lower section of the suit, leaving Henry resplendent in orange knickers and red blouse. "How do you feel?" Ranjit asked. "What ship are you from? I don't see how they could just leave you. I'd better report this. They must be looking for you. Funny I haven't heard about it. Of course, the teletype's out of whack. I'm fixing it. I'm handy that way, fixing things. The heater broke down the other day, but I've got it going good now. I've started melting ice again. The tanks were about empty after that last ship fueled up. The Asteroid Ann, it was, or was it the Mimas Mae? They've both been by lately, but—"

"Water!" Henry pleaded. He had to do something to make Ranjit leave the compartment. He tried to listen for sounds that would locate the other crew members. Holding his handsome blond head in his hands, he sat up. The movement lifted his body from the deck, leaving his metal-soled shoes attached, so that he sat in mid-air.

"Water?" said Ranjit. "If there's one thing I've got, it's water. Let me see, there must be a flask someplace." He rummaged in the netting that covered two opposite walls of the compartment and secured an incredible clutter of weightless tools, books, food cases, clothing, oxygen tanks, spacesuit parts, wire, tubing, and other items. Still talking, Ranjit vanished through an opening almost concealed by the net.

Henry leaped to the radio. He whipped a pair of insulated snips from his pocket and cut through the electric cord in four places. He thrust the severed pieces behind the desk and stood listening. Somewhere, Ranjit continued talking, but Henry heard no answering voices. The only other sounds were the whine of electric motors and the throb of pumps. Henry pulled out a screwdriver and paused as he noticed a sign above the desk. The sign said:

AAAAAAA CCCCC D EEEEE G H IIIIH LLLL MM NNNNNNNNN OO PP Q RR S TTTTT UUUUU

Shaking his head, Henry released the clamps, turned the radio, pried off the back, and stabbed and slashed at the interior with the screwdriver. He replaced the back and returned to his position on the deck just in time.

"—really should," Ranjit continued, walking through the door. "You're lucky I saw you at all. Of course, I'm watchful all the time. Would you believe I've been right here on this sweeper for nine years? Here's some water, boy."

Henry squirted water from the flexible flask into his mouth. Ranjit said, "You ain't as thirsty as I thought you was. How come you wasn't calling for 

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