"it's no good, mac. we can't find him."

"as soon as we turn back he's as good as dead."

"our air won't last forever," teejay said.

"he's got even less."

"ten more minutes?"

"all right, ten. but why did you come out here with me if you're ready to give up so easy?"

"who said i am? i'm trying to be practical, mac. listen, i saved stedman's life once already—and stayed out on the hot side of mercury longer than a person should, too. i like stedman, but if we ever find him, better not say that or i'll break your neck, hear? so i want to find him, but i don't want to sacrifice your life or mine in the attempt. is that clear?"

kevin said that it was.

a moment later, teejay climbed higher. half a thousand feet above the surface of ganymede she circled. abruptly, she leveled off at a hundred feet again, said:

"there's something over there, mac. in that ringwall."

"what?"

"i don't know. movement. a big figure and a little one. the big one seems too large for a man, but the smaller—well, let's go."