Kemp bent down, and
the torch sliced into the metal of the asteroid like a hot knife into
ice. The metal splintered a little as the heat raised it instantly from
almost absolute zero to many thousands of degrees.
When the circle was completed, Kemp adjusted his torch again, and the
flame lengthened. He moved inside the circle and cut at an angle toward
the perimeter. His control was quick and certain. In a moment he stood
aside, and Koa lifted out a perfect ring of thorium. It varied from a
knife edge on the inner side to eighteen inches on the outer side.
In the middle of the circle there was now a cone of metal. Kemp cut
around it, the torch angling toward the center. A piece shaped like
two cones set base to base came free. Since the metal cooled in the
bitter chill of space almost as fast as Kemp could cut it, there was no
heat to worry about.
Alternately cutting from the outside and the center of the hole, Kemp
worked his way downward until his head was below ground level. Rip
called a halt. Kemp gave a little jump and floated straight upward. Koa
caught him and swung him to one side. Rip stepped into the hole, and
Santos gave him a slight push to send him to the bottom. Rip knelt and
sighted upward.
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