The two men descended in the lift to the boat bay, suited up and strapped into the cramped boat. A bored attendant cycled the launch doors, levered the release that propelled the skiff out and clear of the Jolly Barge Hotel. Retief caught a glimpse of a tower of lights spinning majestically against the black of space as the drive hurled the tiny boat away.
III
Retief's feet sank ankle deep into the powdery surface that glinted like snow in the glare of the distant sun.
"It's funny stuff," Sam's voice sounded in his ear. "Under a gee of gravity, you'd sink out of sight. The stuff cuts diamond like butter—but temperature changes break it down into a powder. A lot of it's used just like this, as an industrial abrasive. Easy to load, too. Just drop a suction line, put on ambient pressure and start pumping."
"And this whole rock is made of the same material?"
"Sure is. We ran plenty of test bores and a full schedule of soundings. I've got the reports back aboard Gertie—that's our lighter."
"And you've already loaded a cargo here?"
"Yep. We're running out of capital fast. I need to get that cargo to port in a hurry—before the outfit goes into involuntary bankruptcy. With this, that'd be a crime."
"What do you know about General Minerals, Sam?"