pulsive and
reckless and I admire you for it. Sometimes I wish I were more like
that. But I know the situation here better than you do. We'd be running
a terrible risk trying to work right at this time."

"Sure," Ward said, "We'd be running a risk. That's apparently your
entire philosophy. Sit tight, do nothing, because there might be a
slight risk involved."

He turned and strode to the door.

"Wait," Halliday cried. "You can't go out now."

Ward disengaged the lock with a swift deft motion.

"Who's going to stop me?" he asked.

Halliday crossed to his side with quick, pattering strides. He grabbed
him by the arm and pulled him around.

"Please listen to me," he said imploringly. "I know what I'm talking
about. I--"

Ward shook the hand loose and stared coldly into Halliday's, white
strained features.

"You're gutless, Halliday," he said in a low tense voice. "Now keep out
of my way."

He turned to the door again, but Halliday grabbed him suddenly and
pushed him back.

"You're not going to do it," he cried, his voice trembling. "I'm not
going to let you."

* * * * *

Ward grabbed the man by his lapels and swung him away from the door. He
stepped close to him and his right fist chopped down in a savage
axe-like stroke. The short, powerful blow exploded under Halliday's
chin. His knees buckled and he sprawled limply to the floor.

Ward stared down at the still form and he felt an instant of regret for
striking a man fifty pounds lighter than himself, but he realized that
it had been the only course open.

He drew his raytube, inspected it quickly to make sure that it was in
perfect order, then swung open the door and stepped out into the gray
murkiness of the Martian atmosphere.

The wind had increased to a wild mad scream. Flaky particles of soil
stung his face like myriad needle-pricks as he braced himself against
the buffeting force of the gale.

He couldn't see more than a few feet ahead of him, but he knew the
general direction of the building which housed the materialization unit
and he headed that way, bent almost double against the wind.

He heard and saw nothing but the wild wail of the monsoon and the gray
swirling murk. There was an awesome feeling in staggering blindly on
through a dead gray world of howling dust-laden wind.

He felt as if he were the only person left alive in the universe. But he
plowed stubbornly forward. There was work to be done and