By the time they could get help--they wouldn't even be
sure we were alive. If we can't count on being found right away, this
burned-over place will be green again. In two or three weeks they
couldn't find it anyhow."
Cochrane fidgeted. He had worked out all this for himself. He'd been
disturbed at having to tell it, or even admit it to Babs. Now she said
in a constrained voice:
"If men came to this planet and built a city and hunted for us, it might
still be a hundred years before anybody happened to come into this
valley. Looking for us would be worse than looking for a needle in a
haystack. I don't think we're going to be found again."
Cochrane was silent. He felt guiltily relieved that he did not have to
break this news to Babs. Most men have an instinctive feeling that a
woman will blame them for bad news they hear.
A long time later, Babs said as quietly as before:
"Johnny Simms asked me to come along while he went hunting. I didn't. At
least I--I'm not cast away with him!"
Cochrane said gruffly:
"Don't sit there and brood! Try to get some sleep."
She nodded. After a long while, her head drooped.
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