al help to them.

"They didn't stand a chance," the lawyer replied.

"Oh, but they did! On the Law of Probability, they had one in
sixty-seven--and our lives are worth a thousand of theirs."

"Yes, I know. Our lives are essential to humanity. You've said it all
before and I still disagree with you."

"Have I? I don't remember."

"You have. But it doesn't matter. Come on back. We've got to clear those
stones. There aren't many left."

As he strode toward the hangar, the lawyer knew that the days were
running short. True, the launching ramp was intact and one door of the
hangar was already open; but it would take at least a week to remove the
chunks of rejuvenite blocking the remaining door. Tarsh and himself had
done most of the heavy work. Yet even Tarsh, with all his feline
strength, was beginning to tire. The constant effort to make use of
every scrap of daylight was proving too much for them.

According to Gillian, the lifeboat was unharmed. Delman hadn't the time
to inspect it properly. But the very position of the hangar, squeezed
tight against the cliffside, had given it the best protection possible.
No, if only they could remove those stones!

Delman exhaustedly picked up his discarded crowbar. He inserted the
point under a slab of rejuvenite, thrust down and pried with all his
strength. As it tilted, Gillian Murray forced chocks of metal underneath
to hold it in place. The teamwork was repeated time after time, until at
last the slab toppled over, gaining them another twelve inches. They
rested for a moment. Then the whole endless process started once again.

By dusk, they had removed five stones.

* * * * *

Finished eating, they relaxed in the living room, lying back in the
padded comfort of the armchairs. Only Jason Tarsh remained
standing--slim and compact, like a young Oriental despot--his eyes fixed
on Walter Pellinger.

Pellinger squirmed uncomfortably in his seat. "I think I'll try and get
some sleep," he said.

"Just a moment, Walter," Tarsh lifted a restraining hand. "You're a
businessman and I want your advice. It's quite a simple problem. Imagine
that four of your employees are stranded on a desert island with very
little food. And suppose they all agree to build a raft on which to
escape and get back to the head office--what you might call a 'joint
venture.' Now let us also suppose that three of those people work hard,
cut down trees and fashion them in