“It’s easier to work in the shop; and anyway, if we go as far underground as this idea should let us — supposing it works — we might as well scout areas closer to the base, for everyone’s convenience.” Ordon Lee contributed the thought without looking from his controls.
“Do you think you can do it?” Ken asked the mechanic.
“It doesn’t seem too hard,” the latter answered. “Still, I don’t want to make any promises just yet.”
“There’s a while yet before that suit comes back. We can probably find out before then, and really have some material for Drai to digest. Let’s call him now — maybe he’ll have some ideas about soil.”
The eyes of the other two met for a brief moment; then Lee gestured to the radio controls,
“Go ahead; only we’ll be there before you can say much.”
“He told me you were going to manufacture soil,” reminded Feth.
“I know. That’s why I want to talk to him — we left in too much of a hurry before.” Ken switched on the radio while the others tried to decide whether or not he was suspicious about that hasty departure. Neither dared speak, with Ken in the same room, but once again their eyes met, and the glances were heavy with meaning.
Drai eventually came to the microphone at the other end and Ken began talking with little preliminary.
“We’ve made measurements of the smallest cave we can find, so far at least, and figured out roughly how much air you’re going to need to fill it. I can tell you how much soil you’ll need to cover the bottom, too, if you plan to use all of it. The trouble is, even if I can analyze the soil — even as roughly as I did the air — you’re facing a supply problem that runs into tons. I can’t make that much in the laboratory in any reasonable time. You’re going to have to get it ready-made.”