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 impulsive and reckless and I admire you for it. Sometimes I wish I were more like that. But I know the situation here better than you do. We'd be running a terrible risk trying to work right at this time."
"Sure," Ward said, "We'd be running a risk. That’s apparently your entire philosophy. Sit tight, do nothing, because there might be a slight risk involved."
He turned and strode to the door.
"Wait," Halliday cried. "You can't go out now."
Ward disengaged the lock with a swift deft motion.
"Who's going to stop me?" he asked.
Halliday crossed to his side with quick, pattering strides. He grabbed him by the arm and pulled him around.
"Please listen to me," he said imploringly. "I know what I'm talking about. I—"
Ward shook the hand loose and stared coldly into Halliday's, white strained features.
"You're gutless, Halliday," he said in a low tense voice. "Now keep out of my way."
He turned to the door again, but Halliday grabbed him suddenly and pushed him back.
"You're not going to do it," he cried, his voice trembling. "I'm not going to let you."
WARD grabbed the man by his lapels and swung him away from the door. He stepped close to him and his right fist chopped down in a savage axe-like stroke. The short, powerful blow exploded under Halliday's chin. His knees buckled and he sprawled limply to the floor.
Ward stared down at the still form and he felt an instant of regret for striking a man fifty pounds lighter than himself, but he realized that it had been the only course open.
