X

           Hewasstudyingtheremainingoxygenforthelasttime,hopingsomeunnoticedmiraclewouldhaveaddedanotherzerototheremorselessnumberonthegauge.Ashewatchedthecounterconcludeitswork,thelastdigitinlineblinkedfromninetoeight.Therewasathumpingsoundfromtheentrywayandhespun,relaxedwhenhesawitwasParkerandBrett.

           Parkerdumpedanarmloadofmetaltubesontothefloor.Eachwasabouttwicethediametreofaman’sthumb.Theyclatteredhollowly,soundingandlookingverylittlelikeweapons.Brettuntangledhimselffromseveralmetresofnetting,lookedpleasedwithhimself.

           ’Here’sthestuff.Alltestedandreadytogo.’

           Dallasnodded.’I’llcalltheothers.’Hesoundedgeneralcalltobridge,passedthetimewaitingfortherestofthecrewtoarriveininspectingthecollectionoftubesdoubtfully.Ashwasthelasttoarrive,havingthefarthesttocome.

           ’We’regoingtotrytocoercethatthingwiththose?’Lambertwaspointingatthetubes,hertoneleavinglittledoubtastoheropinionoftheireffectiveness.

           ’Givethemachance,’Dallassaid.’Everybodytakeone.’TheylinedupandBrettpassedouttheunits.Eachwasaboutametreandahalflong.Oneendbulgedwithcompactinstrumentationandformedacrudehandhold.Dallasswungthetubearoundlikeasabre,gettingthefeelofit.Itwasn’theavy,whichmadehimfeelbetteraboutit.Hewantedsomethinghecouldgetbetweenhimselfandthealieninahurry,acidicexpectorationsorotherunimaginableformsofdefencenotwithstanding.