You had to learn to use the television and the other corny "entertainment"--let it soak you up, take you away for awhile. He could have Bailey put under dormisol, so he'd sleep through the rest of the trip. But he was needed. But he could request it, and DiCredico would do it. Bailey did not request it. He went back and shook hands with Regan, who was very decent about it all, and sat down to learn to use the television. Things were a little better after that. ... _And they relaxed a little, the many that were one_ ... Krotzer's reports kept coming in, and they were nearing the unknown satellite. Everyone felt a little numble-witted because the meteor patch was leaking and pressure was low. DiCredico kept a tight routine and they leaned into it for support. Finally a little red globe appeared on the viewer, and they were approaching Katherine Two. They followed Krotzer's bearings and they saw his ship and near it the bubble. Nobody responded when they fired flares. The Ranger touched down. DiCredico took Bailey, Regan, and the medic Fry out with him. Conditions were similar to earth, and they wore no space suits. They swished through red waist-high growths like spongy fern. "There's his ship," said Fry. "It doesn't look in bad shape." "Can't tell," said DiCredico. "Funny things happen." They reached the ship and paused by it. It appeared unharmed. A body lay near it, burned in two. Matt turned to the skipper. "It looks like--like a heater did it. Do you suppose these things have something like that?" "Funny things happen," said DiCredico. "Anyway, he's dead. Let's get on to Krotzer." They saw that Krotzer had half-opaqued his bubble. They would have to come in close enough to see and be seen through it for him to know they were there. Nobody saw any indication of life or motion outside it. "We'll give it a wide circle," said DiCredico. "See if there's any visible danger." It took twenty minutes to make the circle. Nobody saw anything. "Something's damned queer," said Regan. "Something's always queer," said DiCredico. "Now, here's the plan. Get your suits on. From Krotzer's reports, whatever is after him is stopped or impeded by material substance. Then we go in one at a time. I go first. If nothing happens to me, Regan comes in. If he makes it, Bailey. Then Fry. If anything goes wrong, I want the man with next turn to try the other side of the bubble. Except you, Fry. If you're the only one left, get back to the ship. You'll have to make a report, and you and the men can decide the next step. Dig?" They nodded. DiCredico sauntered off through the spongy feathers. He reached the bubble, looked in, waved on Regan. Regan reached it, peered into it, turned and waved to Bailey, an odd expression on his face. * * * * *