with flurries of humid wind.

Halliday grew increasingly nervous. He spent every waking hour at the
periscope in a constant study of the dark horizons and he said little to
Ward.

Ward's impatience grew with every inactive moment.

"How much longer are we going to hide in here like scared rats?" he
blazed finally. He paced furiously up and down the small room, glaring
in rage at Halliday's stooped figure.

Halliday smiled nervously and removed his glasses. His fingers were
trembling so violently that he almost dropped them to the floor.

"I can't even guess," he said shakily. "I was hoping that the monsoon
would blow over, but I'm afraid we're in for it."

"You've been saying that ever since I arrived," Ward said bitterly.

Halliday was studying a _aerograph_ on the wall. When he turned to Ward,
his face was gray. His lips were more tightly clamped than ever.

"If anything should happen to our front door lock," he said, "there's an
exit we can use in the kitchen. Possibly you've noticed the small door
beside the refrigeration and oxygen unit. That leads to a small room
that can be locked from the inside. There are supplies there to last a
week. I didn't tell you this before because I was afraid it might alarm
you."

"Thanks for sparing my feelings," Ward snapped. "But I don't think I'll
be needing your cosy little refuge. I've stalled just about enough. I
was sent here to do a job and by Heaven I'm going to try and finish it."

He jerked his tunic from the back of a chair and scooped up his raytube
and belt. Halliday regarded him in silence as he buckled on the weapon.

"What do you think you're going to do?" he asked at last.

"First I'm going to flash a message to Earth, asking that I be placed in
command here," Ward said. He buttoned his tunic swiftly, and his eyes
were cold slits of anger as he looked at Halliday nervously fumbling
with his glasses. "I was sent here with instructions to find out what
the delay was in getting the work done. I've found out to my
satisfaction. You've done about one day's work for every month you've
spent cooped up in here, trembling every time the wind howled. When I
come back I'll have an authorization from GHQ to take over here
immediately. Then you and I are going to work and damn the weather. If
you don't want to cooperate," Ward slapped the weapon at his hip, "I'll
use what force is necessary to make you."

"Please listen to me," Halliday said desperately. "You're im