PRISON PLANET
BY BOB TUCKER (AKA Damon Knight)
from
Planet Stories Fall 1942
To remain on Mars meant death from agonizing space-sickness, but Earth-surgery lay days of flight away. And there was only a surface rocket in which to escape—with a traitorous Ganymedean for its pilot.
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“LISTEN, RAT!” ROBERDS said, “what I say goes around here. It doesn’t happen to be any of your business. I’m still in possession of my wits, and I know Peterson can’t handle that ship. Furthermore Gladney will be in it too, right along side of that sick girl in there! And Rat, get this: I’m going to pilot that ship. Understand? Consulate or no Consulate, job or no job, I’m wheeling that crate to Earth because this is an emergency. And the emergency happens to be bigger than my position, to me
