[Chapter 9]
Burke found her, rooted to the spot. He had a small metal box in his hand. He didn't notice her pallor nor that she trembled.
"I may have something," he said with careful calm. "The case had this in it. There's a black cube in the box. The case seems to have been made to hold and call attention to this cube. I'll take it up to the instrument-room and use a reader on it."
He led the way. Sandy followed, her throat dry. She knew, of course, that he was under almost intolerable emotional strain. He'd brought her along to be with her for a few moments, but he was so tense that he could think of nothing personal to say. Now it was not possible for him to talk of anything at all.
Yet Sandy realized that even under the stress that pressed upon him, he'd asked her to go look for tools in the gravity-machine room because she'd spoken of possible danger in the opening of the case. He'd gotten her away while he opened it.
When they reached the ship-lock he said briefly, "I want to hurry, Sandy. Wait for me in the ship?"
She nodded, and went to the small spacecraft which had brought them all from Earth.
When she saw Pam, inside, she said shakily, "Is—anybody else here?"
"No," said Pam. "Why?"