Rip wondered what the Connie cruiser commander would try now. Only one
thing remained, and that was to set the cruiser down on the asteroid. If
the Connie tried, he would arrive at just about the time set for releasing
the nuclear charge. And that would be the end of the cruiser—and probably
of the Planeteers as well.
Santos asked coolly, "Lieutenant, wouldn’t you say we’re in sort of a bad
spot?"
Rip had been so busy sizing up the situation that he hadn’t thought about
his own predicament. Now he looked down and suddenly realized that he was
floating free in space, a considerable distance above the asteroid, and
with only small propulsion tubes for power.