Rajcik checked the positioning lines on the monster, examined the stays and turnbuckles that held it in place, and returned to the cabin. "All in order, Boss," he reported to Captain Somers, with the smile that only an employer's son-in-law can both manage and afford. "Mr. Watkins, do you read anything?" Watkins was at his own instrument panel. "Not a thing, sir. I'll vouch for every bit of equipment in _Dierdre_." "Very well. How long before we reach Point Baker?" "Three minutes, Chief," Rajcik said. "Good." The spaceship hung in the void, all sensation of speed lost for lack of a reference point. Beyond the portholes was darkness, the true color of the Universe, perforated by the brilliant lost points of the stars. Captain Somers turned away from the disturbing reminder of his extreme finitude and wondered if he could land _Dierdre_ without shifting the computer. It was by far the largest, heaviest and most delicate piece of equipment ever transported in space. He worried about that machine. Its value ran into the billions of dollars, for Mars Colony had ordered the best possible, a machine whose utility would offset the immense transportation charge across space. As a result, the Fahrensen Computer was perhaps the most complex and advanced machine ever built by Man. "Ten seconds to Point Baker," Rajcik announced. "Very well." Somers readied himself at the control board. "Four--three--two--one--fire!" * * * * * Somers activated the engines. Acceleration pressed the three men back into their couches, and more acceleration, and--shockingly--still more acceleration. "The fuel!" Watkins yelped, watching his indicators spinning. "The course!" Rajcik gasped, fighting for breath. Captain Somers cut the engine switch. The engines continued firing, pressing the men deeper into their couches. The cabin lights flickered, went out, came on again. And still the acceleration mounted and _Dierdre's_ engines howled in agony, thrusting the ship forward. Somers raised one leaden hand and inched it toward the emergency cut-off switch. With a fantastic expenditure of energy, he reached the switch, depressed it. The engines stopped with dramatic suddenness, while tortured metal creaked and groaned. The lights flickered rapidly, as though _Dierdre_ were blinking in pain. They steadied and then there was silence. Watkins hurried to the engine room. He returned morosely. "Of all the damn things," he muttered. "What was it?" Captain Somers asked. "Main firing circuit. It fused on us." He shook his head. "Metal fatigue, I'd say. It must have been flawed for years." "When was it last checked out?" "Well, it's a sealed unit. Supposed to outlast the ship. Absolutely foolproof, unless--" "Unless it's flawed." "Don't blame it on me! Those circuits are supposed to be X-rayed, heat-treated, fluoroscoped--you just can't trust machinery!" At last Watkins believed that engineering axiom.