He watched as the hatch closed itself and the tiny light blinked out. The rotors began to spin, and two minutes later they were alone.
"Come and get yours," said the spacer.
He reached out with his empty hand to guide Meyers to him, then very carefully delivered one of the capsules to the other.
"We're supposed to swallow that big lump?" whispered Meyers.
"Just don't lose it," admonished Taranto.
He relayed the instructions as precisely as he could.
"One thing more," he concluded. "You stay awake to make sure I stay awake until it's time to take the stuff."
"We could take watches," suggested Meyers.
"I could," said Taranto bluntly, "but I'm not sure about you. In the second place, I ain't going to have you sleep while I don't. We're going to play this as safe as possible."
Meyers grumbled something inaudibly. In the darkness, a sardonic smile twisted Taranto's lips.