Asa started talking into his radio.
"Calling all muck men. This is Asa Graybar. All muck men, listen. This is Graybar. I am five miles out with Miss Hazeltyne, who came to rescue me after I saved Kershaw from a Slider. The helicopter is smashed. We're slogging in."
He looked at her for a nod of confirmation and repeated the message.
"Graybar?" came a voice in his earphones. "What do you want?"
Asa grinned at Harriet as he continued.
"Go on back to the settlement. Tell the others. Then organize a party to come help us. Bearing 150 degrees."
"Right," said the unidentified voice.
"I got it too," said another voice in the headset. "Muck men stick together."
Good, Asa thought. At least two muckers were still out. They would tell the others.
"Cancel all that," said a third voice. "This is Dorr speaking. Nobody goes out until I give the word."