A gentle rap on the door. "Tim, are you awake?" After a moment of silence, Jack White got to his feet and tiptoed out. Avery was on the other side of the door. "He's asleep, El," White informed him, "Very sick--heart. Doc Keighley was here and says he'll be in bed at least till turnover. He told me that you were to take command--Tim Daneshaw, that is." The two men moved away from the closed door. Elbert Avery turned to face White. "What's that about command?" he asked sharply. "He wants you to take over. Thinks you're the best man for it. Likes the way you handled the passengers and crew over the gyro business." "Fine job I'd make of awarding bridge prizes and settling arguments between second and third cooks on how much salt in the buns." Avery sounded gruff but pleased. "Orders are orders," Jack White forced a smile. "Then I guess I'll have to order you back to my turn of duty in the pilot-room while I get my bearings." "El?" Jack was struck with a memory. "The captain said something about Sam Wyckoff, too. He went to sleep before he finished. You better ask him about it next time you see him." "Here he comes now." The frail figure came slowly, deliberately around the curve of the corridor. "Tim probably wanted him to help me out. I hear he took him around the ship for some reason last night." * * * * * Samuel Wyckoff's eyes regarded the floor of the corridor as he approached. If the other men had not moved out of his way and spoken, he would probably have continued his progress to the captain's door without noticing them. "Sam ... Sam Wyckoff. It's not that bad. Doc says he'll be up and around after turnover." Jack White's voice was full of concern. Wyckoff looked up. "What?" he asked dully. Avery repeated, "It's not too bad. Doctor Keighley says he has to rest but he'll be back on his feet in less than three months if we don't get him worried or tired again. That right, Mr. White?" "That's it. And the captain said something about you just as he was dozing off. Mr. Avery here says he thinks he meant for you to help out in the emergency." "He took you all over the ship last night, didn't he?" added Avery. "Well, yes ... but...." "He must have had some idea of what was coming. I've never been in half the labs or the kitchen and Ole Sorensen wouldn't let me nearer to his prize cows than the door of the stable. Not that I'm fond of cows, anyway. So if I've got to take over command for a while, looks as if you're the choice of the boss for liaison man. C'mon along up to the confab room and we'll pow-wow." "But ... I ... that is ... can't I see the captain? He said ... I mean I need to see him. He told me to come this morning." Wyckoff looked from one to the other. White was definite. "Not today, maybe not this week. Doctor's orders. You better get along with Mr. Avery. You know the ship. The captain would want you to keep things running smoothly without a break."