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Editors
Arash Khojasteh, Ashraf F. Ayoub and Nasser Nadjmi

Emerging Technologies in Oral and

Maxillofacial Surgery
Editors
Arash Khojasteh
Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of
Medical Sc, Tehran, Iran

Ashraf F. Ayoub
School of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

Nasser Nadjmi
Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Antwerp, Antwerp,
Belgium

ISBN 978-981-19-8601-7 e-ISBN 978-981-19-8602-4

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-8602-4

© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive

license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2023

This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively
licensed by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is
concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of
illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in
any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and
retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or
dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed.

The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks,

service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the
absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the
relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general
use.

The publisher, the authors, and the editors are safe to assume that the
advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate
at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the
editors give a warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the
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This Springer imprint is published by the registered company Springer

Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
The registered company address is: 152 Beach Road, #21-01/04
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Preface
Advanced technologies and their applications have undergone drastic
changes over several industrial revolutions. The third industrial
revolution was associated with implying electronics and information
technology to produce automated products. The emergence of cyber-
physical systems and smart technologies led to the fourth industrial
revolution, strongly emphasizing the use of artificial intelligence, cloud
computing, and big data in different fields. At this point, the peculiar
role of alphabetic congruence of basic sciences and developments in
their diverse, yet tangled, fields in contribution to fusion of different
fields of scientific practice and research must be noticed. Multiple fields
of science, ranging from computer sciences to biology and genetics,
have gone through periods of fusion. Such fusions may have started as
singular interscience experiments but have led to revolutionary
changes in data manipulation and large-scale employments of emerging
technologies even in the miniscule details of healthcare procedures.
The application of advanced technologies in oral and maxillofacial
surgery has had a blurring effect on the separating borders of physical,
digital, and biological areas of research and practice in the field. These
transitions have resulted in a widespread application of laboratorial
and clinical technologies in oral and maxillofacial surgery, especially
computer-assisted design and computer-assisted manufacturing (CAD-
CAM). It is worth mentioning that this transition tremendously owes its
pace of development and popularity to progressions of the data
acquisition tools.
This book aims to offer a comprehensive overview of the current
state-of-the-art applications of emerging technologies in oral and
maxillofacial surgery. The book includes 18 chapters, discussing the
role and pertaining aspects of each technological method, including
workflow, advantages, pitfalls, future research opportunities, and
different clinical procedures and outcomes. The editors hope that this
book can be beneficial to undergraduate dental students, oral and
maxillofacial surgeons, head and neck surgeons, plastic surgeons, and
any other dental and medical staff specializing in the head and neck
region.
Arash Khojasteh
 Ashraf F. Ayoub
Nasser Nadjmi
Tehran, Iran
Glasgow, UK
Antwerp, Belgium
Contents
The Emergence of Advance Technologies and Industrial
Revolutions
Hanieh Nokhbatolfoghahaei and Arash Khojasteh
CBCT and MRI Data Acquisition as a Basis for Computer-Assisted
Maxillofacial Treatments
Mitra Ghazizadeh Ahsaie
Data Storing and Conversion in Computer-Assisted Oral and
Maxillofacial Treatments
Mitra Ghazizadeh Ahsaie and Hekmat Farajpour
Classification of Cutting-Edge Additive Manufacturing Techniques
Helia Sadat Haeri Boroojeni, Sadra Mohaghegh and Arash Khojasteh
Rapid Prototyping Models in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery:​
History, Definition, and Indications
Sadra Mohaghegh, Sahar Baniameri and Arash Khojasteh
Bone Contouring in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery:​Definition,
Indications, and Manufacturing Considerations
Zeinab Bakhtiari and Arash Khojasteh
Functional Bone Replacement in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery:​
Definition, Indications, and Manufacturing Considerations
Farshid Bastami and Arash Khojasteh
Functional Bone Regeneration in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery:​
History, Definition, and Indications
Parham Hazrati and Arash Khojasteh
In Situ Bone Regeneration in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery:​
Definition, Indications, and Manufacturing Considerations
Helia Sadat Haeri Boroojeni, Niusha Gharehdaghi,
Sahar Moghaddasi and Arash Khojasteh
Digitally Assisted Orthognathic Surgical Planning:​Definition,
History, and Innovation
Noura M. AlOtaibi and Ashraf F. Ayoub
Application of Advanced Technologies in Facial Cosmetic Surgery:​
History, Definition, and Indication
Seied Omid Keyhan, Behnaz Poorian and Tirbod Fattahi
Fabricating Dental Implants with Predesigned Structure
Seied Omid Keyhan, Shaqayeq Ramezanzade, Abbas Azari,
Parisa Yousefi and Hamid Reza Fallahi
Definition, History, and Indications of Robotic Surgery in Oral and
Maxillofacial Surgery
Nasser Nadjmi
Brief Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Saeed Reza Motamedian, Sahel Hassanzadeh-Samani,
Mohadeseh Nadimi, Parnian Shobeiri, Parisa Motie,
Mohammad Hossein Rohban, Erfan Mahmoudinia and
Hossein Mohammad-Rahimi
Application of Artificial Intelligence in Diagnosing Oral and
Maxillofacial Lesions, Facial Corrective Surgeries, and
Maxillofacial Reconstructive Procedures
Parisa Motie, Ghazal Hemmati, Parham Hazrati, Masih Lazar,
Fatemeh Aghajani Varzaneh, Hossein Mohammad-Rahimi,
Mohsen Golkar and Saeed Reza Motamedian
Future Trends of Using Artificial Intelligence in Oral and
Maxillofacial Surgery
Parisa Motie, Rata Rokhshad, Niusha Gharehdaghi,
Hossein Mohammad-Rahimi, Parisa Soltani and
Saeed Reza Motamedian
Application of Bioprinting Technology in Oral and Maxillofacial
Surgery
Sadra Mohaghegh and Hanieh Nokhbatolfoghahaei
Application of Bioreactors in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Helia Sadat Haeri Boroojeni and Hanieh Nokhbatolfoghahaei
About the Editors
Arash Khojasteh
is a full professor and chair of OMFS department at Shahid Beheshti
University of Medical Sciences and “Dental Research Center” in Iranian
Institute for Dental Research. Prof. Khojasteh received his doctorate in
dental surgery and OMFS from Tehran University of Medical Sciences
and Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, respectively, with
notable honors and ranked first in board exam. He received his PhD
from Antwerp University in Belgium.
Prof. Khojasteh has coauthored numerous peer-reviewed articles,
international scientific projects, and textbook chapters. His areas of
research include bone augmentation, bone regeneration, and stem cell
therapy. In his resume, he holds a history of receiving multiple
presidential awards as the best young researcher, best innovative
scientist, and best student in the past 15 years of Iranian academia.

