The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Planetoid of Peril, by Paul Ernst

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Title: The Planetoid of Peril

Author: Paul Ernst

Release Date: August 23, 2009 [EBook #29771]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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The Planetoid of Peril

By Paul Ernst

[Transcriber' Note: This etext was produced from Astounding Stories
November 1931. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the
U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]

[Illustration: _He pointed it at the incredible body._]

Undaunted by crazy tales of an indestructible presence on
Asteroid Z-40, Harley 2Q14N20 sets out alone to face and
master it.

Harley 2Q14N20 stopped for a moment outside the great dome of the
Celestial Developments Company. Moodily he stared at their asteroid
development chart. It showed, as was to be expected, the pick of the
latest asteroid subdivision projects: the Celestial Developments
Company, established far back in 2045, would handle none but the very
best. Small chance of his finding anything here!

However, as he gazed at the chart, hope came suddenly to his face, and
his heart beat high under his sapphire blue tunic. There was an asteroid
left for sale there--one blank space among the myriad, pink-lettered
Sold symbols. Could it be that here was the chance he had been hunting
so desperately?

He bent closer, to read the description of the sphere, and the hope
faded gradually from his countenance. According to its orbit and
location, and the spectroscopic table of its mineral resources, it was a
choice planetoid indeed. Of course such a rich little sphere, listed for
sale by the luxurious Celestial Developments Company, would cost far
more than he could ever rake together to pay for an asteroid.

Shaking his head, he adjusted his gravity regulator to give him about a
pound and a half of weight, and started to float on. Then, his lips
twisting at his own absurd hopefulness, he stopped again; and af