He waited impatiently in the vestibule of the central building while they peeled off their rubberized swamp suits. Then he was inside, back in the colony he had never expected to see again.
"Call the council of captains and get the leading technical men of each division," he snapped. "Emergency!"
He coughed, his lungs irritated by the artificially dehumidified air of the building. Just then Dr. Jensen passed down the hallway. He saw his erstwhile patient and came running.
"What happened to you, son?" he asked.
"Water machine stopped," Barry said shortly, unwilling to be diverted from more pressing matters by past events. "Had to get out or die."
"The devil!" the doctor exclaimed. "It was running all right when I came back, but the window was smashed."
For Barry that was conclusive evidence—if such were needed—that the breakdown had been no accident. Hind had turned on the water and power again to cover his deed.
Dr. Jensen grabbed Barry's arm. "Let me make some tests on you," he asked eagerly.
"No time now," Barry snapped.