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[PB]

<center>*Info*

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[PB]

<center>*Chapter 1*

Meet Hal, threatened by Vurdi Hal Spacejoc is aboard his ship, the Blac Gull, which is par ed at the spacepo rt on planet Lamira. Hal's waiting for a cargo job, he's not fussy as long as it 's legal. So far, after several days, the only jobs he's been offered have invol

ved smuggling, gun-running or drugs. Always short of money, Hal has arranged an interview with his financial bac ers in the hope of increasing his loan. There's a noc , but when Hal goes to let th e loan people in he's confronted by a large robot which pins him to the dec . It 's Brutus, an enforcer belonging to Vurdi the debt collector. Vurdi enters and e xplains that he's arrived to collect overdue payments on behalf of the loan comp any. Hal is confused, he thought they were supposed to be lending him money. Vur di explains that it was a ploy to get aboard, since the company has had trouble getting face-to-face with Hal. Hal doesn't have any money, so Vurdi says he'll ta e an arm or leg instead, and sets Brutus on him. During the scuffle, Hal manages to tell Vurdi that he accepted a cargo job earli er in the day, and will use the proceeds to settle his debts. Vurdi is suspiciou s, but calls Brutus off and gives Hal 24 hours. After Vurdi leaves, Hal discusses things with the Blac Gull's onboard computer (the Navcom), reviewing the cargo jobs he's been offered. He chooses the one whi ch sounds less ris y than the others, a freight job offered by the Jerling corpo ration. The Navcom objects, reminding Hal that he turned it down earlier because he thought it involved stolen goods. Hal doesn't care - he can't afford to be c hoosy any more.

(You can download the complete text of Hal Spacejoc , free, from http://www.spac ejoc .com.au/Hal1Download.html) Hal Spacejoc was sitting at the Blac Gull's flight console, his attention rive ted to a small chessboard balanced amongst the toggle switches, flashing lights and status displays. a few wee s earlier he'd read an article extolling the bene fits of the ancient game: how playing it would sharpen his mind, improve his mem ory and increase his attraction to the opposite sex. Chess had been an important part of his daily routine ever since, but after two hundred and seventy-six los ses in a row Hal was beginning to doubt the article's claims. He didn't feel any smarter and he couldn't remember the last time he'd spo en to a member of the o pposite sex, let alone had one attracted to him. Briefly, he wondered whether it had been such a clever idea to play against the Navcom, the Blac Gull's onboar d computer. Underpowered and outdated, it was still more than capable of running the ship's accounts, navigation and life support systems while beating humans a t simple board games. However, since Hal was the only human aboard the Blac Gul l, his choice of opponents was limited. "Your turn," said the Navcom, in a neutral female voice. "I'm thin ing." "While you're planning your opening move, can I tell you about a special offer?" "What ind of offer?" as ed Hal suspiciously. "Planet boo s have a chess title on sale." "Really? Put it on main." The wide viewscreen above the console turned red, and the word 'SaLE' appeared i n vibrating yellow text. The letters grew legs and marched off the screen, bring ing a wire bas et on wheels into view. "I don't need all this crap," said Hal. "Just show me the deal." "Almost there," said the Navcom. "Keep watching." A floc of pigeons burst from the bas et, leaving a tumbling cloud of feathers w hich dropped to the ground and formed the words 'Special Offer'. a gust of wind blew the feathers away, and a boo title flashed up on the screen. "Chess for the intellectually challenged?" said Hal, staring at the cover in dis belief. "Is this some ind of jo e?" "It's part of a popular series," said the Navcom. "What are the others? Interstellar navigation for nutters? Moon landings for mor ons?"

"Shall I add those titles to your bas et?" . . .

[PB]

