'But do you think you could talk to Computerman Boyd and look at the log for the previous readings and course corrections, and possibly come up with an answer?'
'I can try, that is all I can promise. I will try.'
'Good. Please report to me what your conclusions are.' Don looked at a list he had scrawled out. 'We have another problem facing us. We lost a good deal of water when the hull was cracked...'
'We shall die of thirst!' Dr Ugalde said, on his feet again, thinking perhaps of the parching deserts of Mexico.
Don had to smile when he answered. 'Not really, Doctor. That's not our problem. The ship is a closed system and all the water is recycled. But this is water that serves other functions. It circulates between the double outer skin of the ship and acts as a radiation barrier, shielding us from the Van Allen radiation when leaving Earth, and solar radiation the rest of the time. Right now is the time of a quiet sun, so I don't think we have to worry about radiation. However, we still have to breathe. The water is an essential part of the air purification of the Big Joe. Single celled plants live in the water, and are pumped past transparent panels in the outer skin. They remove the carbon dioxide that we are breathing out all the time, and convert it to oxygen - that we need for life. A good number of these plants are gone, and they do not increase their numbers swiftly.'
'What can we do about this?' the Purser asked.
'We can't stop breathing,' Don told him. 'But we can stop free combustion that uses up oxygen. I notice that a number of passengers and crewmen smoke. The habit seems to be getting popular again now that cancer-free tobacco has been perfected. I want all the cigarettes, pipes, matches, everything like that confiscated and brought to me. Can you take care of this?'
The Purser nodded. 'I'll need at least two crewmen to help me, but I can take care of it.'
'Good. I leave it up to you, then.' Don looked at his list, and frowned. 'The next item is a sad but necessary one. The bodies of the dead passengers, officers and crewmen have been placed in the unpressurized hold to be brought to Mars. However, I have found Captain Kardyd's will in his safe. It says - in very positive language - that he wishes immediate burial in space. If possible from his own ship. I think this leaves us no alternative. Does anyone here know anything about this ceremony?'
'I do, sir,' Chief Kurikka said. 'If you would let me, I would like to take care of this myself. I served under the Captain for nine years.'
Before Don could answer him the phone on the table rang. He nodded agreement to the Chief and picked up the handset.
'Captain here,' he said, a little ashamed to use the tide in front of the others, although no one made any protest. He listened to the brief message and hung up with a single word of agreement.
'This is of importance to all of you,' he said quietly. 'That was the radio operator. He has assembled a receiver and has managed to pick up Mars Central. The signal is very weak and almost lost in static, but he is recording it and trying to make some sense out of it. He said that the same signal is being repeated over and over. Our call sign, he recognized that, and a very brief message. So far he can't make out most of it, but he has worked out part of it.
'They repeat danger over and over again. And the code word sunspot...'
'That is no code word,' First Engineer Holtz said from the doorway. 'That is what I have come to tell you. I've detected it on my hull instruments. There is a solar storm coming.' He paused and sighed, shudderingly, before he could finish speaking.
'A solar storm. That means we are all good as dead right now!'
'There is no cause to panic - and we cannot afford even to get excited,' Don shouted over the voices and loud questions. 'I want absolute silence in here!'
It worked. The trained spacemen were used to taking orders, so they obeyed the command. Dr Ugalde was just as quiet as the others. Don was standing, and he remained standing as he swept his glance over the others, almost forcing them back into their chairs with the intensity of his gaze. Holtz was still standing in the doorway and, as he opened his mouth to speak again, Don stabbed an angry finger at him.
'First Engineer Holtz. You will close that door and be seated. Then you will give your report in a proper manner. Without being too defeatist, if you can possibly manage that.'
Don was not intentionally cruel to the older man. But he could not allow Holtzs panic to spread. The engineer flushed red and started to say something. Don would not hear him.
I said sit down first. That order was very clear.' Don was angry now and it could be heard in his voice.
Holtz wavered for a moment, then his shoulders slumped. He closed the door and dropped loosely into the nearest chair. When he spoke his voice was hollow with defeat.
Why fight? This was going to be my last voyage, now it is the last voyage for all of us...'
'What do your instruments read?' Don broke in.
The First Engineer's head hung down as he spoke, and his voice was so low that they had to strain to make out his words.
'Solar radiation... going up, going up steadily. I know what that is. Sunspots, a solar storm, and no way to guard against it.'
'What does he mean?' the Purser asked. 'We've ridden out solar storms before without any trouble. Why should one bother us now?'
'Could I answer that?' Chief Kurikka asked. Don nodded to him.
'We've lost too much water, that's our main trouble. The water in the ship's double skin absorbs most of the charged particles sent out by the solar storm, slowing and stopping them. Just like the atmosphere on Earth. With half our water gone there isn't enough thickness to stop the radiation. And if Mars Central is sending out a warning, this storm must be worse than most. It's going to be a tough one to lick.'
'But we're going to lick it,' Don broke in. 'Have there been any special precautions taken in the past for strong storms?'
'Yes, sir. We shift axis to point the reactor ball at the sun. This puts the mass of the reactor between the engine-room and the sun> so they are protected. Then all of the water is pumped into the emergency space on the head of the drum in that direction. As long as the ship keeps the correct orientation there is enough protection.'
'Do we have enough water left for that trick?' Don asked.
The Chief Petty Officer's expression did not change as he answered.
'No, sir, we do not.'
'But the engine-room will still be protected?'
'That is correct.'
Don smiled. 'Then that is half our problem. Passengers and crew to the engine-room for the duration of the emergency. Take care of that, Purser.' The First Engineer started to protest about the space, but Don waved him to silence.
'Crowding won't hurt us, but radiation will kill us. Well find room for everyone. But first we have to find a way to shift our axis. We will have to work as fast as possible because we don't know how much time we have. Yes, Boyd.'
'I think I can be of some help there,' the computerman said. 'We have had garbled radio messages before during solar flares, and the computer is set up to process them. Multiple recordings are made, since the same message is sent over and over again, and run through the computer. The machine picks out the meaningful parts and assembles them for a complete message.'
'That sounds good,' Don told him. 'Get cracking now on those recordings.'
'Yes, sir,' Boyd said, trying not to run until he had got through the door.
They all had important work to do and, one by one, they received their instructions and left. Only when they had gone did Don realize that he had nothing to do with the ships problems until they came up with some answers. His medical tasks were done for the moment. He had treated all of the injuries, and the two serious cases were in the sick bay and under sedation. They were both attached to telltales that made continuous readings of their blood pressure, temperature, respiration, heartbeat, brain waves and all the other factors that had to be watched. If any of these changed he would be warned at the same moment by the alarm on his belt.