,,mom5tum ,by ,*>les ,dye 7au?or ( ,"t ,kill]7 ,j because an ev5t has to happ51 "s p ?9k t1 ( c\rse1 x w happ54 ,x a9't necess>ily s6 ,ball>d _h b a few h\rs to solve ! problem1 & he knew t ! answ] 0 !re1 be=e 8 eyes--if he c\ld see x 9 "t6 ,transcrib]'s ,note3 ,?is etext 0 produc$ f ,future comb9$ ) ,sci5ce ,fiction ,/ories ,july #aiea4 ,ext5sive rese>* did n uncov] any evid5ce t ! ,u4,s4 copyright on ?is publication 0 r5ew$4 ,a/]oid #abjg came sp9n+ into ! auxili>y %ip's viewplate l a glitt]+ black mirage4 ,! eight-mile *unk ( rock 0 ! la/ l9k 9 a *a9 ( n9e a/]oid navigational-m>k]s /ill ne$+ bl9k] equipm5t in/allation4 ,m9utes lat]1 ! ,m9n[ lay neatly b]!d 9 ! deepe/ holl[ ( ! a/]oid1 ! %9+ wires ( its drill grapples an*or+ x firmly to ! jagg$ rock4 ,! airlock op5$ & two m5 9 spacesuits /epp$ out4 ,!y climb$ to ! top ( ! ne>e/ hill dragg+ a plat=m ( tools & equipm5t2 ! ragg$1 close horizons ( ! a/]oid made a ho/ile backgr\nd = !m z !y work$ 9 sil5ce4 ,ball>d lean$ f> ov] ! r\gh edge ( a circul> pit1 direct+ ! heat radiation beam t melt$ ! f\ndation pla/ic smoo?ly ov] ! walls4 ,he c\ldn't sp>e ! "t to turn 8 head & wat* ,walton1 b he c\ld foll[ ! o!r's progress 9 weld+ ! framework ( ! bl9k] t[] by ! irregul> brea?+ & clanks & buzzes com+ ?r\gh 8 e>phones4 ,he li/5$ to ,walton's motions ) an automatic al]tness develop$ ov] six long weeks ( t5sion--ev] s9ce ! f9d+ ( ! rot5ite nuggets on ! second ( ! light-m>k] a/]oids4 ,! rot5ite repres5t$ en\gh weal? to make !m among ! ri*e/ m5 9 ! sol> sy/em4 ,or "o ( !m--! ri*e/4 ,t 0 :at ,ball>d 0 afraid (4 ,sudd5ly ! clanks & ru/les /opp$1 & ,walton's voice mutt]$3 ,mu/ h left ! numb] ?ree flux2 bett] g back = x4 ,:at8 ,ball>d caught himself ask+ rhetorically1 appreh5sion flood+ ?r\gh him4 ,i said ,i left some?+4 ,h to g back & get x4 ,!re 0 a fa9t tremor 9 ,walton's voice4 ,) a h>d calm he w\ldn't h recogniz$ six weeks ago1 ,ball>d consid]$ ! consequ5ces ( mak+ an excuse to g ) ,walton4 ,b ! excuse w\ld de/roy ! pose ( innoc5ce he'd s c>efully act$ s9ce 8 fir/ suspicions ( ,walton's int5tion4 ,& he c\ld be wrong4 ,no s5se 9 antagoniz+ ,walton1 p>ticul>ly ) ! fray$ condition bo? _! n]ves 7 94 ,ok1 he grunt$4 ,br+ back ano!r #e,r bit2 ?is "o ,i've be5 us+ *itt]s4 ,!re 7 ! s\nds ( ,walton b\nd+ d[n t[>ds ! %ip 9 ! peculi> danc+ glide dem&$ by ! l[ gravity4 ,me?odically1 )\t look+ up1 ,ball>d cont9u$ 8 job1 foll[+ ,walton ) 8 e>phones4 ,only :5 ! f\ndation fill 0 laid w\ld x seem natural = him to /op work+ = a mom5t & g to ! %ip4 ,gradually1 lay] on lay]1 ! pla/ic melt$1 coat$ ! walls & h>d5$4 ,he he>d ,walton rea* ! %ip1 !n !re 0 a slight r++ noise z ! man t\*$ 8 