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A space‑guard lieutenant finds himself locked in a stark, light‑filled cell aboard the interstellar cruiser Stallifer, a ship that streaks through the cosmos at unimaginable speeds. Accused of a crime he insists he didn’t commit, he endures endless days of confinement while his anger builds into a fierce resolve. The claustrophobic corridors of the vessel contrast sharply with the ever‑shifting stars outside, reminding listeners of the vast, indifferent universe beyond the prison’s walls.
When an unexpected visitor appears—a former superior turned adversary—a dangerous bargain is offered: a chance at freedom in exchange for a deadly duel. Their rivalry, rooted in betrayal and a shared love, fuels a tense negotiation that could reshape both their fates. As the two men plot their next move, the story pulses with suspense, high‑tech intrigue, and the raw hunger for revenge that drives them toward an uncertain showdown.
Language
en
Duration
~1 hours (97K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
United States: Popular Publications, Inc.,1948.
Credits
Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
Jun 16, 2022
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1896–1975
A hugely prolific storyteller, he helped shape early science fiction with ideas that still feel fresh, from parallel worlds to first contact. Writing under the name Murray Leinster, William Fitzgerald Jenkins turned bold concepts into fast, readable adventures for generations of magazine and paperback readers.
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