The little wizened face came out of it, grinning like a monkey's. "It works, sir! I was in a good five minutes. Look here--the glass lens is all pitted and scored, but the mica isn't touched. Something funny out there in that ocean, though." "What do you mean?" "Something with legs, only they weren't exactly legs, either--" "Careful with that space suit there, Jake. Material's brittle after that cold." Adam raised his voice. "Look here men. We have a job on our hands. We must make and install port covers for every port on the ship. You know, the regular collision covers--beryll-steel. Jake, go up forward and get a dozen men, while you, Bjornsen, fix those mica covers on a dozen space suit helmets. Make it snappy, for Heaven's sake. We have just one hour to work in." "Beg pardon, sir, but wouldn't it be easier to do it outside this atmosphere?" "Haven't the fuel. Hurry!" The ship rang with orderly disorder, as man after man of the off-duty watch reported, received the space suit with the new mica windows, and passed out through the air-lock in compartment eighteen to join the others who were adjusting protective collision-shutters over the big ship's ports. The last man through, Adam embarked on an inspection tour of the ship. Compartment 23 checked--all ports shuttered; compartment 22-- A bell rang violently, and the loudspeaker system shouted: "First Mate Longworth wanted in the Captain's cabin at once. First Mate Longworth wanted--" "First Mate Longworth reporting," Adam remarked into his chest phone, and hurried along the corridor. Captain McCausland was seated at his desk, drumming on it with his fingers. "Mister Mate," he burst out, as Adam entered, "do you know what time it is?" "No, sir." The Captain indicated the space-chronometer set in the wall. "Your hour is up. Call your men in. We're leaving." "But, sir, they're nearly finished--" "Mister Mate, I have taken the trouble to explain my orders to you once before. I'll do it once more, so there will be no possible mistake. I'm responsible for the safety of this expedition and the lives of the people aboard. In the present case it's my responsibility to see that this cold fluorine ocean doesn't eat through the ports and put everyone to a horrible death, corroding as it freezes them--including Miss de Vries. Call in your men. That's an order!" Adam's mind filled suddenly with the picture of Paulette struggling vainly to beat back the hideous icy wave of acid at a temperature lower than anything on Earth, of.... He lifted his chest phone and spoke slowly. "Working party outside; abandon work and return at once. Enter by lock in compartment eighteen." * * * * * The sound of hammers and the grind of wrenches on the outer hull went on uninterrupted. An expression of surprise spread across Adam's face; Captain McCausland's darkened with anger. "First Mate Longworth speaking! Did you hear me? Burchall, answer at once!"