key-magnet to ! airlock4 ,z ,walton ent]$ ! lock1 8 mike regi/]$ ! pressure ( air by sudd5ly pick+ up all ! s\nds ( ! %ip2 ! ?robb+ ( ! g5]ators1 ! int]mitt5t ru% & sigh ( ! air condition]1 & ! close curv$ walls e*o+ back ! scrape ( 8 %oes on ! lock] room floor4 ,f\r m9utes to g4 ,ball>d f9i%$ melt+ ! pla/ic onto ! walls1 resi/+ ! urge to hurry & risk bot*+ ! "w4 ,walton _h no reason to kill him--except = ! rot5ite4 ,& s9ce its discov]y1 ,walton _h %[n no?+ b a surface fri5d%ip cov]+ a hidd5 hatr$ & fe> t 0 gr[+ into surreptiti\s maneuv]+s t[>ds murd]4 ,b ) a pret5se at normality1 ,ball>d hop$ ,walton w\ld get ov] 8 obsession & =get x1 nev] kn[+ t he'd se5 any?+ suspici\s4 ,& mean:ile ,ball>d _h only to /ay out ( ! way ( accid5ts )\t seem+ suspici\sly c>eful4 ,he add$ ! la/ necess>y lay] ( pla/ic1 swit*$ (f ! heat beam & /ood up4 ,!re 0 no sign ( motion ar\nd ! ,m9n[4 ,walton _h n come out1 b ,ball>d's e>phones cont9u$ to pick up ,walton's n]v\s1 irregul> brea?+4 99 99 99 99 99 ,ball>d />t$ d[n ! hill 9 long1 l[ float+ b\nds4 ,! ,m9n[ exp&$ up at him1 a %ip et*$ 9 black & :ite aga9/ a jagg$ mass ( black & grey ores4 ,j be=e l&+ on 8 second b\nd1 8 e>phones pick$ up a %>p metallic r++ note he c\ldn't id5tify4 ,sudd5ly ! %ip exp&$ up directly 9 front ( him2 he'd ov]%ot 8 l&+4 ,he ?udd$ into ! %ip1 slid d[n to ! gr\nd & l&$ fac+ ! lock1 8 key-magnet 9 h&4 ,aga9 he he>d ! famili> tun+-=k note1 ?is "t r++ fa9tly up f ! magnet 9 8 own h& z he put x aga9/ ! circle ( light] metal t 0 ! lock4 ,! circle turn$1 ) ! magnet rotat+ out into a h&le4 ,he grabb$ x & yank$ to slide back ! airlock panel4 ,! yank pull$ him (f 8 feet4 ,= an in/ant he c\ldn't ori5tate2 !n he realiz$ t he _h mov$ because ! panel _h n4 ,x 0 a case ( action or reaction4 ,! panel _h n budg$1 seem+ to be "o ) ! flawless sweep ( ! hull4 ,he tri$ aga91 yank+ x ) ! same futile results4 ,appreh5sion flood$ ?r\gh him4 ,walton6 he call$4 ,walton1 ! panel's /uck6 ,op5 x f ! inside6 ,= an in/ant he 0 aw>e ( ,walton's n]v\s brea?+1 !n x /opp$--!re 0 a l[ *uckle4 ,li/51 ,ball>d6 ,i'd be crazy to let y 94 ,don't y ?9k ,i've se5 y wat*+ me l a hawk ev] s9ce we f\nd ! rot5ite1 j wait+ = a *ance to cat* me (f gu>d6 ,i %\ld h done ?is weeks ago1 b x didn't occur to me h[ clean & easy x w\ld be until ,i ?\ght ( ! airlock jamm+ ) y outside4 ,s--! lock is jamm$ & y h left little ov] two h\rs ( suit oxyg54 ,& :ile y're out !re suffocat+ to dea?1 ,i'll be wait+ 9 my sleep-tank on a nice euphoriac jag4 ,x's go+ to be nice be+ ! ri*e/ man 9 !