"David Grinnell- To Venus! To Venus!" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grinnell David)

simply because his country needed him and made its need very clear. He
would go anywhere they wanted to send him and do anything they wanted
done, but he would do it his way. Jim Holmes was an innate civilian.

When he was just a few yards from the walking machine, Chet called
out, "Are you prepared to open up?"

"Sure thing," came the laconic answer. "Suit's under pressure, cabin
depressurized."

The main hatch swung open and Chet climbed aboard. Although face to
face within the confines of the small cabin, the two still conversed by radio
within their individual pressure suits.

"Have you any idea of what's wrong?" Chet asked.

"Not the slightest," Jim said, shaking his head. "I thought that's why
they sent you."

"Sure. I just thought you might have some clue. Let's take a look at the
shearpin."

"Help yourself."

Chet dropped to his knees, unscrewed a floor plate, and lifted it off. He
thrust his arm deep into the aperture, felt around, and allowed his fingers
to run up and down the smooth shaft he located.

"Tell me," he asked his friend, who sat comfortably watching him.
"what happened?"

"It just quit."

"I know that," he answered a trifle impatiently. "I mean, did the power
fail or did you suddenly lose traction?"

Jim looked genuinely baffled. "I really don't know," he said. "We just
stopped and then I turned off the motor and called in."

"Okay. Let's try it another way," Chet persisted. "Was the motor
running before you shut it off?"

"Oh, sure. That's what I've been trying to tell you. It was running but we
weren't getting anywhere so I switched it off." Jim seemed to think he was
dealing with an idiot.

"Gotcha," Chet said. "One minute you were rolling merrily alone; and
then there was a snap and the walker stopped walking but the motor kept
running so you switched it off and called Orbiter."