Short Fiction · Chapter
Double-Cross explained
On Venus, a group of native Venusian conspirators led by Svan plot to destroy an Earth-ship to prevent colonization.
What happens
On Venus, a group of native Venusian conspirators led by Svan plot to destroy an Earth-ship to prevent colonization. Svan secretly marks his own slip to plant an atomite bomb, kills a guard who discovers them, and sets a plan in motion while the Earth-ship crew grows increasingly suspicious of the natives.
Themes in this chapter
Alienation and Identity
The Venusian natives are viewed as 'not human' by Earth crew, highlighting their alienation and the identity crisis between Earth-born and Venus-born humans.
Survival and Adaptation
The Venusians have physically adapted to the planet's climate, and Svan's group resorts to extreme measures to ensure their survival against Earth colonization.
Rebellion and Revolution
Svan and the Council lead a secret rebellion to prevent the Earth-ship from returning, using sabotage and violence to protect their world.
Characters to notice
- Svan
Leader of the Venusian conspirators; secretly marks his own slip to plant the bomb, kills a guard, and distrusts his own group.
- Ingra
Young Venusian woman who drives the ground car; kisses Svan goodbye before the attack, but Svan suspects her loyalty.
- Ensign Lowry
Officer of the Deck on the Earth-ship; anxious about the mission and suspicious of the natives.
- The Exec
Executive Officer on the Earth-ship; distrusts the natives and warns Lowry about potential danger.
Key passages
“no star can shine through its vast cloud layer. Ensign Lowry, staring anxiously out through the astrodome in the bow of the Earth-ship, cursed the blackness.”
The perpetual cloud cover on Venus blocks all starlight, and Ensign Lowry, peering from the ship's astrodome, frustratedly complains about the darkness.
Sets the oppressive, mysterious atmosphere of Venus.
“Svan hesitated only a fraction of a second after the girl turned the lights out and stopped the car. Then he reached in the compartment under the seat. If he took a little longer than seemed necessary to get the atomite bomb out of the compartment, none of the others noticed. Certainly it did not occur to them that there had been two bombs in the compartment, though Svan's hand emerged with only one.”
Svan paused briefly after the girl killed the lights and halted the car, then retrieved an atomite bomb from under the seat, taking extra time unnoticed; the others never realized there were two bombs, and Svan took only one.
Reveals Svan's secret plan to leave a second bomb to kill his own group.
“Svan raised his hand, thoughtfully. 'One moment. Ingra, do you still object?' The younger woman shrank back before the glare in his eyes. She looked around at the others, found them reluctant and uneasy, but visibly convinced by Svan. 'No,' she said slowly. 'I do not object.'”
Svan paused and asked Ingra if she still opposed the plan; intimidated by his stare and seeing the others' reluctant agreement, she slowly said she no longer objected.
Shows Svan's coercive leadership and the group's fear.