"What's going on, Stein?" came Jonner's alarmed voice over the loudspeaker. "Stein? Stein!"
"It's all right, Jonner," said Kraag as calmly as he could, when he could reach the microphone. "Stein just fainted."
There was silence from Jonner.
"I'll take care of Stein and then take over the mike till you get ready to come in," said Kraag into the microphone.
"I want to talk to Stein when he comes around," said Jonner. His voice sounded cold.
So Jonner suspected something. Well, that couldn't be helped. Maybe he could be talked around.
"All right, Jonner," agreed Kraag soothingly.
Stein's body had to be hidden from Jonner, just in case. Jonner got into the personnel sphere alive—something Kraag did not intend for him to do. When he had taken care of Jonner, he could dispose of both bodies before the rescue ship got there.
Dragging Stein's body was like towing someone through water. It floated through the air of the sphere at Kraag's tug, settling slowly. His only problem was getting good leverage for pushing. After some cogitation, he jammed the body into an empty food compartment two decks below the control room.
Back in the control room, Kraag looked out the port. Jonner was closer to the personnel sphere now, looking toward it but not moving.