"Chiefly the crew, so far," Bell explained. "Only one of the passengers had contact with it. Or with them. They must have got it on the out voyage, before reaching Pluto."
Hastings nodded, numb with horror.
"Can we help them?" Bell asked calmly.
"Not much. Drugs by injection to kill the pain. A few may survive, the stronger ones, and they may wish they hadn't. We'll try to keep it from spreading to the other passengers. There are treatments, but not here. If we could reach the hospital at Luna City—"
Hastings' voice sounded hopeless.
"It's not too far," Bell commented. "We're well inside the orbit of Mars. A week of deceleration and orbit trimming. Plenty of fuel."
"But who'll handle the ship?"
"They can't?"
"None of them—ever. Even if they live to reach Luna City."
"Then I'll have to," Bell said confidently.