"Locate it visually tomorrow, then," he said calmly. "Take Rutledge to help. But you can't miss that big T-shaped lake."
"Oh, I guess we'll find it, if—"
"Of course you will. Turn in now, Kihara. Get some rest."
The captain did not sleep. He paced uneasily next day until the flyer returned, then almost forgot himself and ran to meet it.
"Gone forever," Rutledge said excitedly. "One of them fissure flows, must've been ... miles of boiling rock right where we was ... updrafts like to tore us apart and fried us too ... now what, captain?"
Captain Welnicki stood very erect and lifted his chin.
Darkness under the two small moons. Captain Welnicki stood apart and thought. Nothing but hand weapons and pack rations for two days. A fanatic enemy sitting with enormous reserves in a prepared position. So ... attack, of course ... always the audacity ... out of this nettle danger I pluck this flower....
Kihara landed the party, minus the useless blasters, by Chong's beacon. Chong, sulfurous in disgust, drew his corporals aside to improvise a new plan. Captain Welnicki hovered near, saying nothing. He heard Chong tell Swenson to use the spacers for support fire.
"Soon's it's light enough I'll pass the word," Chong finished. "Scatter now."