"Uh huh," Paul answered, "No H-2-O, no go."
"The cans," Joe said, abruptly.
"Cans?" Paul questioned over the wire. "Cans?"
"Sure," said Joe, and he was breathless as he hurried on. "Paul, all
that canned food. There's water in them. And there must be some water
left in the pipes to the kitchen and the lav? Have they thought of
that?"
"Yes," said Paul. "The pipes, I mean, not the cans. Arden and Bairn are
having the pipes pumped out now, Doc Guetschow tells me. But I'll pass
along the can suggestion."
"Was it really bad?" Joe asked.
"Sure, they got the power room sealed again. But that water compartment
was mashed to junk, and the water just went pftt! It's a good thing you
got out there when you did, or you'd have been pftt! too. I'll ring you
back with any later developments."
Joe pronged the receiver. He began to pace the room. He couldn't stay
in here. There must be something he could do out there. But this room
was better than any prison. His eyes searched the room.
Joe's eyes were sparkling all of a sudden. Bless the planners who laid
out this ship!
He broke the heavy crowbar from the emergency wall chest. He twisted
the heavy steel in the locking mechanism on the inner panel of the
door. Bracing his feet against the door and drawing the heavy bar
toward him, he strained desperately.
He knew from his meandering around the ship that the locking device
was only to insure the doors would not open accidentally. The muscles
in his back and shoulders bulged so that the tunic he wore split down
the back.
He tugged until his muscles quivered with the strain. He should break
loose now so he could open the door from the inside.
But nothing happened.
* * * * *
Joe relaxed, stood back and wiped the sweat from his brow; the lack of
food had weakened him. The locking mechanism should have given way.
Once more he inserted the bar in the device. Once more he called on his
wood-trained muscles. He tried desperately this time, exerting all the
strength he could summon. Blackness threatened to engulf.
Then as if in a dream, he heard the muffled cling! That meant the
device had snapped. He fell to the floor, his breath coming in sobs.
Then he quieted, lifted his body up, and twisted the wheel. It turned
easily, and the door pulled open at his tug.
He came out into the passageway to face Arden, gun drawn.