“I’ve noticed that too,” Garry replied. “I’ll check the map again.”
Garry did so, then told Patch that they were still on course.
They moved on and presently stood at the raised edge of a gradually lowering basin that stretched out very far and flat ahead of them. They could see a break in the crater wall a few miles away, which the captain had pointed out to them on the map.
“It looks like we’ll have easy traveling for awhile,” Garry said, “and we’ll be right out in the open in case a flier comes over. They’ll be sure to see us unless they’re completely blind.”
“Garry,” Patch said in a thoughtful voice, “I’m sorry.”
“Huh?” Garry asked in surprise.
“I’m sorry for the way I acted. I lost my head completely. When I found out I’d lost the air cylinders over the ledge, I just seemed to go to pieces. It’s a good thing one of us knows how to keep his head.”
“Forget it, Patch,” Garry soothed. “It could have been me just as easy as you. Besides, that’s not important now. We’ve still got a long way to go, and time is running short.”
Suddenly, Patch ran past Garry in great haste and stood staring over the plain below, shielding his eyes with his hands.
Garry joined him. “Patch, what is it? Do you see something?”