Ray C. Noll

“ Hiller purposely addressed the remark to Bleck's followers. Most of them were staring uncertainly at Bleck's perspiration-soaked shirt, his white face, the hunching shoulders, and moving wordless lips.
"For the time being, let's leave it this way," said the commander authoritatively. "Unless conditions improve, we're turning back. If the odds seem later about even, we're going through. In the meantime, we'll make these preparations just in case we can chance the clusters." ”

“ The impacts of missiles against the heating ship's hull constituted a slowly fading pattern of noise and pressure and pain which he was observing objectively, almost amusedly. When he attempted to read the damage indicator or communicate with the crew, the effort became immense and the discomfort great. So much easier to remain contemplative about it.
No doubt this was the condition of the crew. After so much beating, the organic function can tolerate no more. Oversight Number Three.
The commander was aware sufficiently to hope Art Eastburn kept the air cooler circulating. ”

“ While Hiller listened to the report, he was sick inside his suit from the centrifugal effect. He recalled how he'd also been sick on the Whirlwind ride at the amusement park when he was a kid. A hell of a space commander. They could use a good collision against the direction of gyration any time, provided the sudden deceleration of the twirl didn't hemorrhage them internally.
Why was he worried about gyrations when the patch kit was a casualty? That latest development cinched it: the odds on getting through were falling every minute. ”

“ Keeping his eyes on Bleck, the commander went on, "One minute to test drill. Only this isn't a test drill. Repeat, this is not a test drill. It's the real thing. We are now into the Belt. Repeat, this is the real thing."
Bleck clawed over the bulkheads of master control's cubicle searching tactilely for the deceleration straps, his eyes riveted blankly on Hiller.
"I take complete responsibility for this deception," Hiller spoke to the crew, "and I can justify it. Yes, Hollender, Eastburn, and Merrick were in on it. ”

“ He crumpled under the wave of heat and compression when the first particle penetrated the air compartments of the ship. Three of his instrument dials cracked and he felt as if he had received a blow on each square inch of his body. The penetration he located as in the sleeping quarters and sent the patch crew there at once.
About that time the second one penetrated. The jolt was sickening. Somerset reported both members of his crew unconscious when their boots let them slide against bulkheads at the impact. Worse, he said the patch equipment had spun loose and shorted, bent, and fused. ”

“ Hiller grinned. "Thanks for bringing out the situation so well, Art. Hollender's the mathematician here, and I don't go in for formulating odds. But I'll give odds right now on our getting through with one perpendicular strike. Any takers?"
"That's a hell of a bet," Merrick griped. "If you lose, who's around to collect?"
"I'm talking odds," the commander said. "Anyway, you over-estimate the effect of a perpendicular strike. In a closed compartment it could be rough. By leaving every compartment hatch open, the compression would dissipate throughout the ship with less damage." ”

“ Bleck turned to the others significantly and brought back with him a harsher gaze, which he leveled at the commander. "Most of us here think there's only one sane way out. A couple will go along with any decision. But most of us, including me, want to turn back. Isn't that right?" He turned again to the men for support. Some nodded.
"We figured the chances if we keep on course," Bleck went on, breathing a little heavier. "They're three to one against making it. I don't like those odds, Hiller,"—his upper lip was curling a little—"and we didn't agree to odds like that when we volunteered. ”

“ There it was, physically as much as any commander could do under the circumstances. The rest was largely luck—and, of course, how fast he acted to offset any bad luck.
Hiller took the time to explain to the crew the tactics planned in traversing the Belt.
"You guys are gamblers or you wouldn't have volunteered for this commute," he concluded. "The only difference with the hand you're holding now is that somebody else had to figure the odds for you. They're not bad odds either. If you grouse and jump for the straps every time a plum taps the hull, they're 50-50. ”

“ They were in no hurry since he had informed them in the last meeting that the Inner Belt was still six hours away. That had provided Bleck with enough time to map what counteraction he had in mind to oppose a decision for continuing Marsward.
The commander noticed with satisfaction the colored lights wink on over the board, each with its own vital significance. The row to the left on the panel, half alight, indicated locked-open compartment doors. Near the bottom a circular array showed Eastburn was prepared to activate the gyros from the mechanical control center of the ship. ”