<center>*Chapter 2*

Jerling buys team. Discusses Seraph. Walter Jerling is a businessman on Forg, a planet in the same star system as Lam ira. He owns several enterprises - real estate, factories, etc. We meet him at t he grand opening of a new s y hoc ey stadium, puffing on his cigar and finishing off the ceremony without much enthusiasm. After a smattering of polite applause from the small crowd, he departs in his limo. In the car he complains that he's little more than a figurehead, hopping from on e PR exercise to the next. He recalls the early days, when he was personally inv olved in everything. His assistant, Carina, reminds him that he was running hims elf ragged before he mastered the art of delegating. Jerling replies that delega ting can lead to people ripping him off or revealing company secrets to the Hinc hfigs (competitors). Moans that the Hinchfigs get bigger crowds at their opening s, Carina points out that they pay the crowds more to turn up. Jerling catches up on a few minor business matters. He reluctantly approves the recycling of older company equipment (including several robots), then digs until Carina gives him something more interesting to thin about. He discovers there' s a freight job which is going wrong, and as the limo draws into the head office carpar Jerling decides to handle it himself. He examines the Seraph file. There's a shipment of robot parts ordered and paid for, but the source planet (Seraph IV) is in the middle of war games and the mas sed ships of the Seraph Space Corps have already shot down three unarmed freight ers by mista e. The parts are needed urgently by Jerling's assembly line, they'r e putting together a last-minute order of robots for the Emperor's summer palace . Late delivery isn't an option. Carina explains that they can't ris their own ships, they wouldn't be covered b y insurance and anyway, none of their pilots will fly into the danger zone. They tried to hire a freelancer but none of them wanted the job either - they were a ll warned off by a Spacers Guild bulletin. Jerling as s why they didn't try nonGuild pilots, Carina explains that they could only locate one and he turned it d own because he was convinced it was a stolen goods rac et. Jerling is annoyed th at his staff hid the problem from him. Carina explains that they didn't want to worry him. Jerling says they should have come to him before, this is important, if they lose preferred supplier status his business is at ris , and worse still the Hinchfigs will gain on him. Jerling as s Carina to call the idiot, the one who thought it was stolen goods. Before the assistant ma es the call, she discovers that there's a message from t he 'idiot' already - he wants the job. Carina tries to pursuade Jerling that oth ers can deal with the issue but Jerling's fired up and won't let go, it's his pe t project. On planet Forg, a small crowd had gathered outside the local s y hoc ey stadium.

South Forgberg was not a prosperous area - the semi-detached houses were modest and the residents faced a constant struggle to live within their means. It was unusual to see building wor or renovations, so the extensive refurbishment to t he decrepit old stadium had been a tal ing point for months. . . . <center>* * * Hal ta es a call from Jerling Bac with Hal, Jerling's call comes through and the businessman explains about h is cargo, reassures Hal it's not stolen goods, then explains he has a pilot at t he Lamira Spaceport (the same location as Hal) who needs a lift to Seraph IV. If Hal can ta e him, the pilot will return the favour by landing Hal's ship when t hey arrive at the destination. Hal says he doesn't need help, Jerling explains that the landing is at night, wi th no guidance. This ma es Hal suspicious about the job again, but he decides th at nothing could be worse than another session with Brutus. Jerling reassures hi m that the pilot can handle everything and reminds him that delivery is to his p remises on Forg. Hal agrees to the job, starts to as for an advance but Jerling disconnects. Hal was pacing the Blac Gull's flight dec , ready to put his fist through the n earest wall. "What do you mean, you can't call Jerling bac ? What do you mean yo u didn't save his details?" "I erased the record after you turned the job down." "So loo it up again!" "Negative, we can't afford the search fees." The Navcom hesitated. "Incidentally , it's your move." "How can you thin of a bloody chess game at a time li e this?" "You're only saying that because you're losing." . . .

[PB]

<center>*Chapter 3*

Clun arrives The Navcom tells Hal someone is waiting outside the ship. Hal assumes it's the n ew pilot and goes to the airloc to admit them. Instead of a human, there's a ro bot outside, and for a moment Hal thin s Brutus has returned. It isn't though, i t's a run-down, obsolete robot with mismatched legs and a squashy, furrowed face . The geriatric robot smiles at Hal and explains politely that it's Jerling's pi lot. Hal closes the airloc in its face, runs to the flight dec and calls Jerling. H e protests that an old robot li e that can't possibly land his valuable ship. Je rling explains that the robot is an experienced pilot. After some discussion, Ha l accepts the situation. He goes bac to the airloc , lets Clun in but sends hi

m to the cargo hold. Hal prepares the ship for ta eoff, but ground control won't let him leave. The P ort Commander wants to see him in person. Hal leaves the ship, putting Clun in charge. "No sign of Jerling's pilot," said Hal, who was standing in the Blac Gull's air loc peering through a scratched, yellowed porthole. He cupped his hands to the plastic and squinted, but it made little difference. "There could be an army out there and I wouldn't now it." "Why don't you open the door?" as ed the Navcom. "No than s. Vurdi's robot might be hanging around." . . .

