“It may have been shoved off in that direction,” Garry said. “That could easily have happened in all the excitement up here. Time’s wasting, Patch. If you’re scared, I’ll poke around down there.” “It’s not that I’m exactly scared,” Patch protested weakly. Garry held onto the railing and swung his feet off the magnetized-platform floor so that he floated weightlessly in the air. Then he began pulling himself down into the darkness, using the metal lattice-work that extended below the platform. “How can you see down there?” Patch called from above. “Want me to get a light for you?” “I’ll feel around a little first,” Garry answered. “I may put my hand right on it.” With one hand holding onto the metal stripping, Garry fanned his free arm back and forth along the floor. All he felt was cold smooth metal—at first. Then, suddenly, he felt something soft to his touch. A chill raced up his backbone, ending in a prickle at the top of his head. He swallowed, then courageously began feeling around again on the object, trying to identify it. His hand touched flesh, warm flesh, and he could trace the outline of five fingers. He felt that chill again, but he fought to keep his nerves under control. “Hey, What’s going on?” Patch called. “Have you found something?” Garry pulled himself back up to the platform and hung onto the rail, shaking. “Garry,” Patch said, “you’re white as you can be!” “I found something all right, Patch. There’s a _person_ down there,” Garry whispered. 13. ABANDON SHIP! Leaving a bewildered and frightened Patch behind him, Garry left the platform and began pulling himself as rapidly as possible along the webbing of the tube toward the ship’s stern. Reaching the observatory bubble, he went in. “Captain Eaton!” Garry gasped. “I think I’ve found him! I think I’ve found Mac!” The captain swung from an instrument he was using, and looked at Garry in amazement. “You _what_?” he cried. Garry pulled himself into the observatory, the floor taking hold of the soles of his shoes by its magnetic attraction. “Yes, Sir!” he declared. “Patch and I were looking for the sealing gun in front of the flight deck, and I found a body in the darkness below the platform!” Captain Eaton clicked across the floor and entered the tube. Garry tagged along behind, as the skipper of the _Carefree_ set out toward the bow of the ship. A few minutes later, Captain Eaton was checking on Garry’s discovery. Then he came back onto the platform, excitement showing on his face. “It _is_ Mac!” he burst out. “His body is warm, and I think he may be alive! We must call some of the others so that we can get him up from there. In this zero gravity it will take several of us.” Garry and Patch were sent by the captain to round up the others.