10 Step by step they went up to one per cent
thrust, twenty-five per cent, fifty, sixty, seventy-five, eighty. Then
the engine would give no more. "Eighty's the best she'll give,"
Engineering announced, "but she's running cool and steady. We've got a
good system engine!"
11 The Ain't been There Yet cruised along beside them barely able to
keep up with The Morning Star even with only one of her system engines
functioning.
12 North called "You two had better turn back," he recommended. "Don't
strain your engines. We're o.k. now."
13 "We'd like to stick with you, sir," the young Engineer replied, "at
least 'til you fire up your star drive. We don't want you deep in space
if they should blow out."
14 "Helm," ordered North, "cut back to 70 per cent, so our escort can
keep up with us."
15 "Yes, sir," Helm answered.
16 "How long before we can fire up to star drive?" North asked.
17 "Twenty-nine hours, sir," Navigation answered.
18 "Our course is plotted. Navigation?"
19 "We're dead on, sir. We'll be ready for leap one hour after we fire
the star drive. I'm jumping by the two nearest systems, getting as much
out of each crystal as we can."
20 "Right," agreed North. "I'm going to get some sleep. Well done,
gentlemen!"
21 North stopped by Engineering and thanked his Chief, then got some
rest. He was back on the command deck in plenty of time for the fire
up. The engines lit perfectly! Their bright white exhaust showed no
sign of impurity. This safely done, The Ain't Been There Yet throttled
back and sat in space, monitoring them, as The Morning Star dropped
crystal and winked out of existence. Then The Ain't Been There Yet
slowly turned around.