“Sure, Zip,” said the blond man, standing up. The asteroid miner suited up and the two men walked to the far end of the hangar. Zip was carrying a small iron plate. In front of them was a huge panel that could open to permit spacecraft to pass through the airlock, and on either side of it were sets of doors to allow men through. These doors entered a hallway that proceeded to the outside of the asteroid and allowed passage without the major airlock’s having to be emptied. “Ready?” asked Zip through the suits’ intercom system. “Sure. Let’s go.” Zip opened the door into the airlock and they passed through and closed the door behind them. Zip operated the controls that sucked the air out of the hallway. The two men walked about 50 yards to the far end of the passage and opened the door to the outside. They stepped out onto the surface of the asteroid. They looked around, but could see no evidence that there was an airlock adjacent to where they were standing! “Camouflaged!” said Zip. “Whoever made this wondrous thing,” commented George, “apparently had a reason for wanting to be hidden. Let’s make sure we can still get back in. Can you open the door we just came out of?” “No need to worry. I’m not about to close a door behind me for good until I know I can open it again.” He took the small iron plate and used it to jam the door open. From the inside, the door was transparent; from the outside, it looked like the surface of the iron asteroid. Its hinges were completely hidden. “Now let’s see what’s out here.” For the first time, the two men gazed outward. The Milky Way blazed above and to the right, its countless stars bright enough to cast slight shadows behind the two men. “I never tire of seeing that view,” said George. “I’ve missed it, just in the few days we’ve been inside.” “Yes, it’s inspiring,” answered Zip, but he was already in motion, walking and scanning the ground on both sides of him. George followed. Their asteroid boots gripped the surface of the asteroid. “What are you looking for, Zip?” “Evidence of the pirates. I’ve got a plan for escaping them, but our exit point here can’t be too close to their entrance.” “We’ve walked a dozen miles through the asteroid from their headquarters--they can’t be too close.” “I’m sure you’re right, but there may be other entrances. _We found one, didn’t we?_” “Even if there were other entrances, they’re bound to be as invisible to the eye as the one we just came out of.” “Right again, I’m sure, George, but I don’t want to take any chances. Our escape depends on our being unseen--at least for most of the time. Then I _want_ to be seen.” “What do you mean, Zip? I--” George suddenly stopped talking, almost as if his communicator had been turned off. Zip looked over. “What’s wrong, George?” Through his helmet, George’s eyes were opened wide and his mouth was agape. “What is it?” Zip repeated.