He went back through the plant, much of his confidence restored, and back to the ship.
Y'Nor was pacing the floor again, his impatience keying him to a mood more vile than ever.
"This ship will leave at exactly twenty-three fifteen, Vogar time," Y'Nor said. "Any man not on it then will be regarded as a deserter and executed as such when I return with the Occupation force."
He stopped his pacing to stare at Kane with the ominous anticipation of a spider surveying a captured fly.
"Although I can operate this ship with a minimum of two crewmen, I shall expect you to make certain that every man is on board."
Kane went back out of the ship, his confidence shaken again, and back to the plant.
Night came at last and, finally, the first shielded tank of fuel was delivered to the ship. Others followed, one by one, as the hours went by.
It was almost morning when Graver came to him and said, "My duties and those of my men are finished here, sir. Shall we go to prepare the ship for flight?"
"Yes—get busy at it," Kane answered. "Don't give the commander any excuse to get any madder than he already is."