"The leak has not yet been repaired. Over and out."
He nodded to Capt. Wilkins and leaned back.
Methodically, Capt. Wilkins set about disconnecting the major from the transmitter.
"Wow!" said Major Winship when he was once more in communication. "For a moment there, I thought...."
"What?" Capt. Wilkins asked with interest.
"I could see myself asking them to ask the Russians to ask Finogenov to get on the emergency channel to ask you to charge the air bottle. I never felt so ... idiotic is not quite strong enough ... there for a minute in my whole life. I didn't know how much emergency air was left, and I thought, my God, I'll never live this down. All the hams in the world listening, while I try to explain the situation. I could see the nickname being entered in my files: aka. The Airless Idiot. I tell you, that was rough."
III
Capt. Lawler and Lt. Chandler returned with the calking compound. It occupied the rear section of the land car. Lt. Chandler sat atop it. It was a fifty-five gallon drum.
The airlock to Freedom 19 was open. "What is that?" asked Major Winship, squinting out into the glaring sunlight.