The funny part is, Biggs wasn't even dismayed about it! I made a half-hearted pretense at eating, then skipped up to the bridge to find out what--if anything--Biggs was doing about this new disaster. The answer was obvious. Absolutely nothing. Pale of face, but still determined of mien, he was sitting in the control pilot's lounge-chair shaking his head stubbornly as Cap Hanson, Lt. Todd, Chief Engineer Garrity and every other brevetman aboard the ship bombarded him with pleas to "do something!" "Gentlemen," he said, "gentlemen, I ask you to remember that Captain Hanson assigned me the privilege of navigating this trip. As navigator, it is my right to do what I consider best--" Todd, who liked Biggs, said nervously, "But, Lance, we're right in the middle of the vacuole! Aren't you going to give orders for a back-drag? We've got to get out of here. Heaven only knows--" Cap Hanson was purple with impotent rage. "Wait!" he was squalling. "Just wait till we get back to Earth! I'm goin' to have you busted out of the service as soon as--" A strange look came over his face. "Golly! _When_ we get back to Earth? We ain't never gonna get there less'n we do somethin' quick!" Lancelot Biggs said, "Be patient, gentlemen!" Garrity said cajolingly, "Look, lad--mayhap you don't understand the difficulties we're in? Suppose you be a good chap an' let the Skipper take the controls--?" Lancelot Biggs said, "Just be patient. I would like to explain, but I think I'd better not! Not yet--at any rate." Cap looked at me. I put in my two cents' worth. "Mr. Biggs," I said, "you can read those charts on the wall. Don't you see we're being carried hundreds of thousands of miles off course? This vacuole is traveling way over to the right of our course, hitting an abnormal rate of speed--and we're imbedded in it like a fly in amber. We've already lost the race; pretty soon we'll lose our--" I stopped, not wanting to say "lives" in front of Diane. Lancelot looked at me somberly. "I should have thought, Sparks," he told me, "that _you_ would understand. With your education and training--" But he seemed undecided. He stared at Diane. "Diane--you believe in me, don't you?" Boy, I'll tell you that gal has what it takes. A long moment passed, during which Diane looked squarely into Lancelot Biggs' eyes. What she found there, only she could tell you. But, "Yes, Lancelot," she said. "I trust you." His shoulders stiffened, then, just the slightest bit. And a faint smile gathered at the corners of his lips. He said, "That's all I wanted to hear. Very well, gentlemen, be patient for just ten more hours...." * * * * *