Julius Rosenthal will make candy no more and other short stories by Nicholas Russell (young adult books to read .txt) 📗

In the next seconds the lights across the cargo bay hummed to life and filled the room with the same blue light. As lights going down the line flickered on Ram watched as row after row of cryo capsules were bathed in light. She looked over to Higgins hoping for him to say something but he was busy at one of the computer consoles. Ram started to walk forward meeting each cold, lifeless stare as she walked. Higgins called from behind her but she wasn’t listening. She kept walking past almost a dozen rows of frozen slaves. She started to wonder their names and where they were from.

“Ram you need to move now.” She turned just in time to see Higgins running down the center corridor and the airlock starting to slide open. “They don’t know you’re here. Go!”

Ram ducked down the nearest aisle and kept moving till she reached the far end. The blue lights only kept the main walkway lit. There wasn’t too much need to keep the side aisles lit. The cryo storage stacks didn’t go all the way to the wall which meant she was on the port side. She moved around the side and took a few quiet steps towards the airlock. She was halfway across the aisle when the Captain and Gruber walked past. The two were focused on Higgins. That combined with the low light kept Ram hidden. She could hear an argument coming from the bay center but Ram was too far away to hear what was said.

Speed was the key as Ram moved along the wall, she needed to get to a com station and try to raise Conklin. Higgins had probably brought Conklin here first and at this point Ram’s only hope was that he was trying to get a signal out. The echoing discharge of a laser saw stopped Ram in her tracks. She started to go back when she heard it fire off a second time. For her own sake she was hoping that Higgins was the one with the saw.

There was only a short distance now to the door and feeling less of a need to keep quiet Ram started towards the air lock at a full-fledged run. Passing the last aisle to safety Ram was bathed once again in the cool blue light. She hit the door and started to the hand scanner when she felt a fist slam into her back. Ram’s vision went blurry as she crumpled to the ground. She could hear voices talking but couldn’t quite make out who it was.

“I don’t mind offing Higgins, that guy has been a pain. But Ram, she’s cool…”

“Shut up and tie her up. I am going to grab the Captain…”

Throbbing turned to a slow ache and Ram was able to get to her knees. Her vision was still a little blurry but she recognized the man standing a few feet away. It was Marcus Cole. Marcus could easily be confused for the rookie ship worker. He was tall and slim, his clothes were always too big and he was never willing to take a stand on anything. Ram stumbled as she stood and the ache in her back started to move to her head. Marcus saw her starting to stand and rushed over with a helping hand. “We need to get a message out; we can’t let these people become slaves”

Ram hoped that she could play to Marcus’ weakness at least long enough to get word to Conklin. But the moment he started to speak Ram knew he was too much a coward to side with her. He mumbled and looked over his shoulder towards the main walk way. With Marcus distracted even for a second Ram grabbed his shoulders and kneed the man in the groin.

Marcus cried out in pain and instantly doubled over. Ram turned back to the door and hit the emergency access switch. The blue lights were suddenly tinted red and a loud siren began to sound as both sides of the airlock flew open. She was about to start through the door when Ram remembered Higgins. At this point she couldn’t save him but she could at least try to help.

She stepped over Marcus and turned the corner looking down the main through fair. At the far end she could see the Captain and Gruber had done their best to corner Higgins. Her hopes were answered somewhat; it was him with the laser saw, its cutting edge glowing white hot. Ram pulled the pistol and aimed down the aisle. She was an ok shot up close but from this far away she was just hoping not to hit Higgins.

The pistol started to feel heavy as she hesitated to fire. Knowing that she could not wait any longer Ram pulled the trigger and the pistol bucked while belching out a cloud of burning white smoke. The siren easily masked the bang that followed but she got everyone’s attention when the glass housing to a Cryo unit exploded. The bullet tore into the occupants shoulder splattering the remaining glass with a deep red blood. Both men turned and Higgins used the distraction to take a swing at the Captain, the saw striking him in his upper thigh and instantly slicing clean through. In one motion Higgins brought the saw back up and twisting the blade took a wild swing at Gruber.

Ram didn’t wait to see what happened next she turned and started for the door. Marcus was almost to his feet but a firm kick to his side dropped him back down again. The voices were drawing closer as Ram broke into a run crossing through the airlock and into the next