are completely automatic. Of course if it is a native firemaker—with mighty keen eyesight—down there, that could be different! A creature like that mightn’t think of going near the scout. Should I start easing the Cat in towards the smoke, Dasinger?”
“Yes. We’ll have to find out what the signal means before we try to approach the wrecks. Doctor, are you satisfied now that Miss Mines’s outworld biotic check was correct?”
“The analysis appears to be fairly accurate,” Dr. Egavine acknowledged, “and all detectable trouble sources are covered by the selected Fleet serum.”
* * *
Dasinger said, “We’ll prepare for an immediate landing then. There’ll be less than an hour of daylight left on the ground, but the night’s so short we’ll disregard that factor.” He switched off the connection to Egavine’s cabin, turned to Duomart. “Now our communicators, you say, have a five mile range?”
“A little over five.”
“Then,” Dasinger said, “we’ll keep you and the Cat stationed at an exact five mile altitude ninety-five per cent of the time we spend on the planet. If the Spy arrives while you’re up there, how much time will we have to clear out?”
She shrugged. “That depends of course on how they arrive. My detectors can pick the Spy up in space before their detectors can make out the Cat against the planet. If we spot them as they’re heading