"What are hotpoints?"
"The ignition elements. They'd melt down under continuous heating and—well, then we wouldn't have any more problem. The tanks would go."
"You'd better clear the field," Colin said quietly after a minute. "Sergeant," he said to the radioman, "would you give the Phoenix a 'message coming' beep?"
The radioman did, then said to Colin, "Go ahead."
"Is he receiving?"
"Yes, sir."
"Colonel Harkins," Colin said. "Colonel Harkins, can you hear me?"
The loudspeakers buzzed.
"Colonel Harkins, please reply."
The speakers snapped once. The sound of Harkins' whistle came over, loud at first, then drifting away. He was whistling the same tune as before.