"
There were quick replies. No one else had been injured.
"Run for the cave," Rip commanded. "Follow Koa. Santos and Pederson, drag
Bradshaw."
The Englishman's voice sounded bubbly. "I can make it."
"Good for you!" Rip exclaimed. "Call if you need help."
Koa was already out of the craft and leading the way. Rip went out
through a window and saw the cause of the trouble. Dowst had been a
hair too close to the asteroid. A particularly high crystal of thorium
had snagged the landing craft.
Rip looked for the Connie and saw it make another turn. They had only a
moment or two before the next run. "Show an exhaust!" he called. The
Connie must have blasted the opposite side of the asteroid while they
were hung up.
The cave was a quarter of the asteroid away. Rip stayed in the rear,
watching for stragglers, but even Bradshaw was moving rapidly. Koa
reached the cave well ahead of the rest, reached for a rack of rockets,
and slapped it into the launcher.
Rip urged the men on. The Connie was squared off for another run.
They catapulted to safety as the cruiser flamed past, the exhaust
splashing over the metal and sending sparks into the cave.
Rip looked out. That, if he had guessed right, was the last run.
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