After several minutes, he leaned back and thought, Pete, my boy, maybe you won't have to do it after all! There might just be an out if there's still time.
He grabbed up the pencil he had been using and feverishly undertook another course calculation. In the end, after making a few corrections and comparing the requirements with the fuel gauges, he decided it would be possible.
"Now, let's see ... how do I get a distress call taped and set for broadcast...?"
When he scrambled down the ladder a little later, he brought a flashlight with him. Karen squinted and the three Skirkhi cringed in its beam.
"Polf, how long till day?" Guthrie demanded.
Polf found enough voice to guess that a third of the night remained.
Guthrie reached up and strained to unhook the ladder. As it came loose, he let it fall and said, "Let's get out of here before the jets light!"
"What are you doing?" protested the girl, grabbing his arm.
"Sending it up on automatic to broadcast a distress call."
"But I thought—"