[PB]

<center>*Chapter 4*

Hal going to port control Hal leaves his ship via the boarding ramp. (The Blac Gull has two ramps - a lar ge, heavy-duty cargo ramp which vehicles and robots use to load the ship, and a smaller boarding ramp which folds out from the side of the ship and admits visit ors to the flight dec via an airloc .) He has to get to ground control, but they won't send a cab because of his unpaid account. He spots a robot mending fuel pipes near the bac of the ship and as s whether he can borrow its vehicle (A battered old jet-powered ute). The robot r efuses. Hal decides to wal and sets off across the field towards the distant buildings, but the field is covered in thic shoulder-high grasses with spore pods (Li e notted pampas grass). After struggling heroically, Hal gives up and returns in a bad temper. Approaching the landing pad again, he duc s down in the grass and s nea s towards the maintenance robot's vehicle, intending to borrow it. He's abou t to clamber aboard when the robot snaps something on the fuel pipes, causing a gushing lea . Hal duc s as the robot returns to the vehicle and grabs a tool it . While the robot is busy mending the pipes, Hal leaps into the vehicle and starts it up. The robot spots him and pursues. The vehicle accelerates, but the robot manages to grab hold and swing itself aboard. Hal wiggles the joystic and the w ild movements throw the robot from side to side, battering it against the sides of the tray. One last violent twist of the controls hurls the robot from the bac of the vehicle, and it cartwheels through the grass before coming to a halt in a spar ing, smo ing huddle. Hal drives off, oblivious to the flames starting to flic er around the fallen ro bot. Hal emerged from the Blac Gull's airloc , blin ing in the sudden light. On the far side of the landing field the sun was setting behind the Lamira spaceport's administration bloc , which shimmered in the late afternoon heat. Clustered arou

. . . <center>* * * Clun chec ing computer for Incubots. Aboard the Blac Gull, Clun is curious. He nows he's being sent to Incubots on Seraph IV, but nobody has told him why. He searches the Blac Gull's outdated c omputer for information on the company. (There's an equivalent to the internet c alled Galnet, but Hal can't afford the fees so his ship has a snapshot about 5 o r 6 years old.) Clun discovers that Incubots ma es parts for new robots and rep lacement parts for older models. He's relieved, because Jerling's staff were vag ue about the reason for his trip, and it's fairly common for Jerling's older, ob solete robots to be sent to out-of-the-way planets, never to return. Now it seem s he's to be upgraded, which is good news because he's got long list of worn par ts which need replacements. Sitting at the console, Clun uses the Blac Gull's simulation mode to practice a couple of landings, then veers off and dreams he's flying the ship to a mythic al robot planet. Clun dropped the last chess piece into the small wooden box and loo ed around t he flight dec . Despite his best efforts with the mop, it didn't loo particular ly clean, but compared to its previous state it was as sterile as a hospital war d. After a moment's hesitation, he sat in the pilot's chair. "Navcom, do you hav e a business directory?" "Yes." "Run a search, please. All details on a company called Incubots." There was a brief pause. "Owned by Redge Muller. Incubots specialises in robot p rogramming and advanced pilot training." Clun loo ed relieved. "So that's what Mr. Jerling has in store for me. When I q uestioned him on the subject he was rather evasive." "Humans tell lies about the most trivial matters." . . . <center>* * * Hal tal ing to the Portmaster Hal is waiting in reception outside the Portmaster's office, browsing a magazine . He reads an article about overcloc ed robot brains being used in new robots, s aving money but leading to ris of explosion. Hal wonders if Clun is fitted wit h a defective brain - if any - and figures it would be just his luc if Jerling' s robot turned his ship into a fiery wrec while he was sitting around waiting f or petty officials. The Portmaster invites him into his office, and Hal discovers there are overdue landing fees, stamp duty, fuel, snac s, etc etc to pay for. The Port of Lamira i

nd the spaceport buildings were the 'A' list - modern, powerful ships fitted wit h every comfort. Par ed close to the amenities, their crews could dine at one of several restaurants, enjoy the heated swimming pool and browse the shopping arc ade at their leisure. Hal's ship was somewhat further down the alphabet, and was therefore sitting in a disused corner of the field about as far from the amenities as the nearest moo n. The area around the _Blac Gull_ was little more than a graveyard for derelic ts, and most of the landing pads nearby were occupied by graffiti-splashed wrec s with jagged gaps in their crumpled hulls. Some of the ships seemed familiar, a nd when Hal loo ed closer he realised the rusted hul s were Rigel-class freighte rs li e his own. One or two were actually in better shape.

