“I worked on the new controls when they were being installed,” he said, ranging himself alongside Ben. “They’re fully automatic. There are five locks in each tube between the interior and the surface of Teris.”
“How many ships did you say were kept at the tower?” Ben asked.
“About ten. They make inspection flights each day, although nothing has ever gone wrong that I’ve heard of. But the tubes and the locks are the only outlets to the surface and they watch them carefully.”
“What are our chances of getting to the tower?”
“Zero, I should say. Only the women are allowed to enter it, or a small crew under their supervision.”
“Willing to make a try?” Ben asked. He swung around to face them all. Until now he had not taken them into his confidence, given them no inkling of what was in his mind.
“We’ve talked about it before,” Murchison answered. “But there’s so little chance we gave up the idea. Better to stay alive and hope for a rescue.”
“I can’t tell you how I know,” Ben told them, “but there isn’t going to be any rescue.” He kept his eyes on the girl. “How about you, Sally? Willing to trust me?”
She nodded and Ben heaved a sigh of relief. Rather than leave her behind he would have stayed with her. Gathering them about him he outlined his plans. The men were more than skeptical but no one had any suggestions.