"I come in through the duct, Cap'n," Thomas said. "I check the ducts every day. You know, Cap'n," he said shaking his head, "they's some bad laid-out ductin' in this here system. If I didn't keep after it, you'd be gettin' clogged ducts all the time. So I jist go through the system and keep her clear." From somewhere, hope began again. "Where do these ducts lead?" I asked. I wondered how the man could ignore the mutiny going on around him. "Well, sir, one leads to the mess; that's the big one. One leads to the wardroom, and the other one leads up to the Bridge." My God, I thought, the Bridge. "How big are they?" I asked. "Could I get through them?" "Oh, sure, Cap'n," Thomas said. "You can get through 'em easy. But are you sure you feel like inspectin' with them busted ribs?" I was beginning to realize that Thomas was not precisely a genius. "I can make it," I said. "Cap'n," Thomas said diffidently, "it ain't none a my business, but don't you think maybe I better get the doctor for ya?" "Thomas," I said, "maybe you don't know; there's a mutiny under way aboard this ship. The doctor is leading it. I want to get to the Bridge in the worst way. Let's get started." Thomas looked very shocked. "Cap'n, you mean you was hurt by somebody? I mean you didn't have a fall or nothin', you was beat up?" He stared at me with an expression of incredulous horror. "That's about the size of it," I said. I managed to sit up. Thomas jumped forward and helped me to my feet. Then I saw that he was crying. "You can count on me, Cap'n," he said. "Jist lemme know who done it, an' I'll feed 'em into my converter." I stood leaning against the wall, waiting for my head to stop spinning. Breathing was difficult, but if I kept it shallow, I could manage. Thomas was opening a panel on the side of the converter unit. "It's O.K. to go in Cap'n," he said. "She ain't operatin'." The pull of the two and a half gees seemed to bother him very little. I could barely stand under it, holding on. Thomas saw my wavering step and jumped to help me. He boosted me into the chamber of the converter and pointed out an opening near the top, about twelve by twenty-four inches. "That there one is to the Bridge, Cap'n," he said. "If you'll start in there, sir, I'll follow up." * * * * * I thrust head and shoulders into the opening. Inside it was smooth metal, with no handholds. I clawed at it trying to get farther in. The pain stabbed at my chest. "Cap'n, they're workin' on the door," Thomas said. "They already been at it for a little while. We better get goin'." "You'd better give me a push, Thomas," I said. My voice echoed hollowly down the duct. Thomas crowded into the chamber behind me then, lifting my legs and pushing. I eased into the duct. The pain was not so bad now.