Adventures in the Far Future & Tales of Outer Space — page 198: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

happened. “Rubberneck, this is Thumbtack,” the radio said. “Hasn't your man reported yet? Over.” “He can’t report,” Goodrich said shortly, “No radio. Wait.” Five more minutes went by. Goodrich’s hands were getting numb and his belly and chest hurt him. His eyes tended to blur unless he focused carefully. “We're getting close to the limit on these suits,” he said. “If he don’t show up in a few minutes, we’re going to have to pressurize.” They were coming around to the terminator again, in another eight minutes they would be in darkness. If he’s “not out by then, Goodrich thought— “Hey,” McKay said suddenly. “I think | saw that hatch move. Yeah, there he is, he’s coming out now.” Goodrich could see Brown now. He moved out onto the surface and Stopped a few feet from the hatch. “He’s making himself fast to that stub mast,” McKay said. “I think he’s going to signal us.” Apparently the navigator’s eyes were holding up better than Goodrich’s. “He’s waving all clear now,” McKay said. “By golly, | think he’s waving us in. What do you make of It?” “IT can’t see,” Goodrich said. He thought briefly. “We've got to do something pretty quick. You’re sure he’s waving us in?” “It looks that way to me.” “O.K., I’m going to ask permission from Control to go in and pick him up.” He switched on his mike. “Thumbtack, this is Rubberneck,” he said. “Our man signals all clear, wants us to move in. Request permission to approach Bertha. Over.” “Thumbtack, Roger. Wait.” “Wait, hell! Get on the ball down there!” Goodrich burst out. “We've had thirty minutes in these suits now, we won't last forever.” CORniclooo SS CO