singly,
sometimes in clusters. They were metal crystal formations. He guessed
that once, long ages ago, the asteroid had been a part of something much
bigger, perhaps a planet. One theory said the asteroids were formed when
a planet exploded. This asteroid might have been a pocket of pure thorium
in the planet.

There would be plenty to do in a short while, but meanwhile he enjoyed
the sensation of being on a tiny world in space with only a handful of
Planeteers for company. He smiled. "King Foster," he said to himself.
"Monarch of a thorium space speck." It was a rather nice feeling, even
though he laughed at himself for thinking it. Since he was in command of
the detachment, he could in all truth say that this was his own personal
planet. It would be a good bit of space humor to spring on the folks back
on Terra.

"Yep, once I was boss of a whole world. Made myself king. Emperor of all
the metal molecules and king of the thorium spurs. And my subjects obeyed
my every command." He added, "Thanks to Planeteer discipline. The
detachment commander is boss."

He reminded himself that he had better stop gathering space dust and
start acting like a detachment commander. He walked back to the landing
boat, stepping with care. With such low gravity, a false step could send
him high above the asteroid. Of course, that would not be dangerous,
since space suits were equipped with six small compressed-air bottles for
emergency propulsion. But it would be embarrassing.

Inside the boat, Dowst and Nunez were setting up the compartment.
Sections of the rear wall swung out and locked into place against
airtight seals, forming a box at the rear end of the boat. Equipment
sealed in the stern, next to the rocket tube, supplied light, heat, and
air. It was a simple but necessary arrangement. Without it, the
Planeteers could not have eaten.

There was no air lock for the compartment. The half of the detachment not
on duty would walk in, seal it up, turn on the equipment, wait until the
gauges registered sufficient air and heat, and then remove their space
suits. When it was time to leave, they would don suits, open the door,
and walk out, and the next shift would enter and repeat the process.
Earlier models had permanent compartments, but they took up too much room
in craft designed for carrying as many men and as much equipment as
possible. They were strictly work boats, and hard experience had dictated
the best design.

The rocke