101 "Yes! Yes!" came a voice, "Engineer Flaming
Cloud and maintenance Slave Little Fox. Who's out there?"
102 North identified himself, and told the Engineer what was happening.
"What's your status?" he asked.
103 "Little Fox is kind of banged up," explained Flaming Cloud, "but I
managed to drag him in here before the compartment lost air. We've been
living off the emergency system ever since. With just the two of us, we
got plenty of energy and plenty of air. Don't worry about us,
General. Continue checking the rest of the ship We'll be o.k. 'til you
get back. "
104 "O.k.," North agreed. "I'll be back for you, somehow, as quick as I
can. Hold on!"
105 Making his way along the ship North came to a mid-compartment just
before the bend that was still using energy. He plugged into an access
hatch and wired the intercom. He was greeted by a cheer from several voices
inside. "Communications Officer Bright Moon," a voice finally answered.
"Who's out there?"
106 North explained and asked their status. "We're in a bad way, sir,"
the man answered. "There's four of us, and I'm about the only one
mobile. We're down to about an hour-and-a-half of air, and what we
got's getting pretty foul."
107 North looked at the hull. There was a gaping hole ahead of him. "I
think," he remarked, "I can reach your emergency units from the back
side. I'll get some oxygen and refresher bottles from another unit and
plug them in. Hold on. I'll get back to you as quick as I can."
108 As North worked his way down the hull, Little Star called him. "Check in time, sir! Are you all right? You've
been out two-and-a-half hours."
109 North was just rounding the edge of the break