Christine put cold hands on his cheeks. "Walt, what would have happened
if I'd not been along?"
"I'd have been trapped alone," he told her.
"And if I'd come alone?"
"But you wouldn't have--"
"Walt, I would have. You couldn't have kept me. So, regardless of
whether you blame yourself, you need not. If anybody is to blame,
call it Kingman. And Walt, remember? I've just found you. Can you
imagine--well, put yourself in my place--how would you feel if I'd
walked out of your office and dropped out of sight? I'm going to say
it once and only once because it sounds corny, Walt, but I'd rather be
here and knowing than to be safe and forever wondering. And so long as
there is the breath of life in us, I'll go on praying for help."
Walt put his arms around her and held her gently. Christine kissed him
lightly. "Now I'm going to curl up on that couch," she said. "Don't
dare let me sleep more than six hours."
"I'll watch."
"And I'll measure time for you. Once we start sleeping the clock
around, we're goners."
Christine went to the couch and Walt piled the available covers on
after he checked the operation of the power tube that furnished heat
for her suit. He turned it up a bit, and then dimmed the light.
For Walt there was no sleep. He wandered from room to room in sheer
frustration. Given anything of a partially technical nature and he
could have made something of it. Given a tool or two or even a few
items of kitchen cutlery and he might have quelled his restlessness in
working toward some end. But to be imprisoned in a small house that was
rapidly dropping toward zero degrees Kelvin without a book, without a
knife or fork or loose bit of metal anywhere was frustration for the
technical mind.
Mark Kingman, of course, had been quite afraid of just that and he
had skinned the place bare of everything that could possibly be used.
Kingman even feared a loose bit of metal because metal struck against
metal can produce sparks that will light a fire.
There was nothing at all but himself--and Christine.
And Walt knew that it would take only a few more days before that, too,
would end.
For the metal of the house was getting to the point where he stuck to
it if he touched it. The suits kept them warm--to take them off would
have been sheer folly.
So from kitchenette to bathroom to livingroom prowled Walt. He swore at
the neat little shower--the water was frozen, even had anybody wanted
to take a bath.
* * * * *
Kingman entered the conference room of the Interplanetary
Communications Commission with confidence. He knew his ground and he
knew his rights, and it had been none other than Mark Kingman who
managed to call this meeting together. With a bland smile, Kingman
faced the members of the Commission.
"I wish to state that the establishment known as Venus Equilateral has
forfeited their license," he said.
This was intended to be a bombshell, and it did create a goodly
amount of surprise on the part of the Commission. The chairman, Lewis
Hollister, shook his head in wonder. "I have this morning received a
message from Mars."
"It did not go through Venus Equilateral," stated Kingman.
"I'm not acquainted with the present celestial positions," said
Hollister. "However, there are many periods during which time the
communications are made direct from planet to planet--when Terra and
Mars are on line-of-sight to Venus and one another."
"The celestial positions are such that relay through Venus Equilateral
is necessary," said Kingman.
"Indeed?"
Kingman unrolled a chart showing the location of the planets of
the inner solar system--Mars, Terra, Venus--and Venus Equilateral.
According to the lines-of-sight drawn on the map, the use of the relay
station was definitely desirable.
"Conceded," said Hollister. "Now may I ask you to bring your complaint?"
"The Research Services Corporation of Northern Landing, Venus, have
for years been official monitors for the Interplanetary Communications
Commission," explained Mark Kingman. "I happen to be a director of
that corporation, which has research offices on Terra and Mars and is,
of course, admirably fitted to serve as official monitor. I make this
explanation because I feel it desirable to explain how I know about
this. After all, an unofficial monitor is a lawbreaker for making use
of confidential messages to enhance his own position. As an official
monitor, I may observe and also make suggestions pertaining to the beat
interests of interplanetary communications.
"It has been reported along official channels that the relaying of
messages through the Venus Equilateral Relay Station ceased as of
twelve hundred hours Terran mean time on Twenty December."
"Then where are they relaying their messages?" asked Hollister. "Or are
they?"
"They must," said Kingman. "Whether they use radio or the
sub-electronic energy bands, they cannot drive a beam direct from
Terra to Mars without coming too close to the sun. Ergo they must be
relaying."
"Perhaps they are using their ship-beams."
"Perhaps--and of course, the use of a secondary medium is undesirable.
This matter of interrupted or uninterrupted service is not the major
point, however. The major point is that their license to operate as a
major monopoly under the Communications Act insists that one relayed
message must pass through their station--Venus Equilateral--during
every twenty-four hour period. This is a safety measure, to ensure that
their equipment is always ready to run--even in periods when relaying
is not necessary."
"Venus Equilateral has been off the air before this."
Kingman cleared his throat. "A number of times," he agreed. "But each
time that discontinuance of service occurred, it was during a period
of emergency--and in each instance this emergency was great enough
to demand leniency. Most of the times an explanation was instantly
forthcoming; the other times were after seeking and receiving
permission to suspend operations during the emergency period. This,
gentlemen, is Twenty-three December and no message has passed through
the Venus Equilateral Relay Station since noon on Twenty December."
"Your statements, if true, indicate that Venus Equilateral has violated
their license," nodded Hollister. "However, we are inclined to be
lenient with them because they have been exemplary in the past and--"
"And," interrupted Kingman, "they are overconfident. They think that
they are big enough and clever enough to do as they damn well please!"
"Indeed?"
"Well, they've been doing it, haven't they?"
"We've seen no reason for interfering with their operations. And they
are getting the messages through."