-- ,wait6 ,walton1 li/56 ,y're all wrong6 ,i-- ,walton _h cut 8 radio4 ,= a mom5t1 ,ball>d dumbly /ood !re1 8 m9d rac+ ar\nd l a p9-:eel4 ,sl[ly x /opp$1 z numb+ fe> c\rs$ ?r\gh 8 n]v\s sy/em4 ,he'd "u-conceal$ 8 suspicions1 aft] all2 ,walton _h suspect$ him ( ! v same ?+ he'd suspect$ ,walton (4 ,sudd5ly1 9 spite ( 8 pr$icam5t1 9 spite ( dea? wait+ = him only a few h\rs 9 ! future1 ,ball>d smil$4 ,he really c\ldn't hate ,walton = :at he'd done2 x 0 ! old cli*e aga9 ( too mu* gre$ & suspicion4 ,he realiz$ t ?is didn't alt] ! fact t he 0 go+ to die--unless he c\ld ?9k ( some?+ fa/4 ,ball>d look$ at 8 *ronomet]2 he n[ _h less ?an two h\rs4 ,9 spite ( ?is1 8 m9d sudd5ly calm$ & became cle>4 ,fir/ he'd h to ?9k ( all ! possibilities ( gett+ into ! ,m9n[1 !n allot only s mu* "t to ea* possibility4 ,!re 0 ! weld+ tor*1 ! heat-beam1 a pneumatic jackhamm]1 & miscellane\s h& tools4 ,surely ) t assortm5t he c\ld knock or burn a hole 9 ! %ip4 ,all ! air w\ld swi% out1 b !re 7 en\gh suit cyl9d]s to all[ him to take ! %ip back if he didn't damage x too badly gett+ 94 ,& ,walton w\ld be safe 9 8 sleep-tank2 ,ball>d w\ld see to t by disconnect+ ! awak5]4 99 99 99 99 99 ,ball>d smil$ at ! />s z he b\nd$ back to ! hill :]e ! tools lay4 ,walton _h be5 a fool to lock him out "h ) cutt+1 burn+1 & p\nd+ equipm5t--& almo/ two h\rs 9 :i* to use !m4 ,?+s w]5't s bad aft] all4 ,he decid$ to try ! weld+ tor* fir/4 ,he cross$ ov] to ! almo/-complet$ bl9k] t[] & pick$ up ! tor* & p[]-pack1 !n f a tool box he select$ a cutt+ nozzle4 ,c>efully1 s n to ex]t himself & wa/e oxyg51 he glid$ d[n ) 8 ge> to ! aft section ( ! ,m9n['s hull j =w>d ( ! tubes :]e ! sk9 0 ?9ne/4 ,z he ignit$ ! tor*1 he 0 aw>e ( :at a temptation x 0 to dra9 (f all ! oxyg5 conta9$ 9 ! p[]-pack into 8 own cyl9d]4 ,quickly he w5t ahead & appli$ ! tor* to ! sk9 ( ! %ip4 ,ball>d glanc$ at 8 *ronomet]3 ,an h\r & a half to g4 ,good4 ,fifte5 m9utes w\ld be long en\gh to tell :e!r ! tor* w\ld cut ?r\gh ! sk9 or n4 ,if x w\ld1 !n he c\ld use ! re/ ( ! "t 9 cutt+ ! hole4 ,aft] ! fir/ five m9utes he turn$ ! nozzle away & exam9$ ! spot :]e x _h be5 appli$4 ,n a m>k4 ,six m9utes w5t by4 ,!n sev51 eight1 n9e-- ,aga9 he look$ at ! sk92 /ill no *ange4 ,?ree m m9utes w5t by4 ,ball>d felt sweat break out on 8 face z he pull$ ! tor* away = a ?ird "t4 ,= a mom5t--8 eyes /ill bl9d$ by ! gl>e--he c\ld see no?+4 ,8 he>t sank4 ,!n he detect$ a fa9t r$ spot ) a :iti% c5t]4 ,x 0 work+4 ,?ree m m9utes & ! hole w\ld be />t$4 ,he turn$ back ! nozzle to ! gl[+ spot4 ,!n ) dismay he wat*$ ! tor* sputt] & g dead4 ,frantically he pu%$ ! activator button-- ,/unn$1 he f9ally notic$ t ! p[]-pack read empty4 ,walton _h ne>ly exhau/$ x on ! bl9k] t[]4 ,ball>d glanc$ at 8 wri/4 ,he /ill _h an h\r & f\rte5 m9utes4 ,he didn't smile at ! />s ?is "t z he w5t back up ! hill4 ,?