Ashraf F. Ayoub
is an OMFS professor at the University of Glasgow, UK, since 2003. He is
the editor-in-chief of Frontiers of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and the
director of the university’s postgraduate program. Prof. Ayoub is the
lead surgeon of a team consisting of orthodontists, technologists,
psychologists, and computer scientists to investigate facial
malformations. He has received several awards and honors and
published numerous articles on two research themes, tissue
bioengineering and facial imaging. He has given several lectures on the
same topic at many national and international conferences.

Nasser Nadjmi
is currently working as a professor and coordinating program director
for OMFS at the University of Antwerp (UA), Belgium. He graduated as
an aspirant officer in merchant marine from Nautical College of
Antwerp-Belgium. Subsequently, he finished his medical and dental
education at the Catholic University of Leuven-Belgium. He was trained
in cranio-maxillofacial surgery in Belgium (Bruges and Leuven) and the
USA (Houston, Detroit, and Miami).
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2023
A. Khojasteh et al. (eds.), Emerging Technologies in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-8602-4_1

The Emergence of Advance

Technologies and Industrial
Revolutions
Hanieh Nokhbatolfoghahaei1 and Arash Khojasteh2
(1) Dental Research Center, Research Institute of Dental Sciences,
Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
(2) Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry,
Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

1 Introduction
The multiple industrial revolutions have well impacted consolidation of
modern technologies with the field of oral and maxillofacial surgeries.
Following the two first industrial revolutions, the third one, namely, the
“digital revolution,” started in 1960 by the end of world wars [1]. Digital
revolution was characterized by implementation of electronics and
information technology for automated production [2]. Digital
revolution occurred after a slowdown of industrialization and
technological advancements and accelerated development of
technological advancements. Consequently, machinery forces alleviated
the need for human labor, resulting in the emergence and stemming of
fourth industrial revolution from the third. The fourth industrial
revolution entails computer-generated product design and three-
dimensional (3D) printing technologies that fabricate solid objects
through piling successive layers of working materials [2, 3]. This era is
characterized by fused technologies that blur borders of physical,
digital, and biological territories.
 The essential part of this change has been developed in the
computer-aided design system (CAD) and subsequent computer-aided
manufacturing (CAM). Following the progress of CAD/CAM, robotic
surgeries (navigation surgeries) evolved, leading to the establishment
of trans-oral robotic surgery (TORS). Subsequently, the two presented
themselves to regenerative dentistry. This led to the advent of areas of
bioprinting and bioreactor. The current chapter encompasses a general
introduction of these new technologies and their applications in oral
and maxillofacial surgeries.
CAD technologies have been implemented in dentistry for nearly
two decades [4]. In the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery, CAD can
be used for virtual surgical planning (VSP) [5–8] and designing of
surgical guides and splints [9–11]. CAD technology has also a new area
in dental and medical education, referred to as “virtual-based
learning”(VBL).
Along with CAD, CAM technologies have also progressed
significantly and well-incorporated in different regions of dentistry.
Additive manufacturing (AM) and subtractive manufacturing (SM) are
two chief subbranches of CAM systems.
These technologies have resolved many formidable challenges of
surgical reconstruction and corrections, arising mainly from the
complex three-dimensional anatomy of the craniofacial skeleton [12]
(Fig. 1).
Fig. 1 Flowchart of advanced technology (ATM) in oral and maxillofacial surgery
(OMFS). CAD computer-aided design system, CAM computer-aided manufacturing,
VSP virtual surgical planning, VBL virtual-based learning, AM additive manufacturing,
SM subtractive manufacturing, SLA stereolithography, DLP digital light processing,
FDM fused deposition modeling, SLS selective laser sintering, SLM selective laser
melting, TORS trans-oral robotic surgery
CAD systems, being produced following the third industrial
revolution and the advancement of computer models in medical
science, enable object modeling before design and analysis. To perform
modeling, the object must be photographed with a 3D scanner or 3D
