"Understand, I'm going to cooperate with you, getting to Repeater One, but that doesn't mean I like you any better!"
Kent said resentfully:
"I figured you'd have to fight me for the air to get back with. And you pulled the same trick on me! But we'll manage eventually...."
More mutterings. Then:
"Cripes! Let's get going!"
There were those peculiar noises which a microphone inside a space suit picks up and transmits. Breathings. Clankings. Sometimes the squeak of metal sliding on metal.
McCauley listened. Presently the noises faded and ceased. The two young space-suited officers had descended the mountain to where they were not in line of sight of the relay, and consequently it could not pick up their suit-radio communications to relay back to McCauley.
The communications officer tapped on the office door.
"We're through to Farside Base, sir," he reported. "The relay system's working splendidly. Farside just asked for an Earth Relay link to Lunar Base."
"Give it to 'em," said McCauley succinctly.