In other words, the explosion the harmless-looking cylinder could produce
was equivalent to ten thousand tons of TNT, a chemical explosive no
longer in actual use but still used for comparison.
Rip asked huskily, "Any more of those things?" The importance of the job
was becoming increasingly clear to him. Nuclear explosives were not used
without good reason. The fissionable material was too valuable for other
purposes.
The sides came off the remaining cases. Some of them held fat tubes of
conventional rocket fuel in solid form, the igniters carefully packed
separately.
There were three other atomic bombs, making four in all. There were two
bombs each of five KT and ten KT.
Commander O'Brine looked at the amazing assortment of stuff. "Does that
check, clerk?"
The spaceman nodded. "Yes, sir. I found another notation that says food
supplies and personal equipment to be supplied by the _Scorpius_."
"Well, vack me for a Venusian rabbit!" O'Brine muttered. He tugged at his
ear. "You could dump me on that asteroid with this assortment of junk,
and I'd spend the rest of my life there. I don't see how you can use this
stuff to move an asteroid!"
"Maybe that's why the Federation sent Planeteers," Rip said--and was
sorry the moment the words were out.
Pages:
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62