imaging systems. Today, many intraoral and extraoral scanners are
commercially available for 3D modeling, shaping, and imaging. In
addition to 3D modeling, a software is needed to manipulate the 3D
objects. In order for the photographed object to be manipulated by the
software, it must be converted into an STL file format. In this format,
regardless of its color, the object will have points in a three-dimensional
space, providing the system with spatial object topographies.
Thereafter, the STL formatted-file is rendered in the software to shape
and assess it. In the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery, CAD has also
led to emergence of virtual surgical planning (VSP) and designing of
surgical guides, splints, and implants. Virtual-based learning (VBL) is
another CAD-based technology that is the new branch in dental
education.
CAM system, which was created after the third and fourth industrial
revolutions, is the result of combined use of software and computer-
controlled machinery, without any manual intervention, aiming to
provide a fully automated manufacturing process [13, 14]. CAM
includes two subbranches: additive manufacturing (AM) and
subtractive manufacturing (SM) [15]. AM is defined as quantifiable
layer-by-layer deposition of working materials to directly obtain CAD-
based 3D objects [16, 17]. In this light, CAD/CAM benefits fabrication of
geometrically complex assemblies from a flexible selection of materials
[16, 18]. AM, also known as 3D printing, includes techniques such as
binder jetting (inkjet printing), stereolithography (SLA)/digital light
processing (DLP), fused deposition modeling (FDM), and selective laser
sintering (SLS)/selective laser melting (SLM) [15]. On the contrary, the
controlled process of material removal and machining, drilling, and
milling solid blocks is categorized as subtractive manufacturing
technologies (SM).
Following the advancement of CAD/CAM systems, robotic surgeries
were also evolved. Facilitated performing of these surgeries is among
the many goals of integrating CAD/CAM technologies with medical
sciences. Robotic surgery or navigation surgery aims to employ a
minimally invasive approach to access not-easily-accessible anatomical
areas, for instance, posterior of the oral cavity, such as oropharynx,
larynx, and hypopharynx, or even the skull base [19–21]. Combining
VSP with robotic surgeries has been demonstrated to cut down on
operative durations and improve patient outcomes, rather than sole
robotic surgery [20, 22]. In trans-oral robotic surgery (TORS), the robot
is fixated within the oral cavity while surgeon views the surgical field
on the monitor. This method can benefit educational purpose through
providing better visualization of the surgical environment for all
students and residents.
Today, medicine has evolved from replacement therapies toward
regenerative therapies. Therefore, tissue engineering products have
gained attention of many researchers and clinicians. Contemporary
tissue engineering-based approaches often employ a cocktail of stem
cells, growth factors, scaffolds, and bioreactors, aiming to initiate and
support regeneration aptitudes of host body [23]. The aforementioned
technologies can be used to make these products.
The field of regenerative dentistry has made great strides in this
field using advanced technologies. Two of the most important
applications of new technologies that are desired in this field are
bioprinting and bioreactors.
In order to produce engineered tissue, it is necessary to examine
and bio-design the micro- and macro-environments of tissues. This is
done with the purpose of imitation of physiological and mechanical
tissue conditions, outside the body [24, 25]. Bioreactors are used to
somewhat mimic the body’s physiological and mechanical
characteristics [24]. There are different types of systems for the
bioreactor’s design, including (1) hydrodynamic shear stress, (2) direct
mechanical stress, and (3) electromagnetic field (EMF)-based
bioreactors [24–26].
Bioprinting refers to additive manufacturing technologies in which
the scaffold is fabricated from a blend of cells and biocompatible
materials, the so-called bio-ink, in a layer-by-layer manner [27].
Categorization of the commonly used bioprinting technologies were
extrusion-based methods, laser-based methods, and inkjet bioprinting
[28].
All fields of applied modern technologies in the field of oral and
maxillofacial surgery are furtherly discussed in the following chapters.
The applications of CAD/CAM in the field of oral and maxillofacial
surgery are bone reconstruction surgeries, orthognathic surgeries,
implant dentistry, and trans-oral robotic surgery (Fig. 2) [8, 11, 29–34].
Fig. 2 Flowchart of applications of CAD/CAM in oral and maxillofacial surgery
