 Why is Brandt interested in The Comerford?
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Astounding Science-Fiction April 1942. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] Androka had arrived on board the Comerford the day before she sailed from Norfolk. With him came a boatload of scientific apparatus and equipment, including a number of things that looked like oxygen tanks, which were now stored in the forward hold. Nevertheless, his taut face, restless, searching eyes, and eternally nervous manner got Curtis' goat. Nelson had no answering smile, although there had been a great deal of good-natured joking aboard the Comerford ever since the navy department had sent the scientist on board the cruiser to carry on his experiments. "But this storm, sir!" Nelson avoided Curtis' friendly eyes and slipped out from under his arm. "Not that I've lost confidence in you, Nels, but just because you asked for it!" Nelson's estimate, I'm checking back," he declared, frowning at the two papers and hastily rechecking his own figures. Then he hastened to the radio room, with Nelson at his heels, and the Czech trotting along behind. For the next two hours, no radio messages can enter or leave my zone of radio silence—of refracted radio waves, set up by my little station on one of the neighboring islets!" The answer came back: "Bearings north east by a quarter east, U. S. Cruiser Comerford !"
 He wants to use its zone of silence to apprehend the Carthusia.
 He is holding the ship ransom as revenge for what American has done to Germany.  He is holding the ship ransom for Boarts—black diamonds.  He wants to use its zone of silence to apprehend the Carthusia.  He wants to use its zone of silence to trick other ships into crashing on the islet.