"Skipper," Wass said carefully, "if we don't get out of this place by
the deadline we may be eating these."
Martin raised his arm tensely. "Opening a seed bank doesn't help us
find a way out of here." He started up the ramp. "Besides, we've no
water."
Rodney came last up the ramp, less jaunty now, but still holding the
gun. His mind, too, was taken up with childhood's imaginings. "For
a plant to grow in this environment, it wouldn't need much water.
Maybe--" he had a vision of evil plants attacking them, growing with
super-swiftness at the air valves and joints of their suits "--only the
little moisture in the atmosphere."
* * * * *
They stood before the switchboard again. Martin and Wass side by side,
Rodney, still holding his gun, slightly to the rear.
Rodney moved forward a little toward the switches. His breathing was
loud and rather uneven in the radio receivers.
Martin made a final effort. "Rodney, it's still almost nine hours to
take off. Let's search awhile first. Let this be a last resort."
Rodney jerked his head negatively. "No. Now, I know you, Martin.
Postpone and postpone until it's too late, and the ship leaves without
us and we're stranded here to eat seeds and gradually dehydrate
ourselves and God only knows what else and--"
He reached out convulsively and yanked a switch.
Martin leaped, knocking him to the floor. Rodney's gun skittered away
silently, like a live thing, out of the range of the torches.
The radio receivers impersonally recorded the grating sounds of
Rodney's sobs.
"Sorry," Martin said, without feeling. He turned quickly. "Wass?"
The slight, blond man stood unmoving. "I'm with you, Martin, but, as
a last resort it might be better to be blown sky high than to die
gradually--"
Martin was watching Rodney, struggling to get up. "I agree. As a last
resort. We still have a little time."
Rodney's tall, spare figure looked bowed and tired in the torchlight,
now that he was up again. "Martin, I--"
Martin turned his back. "Skip it, Rodney," he said gently.
"Water," Wass said thoughtfully. "There must be reservoirs under this
city somewhere."