"_Hmmm._ That's not so good. Let's see. If we quadrupled it, that would give us an eighth ... no, that's not enough. Better take a piece and fold it to at least eight thicknesses, then go wrap it around a piece of that metal and bring it into the lock." "That's not too much protection if the stuff's so strong, is it, Pop?" "Well, double that, then. But I think it'll keep the rays off you long enough to bring it in--especially since you'll be in your suit, and if you put on lead-lined gloves." "All right." Jon started out, then turned back. "What about the rest of it when we leave? Do we take it all with us?" "No," slowly. "I doubt if anyone else would find it and steal it before we get back. On the other hand, the more we can take back with us, supposing we learn how to use it and it's as good as we think, the more we could get for it on Terra to give another immediate stake to come back." "I have a thought, Pop. Why not just weld-fasten the whole big box it's now in to the outside of the ship, and make a small box that'll hold some to bring into the ship to experiment with?" Jon's eyes blazed eagerly. "That's a thought!" Jak exclaimed, while their father answered more slowly, "Yes, I believe that could be done safely, especially if we put it back near the stern. Is the ship close enough so the lock servo-mechs can bring in the big box?" "I don't think so," Jon answered after a searching look out of the port-window. "But with our suits on, Jak and I could carry it, couldn't we?" "We've been close to the stuff several times for about as long as it'd take," Jak added, "and it doesn't seem to have hurt us any." "Kind of a large box, isn't it?" Mr. Carver asked quizzically. "Might be sort of heavy." The boys flushed, and Jon picked up his slide rule and did some quick figuring. Then he announced, crestfallen, "Great mackerel, I sure went off half-baked that time. OK, I'll take the ship up and bring it down closer." "That's mighty delicate maneuvering." His mother looked at him in astonishment. "Sure you can do it?" Jon shrugged. "If I can't the first time, I'll try again." His father had to smile at the boy's confidence in himself, but he merely said, "This I've got to watch." Assured everyone was safely strapped in, Jon started the tubes firing, raised the ship into the air--watching his plate closely as he circled about--then came down again ... right beside and not over five feet from port-lock to box. "That's perfect," his father cried delightedly, watching in his plate. "You're sure getting to be an expert pilot, Son." "And you're getting too excited and too tired from all this, Tad," Mrs. Carver said determinedly. "We'll have no more of it today. You boys go into the living room, and you, Mr. C., relax and take a nap. We can't have you getting sick again."