"Doc, is it that bad?"
"I can not deny that she would be infinitely better off if you were here. She needs an emotional lift."
"I'm trying."
"I know, lad, but the next ship off of Pluto is in five days and then four more days of flight at a killing drive. Nine interminable days."
McBride debated the advisability of telling Caldwell of their experiment, but decided against it. If he said anything about the possibility of getting there sooner, Caldwell might tell Enid on the chance that it might do her some good. On the other hand, if Enid thought he were coming, and he did not come, the shock—
"O.K., Doc. We'll get there somehow."
"We'll keep fighting," said Caldwell.
He hung up the phone as Hammond spoke into the communicator. "Sunward at thirty feet per," he said.
"Thirty feet per," answered Drake. "And may we not get burned!"
"Trusting soul," observed Hammond.