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The Crystal Crypt, by Philip Kindred Dick
The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Crystal Crypt, by Philip Kindred Dick This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
Title: The Crystal Crypt
Author: Philip Kindred Dick
Release Date: May 6, 2009 [EBook #28698]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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THE CRYSTAL CRYPT
By PHILIP K. DICK
Stark terror ruled the Inner-Flight ship on that last Mars-Terra run. For the black-clad Leiters were on the prowl ... and the grim red planet was not far behind.
"Attention, Inner-Flight ship! Attention! You are ordered to land at the Control Station on Deimos for inspection. Attention! You are to land at once!"
The metallic rasp of the speaker echoed through the corridors of the great ship. The passengers glanced at each other uneasily, murmuring and peering out the port windows at the small speck below, the dot of rock that was the Martian checkpoint, Deimos.
"What's up?" an anxious passenger asked one of the pilots, hurrying through the ship to check the escape lock.
"We have to land. Keep seated." The pilot went on.
"Land? But why?" They all looked at each other. Hovering above the bulging Inner-Flight ship were three slender Martian pursuit craft, poised and alert for any emergency.