"The spare water, the stilltent--everything that counts." He touched a

"The spare water, the stilltent--everything that counts." He touched a

"I lost the pack," he said. "It's buried under a hundred tons of sand . . .

"Don't you understand?" he asked. "Everything we need to survive in this

beyond the end of the fissure. Colors blinked in the sand out on the open

"Don't you understand?" he asked. "Everything we need to survive in this

place is under that sand."

Presently, he looked up the fissure at the new slope, studying it, marking

Jessica held hers

at least."

place is under that sand."

Presently, he looked up the fissure at the new slope, studying it, marking

Paul squatted back on his heels.

the looseness of the sand.

pocket. "I still have the paracompass." He fumbled at the waist sash. "Knife and

Presently, he looked up the fissure at the new slope, studying it, marking

desert. A chorus of birds held forth their songs from hidden places among the

Paul squatted back on his heels.

the looseness of the sand.

at least."

"You found me," she said, and now her voice was soft, reasonable.

But Jessica had eyes only for the despair in Paul's face. She edged her

voice with scorn, said: "Is this the way you were taught?"

at least."

Jessica held hers

"You found me," she said, and now her voice was soft, reasonable.

rocks.

"Foam."

Jessica held hers