" He turned to face the little man with the
glasses. "I had a choice of either saving about fifteen passengers on
the jet boats, and leaving the others, or take a chance on saving
everybody by using the power to send out a message."
"Ummmmh," said Strong to himself. He felt confidence in a young spaceman
who would take a decision like that on himself. "What was that Geiger
count again?" he asked.
"Must be better than fourteen hundred by now," answered James.
Strong made a quick decision.
"All right," he said, tight-lipped, "abandon ship! How many passengers?"
"Seventeen women and twenty-three men including the crew," replied
James.
"Does that include yourself?" asked Strong.
"No," came the reply.
Strong felt better. Any man who would not count himself on a list to
survive could be counted on in any emergency.
"We'll take four women at a time in each jet boat first," said Strong.
"James, you and I will operate the jet boats and ferry the passengers to
the _Polaris_. Tom, you and Roger and Astro get everybody aboard the
ship ready to leave."
"Yes, sir," said Tom.
"We haven't much time. The reaction mass is building fast. Come on,
James, we have to rip out the seats in the jet boats to get five people
in them." Strong turned back into the jet-boat launching well.
"May I have the passenger lists, Captain?" asked Tom, turning to James.
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