is all I ask...a bearing home!" North sat back
and waited. "Tell me of any change," North ordered, "in their
activities."
30 For some time there was no change, then Firing control announced,
"They've stopped dispersing, sir! They're holding position or heading
back towards the sun. One of them is heading towards us. I can't
believe how fast he's moving!"
31 "Believe me," assured North, "they can move faster!"
32 In minutes the huge ship floated a short distance from them.
"Amazing!" muttered Firing control. "It's so big even at zero
magnification it fills our
screens! Yet as far as our instruments are concerned, it's not
even
there, no gravity, whatsoever. We're still in free fall, where we
should be orbiting that thing!"
33 "Should I try a hailing frequency?" inquired Communications.
34 "When they're ready to speak with us, they will," North commented.
35 "We will, indeed!" came a soft and gentle voice in North's mind.
"You are a long way from home, General Northern Star! We heard reports
of your ship's destruction. It is good to find that those reports were
in error. You do have a habit of showing up in the most unexpected
places! I have just been told your ship is in very bad condition."
36 "We DID get banged up a bit," North admitted, "and now I'm afraid
we're quite lost! I would be quite grateful if you could give us a
bearing home. I know you're not permitted to interfere in other's
affairs, but I have done you some favors in the past, and thought you
might reciprocate."
37 There was silence for several minutes. "It is true," the voice
finally came back, "that we DO owe you a certain debt. But we did a
considerable amount at the