“ Hollender and I've calculated the fuel drain required to circumnavigate the clusters. It came close, close enough to make you want to cry. But not close enough. The wall of the clusters happens to be too spread out and in near-perfect line with our point of rendezvous with Mars. ”

“ Hiller swiftly considered the few possibilities there were. Burning out the gyros was a risk he could not take. Going over the fuel margin was out of the question. And the alternative to these—spinning until they left the Belt.
Spinning provided the only choice. It wasn't necessarily fatal, but it increased the chances for perpendicular strikes. Actually, with such conditions, Bleck's sneering odds held more merit. ”

“ Merrick suddenly sat up straight.
"It seems to me pointing the nose right at the asteroid flow would be better."
"You forget our transit velocity, Del," the commander observed. "We'd be chancing running into as many particles perpendicularly with the ship lengthwise at two m.p.s. as we would miss by pointing our nose at those catching up with us at about the same speed."
Merrick threw up his hands. "Okay, okay," he surrendered. "All I hope is you math boys have it figured right."
"We're running it through the calculator to round off the rough edges," Hollender assured him. ”

“ Hollender handed him photographs out of a transparent file cabinet. "Here're some blowups under high power. Visible proof from these, but nothing highly accurate from the spectography."
"But this is asteroid stuff," Hiller nodded at the photographs. "They look like pinhead star clusters."
"That's what they are, clusters," Dave replied seriously. "Fragments of planetoids, evidently, revolving around common centers of gravity." ”

“ We exceed the clusters' orbital velocity by three m.p.s. But our angle of intersection with the Belt will reduce any actual impact to about two m.p.s. In other words, particles would be overtaking us at about that speed."
Hiller nodded. "That's about the way I worked it out. One more thing, Dave: the depth of the cluster band."
"The part we have to worry about's only a little over a hundred-thousand miles in depth. The rest is scattered asteroid strays and shouldn't bother us. We'll be three hours maybe in transit through the stuff." ”

“ If a big one slams straight into us, somebody might get a bloody nose. But we can get through even if the ship turns out to look like a thick piece of Swiss cheese.
"Right now we're sailing in between thinned-out stuff, Hollender tells me. The first hour will be a tea party compared to the second.
"The air pump room sits smack in ship center. Anyone who'd like to zip his suit and shut himself in with the pumps has my permission. Speak up now; I can't force co-operation in something like this."
The intercom stayed silent.
"Thanks," the commander said. "One more thing. ”

“ The first Marships happened to hit them, just like us. Certainly no light instrument on Earth I know of could pick them up. They'd move out too fast to register on a plate. So, they're our babies."
The commander remarked soberly, "You evidently already know what this means."
"It's a lousy break.... The first ships must have tried to get through...."
Hiller brought his palms together to bolster the searching of his mind. He was surprised to find them moist. "What about the size of the particles in these clusters?" ”

“ While Bleck was blowing off, Hiller had studied each man in turn. They hardly represented a crew, though the men had specific jobs to perform during takeoff, transit, and setdown. They represented specialists who would bring back for the first time authoritative reports on Mars—the first two ships had not returned.... ”

“ This is the usual situation in the heat-generation collision and rarely harms the ship.
"Perpendicular impact, however, does the damage. At low velocities and densities perpendicular impact craters the hull and most of the blast effect is dispersed laterally and to the rear. At higher velocities the particle vaporizes but the explosive force craters the hull and shapes inward, a lot like the effect of an air gun pellet on plate glass. Although the hull penetration may be mere pea size, blast and compression inside can be terrific, besides the sharp shock throughout the whole ship." ”

“ They also agree with me that our chances of getting through are good as long as everyone does his job. You should be glad I saved you worrying.
"We're inside the Belt now and the way to get out alive is to stay alert and follow the drill plan. ”