting the pink water of Caph that tasted like champagne.
On another wall was a montage of photographs of Caph, and blazonedacross it: YOU CAN CHEAT TIME BY VACATIONING ON SUNNY CAPH, THEPLAYLAND OF THE UNIVERSE. A TWO WEEK VACATION IS TEN MONTHS ON CAPH.THE ONLY PLACE IN THE GALAXY WHERE LIFE PAYS YOU TWENTY-TO-ONE. YOU OWECAPH TO YOURSELF.
Business was rushing, as it had been every day since the DracoVacation Service had opened. Despite the fact that there weren'tenough tour-managers to take care of the crowd, and that there was aFomalhautan millionaire who thought it was demeaning to discuss hisvacation with anyone except the president, it was only two o'clock whenManning Draco left his private office. He stopped for a moment besidethe receptionist, an attractive Martian female. There were at leasta dozen persons crowded around her as she answered their questions.Manning stood by her desk, apparently paying no attention to her.
Dhena, he thought, I have to leave. It's possible that Imay be gone several days. Paul Sterling will be in charge. Thiswas the chief reason he had hired a Martian receptionist. Telepathiccommunication was a great advantage when you didn't want to beoverheard.
Yes, Mr. Draco. Her answering thought was clear and strong asshe continued to deal with the questions of would-be vacationists.Where will you be if we need you?
With my back against a wall, if I know anything about it,he thought sourly. He walked across the office and took the levelconverter. Downstairs, he climbed into an air-cab and gave the driverthe address of his home.
Manning Draco no longer lived in the tiny bachelor apartment he hadonce called home. Draco Vacation Service, started shortly after he hadmarried Vega Cruikshank, had prospered right from the beginning andhe had rented a modest pent-estate in the upper East side. The house,built on top of one of the giant apartment buildings, was modern inevery respect and was surrounded by two acres of landscaped grounds.
Vega came running out to meet him as the cab deposited him on thelanding strip in front of the house.
"Darling," she exclaimed, giving him a kiss, "you remembered and camehome early."
"Remembered?" Manning asked, looking blank.
"Barnaby is five months old today," she said proudly. "You mean thatisn't why you came home early?" Barnaby was, of course, Manning'sand Vega's son who had been born on Caph II. He had been named afterJ. Barnaby Cruikshank, his grandfather, the president of the GreaterSolarian Insurance Company, Monopolated, for whom Manning—in his ownwords—had given the best years of his life. At the age of five months,young Ba