And miles to go before I sleep

_He knew, to the exact minute, when he was going to die. And Earth was too far away to reach...._

[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Infinity August 1958. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]

Alone within the humming ship, deep in its honeycombed metal chambers, Murdock waited for death. While the rocket moved inexorably toward Earth--an immense silver needle threading the dark fabric of space--he waited calmly through the final hours, knowing that the verdict was absolute, that hope no longer existed.