A space freighter embarks on a routine cargo run that quickly devolves into a series of mishaps caused by an inept but well‐meaning crew member assigned by nepotism. Assigned to handle a valuable shipment of agricultural produce meant for New York, his clumsy management in the cargo hold sets off a chain reaction of errors. His inadvertent actions—misusing equipment meant for handling spoiled goods and altering the storage conditions—trigger unexpected chemical and nuclear phenomena. Exposed to intense cosmic radiation during the ship’s transit, lead containers used for discarding the damaged cargo begin to transmute. The lead, through a process that removes specific particles, gradually converts into an isotope of gold, a discovery that, while initially compounding the chaos, unexpectedly turns a supposedly ruined shipment into an asset of immense value. Throughout the voyage, the hardened captain struggles to maintain order and control amid a series of escalating blunders, while a technically knowledgeable radioman observes and comments on the unfolding calamity. Corporate pressures and the pressure of a volatile stock market add to the tension, as the value of the cargo becomes a critical concern. The mismanagement not only jeopardizes the safe and timely delivery of the freight but also leads to unforeseen financial implications that could affect the future of the operation and the crew’s employment. Ultimately, a dramatic confrontation with corporate appraisers forces the responsible parties to confront both their incompetence and the remarkable, if accidental, breakthrough in transmutation—a process reminiscent of early experiments in artificial nuclear reactions. The narrative blends humor, technical speculation, and the absurdity of bureaucratic oversight, while exploring themes of accidental innovation, the clash of old-school methods with unexpected science, and the unforeseen consequences of human error in a high-stakes spacefaring environment.
By Nelson S. Bond · First published 1947 · Genre: Science Fiction, Space Opera, Comic Science Fiction