s going to auction Hal's ship to recover debts. Hal protests that he has a job w hich will cover the fees, but the Portmaster doesn't believe him. Hal decides to call his brand new best buddy Clun , thin ing the robot can as J erling for an advance on his fee. Hal left the maintenance vehicle in the spaceport's outer carpar and wal ed to the admin bloc . An information ios directed him to an elevator, where he pres sed the button mar ed 'Portmaster'. Hal watched the floor numbers changing as he dropped further and further undergr ound. He'd expected the Portmaster to have a spacious office with a view of the whole landing field, but instead he seemed to have an office in the basement. Be low the basement, amended Hal, eying the elevator's control panel. He'd passed t hat already. . . . <center>* * *

Clun tells Hal that Jerling won't advance any money, but Hal tells him to as a nyway. Clun calls Jerling, who won't advance any money. Clun mentions that he' s found out what Incubots is all about, Jerling hangs up quic ly. Clun notices smo e in the air. He runs to the airloc and discovers the landing field is on fire. "Simulation suspended, incoming message." The cloud cities of A lam faded from Clun 's vision. "What?" "Incoming message." "Are we meant to answer it?" "It's Mr. Spacejoc ," said the Navcom. Clun sat up straight. "Please open the connection." "Hey, robot!" called Hal. "Yes, sir?" "Call Jerling and get me a loan. I need three hundred in cash for landing fees a nd fuel." "I don't thin he'll lend you any money," said Clun dubiously. . . .

[PB]

<center>*Chapter 5*

Clun calls, the landing field is on fire. Hal tells him to sit tight. Hal is sitting with the Portmaster, waiting for a call from Clun to say he's go t the advance from Jerling. Instead, Clun calls to say that raging flames are t hreatening the ship. Hal tells him to sit tight, and leaps up to go to the rescu e. The Portmaster stops him - you're not fooling me, sonny, I've heard every exc

Clun

ta es call from Hal. Calls Jerling. Fire.

use in the boo . Hal protests, but the Portmaster is firm. He says the maintenan ce robot wor ing near the Blac Gull would have called in if anything was wrong. Then the control tower calls to say the landing field is on fire around the Blac Gull. Portmaster Linten studied Hal across the des , eyes narrowed. "Are you telling m e this Jerling character will pay your bill?" "He has to. I can't deliver his cargo if the Gull is stuc here, can I?" The commset buzzed and Linten leant forward. "Yes?" There was a crac ling sound. "Help! Fire!" said a voice over the noise. "Who is this? What are you tal ing about?" "The grass is burning," cried the voice. "There's a fire on the landing field!" "Which pad?" "Fifty-two," said Hal, smothering a grin. "That's Clun ." He leant towards the c ommset. "Clun , is the ship in danger from this, er, fire?" "Not yet, Mr Spacejoc , but it soon will be. Would you li e me to move it out of the way?" "You eep your hands off the controls. I'll be there in a tic ." "You'll have to hurry, the fire's right up to the refuelling cluster. If that ex plodes--" . . . <center>* * * Clun fighting the fire, ends up face-down Aboard the Blac Gull, Clun wrenches panels off the walls loo ing for a fire ex tinguisher. Crunches the winch controls, lowering a hoo to the ground and spool ing all the cable out with it. Finally gets the extinguisher and heads outside. He finds the source of the fire - the maintenance robot which Hal disabled. Clun drags it out of the area, then returns and uses the fire extinguisher on the f lames. Clun 's battery starts to run low. He continues. As the fire extinguisher begins to run low, the fuel pipes explode near the bac of the ship. A piece of debris hits Clun in the head and he falls to the ground, stunned. "Deploy fire hose!" shouted Clun . "Deploying." There was a whining sound outside the hull, which stopped with a sh arp crac . "What was that?" "The reel just fell off," said the Navcom. . . .

[PB]

<center>*Chapter 6*

New Scene

<center>* * * Hal gets to the ship and lifts off. Arriving at the Blac Gull, Hal sees the prone robot in the burnt-out grass. (It 's Clun , but he assumes it's the one he disabled) Goes aboard, seals the ship and gets the engines going. Discovers the winch has been lowered, presses the bu tton to raise it. Prepares ship for ta eoff and ta es his seat.

