" He raised his hand and pointed. The slow
rotation of the asteroid that gave it its slight gravity had brought
the Belt into view over the horizon. Motionless on the asteroid's
surface, Zip and George were slowly moving into the dawn. A pale sun
far away was coming into view, and a golden line of light began to grow
over the 45-mile-long chunk of almost pure iron. The spacesuits'
faceplates automatically darkened slightly. The sunlight came through a
scattering of asteroids orbiting at least a thousand miles away.
"He's moved the asteroid. He knows more about it than I gave him credit
for," Zip said grimly. "My plan will still work, but the situation has
changed. Now we have to hurry. Let's go back."
Back inside the hangar, Zip called a meeting of the fourteen men and
explained his plan for escape.
"Sounds good, Zip," affirmed Mark, and Joe agreed.
"What about food and water?" asked one of the miners.
"What's left?" responded Zip. "How many days can we go if we ration
even more strictly?"
"About five until the food runs out, and there's about a gallon of
water for each man left."
"We can do it. No choice anyway. Let's get some sleep and start things
rolling first thing tomorrow."
Immediately after they awoke, the Starmen put Zip's plan into action.
Joe opened another of the alien spacecraft.
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