He climbed down the ladder, laid the guns aside, then reached up a hand to aid Kerry Blane's descent. Kerry Blane came down slowly and awkwardly, jumped the last few feet. He felt surprisingly light and strong in the lesser gravity.
He stood, leaning against the ship, watching as Splinter picked up the first gun and leveled it at a gigantic tree. Splinter sighted carefully, winked at the older man, then pressed the firing stud.
Nothing happened; there was no hissing crackle of released energy.
Kerry Blane strode forward, puzzlement on his lined face, his hand out-stretched toward the defective weapon. Splinter gaped at the gun in his hands, held it out wordlessly.
"The crash must have broken something," Kerry Blane said slowly.
Splinter shook his head. "There's only one moving part," he said, "and that's the force gate on the firing stud."
"Try the other," Kerry Blane said slowly.
"Okay!"
Splinter lifted the second gun, pressed the stud, gazed white-faced at his companion.
"It won't work, either," he said stupidly. "I don't get it? The source of power is limitless. Solar rays never—"