the engineers, sir. It has no basis in sociology--or in philosophy."
The Captain said harshly, "I'm not interested in your social theories, Mr. Moray."
Doctor Di Asturien rose. He said, "Captain, one thing must be taken into account. We made a most
disquieting discovery today--"
At that moment a violent clap of thunder rocked the hospital tent. The hastily rigged lights went out
And from the door one of the security men shouted:
"Captain! Captain! The woods are on fire!"
70
Chapter
SEVEN
Everyone kept their heads; Captain Leicester bellowed from the ,platform, "Get some lights in here;security, get some lights!" One of the young men on the Medic staff found a handlamp for the Captainand one of the bridge officers shouted, "Everyone! Stay in place and wait for orders, there is no dangerhere! Get those lights rigged as fast as you can!"
MacAran was near enough to the door to see the distant rising glare against the darkness. In a fewminutes lamps were being distributed, and Moray, from the platform, said urgently, "Captain, we havetree-felling and earth-moving equipment. Let me order a detail to work on firebreaks around the
Page 55
encampment."
"Right, Mr. Moray. Get with it," Leicester said harshly. "All bridge officers, gather here; get to the ship and secure any flammable or explosive material." He hurried away toward the back of the tent. Moray ordered all able-bodied men to the clearing, and requisitioned all available handlamps not in use on the bridge. "Form up in the same squads you did for grave digging detail," he ordered. MacAran found himself in a crew with Father Valentine and eight strangers, felling trees in a ten-foot swath around the clearing. The fire was still a distant roar on a slope miles away, a red glare against the sky, but the air smelled of smoke, with a strange acrid undertone.
Someone said at MacAran's elbow, "How can the woods catch fire after all this rain?"
He brought back memory of something Marco Zabal had said that first night. "The trees are heavilyresined--practically tinder. Some few of them may even burn when they're wet--we built a campfire ofgreen wood. I suppose lightning can set off a fire at almost any time." We were lucky, he thought, wecamped out in the center of the woods and never thought of fire, or of firebreaks.
71
"I suspect we'll need a permanent firebreak around any encampment or work area."
Father Valentine said, "You sound as if you thought we were going to be here a long time."
MacAran bent to his saw. He said, not looking up, "No matter whose side you're on--the Captain'sor Moray's--it looks as if we'd be here for years." He was too weary, and too unsure of anything at thismoment, to decide for himself if he had any real preference and in any case he was sure no one wouldconsult him about his choice, but down deep he knew that if they ever left this world again he wouldregret it
Father Valentine touched his shoulder. "I think the Lieutenant is looking for you."
He straightened to see Camilla Del Rey walking toward him. She looked worn and haggard, her hairuncombed and her uniform dirty. He wanted to take her in his arms but instead he stood and watched herattempt not to meet his eyes as she said, "Rafe, the Captain wants to talk with you. You know the terrainbetter than anyone else. Do you think it could be fought or contained?"
"Not in the dark--and not without heavy equipment," MacAran said, but he accompanied her back toward the Captain's field quarters. He had to admire the efficiency with which the firebreak operation had been set up, the small amount of ship's firefighting equipment moved to the hospital. The Captain had sense enough to use Moray here. They're really two of a kind--if they could only work together for the same objectives. But just now they're the irresistible force and the immovable object .
The fine rain was changing to heavy sleet as they came into the dome. The small dark crowded
dome was dimly
The Captain said harshly, "I'm not interested in your social theories, Mr. Moray."
Doctor Di Asturien rose. He said, "Captain, one thing must be taken into account. We made a most
disquieting discovery today--"
At that moment a violent clap of thunder rocked the hospital tent. The hastily rigged lights went out
And from the door one of the security men shouted:
"Captain! Captain! The woods are on fire!"
70
Chapter
SEVEN
Everyone kept their heads; Captain Leicester bellowed from the ,platform, "Get some lights in here;security, get some lights!" One of the young men on the Medic staff found a handlamp for the Captainand one of the bridge officers shouted, "Everyone! Stay in place and wait for orders, there is no dangerhere! Get those lights rigged as fast as you can!"
MacAran was near enough to the door to see the distant rising glare against the darkness. In a fewminutes lamps were being distributed, and Moray, from the platform, said urgently, "Captain, we havetree-felling and earth-moving equipment. Let me order a detail to work on firebreaks around the
Page 55
encampment."
"Right, Mr. Moray. Get with it," Leicester said harshly. "All bridge officers, gather here; get to the ship and secure any flammable or explosive material." He hurried away toward the back of the tent. Moray ordered all able-bodied men to the clearing, and requisitioned all available handlamps not in use on the bridge. "Form up in the same squads you did for grave digging detail," he ordered. MacAran found himself in a crew with Father Valentine and eight strangers, felling trees in a ten-foot swath around the clearing. The fire was still a distant roar on a slope miles away, a red glare against the sky, but the air smelled of smoke, with a strange acrid undertone.
Someone said at MacAran's elbow, "How can the woods catch fire after all this rain?"
He brought back memory of something Marco Zabal had said that first night. "The trees are heavilyresined--practically tinder. Some few of them may even burn when they're wet--we built a campfire ofgreen wood. I suppose lightning can set off a fire at almost any time." We were lucky, he thought, wecamped out in the center of the woods and never thought of fire, or of firebreaks.
71
"I suspect we'll need a permanent firebreak around any encampment or work area."
Father Valentine said, "You sound as if you thought we were going to be here a long time."
MacAran bent to his saw. He said, not looking up, "No matter whose side you're on--the Captain'sor Moray's--it looks as if we'd be here for years." He was too weary, and too unsure of anything at thismoment, to decide for himself if he had any real preference and in any case he was sure no one wouldconsult him about his choice, but down deep he knew that if they ever left this world again he wouldregret it
Father Valentine touched his shoulder. "I think the Lieutenant is looking for you."
He straightened to see Camilla Del Rey walking toward him. She looked worn and haggard, her hairuncombed and her uniform dirty. He wanted to take her in his arms but instead he stood and watched herattempt not to meet his eyes as she said, "Rafe, the Captain wants to talk with you. You know the terrainbetter than anyone else. Do you think it could be fought or contained?"
"Not in the dark--and not without heavy equipment," MacAran said, but he accompanied her back toward the Captain's field quarters. He had to admire the efficiency with which the firebreak operation had been set up, the small amount of ship's firefighting equipment moved to the hospital. The Captain had sense enough to use Moray here. They're really two of a kind--if they could only work together for the same objectives. But just now they're the irresistible force and the immovable object .
The fine rain was changing to heavy sleet as they came into the dome. The small dark crowded
dome was dimly
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