Tight Squeeze-3

The autopilot functioned perfectly, however, and Logan trusted it to the

point of insouciance. The three men lounged in midair, grinning foolishly

as they "swam" about the tiny cabin. No more satisfying stretch was ever

enjoyed.

A few minutes of this was enough. Ruiz was the first to gingerly pull

himself into his couch and his companions followed. Not a word had

passed between them, since they were at all times in contact with

monitor stations spaced across the world below. The first time they had

enjoyed this irregular horseplay, on the second trip, Logan had made the

mistake of saying, "Race you to the air lock!", and was hard put to explain

those words. Nor could Logan switch to "intercom only," since a sudden

radio silence would create anxiety below. Only their heavy breathing

would indicate unusual activity to Earthside.

* * * * *

They were nearing the intercept point, a thousand miles above the

Atlantic, when they realized their predicament.

"I'm in a fix, Carl," said Ruiz, meaning that he had tentatively fixed a

position of intercept. "Correct our elevation; we're point-nine degrees

high."

"Right-o. Correction in five seconds from my mark--mark!"

For slight corrections in the flight path, small steering motors were

utilized. These motors were located near the rear lip of Valier's conical

cargo section on retractable booms. Extension of the motors with no

resultant air friction gave a longer pivot arm and consequently better

efficiency. Mac pressed the "Aux. Steer" stud and immediately three

amber lights winked on in their respective instrument consoles.

Carl Logan fired the twelve o'clock motor briefly--only it didn't fire. The

change in momentum wouldn't be much in any case, but it was always

perceptible by feel and by instrument. There was no change.

Logan tried the firing circuit again, and again. Still Valier streaked along,

now miles above the intended point of intercept. By this time, the embryo

space station was quite near, sailing along in the 'scope beneath them. It

slowly moved toward the top of the 'scope, passing Valier in its slightly

higher relative velocity.

"We've got troubles, Mac--find 'em!" Logan had finally lost the devil-maycare attitude, but that fact was small consolation to MacNamara.

"Keep your mitts off those firing studs, Carl," he growled, unstrapping

himself quickly. The malfunction was definitely in the auxiliary motor

setup, he thought. A common trouble? It wouldn't pay to find out. If the

other motors fired, it would only throw them farther off-course. If worst

came to worst, they could roll Valier over and use the six o'clock

auxiliary; there was a small arc through which the motors could turn on

their mounts. But the trouble was unknown, and they might end up rifling

or pinwheeling if they didn't let bad enough alone.

During his mental trouble-shooting, Mac was busily worming his bulk into

a balloonish-looking suit identical to those worn by the doughnut's

construction crew. Ruiz gave him some aid, helping him thrust his arms

past the spring-folded elbow joints. For some reason, the legs gave less

trouble. Within a fumbling few moments, he was ready for work.

He glanced at Logan through his visor, feeling a vicious pleasure over the

beads of sweat on Logan's forehead. Time he sweated a little, thought the

mechanic.

A final check of his headset followed, after which Mac oozed into the

Lilliputian air lock at the bottom, now rear, wall of the cabin. He nodded

to Ruiz, who secured the air lock, then adjusted his suit control to force a

little pressure into his suit. Gradually the suit became livable. Then he

cracked the other air-lock valve and allowed pressure to leak out around

him.

His suit puffed out with soft popping noises and Mac heard the last

vestige of air hiss out of the chamber. He found the hatchway too tight for

comfort and had a moment of fear when his tool pack caught in the

orifice, wedging him neatly. He could hear Logan and Ruiz through his

earphones, explaining their plight to Ground Control. They wanted to

know why in blue blazes Valier hadn't contacted the doughnut when it

came within range, and Logan had no defense save preoccupation with

his own plight. Belatedly, Ruiz made radio contact with the doughnut,

which was still well within range. All this time, Mac busied himself with his

inspection light, tracing the electrical leads to the small, turbine operated

auxiliary motor fuel pumps.

"Mac?" Logan's voice startled him. "Can you brace yourself? I'm going to

try to match velocities with the doughnut. Won't take over one 'g' for a

few seconds."

"Wait a minute." He looked wildly about him. Valier hadn't been built with

a view toward stowaways; and every cubic inch of space was crammed

with something, except for the passageway with its ladder, leading up

from the main motor section. Well, if it wasn't over a "g," he could hang

on to the ladder. Suit weighs another fifty pounds, though. My weight plus

fifty, he thought. "Give me a chance to get set," he said aloud. He hooked

one bulbous leg over a ladder rung and braced the other against a lower

rung, hugging the ladder with both arms. "Any time you say, but kill it if

you hear me holler!" "Then five seconds from my mark--mark!" Mac tightened his grip, and

then sagged backward as the main motors fired. The vibrations shook him

slightly but deeply, and he fought to keep his hold. He felt his back creak

and pop with the sudden surge of weight. Then the motors shut off, and

Mac skidded several feet up the ladder. No matter how fast a man's

reactions were, they couldn't be applied quickly enough to keep him from

starting an involuntary leap after bracing against a suddenly removed

gravity load. "All over, Mac. You O.K.?"

"Guess so, but I feel like a ping-pong ball. How're we sittin'?"

"Just fine," Ruiz cut in. "Find anything?"

"Not yet." Mac started his search anew. Everything seemed in perfect

order up to the turbine pumps. Then, he feared, the trouble was near the

little motors. That was tough, really tough. With the motors retracted it

was next to impossible to get to them, past their hydraulically operated

booms and actuators. Extended, he'd have to go outside. He cringed from

the thought, although he knew that there was little to fear if he linked

himself to the ship.