“What are you going to do?” Patch asked, as Garry moved ahead.
“I’m going to walk that gangplank up to the air lock and see if Ben is inside.”
They could see that the gangplank had been put down because of the depth of the Lunar dust. It was obviously quite deep in this area, since the Carefree itself was half buried in it. Deep, enormous dust pits were very common on the moon and were among the most dangerous obstacles to travel, because they never gave any indication of how deep they were until someone fell in and was suffocated.
Carefully, Garry, with Patch right behind him, stepped out on the narrow gangplank and moved slowly forward toward the air lock at the other end. It was a little unsteady underfoot, but it was rigid and did not sink beneath the boys’ light lunar weight. Besides, Garry felt pretty sure now that Katrinka had crossed it, and she was far heavier than both of them together.
Garry reached the air lock, his heart thumping rapidly with hope and expectation. He raised his gloved hand and began pounding on the outer door.
They waited. Five seconds, then ten, fifteen....
Garry’s hopes began to dim. It didn’t look as if there were anyone alive inside after all.
But then the air-lock door began to swing open. The boys scrambled inside, too tense and excited to speak to one another. They heard air swishing into the air lock. Then, after another half minute, the inner door swung open.
Standing there inside facing them was—Ben.
