"
"I might have," Rip admitted, "but I wasn't in very good shape. The only
thing I could think of was getting into air so I could have my arm
treated. Commander, we've moved the asteroid. Now we have to correct
course. And we have to get some new equipment, including nuclite
shielding. Also, sir, I'd appreciate it if you'd let my men clean up and
eat. They haven't been in air since we left the cruiser."
For answer, O'Brine strode to the operating-room communicator. "Get it,"
he called. "The deputy commander will prepare landing boat one and issue
new space suits and helmets for all Planeteers with damaged equipment.
Put in two rolls of nuclite. Sergeant Major Koa will see that all
Planeteers have an opportunity to clean up and eat. They will return to
the asteroid in one hour."
Rip asked, "Will I be able to go into space by then?"
The doctor replied, "Your arm will be normal in about twenty minutes. It
will ache some, but you'll have full use of it. We'll bring you back to
the ship in about twenty-four hours for another look at it, just to be
sure."
Sixty minutes later, clean, fed, and contented, the Planeteers were again
on the thorium planet, while the _Scorpius_, riding the same orbit, stood
by a few miles out in space.
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