“ ‘Discussion: The attack was intelligently organized and was armed. Their principal weapon appears to be a jet of sea water at very high pressure but they use also a personal weapon for stabbing and cutting. It must be assumed that they have other weapons. It must be conditionally assumed that they are as intelligent as we are, as well disciplined, and possibly as well armed for the conditions Their superior numbers give them a present advantage even if they had no better weapons.
“ ‘Recommendations: My surviving command can hold out where it is against weapons thus far encountered. It is therefore urgently recommended that immediate measures be limited to rescuing beach party. Ship should then be placed in orbit until a plan can be worked out and weapons improvised to relieve my command without hazard to the ship.-S. Lucas, Commandant, oh nine three six.”“
The Captain took the message and turned toward the hatch without speaking. Nobody said anything although there were at least twenty of us crowded up there. I hesitated, then when I saw that others were going down, I pushed in and followed the Captain.
He stopped two decks down and went into the communications office. I didn’t follow him, but he left the door open. Chet Travers was in there, bent over the gear he used to talk with the camp, and Commander Frick was leaning over him with a worried look on his face: The Captain said, “Get me Major Lucas.”
Commander Frick looked up. “We’re trying to, Captain. Transmission cut off while they were sending us a list of casualties.”
The Captain chewed his lip and looked frustrated, then he said “Keep trying,” and turned. He saw me.
“Bartlett!”
“Yes, sir!”
“You have one of your people over there. Raise him.”
I thought rapidly, trying to remember the Greenwich even as I was calling Vicky-if Vicky was home, she could get through on the direct line to LRF and they could hook her with Sam Rojas’s telepartner and thence to Sam, and the Captain could talk to Uncle Steve on a four-link relay almost as fast as he could by radio. (“Vicky! Come in, Vicky! Urgent!”)
“Yes; Uncle Tom? What is it? I was asleep.”
Commander Frick said, “I don’t think that will work, Captain. Rojas isn’t on the list of survivors. He was scheduled for rotation; he must have been down at the beach.”
Of course, of course! Sam would have been down at the beach-I had stood by and must have watched him being herded into the water!
“What is it, Uncle Tom?”
(“Just wait, hon. Stay linked.”)
“Then get me somebody else,” the Captain snapped.
“There isn’t anyone else, Captain,” Frick answered. “Here’s the list of survivors. Rojas was the only fr-the only special communicator we had ashore.”
The Captain glanced at the list, said, “Pass the word for all hands not on watch to assemble in the mess room on the double.” He turned and walked right through me. I jumped out of the way.
“What’s the matter, Uncle Tom? You sound worried.”
I tried to control my voice. (“It was a mistake, hon. Just forget it and try to get back to sleep. I’m sorry.”)
“All right. But you still sound worried.”
I hurried after the Captain. Commander Frick’s voice was calling out the order over the ship’s system as we hurried down the ladders, yet he was only a moment or two behind me in reaching the mess room. In a matter of seconds we were all there … just a handful of those who had left Earth-about forty. The Captain looked around and said to Cas Warner, “Is this all?”
“I think so, Captain, aside from the engineering watch.”
“I left Travers on watch,” added Frick.
“Very well” The Captain turned and faced us. “We are about to rescue the survivors ashore. Volunteers step forward.”
We didn’t step, we surged, all together. I would like to say that I was a split second ahead, because of Uncle Steve, but it wouldn’t be true. Mrs. Gates was carrying young Harry in her arms and she was as fast as I was.
“Thank you,” the Captain said stiffly. “Now will the women please go over there by the pantry so that I can pick the men who will go.”