+s didn't seem ironic any m1 m]ely dang]\s4 ,he load$ ! heat-beam ) its l>g] p[]-pack onto ! equipm5t plat=m & sl[ly dragg$ x beh9d him d[n to ! %ip4 ,an h\r & two m9utes left4 ,he w5t to "w adju/+ ! beam to its maximum int5sity2 !n1 mov+ x z close to ! hull z possible1 he turn$ x on full =ce4 ,"t seem$ to h /opp$4 ,twice 9 "o m9ute ,ball>d glanc$ at 8 wri/1 expect+ to see a lapse ( t5 or fifte5 m9utes4 ,only five m9utes _h dragg$ by2 he n[ _h j fifty-sev5 left4 ,8 spacesuit sudd5ly began rem9d+ him ( a c(f94 ,) sup]human ef=t he j]k$ 8 ?\ghts away f suffocation & back to ! job4 ,=ty-five m9utes to g4 ,! beam wasn't go+ to "w4 ,! sudd5 realization cut into ,ball>d l a knife4 ,he %\ld h kn[n t 9 ! fir/ place2 a beam meant = pla/ic wasn't int5se en\gh = ! sk9 ( a space%ip4 99 99 99 99 99 ,?is "t z ,ball>d once m climb$ ! hill1 ! />s seem$ to be smil+ at him4 ,b n ) fri5dl9ess4 ,!y seem$ to smile dea?4 ,he got ! jackhamm] all ! way d[n to ! %ip be=e a deva/at+ ?\ght /ruck him4 ,he'd =gott5 t ! hamm] _h a crack$ #e,r bit2 x w\ld fly to pieces on ! diamond h>dness ( ! hull4 ,he sat d[n1 /unn$ at ! fact t he'd run out ( ?+s to try4 ,! %ip lay be=e him l "s imp5etrable =tress4 ,sev]al preci\s m9utes dragg$ by be=e ,ball>d c\ld aga9 calm 8 sp9n+ bra94 ,he /ill _h =ty m9utes4 ,_h he ov]look$ any o!r possibility ( gett+ into ! %ip8 ,sl[ly he walk$ ar\nd ! ,m9n[1 conc5trat+ z he'd nev] conc5trat$ be=e4 ,!n z he /epp$ 9 front ( ! drive tubes some?+ click$3 ,! ma9 tube 0 l>ge en\gh = him to crawl into4 ,if he c\ld remove ! recoil plate & hydraulic me*anism1 he might be able to burn a hole ?r\gh ! ord9>y /eel bulkhead beyond4 ,half-b\nd+ & half-runn+1 he return$ f ! hill ) ! tool box4 ,aft] select+ sev]al likely wr5* sizes1 he grabb$ a fla%light & crawl$ up ! tube4 ,he wa/$ five m9utes unscrew+ ! fir/ bolt hold+ ! plate 9 place4 ,! second bolt 0 s corrod$ he c\ldn't budge x4 ,curs+ he crawl$ out & dragg$ 9 ! jackhamm]1 hop+ ! crack$ #e,r bit w\ld hold until ! bolt 0 knock$ out4 ,x almo/ held1 fly+ to pieces j z !re 0 a qu>t] in* to g4 ,frantically he someh[ manag$ to knock ! rema9d] out ) ! *uck ( ! hamm]4 ,b x _h tak5 ,ball>d five m m9utes4 ,only tw5ty-five left4 ,he w5t out & grabb$ a cr[b> & pri$ ! plate (f1 recoil cyl9d] & hydraulic fluid foll[+ l a jack-9-!