The boys parted, and Rick walked to the Pegasus shed. Dick Earle and Dr. Bond were in the cubicle where the project paper work was done. The marmoset was with them, perched on top of the file safe. As Rick entered, the little spacemonk jumped to his shoulder and caressed his cheek.
"Come in, Rick," Dr. Bond said. "We're just having a gloom session."
"Gloom? What about?" Rick petted the marmoset, then put him back on his file-safe perch. "Is something wrong?"
"Transistors," Dick Earle stated flatly. "No transistors left on the base. That means we come to a grinding halt until we get supplies."
"The whole project?" Rick asked in astonishment. He hadn't realized a few parts would mean so much.
"Not all of it. Just our part. The air frame and propulsion people can keep on, because they don't use the gadgets. But we'll be tied up for a few days until a supply can get here."
Dr. Bond added, "An order has been placed, Rick. By telephone. But the supplier can't possibly make delivery until after the Orion shoot."
Dick Earle nodded. "Correct. So you might as well plan to loaf for a day or so, Rick."
The trip to Careless Mesa would be no problem now, Rick thought. He wouldn't even need to ask permission.
"Strange that anyone would steal a whole supply of transistors," he commented.