find them!"
94 North went back to the scout and entering its storage section began
donning his space suit. Thundering River stopped in long enough to help
him secure the seals and strap down his wings. "You shouldn't be going
out alone," the other Officer complained.
95 "I want none of you coming out in those ill fitting suits," ordered
North, "unless it's an absolute emergency, unless I get in trouble.
You've got enough to do here. How's the woman?"
96 "Dead, sir, she died almost the moment I put her in the med com.
Couldn't revive her. I don't know how she lived as long as she did. The
other two serious ones are in a bad way, but I think they'll make it.
The med com's just finishing the outer stitching on the first one now.
I'll get the other one in as soon as it's done. Then it's just a matter
of maintenance until help arrives."
97 North secured his helmet, checked his power and air supply. "Have
someone check with me every fifteen to twenty-five minutes," he
ordered. From the storage locker he took a cutting torch, energy detector, magnetic
propulsion unit, and some extra lights. When these were all secure, he
headed for the air lock.
98 "There's a lot of ship for one man to search, sir," asked Thundering
River, "how will you manage it?"
99 "I'll use the energy detector," answered North. "Any place that's
still using energy I'll check. There won't be any need to check the
places that aren't. Anybody in them will have suffocated or froze to
death by now.
100 The young Officer nodded. North cycled the air lock and stepped out
into the darkness of space. Making his way along the ship, he checked
compartment after compartment until he came to an air lock that showed
energy. Opening the access panel, he put the middle finger of his left
hand into the intercom socket. "Attention in the air lock!" he called,
"Anybody in there?"