Part 26 (2/2)
The decision made, he put his mind to the problem. There must be some way out. There must be!
He surveyed the asteroid. The nuclear charge was on his left side, pretty close to the sun line. At least he and Santos could angle to the right, to get as far away from the blast as possible.
The edge of the asteroid's shadow was barely visible. That it was visible at all was due to the minute particles of matter and gas that surrounded the sun, even millions of miles out into s.p.a.ce. He reduced helmet power and told Santos, ”Angle to the right. Get as close to the edge of shadow as you can without being cooked.”
As an afterthought, he asked, ”How many tubes do you have?”
”One after this, sir. I had three.”
Rip also had one left. That was correct, because snapper-boats carried three in each man's position.
”Save the one you have left,” he ordered.
He didn't know yet what use they would be, but it was always a good idea to have some kind of reserve.
The Connie cruiser was sliding up to the crippled a.s.sault boat. Rip took a quick look, then s.h.i.+fted his hands, and angled toward the edge of shadow.
When he was within a few feet he reversed the direction of the tube to keep from shooting out into sunlight. A second or two later the tube burned out.
Santos was several yards away and slightly above him. Rip saw that the Planeteer was all right and turned his attention to the cruiser once more.
It was close enough to the a.s.sault boat to haul it in with grappling hooks. The hooks emerged and engaged the torn metal of the boat, then drew it into the waiting port. The ma.s.sive air door slid closed.
The question was, would the Connie try to set his s.h.i.+p down on the asteroid? Rip grinned without mirth. Now would be a fine time. His chronometer showed a minute and half to blast time.
He took another look at his own situation. He and Santos were getting close to the asteroid, but there was still over a half mile earth distance to go. They would cover perhaps three-fourths of that distance before Koa fired the charge.
He had a daring idea. How long could he and Santos last in direct sunlight? The effect of the sun in the open was powerful enough to make lead run like water. Their suits could absorb some heat and the ventilating system could take care of quite a lot. They might last as much as three minutes, with luck.
They had to take a risk with the full knowledge that the odds were against them. But if they didn't take the risk, the blast would push them outward from the asteroid-into full sunlight. The end result would be the same.
”We're not going to make it, Santos,” he began.
”I know it, sir,” Santos replied.
Rip thought, anyone with that much coolness and sheer nerve rated some kind of special treatment. And the Filipino corporal had shown his ability time and time again. He said, ”I should have known you knew, _Sergeant_ Santos. We still have a slight chance. When I give the word, use an air bottle to push you into the sunlight. When I give the word again, light off your remaining tube.”
”Yessir,” Santos replied. ”Thank you for the promotion. I hope I live to collect the extra rating.”
”Same here,” Rip agreed fervently. His eyes were on his chronometer, and with his free hand he took another air bottle. When the chronometer registered exactly one minute before blast time, he called, ”Now!” He triggered the bottle and moved from shadow into glaring sunlight. A slight motion of the bottle turned him so his back was to the sun, then he used the remaining compressed air to push him downward along the edge of shadow. The sun's gravity tugged at him.
He pulled the last tube from his belt and held it ready while he watched his chronometer creep around. With five seconds to go, he called to Santos and fired it. Acceleration pushed at him.
In the same moment, the nuclear charge exploded.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN - RIDE THE GRAY PLANET!
A mighty hand reached out and shoved Rip, sweeping him through s.p.a.ce like a dust mote. He clutched his propulsion tube with both hands and fought to hold it steady.
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