Never Fear, Smith is Here:
Smith and the Robot had continued to follow the path through the woods, although he had stopped to rest at a fallen tree. "I simply must rest for a moment."
"Very well, Doctor Smith," the Robot answered. "But only for a moment. Until we have surveyed the area, we should exercise…"
The rest of the Robot's sentence was drowned out by a desperate scream.
"Good Heavens! That sounded like Judy," said Smith.
"It was! Warning, warning! My sensors indicate that Miss Judy is in extreme danger! This way Doctor Smith," said the Robot, as he moved down the path at full tilt.
"Wait for me, you bumbling bird brain!"
Ignoring Doctor Smith's insults, the Robot rounded the corner made by a large tree trunk and spotted Judy Robinson caught in a giant spider web. Behind her, the large, arachnid like creature was slowly approaching. At four feet across, it was nowhere near the size of the giant spider, once held by the Keeper, but the Robot knew that this specimen could easily kill a human with its venom.
"Miss Judy, don't struggle. Any movement will draw the spider's attention. Quickly Doctor Smith, your laser pistol. I cannot engage my defensive systems without hitting Miss Judy."
Smith ran up next to the Robot, "I can't do it. I'll hit poor Judy…"
"Yes, you can," the Robot encouraged. "Take the weapon in both hands, aim, and fire. Hurry, Doctor Smith, the spider is getting closer."
Smith took up the weapon, remembering that he wasn't always so inept. He took careful aim at the creature as it raised up on its hind legs to strike.
"Now, Doctor Smith!"
Smith pulled the trigger and the laser caught the spider in the thorax. The large arachnid fell over, on its back, a few feet from the web.
"Good shooting, Doctor Smith. I didn't know you had it in you," said the Robot.
Smith holstered the weapon and rounded the tree.
"Judy, my dear, are you all right?"
"Yes, thank you, Doctor Smith. I'm so glad to see you," said the visibly relieved young woman. "And you too, Robot."
"You're quite welcome, Miss Judy. I too, am greatly relieved to see you safe. Your family as well as Major West, have been very worried about you," the Robot replied.
While they chatted, Doctor Smith managed to free her arms and torso from the web. He was working on getting her legs free when John and Don arrived.
"Judy!" said Professor Robinson, as he took his oldest daughter in his arms.
"Oh Daddy, it was horrible. If it wasn't for Doctor Smith and the Robot, I would have been a meal for the spider."
Professor Robinson looked down at the arachnid that Smith had dispatched with the laser. He barely managed to repress a shudder.
"Doctor Smith?" asked West. The sarcasm in his voice was not lost on Judy. Her anger with the Major resurfaced. "Yes, Doctor Smith. He saved my life, Don. Do you still want to banish him from the camp?"
"Never mind that now, Judy," her father interjected. "Let's get you freed so we can get back to the ship. You're mother is worried sick."
"I'm sorry Daddy…"
"We'll talk about it later. Smith, radio the Jupiter 2 and tell Maureen that we found Judy, and we will be returning shortly."
As Smith spoke to Mrs. Robinson, John and Don freed Judy from the web. Although she was still upset with Don, she whole-heartedly retuned his embrace when he took her in his arms.
"Not mad at me anymore?" he asked.
"I'm still upset about this afternoon. But I'll talk to you later. I promise."
Judy took her father's side on the trek back to the ship. Bringing up the rear, Don watched the two of them converse. Guess I'm still in the doghouse, he thought. Just like Smith.
...
"You're angry with me, aren't you?" she asked her father, as they walked back to the ship.
"No, Judy, I'm not angry," said Professor Robinson. "Surprised, and disappointed would be more precise."
Disappointed, she thought, "I think I'd rather you be angry," she said aloud.
They walked in silence for a bit. Behind them, Doctor Smith had begun to complain about his delicate back, but the barbs from Major West were noticeably absent.
"Judy, I expect things like this from Will, and sometimes even Penny, but you? I would have never imagined you running off like this. What were you thinking?"
"Dad, I never meant to make anyone worry. Don and I had an argument early this afternoon while I was helping him in the control room."
"Yes, your mother told me. It seems that the curse of Doctor Smith has struck again."
"It's not his fault, Dad. Don threatened to march him into exile. Regardless of what he has done, he's still a human being."
"We'll talk about Doctor Smith, later. Tell me why you ran off without telling us you were leaving."
"I went out to work in the garden and every time I'd look up, Don would be watching me. It was either run to him, or take a walk, so, I took a walk. I never intended to stray this far from the ship."
John remembered a few arguments he had with Maureen over the years. He could empathize with both of them.
"I know better than this, Dad, I should have told someone where I was going. It's just," she paused to gather her thoughts. "It's just that…I didn't want to face Don. Besides, this planet is so much like home."
"The woods of home aren't infested with four foot spiders. We have to be careful or we could all be lulled into a false sense of security. I think we learned that lesson this evening." The Professor paused for a beat. "Don was really worried about you."
"I know, the way he hugged me back there said more than words could ever express. I promised him we'd talk later."
...
When they arrived back at the campsite Maureen looked as if she was ready to read out her oldest daughter, but after exchanging an unreadable glance with her husband, she softened her look.
"Judy, I'm so glad that you're safe," she said, embracing her daughter.
As her mother and sister listened, Judy recounted the tale of her encounter with the giant spider. Residue from the web was still adhered to her hair and clothing.
"Mother, I'm so sorry for making you worry," she finished.
