II
Capt. Lawler and Lt. Chandler took the land car to Base Gagarin. The Soviet base was situated some ten miles toward sunset at the bottom of a natural fold in the surface. The route was moderately direct to the tip of the gently rolling ridge. At that point, the best pathway angled left and made an S-shaped descent to the basin. It was a one-way trip of approximately thirty exhausting minutes.
Major Winship, with his deficient reefer, remained behind. Capt. Wilkins stayed for company.
"I want a cigarette in the worst way," Capt. Wilkins said.
"So do I, Larry. Shouldn't be more than a couple of hours. Unless something else goes wrong."
"As long as they'll loan us the calking compound," Capt. Wilkins said.
"Yeah, yeah," Major Winship said.
"Let's eat."
"You got any concentrate? I'm empty."