Mendel explained, "Your six-months' goodies are in there." "Oh, fine. In what condition?" Blair said, "This fat character here won't let me in to find out. The whole section's at half-pressure by now." "Then he's right," said Wiley. "I hate to admit it, but he's right. Double the pressure all at once, you're liable to knock the meteor right out of the hole. If pressure's going down that slow right now, it means the meteor's partially plugging the leak." "And what happens when you guys yank the meteor out? Same difference." "Not the same," said Mendel. "This way, nobody gets killed." Blair shrugged angrily. Wiley said, "Maybe we can work something. Vacuum won't hurt the goodies, will it?" "It may explode the cases," said Blair. "That shouldn't do too much damage. I'm worried about it being flipped outside. The cases'll burst, and the whole shipment'll be scattered to hell-angone." Wiley nodded. "We'll try to lower the pressure slow and easy. Have you cut off the air supply in that section?" "First thing," said Mendel. "Good. We'll need two guys on the outside to give us a hand. Do you want to, Glenn?" "Damn right," said Blair. He got to his feet. "I'll suit up." Wiley stopped him at the door. "Don't worry, boy," he said. "Nobody's going to blame you if it goes wrong." * * * * * Blair studied him, then said, "Tell me, Ed. If that shipment doesn't get out to QB, will it be a very pleasant place to live the next few months." Wiley returned his gaze a moment, then shook his head. "No, it won't. We'll have to hide the razor blades." "How do you feel now, Ed?" pursued Blair. "Happy in your work, content with the job and the pay and the living conditions? How are you going to feel two months from now?" "I know that, Glenn. Believe me, I know exactly what you mean. Don't forget, I _come_ from QB. If there's any way at all to fix that strike and save the cargo, I'll do it." "What do you figure your chances, Ed?" "It's hard to say, before we get a closer look. Maybe fifty-fifty." "If I open the Section Five door and go in there and get that cargo out, what are the chances of the meteor being knocked out? Fifty-fifty?" "Less than that, Glenn. You've only got half-pressure in there, you tell me." Wiley patted his shoulder. "We'll work it out," he said. "I'm glad to hear it." * * * * * Blair left the office and took the elevator down to Section Two and his cubicle. As he was getting into his suit, there was a knock at the door. He grunted, and Ricks came in. The two had been avoiding each other for the last two weeks, Ricks more obviously than Blair. Whenever one entered a room--mess hall or library or whatever--the other immediately left. When they passed one another in a corridor, they looked straight ahead with no acknowledgment.