CHAPTER VBoone waited till the guard had left the cell-block to let in the group scheduled to conduct the preliminary inquiry. Then, with one last look out across the darkening ramp to where the Independent sphere-ship lay interned, he climbed onto the bunk, looped the end of the torn cloth noose up through the ventilator grating, twisted his collar still more awry, and stepped off into space.
The noose cut his neck, but not too badly. Most of his weight hung from the extra loop he’d run under his arms and round his chest. Yet the turned-up collar made it look like he was truly hanging by his neck alone.
There was a drone of voices from the hallway. Words drifted to him as the speakers paused outside the locked door.
“It’s all set up,” came the clipped tones of Martin Krobis. “We’ll pus
