Then several began helping to get Mac onto the platform. Of course he weighed nothing, but, in the zero gravity, the difficulty in moving him lay in the fact that the others could not push him without bracing some part of their own body against something. Otherwise, they would only succeed in pushing themselves backward. Mac was finally moved onto the platform and stretched out. He lay, suspended in air, a few inches above the platform. Captain Eaton looked at the Scotsman’s eyes and tested his pulse. “His pulse is a little slow,” he stated, “but his color is good, and I think he’ll come around pretty soon. That bad gash on his forehead must have knocked him out.” They worked over Mac. Finally, he stirred and then opened his eyes. He stared as if unseeing for several moments, but then, as he began to recognize everybody, a weak smile formed on his lips. “What happened?” he murmured. “We don’t know what happened, Mac,” Captain Eaton replied. “Can you tell us? Can you remember what did happen before you blacked out?” Mac frowned, as if concentrating very hard. Then his face relaxed. “I remember,” he said softly. “I was near the door when it hit us—whatever it was. If I’d been in the pilot’s chair I would have been a goner. But I had gotten up only a moment before to check the chart. The door was open. I heard a terrific roar and saw the whole console burst into a sheet of fire. At the same time I felt myself being blown backward and right through the door onto the platform. I was dazed, but somehow I had the presence of mind to know I had to get that door shut or the ship would lose all her air. I managed to press the button and saw it slide shut. But then my head began to hurt terrifically and I felt dizzy. I reached out for the railing to hold on, but I guess I missed it then and unconsciously floated off to wherever you found me.” “Garry found you,” Captain Eaton said. “We thought you had been blown into space by the collision.” “Thanks, Garry,” Mac said, winking at him with gratitude. “That’s all right,” Garry replied. “We’re just so glad to see that you’re still alive.” “Mac, don’t ever scare me again like that!” Isaac put in, his voice shaky with emotion. “It was my fault the collision happened, because I overlooked the satellite that hit us. I knew your death was on me, and I was so torn up I don’t think I’d ever have gotten over it. Thanks, buddy, for turning up as you did!” “Forget it, Isaac,” Mac joked. “Maybe you can return the favor sometime.” They told Mac about the existing crisis. He wanted to do something to help, but Captain Eaton insisted that he go to the dormitory to rest. Garry and Patch went with Captain Eaton to the observatory to recheck and see how much time the _Carefree_ had left. After another period of figuring and using his instruments, the skipper turned to the boys. “I wish I had better news, but it looks as if we have less time than I had thought at first.”