Launch was planned for five days later, with
deployment six to seven days after that.
"O344 coming up on the screen, Zip," announced Mark.
"Not a moment too soon!" shouted Joe. "Food at last!"
It had been a week since the fourteen men aboard the alien spaceship
had left the pirates' asteroid. They had been traveling under power for
four days. Although they had been very sparing in their consumption of
the food, they had run out two days earlier. A few ounces of water per
person remained in the containers; it had been carefully measured and
rationed to last the entire journey to O344. Everyone was thirsty but
no one was in danger of becoming dehydrated. All, however, suffered
from the pangs of hunger. Mark had a headache that blurred his vision
and made his responses slow.
"If it's on the screen, we ought to touch down in a few minutes," said
Zip. He was moving slowly and often sat down with his eyes closed. Of
the three Starmen, Joe seemed to be the least affected by the two days'
lack of food. The miners were lying down on their bunks. Other than
Joe, only George St. George had exhibited much energy in the previous
two days, coming forward to the flight deck every few hours to chat
with the Starmen.
Zip asked George to prepare his men for touchdown. Deceleration had
been gradual, so there was no need for the men to strap into the
acceleration couches.
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