A little later there came the announcement that Garry had known must be coming finally. Captain Eaton had been in the observatory for the last time, and now he had returned with a final announcement: “It’s now or never, Ben. Which is it?”
Ben straightened up, and there was a pleased look on his weary face. “Just finished, Captain. The instrument panel isn’t as good as new, but I’m pretty sure the flier can be navigated by it, at least long enough for a safe landing on Luna. Come here, Mac. Let me show you a few things about the console.”
Garry wondered why Ben was taking time to instruct Mac in the navigation of the ship. Why couldn’t he do the piloting himself? Garry could see that Mac was a little puzzled too, as he went over to the instrument panel.
Captain Eaton was looking at his wrist watch. “Ben, there’s no more time. We’ve got to get off the Carefree within five minutes, not a second longer.”
After a few more hurried moments of instruction, Ben said, “We’re ready, Captain. Everybody into the rocket.”
Those who were not already in filed into the rocket and belted down into the seats. That is, everybody but one—Ben.
“Ben, where are you going?” Captain Eaton asked.
“To check on the air lock, Sir,” Ben answered, and walked through the flier’s doorway into the air lock between the two ships.
Mac had belted down in the pilot’s seat, as Ben had asked him to do.
“How are you going to ride without a seat, Ben?” Mac called.