A Coffin for Jacob

"A Coffin for Jacob" by Edward W. Ludwig is a mid-20th century science fiction story that follows a young man's struggle with his conscience after accidentally killing someone. Ben Curtis, desperate to escape the consequences, runs away to Venus, hoping to lose himself among a group of rebel spacemen led by the enigmatic Jacob. On Venus, Ben meets Jacob's wife, Maggie, who aids him in recovering from injuries and introduces him to their clandestine operations. As Ben contemplates his future, torn between a life of hiding and the allure of joining these outcasts in space, he must confront his past and decide if forgiveness is truly within reach.