-box4 ,aft] clean+ out ! drive tube he almo/ lo/ 8 reason :5 he discov]$ ! cable connect+ ! beam to ! p[]-pack wasn't long en\gh to rea* ! bulkhead4 ,=tunately he f\nd an ext5sion 9 ! bottom ( ! tool box4 ,fifte5 m9utes to g4 ,t %\ld be j long en\gh4 ,he swit*$ on ! beam4 ,n[ "t seem$ to race by4 ,at t5 m9utes to g ! bulkhead turn$ a *]ry-r$4 ,at five m9utes x 0 almo/ :ite4 ,at f\r1 ! /eel />t$ to buckle4 ,at ?ree--! heat-beam sudd5ly w5t dead4 ,! p[]-pack 0 empty4 ,ball>d's reason reel$4 ,he grabb$ ! cr[b> & jabb$ at ! fa/ cool+ metal4 ,too late4 ,9 ! "o m9ute he _h left to live1 ,ball>d sudd5ly became calm1 reconcil+ himself to 8 end4 ,we>ily he crawl$ out ( ! tube4 ,at lea/ ,walton w\ld be 9 = a na/y surprise1 ) ! ma9 drive recoil plate gone4 ,& to make sure1 he w\ld pu% x (f into space4 ,) "o la/ surge ( fury he dragg$ up ! foot ?ick plate he c\ld nev] h lift$ back on ,e>?1 & />t$ %ov+ to give x mom5tum4 ,mom5tum equals velocity times mass4 ,sudd5ly he /opp$1 ! plate drift+ on ahead ( him4 ,n[ :y _h he ?\ght ( t8 ,some?+ f 8 s*ool days--he tri$ h>d to rememb]--some?+ ab\t mass4444 ,mass is a con/ant4 ,weight is a v>iable1 b mass is :at knocks holes 9 ?+s--space%ips1 = in/ance4 ,j "o ?+ c\ld save him n[--mom5tum4 ,ball>d glanc$ at 8 wri/4 ,tw5ty seconds to g4 ,!n maybe ano!r tw5ty f ! oxyg5 9 ! connect+ tube4 ,n mu* "t-- ,he b\nd$ (f aft] ! /ill-drift+ plate1 !n began =c+ x ar\nd 9 a semi-circle back t[>d ! %ip4 ,! recoil plate sluggi%ly began to move fa/] z x ga9$ mom5tum4 ,x />t$ gett+ ahead ( him s he gave x "o la/ pu%1 & x sl[ly crept away head+ /raight = ! hull4 ,x float$ edge-wise into ! aft section--& kept on go+4 ,a ?ree foot /ream ( light p\r$ out f ! side ( ! %ip4 ,ball>d />t$ crawl+ into ! hull & ! light wav]$ & bright5$4 ,he c\ldn't und]/& x4 ,!n x dimm$ altoge!r-- ,! la/ ( 8 oxyg5 0 gone4 ,dizzily he tri$ to squeeze ?r\gh ! rip4 ,he kept slipp+ back 444 back4 ,!re 0 a ro>+ d>kness all ar\nd him1 b he c\ld /ill crawl4 ,= ages he seem$ to be crawl+ ov] poli%$ glass--,8 head cra%$ into some?+ t clang$ holl[ly4 ,"s fad+ portion ( 8 consci\sness told him he 0 inside ! %ip--& ! clang _h be5 ! spacelock]4 ,automatically1 z ?\gh by in/9ct1 he rea*$ up & fumbl$ ) ! h&le--,!n he 0 clumsily try+ to fit a new oxyg5 cyl9d] into place4444 99 99 99 99 99 ,ball>d awoke feel+ cramp$ & tir$1 z ?\gh he'd slept all night 9 a bird cage4 ,he look$ at 8 *ronomet]1 !n at 8 suit air-gauge4 ,no4 ,he'd be5 out only a few m9utes4 ,he got up & crawl$ into ! sleep-tank comp>tm5t & disconnect$ ,walton's awak5]4 ,!n he w5t into ! control room & look$ up ! ne>e/ space-freight] lane 9 ! radio call book1 & set up an automatic di/ress signal4 ,he felt z if he 7 go+ to pass out aga9--?is "t f %e] fatigue4 ,!re 0 /ill "o ?+ m he want$ to d4 ,out ( ! nose comp>tm5t he haul$ a small case conta9+ :at _h caus$ all ! tr\ble-- ,!n he crawl$ back out ?r\gh ! torn hull sk91 op5$ ! case & flung e s+le "o ( ! rot5ite nuggets f> out into space4