“Well, then. How much fuel for the motors shall we load on? If we count on three, or say three and a half hours.⁠ ⁠…”

I see before me, over a draught, my hand with the counter and the logarithmic dial at the figure 15.

“Fifteen tons. But you’d better take⁠ ⁠… yes, better take a thousand.”

I said that because I know that tomorrow.⁠ ⁠… I noticed that my hands and the dial began to tremble.

“A thousand! What do you need such a lot for? That would last a week! No, more than a week!”

“Well, nobody knows.⁠ ⁠…”

I do know.⁠ ⁠…