The Prison in Antares by Mike Resnick Page B

is a super-strong and super-lightweight cord. We’ll all be attached to it.” He held up a small metal object. “And this mechanism will reel us in before the thing can pick up speed after rounding the corner.” He paused. “Now this is essential. Since we don’t know who’s going to gain entrance first, you’re going to be attached directly to each member of the team. Each attachment will have a little red mark on it. To detach it, you just touch the mark. You’ll detach from everyone but the one who’s inside the vehicle.” He looked at each of them in turn. “If you don’t touch those marks within seconds, you’re going to be dragged along in the wake of a vehicle or train that’s approaching ninety miles an hour.”
    â€œLet’s see them now,” said Snake, “so if we have any questions we can ask them before we’re all hooked up to them.”
    â€œFair enough,” said Pretorius, passing the cords around.
    â€œSeems simple enough,” remarked Snake after examining hers, and the others agreed. “I assume that pressing the white dot reels us in?”
    â€œRight,” he answered. “And remember: Once we’ve gained entrance, our only concern is finding Nmumba. If he’s alive, it’ll mean he hasn’t told them what they want to know yet. If push comes to shove, if it’s clear that we’re going to fail . . .”
    â€œYou mean die ,” said Snake.
    He nodded. “If it’s clear that none of us are going to get out of this alive, our only obligation is to kill Nmumba before they can break or turn him. Is that understood?”
    They all nodded.
    â€œAll right,” continued Pretorius. “Since it’s clearly a prison train, we can assume there are no passengers, no innocent bystanders. Every being on the vehicle except Nmumba is an enemy and is expendable.” He sighed heavily. “There’s no sense taking prisoners anyway. It’s an enemy train on an enemy world. Where the hell would we stash ’em?”
    â€œSo how many cars is it?”
    Pretorius shrugged. “It’s about fifty meters. Hard to imagine any single thing that big making a right turn, but who the hell knows? It could be half a dozen cars, or one long car that’s jointed. Or something we haven’t considered yet.” He paused. “Any more questions?”
    Silence.
    â€œYou forgot what may be the most important one,” he continued.
    â€œWhat was that?” asked Irish curiously.
    â€œCan you breathe the air?”
    â€œSurely not in the tunnels,” she replied. “Not if the chutes are open to the surface.”
    â€œRight,” said Pretorius. “So we’re all taking oxygen with us.”
    â€œHow about on the train?” asked Ortega.
    â€œI assume it’s breathable, but just in case they’ve got Nmumba hooked up to an oxygen supply, keep your breathing apparatus. And according to our readouts, the temperature is a bit chilly, but well above freezing.”
    â€œWhat about gravity?” asked Proto. “I hate to ask, but it affects me more than it does you.”
    â€œPretty much Deluros VIII Standard,” answered Pretorius. “Maybe a tad heavier. Ah!” he said as the ship touched down. “We’re there. Felix, grab the cords. Everyone, hook up your oxygen and let’s go.”
    They all climbed out and found themselves in a totally round tunnel with a diameter of some thirty feet. The ship immediately rose and hovered in the shaft, hidden from view.
    â€œOkay, where’s the turn?” asked Snake.
    â€œMaybe half a mile in this direction,” replied Pretorius, pointing down the tunnel. “Let’s get started.”
    â€œNo tracks,” noted Ortega.
    â€œNo marks on the floor, either,” said Pretorius. “I have a feeling that it probably floats, if that’s the right