"Let me wire you up," Capt. Wilkins said. "We ought to report."
"That's going to take awhile."
"It's something to do while we wait."
"I guess we ought to." Major Winship came down from the bunk and sat with his back toward the transmitter. Capt. Wilkins slewed the equipment around until the emergency jacks were accessible. He unearthed the appropriate cable and began unscrewing the exterior plate to the small transmitter-receiver set on Major Winship's back. Eventually, trailing wires, Major Winship was coupled into the network. "Okay?"
"Okay," Major Winship gestured.
They roused Earth.
"This is Major Charles Winship, Commanding Officer, Freedom 19, the American moonbase."
At this point, Major Winship observed for the first time that he was now on emergency air. He started to ask Capt. Wilkins to change his air bottle, but then he realized his communications were cut off. He reached over and rapped Capt. Wilkins' helmet.
"This is the Cape. Come in, Major Winship."
"Just a moment."