"Are you sure he would have reached the ship before now?" Ahnu demanded.
"Completely."
The Supervisor swore feelingly, using some of the bleakest and driest terms Ullo had ever heard. The gist of the diatribe was the delay and expense.
"Now it may be yaras before we get his data!"
"How do you mean?" asked Ullo.
"It's obvious, isn't it? He must have had to destroy the ship; but before he got back, some prowling Earthmen set off the charge at his base. That leaves him with only his rocket. Don't you see what it means?"
"Perhaps not," said Ullo.
"Why, he'll have to make friends with those things from Earth, and get help building a new ship. Until then, we'll have to classify his report 'pending.'"
He sloshed watery mud about as he heaved himself from his tub impatiently. Ullo aimed an eyestalk at each of the technicians, keeping them silent until Ahnu had waddled indignantly from the room.
"I knew we didn't cover all the alternatives that night!" said Ullo feelingly. "How could we be so dry inside the skull? How could we?"