A senior Colonial Survey officer, Bordman, is aboard the _Warlock_, a cargo ship en route to Xosa II, a minerals planet. The ship experiences an emergency, using rockets for propulsion, which is unusual for a routine voyage. Bordman and another passenger, Aletha Redfeather, an Amerind representative, are informed they must land by boat due to an unspecified emergency. Upon landing, they discover that the colony is in dire straits: a sandstorm has buried the nearly completed landing grid, leaving the colony without power and supplies, and they are cut off from communication with the outside world. Bordman learns that the colony has only six months of food and water, and without the landing grid, they cannot receive supplies from the _Warlock_, which is stuck in orbit. The colonists, a mix of Amerinds and Africans, are resigned to their fate, but they maintain a sense of dignity and community. Bordman, feeling ashamed of his inability to cope with the harsh environment, struggles with his own limitations compared to the colonists. As the situation becomes increasingly desperate, Bordman proposes a solution based on refrigeration techniques he recalls from Earth. The colonists enthusiastically embrace the idea, and they begin to implement it, using the cold of the night sky to cool surfaces and condense moisture. This innovation leads to a significant increase in their water supply, allowing them to extend their survival. Meanwhile, the colonists work on a small landing grid that can tap into the ionosphere for power. They successfully use it to create a whirlwind that removes sand from around the buried main grid. This effort culminates in the uncovering of the original landing grid, allowing the _Warlock_ to land and deliver much-needed supplies. In a ceremonial gesture, Bordman is adopted into the Amerind tribe, symbolizing his acceptance and contribution to their survival. The story concludes with the _Warlock_ descending to the planet, marking a new beginning for the colony and a testament to human resilience and ingenuity in the face of adversity.
By Murray Leinster · First published 1958 · Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Fantasy