"Well, you're safe now. Come on inside, I'll help you get cleaned up. Come on Penny, I could use your help too."
"Okay, Mom," she answered, as they strode up the ramp to the interior of the ship.
Professor Robinson watched them walk away before he turned to Smith.
"You saved my daughter's life this evening, Doctor Smith. For that, I'm very grateful."
"Believe me, Professor Robinson. I would never want to see anything happen to your children…"
"Then why do you insist on…" Robinson stopped himself, realizing that he was raising his voice. "Forgive me. I'm not acting very grateful, now am I?"
"I know that I've caused you and your family nothing but trouble. Whatever punishment you have in mind for me is more than justified, Professor," said the despondent Doctor Smith.
"That's the first true statement I've ever heard you make, Smith," quipped the Major.
"Knock it off, Don," said the Professor, obviously irritated. "To be honest with you, Doctor Smith, I don't know what to do with you. But I won't forget what you did tonight when I do make my decision."
"You are a fair man, Professor," Smith said, as he retreated into the ship.
Robinson watched the hapless man walk into the Jupiter, still very much torn about what he should about the situation.
"Wait a minute, John. Don't tell me that you're going to let Smith slide again, are you?"
John turned to face his friend, "Maybe you weren't listening, Don." There was both anger and frustration in his voice. Before he said something that he would regret, John turned and walked up the ramp into the ship. West shrugged his shoulders and went back to work on the force field.
...
Later that evening, after they had eaten, Professor Robinson gathered his family, and Major West, around the outdoor table to discuss the problem of Doctor Smith. Will, who had not left his bed in three days, was getting his first look at their new, albeit, temporary home.
"… and there is a stream that flows into a lake, just south of the ship," Penny was telling her brother. "We can go swimming, and fishing and…"
"Now just hold on, you two," interjected the Professor. "We still need to determine if it is safe. And until Don and I finish that task, nobody, and I mean nobody, is to go near the water. Besides, we still have a lot of work to do here. Tomorrow, I want to start drilling the artesian well and pipe it into the ship's water purification system. The hole also needs to be dug for the septic system…"
"I can do that, Dad," said Will. He had dug the hole on the first two planets that they had been stranded on.
"No, Son," interjected John. "You suffered a moderate concussion during the crash. You are to consider yourself on light duty for the next few weeks. Don has some circuit boards from the navigation system that need to be reworked. If your mother approves, and if you are feeling up to it, you can help Don in the control room."
"But Dad, I'm fine. It won't…"
"You heard me, William."
Will knew that arguing further would be pointless. "Yes, sir," he said, in resignation.
John stood from the table and faced his family.
"While we are on the subject of orders, I have another, and this goes for everyone. No one is to leave the camp area alone, for any reason. If we need to venture beyond the immediate area, we will do so in pairs. Robot, that will be your responsibility."
"Understood, Professor Robinson, I will make sure that all personnel comply with your instructions."
"Now, until we have a better idea of the hidden dangers this planet has to offer, no one leaves the camp unarmed. Will, Penny, that includes both of you as well. I think you are both old enough to handle a weapon safely."
"I don't like guns, besides, Will has much more experience with the lasers than I do," Penny said.
"Yes, Penny, I know," said the Professor. "If we were on Earth, this wouldn't be a problem. But regardless of how much this planet may remind us of home, this isn't Earth. Peril could be lurking around every corner, just like Judy found out this evening."
"John, aren't you going a little overboard here?" asked Don. "I mean, we've survived on planets much more hostile than this one."
"Yes, we have. But until now, every planet we have spent any amount of time on has been very alien in appearance. The flora, the landscape, the smells, everything that assailed our senses reminded us that we were in uncharted territory. Now, we find ourselves in a valley that could easily be somewhere in the American Midwest. The trees, the grass, even some of the animal life we've seen could be found on Earth."
"I suppose you're right," said the Major. "Being up on that ridge today, it reminded me of Colorado."
"Exactly my point," continued Robinson. "Until we learn our environment, we need to be extra careful. Judy, tomorrow, I want you to familiarize your sister with the hand lasers. Make sure that she is comfortable handling and firing the weapon."
"I will, Dad. Don't worry, Penny. I'll have you outshooting Will in no time," said Judy, giving her brother a wink.
"That 'ill be the day," responded Will, playing along.
"Oh yeah, I'll see you on the shooting range, Will Robinson," Penny said, defiantly.
"Before we get into that," interjected the Professor, "we need to discuss Doctor Smith."
"Oh, Dad, you're not really considering banishing him, are you?" asked Penny.
Robinson lowered his eyes, "As much as I'm ashamed to admit it, I did seriously consider it. But your mother and Judy are right. Regardless of what he has done, he is still a human being."
"I see where this is going," said Don. "Smith skates away scot-free, again. You know, once, just once, I'd like to see him answer for his actions."
"Don!" Judy cried out.
"Oh, Don, you can't stay angry with him forever," said Maureen, in her voice of reason. "In fact, I think you still haven't thanked him for saving Judy's life. It seems to me that you owe Doctor Smith just as much as she does."
Don deflated, "You've got a point, Maureen. I guess I do owe him for that."
"Trust me, Don. Doctor Smith is not going to skate from this one," continued the Professor.
"What did you have in mind, John?"
It was Maureen that asked the question, for once uncharacteristically unable to read her husband. The warmth in his smile gave her much needed reassurance. While the group listened, Professor Robinson laid out his plan.