Lane floundered crazily, leaped across the control room and plucked a gun from his locker. "This'll make it easier," he gasped, lifting the weapon to his head. "Somebody's got to fly that capsule--" [Illustration: _Lane plucked a gun from his locker. "This'll make it easier," he gasped, lifting the weapon to his head._] * * * * * For ten minutes no one spoke. It was hard to speak--each breath was a torture to the lungs. "Lejeune," said Geitz finally, in short gasps, "in God's name will you get into the capsule and take that cylinder to Mercury? One of us has got to go--for Lane's sake!" Lejeune, sprawled out on the pilot's bunk, made no reply. The captain stood before the dull gray view-screen, watched him a moment, thoughtfully. "Can't you reverse the field?" he asked at length. "I'd like to see the System just once more." Rogers had already made a few deft motions on the instrument panel. Presently, the screen came to life. Its scope possessed a bright halo--the sun's glow. In the center of the screen Mercury was visible, a faint, receding globe. Rogers moved the scope slowly until he found the feeble point of light that designated the earth. He watched it grimly. "Satisfied, Geitz?" "Dr. Geitz is dead," came Lejeune's monotone. Rogers turned. The doctor lay on his face, immobile and silent. "The heat," said Rogers, "and his age." They carried him to the supply room, laid him beside the inert form of Lane. The two men stood watching earth's dull glimmer on the screen. The heat pressed them relentlessly, always increasing-- "Take the capsule, Lejeune. You've no reason to remain." "I prefer to stay, Captain Rogers. You have relatives--it is only proper that you should fly the capsule." "Under any circumstances, Lejeune, the captain does not leave his ship in distress. Should I return to earth without the rest of you, I would lose my rank unquestionably. Now, before we draw too close, take the cylinder to Mercury! You're a fool not to!" "M'sieu Rogers, I possess magnificent renown as a fool. I shall remain." "But the cylinder--" "The cylinder, Captain Rogers, be damned." They looked at each other a long minute. Rogers, stripped to the waist, perspiring, his thick black hair hanging in his eyes; Lejeune, small, wiry, faint traces of a smile lurking on his lips. Suddenly the floor shook beneath them. A violent shudder passed through the ship from stem to stern. The momentum of the sunward fall increased. Regaining his balance, Rogers gasped, "Good God--the capsule!" They saw a flash of light on the screen, saw the tiny rocket streak for Mercury in a flare of brilliance. It dwindled rapidly to a receding speck that was swallowed in the depths of space. Speechless, Rogers and Lejeune raced to the supply room. They found Lane there, but no Geitz and no cylinder. Needles on the face of the capsule compartment jutting out from the wall registered zero.