"Mr. Morrow?"
"Right."
"This is Adams in Section M. The senator and Gordon have been in the line chamber for 10 minutes."
"Boot 'em out," Kevin said crisply. "Blastoff in 15 minutes."
"That machinery controls the safety lines," Bert said.
Kevin looked up with a puzzled frown, but turned back to watch Kramer creeping along a mooring line to the moon ship. A group of tugmen helped the space-suited figure into the rocket, dogged shut the hatch and cleared back to the station rim.
"Station to Kramer," on the radio, "are you ready?"
"All set," came the steady voice, "give me the word."
"All right. Five minutes." Kevin turned to the intercom. "Release safety lines."
In the weightlessness of space the cables retained their normal rigid line from the rim of the station to the rocket. They had been under no strain. Their shape would not change until they were reeled in.