[PB]

<center>*Chapter 7*

Hal finds Clun on rope, falls out after him. The Blac Gull is roaring into the s y with Hal at the controls. The Lamira Port master calls and rages about the ship's sudden departure, Hal was only supposed to move it out of danger, not blast off into space. Hal says he'll be bac to pa y the fees. The Portmaster says he's going to spread the word about Hal, banning him from every port in the local system. Tal ing to the Navcom, Hal suddenly discovers Clun isn't aboard. There's a clun ing noise as the winch tries to retract, but it's jammed. An image appears on s creen - Clun is dangling from the hoo outside. Hal gets the ship to hover 4,000 metres above the landing field, then goes outsi de on the landing platform to help. Throws Clun a line and starts to pull the r obot in, but a departing ship roars past, roc ing the Blac Gull and hurling Hal over the side of the platform. He ends up dangling from the safety cord, which is tied to the robot's leg. Clun 's batteries are failing, and he can't hang on much longer.

[PB]

<center>*Chapter 8*

Climb up rope to safety. Bac in ship for hyperspace.

[PB]

<center>*Chapter 9*

In his office. Gordon OKs the deal

[PB]

<center>*Chapter 10*

Exits the ship to meet Bevan

[PB]

<center>*Chapter 11*

Getting food out. Frozen puddings.

<center>* * *

[PB]

<center>*Chapter 12*

Hal depressed. No escape from here.

<center>* * * Lighten the ship. Preparing for liftoff.

[PB]

<center>*Chapter 13*

Says goodbye to Clun

Karl and Terry awaiting Hal. They ta e a call from their spy, intercept is at th e orbiter.

[PB]

<center>*Chapter 14*

[PB]

<center>*Chapter 15*

Karl waiting impatiently

<center>* * * Karl and Terry confused about 'Chun '

[PB]

<center>*Chapter 16*

Clun slips out the bac .

<center>* * * Karl and Terry waiting.

[PB]

<center>*Chapter 17*

Clun in orbit

<center>* * * Clun uses cylinder

[PB]

<center>*Chapter 18*

Terry places the 'bomb'

<center>* * * Hal buys food

[PB]

<center>*Chapter 19*

Karl leaves a note, ta es Clun .

<center>* * * Hal about to hyperspace.

[PB]

<center>*Chapter 20*

Hal gets real Jerling's call. Has to get cargo and robot bac .

<center>* * * Hal sets course for Forg.

<center>* * * Land on Forg, in rubbish.

[PB]

<center>*Chapter 21*

Hal rents a car in Jerling's name and heads towards Forgberg and the Casino.

<center>* * *

[PB]

Hal after almost running Clun

down. Pic s him up.

<center>*Chapter 22*

Find car, go to find clothes.

[PB]

<center>*Chapter 23*

[PB]

<center>*Chapter 24*

<center>* * * Clun gambling. Fight with human couple.

Hal annoyed at Clun

for buying only the best.

Hal sells Clun

<center>* * * Sitting on the steps, battered and bruised. Limo arrives for Karl.

[PB]

<center>*Chapter 25*

Clun travelling on the bac of Karl's limo

<center>* * * Clun sees Hal catching up again. Limo stops.

[PB]

<center>*Chapter 26*

Clun uploads the Navcom into the ship.

[PB]

<center>*Chapter 27*

<center>* * * Clun steals armoured car, drives it into the house.

[PB]

<center>*Chapter 28*

Karl and Terry ta e the limo

<center>* * * Karl and Terry overta e and head for Spaceport. Loo ing for Volante.

The shop robots want Clun

to escape with them. Mention Hal's capture.

[PB]

<center>*Chapter 29*

Hal and Clun fleeing in Gull

<center>* * * Clun wants to throw stuff at the flyer

<center>* * * Hal fetches the puddings.

[PB]

<center>*Chapter 30*

Hal yells at Jerling, then cargo arrives on truc .

<center>* * *

Clun outside, depressed.

<center>* * * Karl bursts in, armed.

[PB]

<center>*Chapter 31*

Terry ties Hal in hold, leaves bac doors open.

<center>* * * Hal dodges Brutus, escapes the hold.

[PB]

<center>*Chapter 32*

Blac

Gull hyperspaces to oblivion