"That tears it, Joe," Bairn said. "I'm sorry, Joe. But we have no recourse but to lock you up. You're a walking plague, and socking Arden was the last straw." From the floor, Burnet said weakly: "But Arden had it coming...." "We can't be the judge of that. Joe is worth no consideration now. Don, lock Joe up in one of the empty storage rooms, but don't get near him." "Right," said Timnson, the mathematician. "Come on, Wilding." Joe started to move away, stopped and said: "See that one of the twins looks after Paul, will you?" "Go on," said Bairn. Joe went ahead of Timnson. * * * * * The heavy door clanged shut behind Joe, and he was alone in the darkness. The motors were still silent, and he wondered how much damage the meteorite had done to the ship. He felt his way to the communications phone, unhooked it. But the steady hum that signified that it was alive was absent. Even the call speaker gave no sound. Wearied, Joe sat down against the wall, and despite the hunger feeling throbbing in his stomach fell asleep. It was the overhead light shining into his eyes that awakened him. His ears sought for the sound of the motors, no familiar thrum. The wandering meteor must have done quite a bit of damage. The communications phone buzzed. Joe answered. "Hello, Joe," it was Burnet's voice. "How are you, Paul? The dizziness gone?" "Right, but I guess it doesn't do any good. We're not going anywhere." Burnet's voice was a little strained. "Why?" put in Joe. "That damn meteor knocked hell out of the rear blasting tubes, and some of the fellows are outside trying to replace the busted ones. But even if they get it fixed we're still derelict. That meteor took all of our water, and I guess you know what that means." Joe was silent. Then: "No catalyst, no move, is that it, Paul?" "Uh huh," Paul answered, "No H-2-O, no go." "The cans," Joe said, abruptly. "Cans?" Paul questioned over the wire. "Cans?" "Sure," said Joe, and he was breathless as he hurried on. "Paul, all that canned food. There's water in them. And there must be some water left in the pipes to the kitchen and the lav? Have they thought of that?" "Yes," said Paul. "The pipes, I mean, not the cans. Arden and Bairn are having the pipes pumped out now, Doc Guetschow tells me. But I'll pass along the can suggestion." "Was it really bad?" Joe asked. "Sure, they got the power room sealed again. But that water compartment was mashed to junk, and the water just went pftt! It's a good thing you got out there when you did, or you'd have been pftt! too. I'll ring you back with any later developments." Joe pronged the receiver. He began to pace the room. He couldn't stay in here. There must be something he could do out there. But this room was better than any prison. His eyes searched the room. Joe's eyes were sparkling all of a sudden. Bless the planners who laid out this ship!