(OMFS). PSI patient-specific implants, VSP patient-specific implants
The reconstruction procedure aims to reestablish the form and the
function of the defectious areas. Donor site morbidity, limited donor
tissue, incompatible features among recipient versus donor tissue,
unpredictable resorption, and varying long-term results are the main
disadvantages of the traditional reconstructive methods [35].
Therefore, CAD/CAM-based methods have gained an increased
attention in terms of overcoming these drawbacks. In bone
reconstruction, CAD/CAM can be used for virtual defect design, i.e.,
virtual surgical planning (VSP) [8, 36]. It can also be used for
prototyping or creating a defect model, which involves thorough defect
modeling and visualization preoperatively [37]. Of note, it can highly
contribute to making patient-specific implants (PSI) [8, 38]. In
orthognathic surgeries, CAD/CAM can be used for VSP [39, 40]. It is also
used in fabrication of surgical guides, mainly facilitating and benefitting
the surgical trajectory time-wise [11]. In the field of dental implants,
CAD/CAM is also used in surgical stents [41]. Navigational surgery is
also one of their applications in implantology [42]. Finally, in robotic
surgeries, trans-oral robotic (cleft palate) surgery (TORCS) is chiefly
implemented in soft tissue surgeries of the posterior portion of
pharynx, such as the soft palate [43].
In OMFS reconstructions, entire condition and three-dimensional
topography of tumor or defect can be evaluated and investigated on the
computer monitor, preoperatively [8, 36]. This allows a relaxed and
laid-back approach to be achieved for thorough assessments. In
prototyping, the defect model or tumor model may be consisted of a
polymeric content, modeling the jaws. This furtherly contributes to
comprehensive evaluations in terms of tumor/defect expansive
specifics, etc., to be performed not only preoperatively but also even
prior to meeting the patient and viewing the two-dimensional
radiographies. In prototyping or model design, mainly curable
polymers with lower temperatures can be employed [44]. For example,
FDM systems are very suitable for fabricating CAD models [44].
Therefore, CAD/CAM in bone reconstruction and bone grafting can
assist fabrication of patient-specific bone implants and preserving the
protected healing space for in situ bone regeneration (Fig. 3).
Fig. 3 Flowchart of applications of CAD/CAM in bone reconstruction surgery.
PMMA polymethyl methacrylate, HDPE high-density polyethylenes, PTFE
polytetrafluoroethylene, PEEK polyether ether ketone, GelMA gelatin and
methacrylate, PEG polyethylene glycol, Ti titanium, Ta tantalum, SS stainless steel,
ECM extracellular matrix, TCP tricalcium phosphate, HA hydroxyapatite, PDLLA poly
(d,l-lactic acid), PCL polycaprolactone, FDM fused deposition modeling, SLS selective
laser sintering, SLM selective laser melting
Bone contouring, functional bone replacement, and functional bone
regeneration (FBR) can be achieved through application of bone
implants [45–47].
Bone contouring refers to the usage of patient-specific products to
restore the standard and anatomical contour of the bone. The
individualized products are implanted in areas with nonspecific
masticatory role and are not prone to undergoing jaw movement or
functional or loadbearing incidents [48]. In bone contouring, there is
mainly a need for prosthesis, meaning that the implanted substance
will remain in place. In this field, polymers such as polymethyl
methacrylate (PMMA) are mainly used [49]. In this case, FDM printer
can be used. High-density polyethylenes (HDPE), such as
polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or polyether ether ketone (PEEK), are
employed for fabrication of bone contouring prostheses, and chin or
cheek prostheses as well [50, 51]. Upon application of these materials,
the selective laser sintering (SLS) method of AM is required [52].
On the other hand, aiming for functional bone replacement,
implants must restore the functional behaviors of the resected tissue,
including both mastication and jaw movement. In functional bone
replacement, the resected region is replaced by a prosthesis that not
only plays a functional role but can also generate and feasibly
withstand the masticatory forces. While for functional bone
replacement, the applied material has to tolerate the external forces
and provide proper contour. Nowadays, the most commonly employed
materials for fabrication of functional bone replacement prosthesis are
titanium in the bones and tantalum in the spine area [53, 54]. In the
past, stainless steels were used with this regard, but due to corrosive
reactions and numerous postoperative complications, leading to screw
loosening and macrophage inflammatory reactions, their application
has minimized considerably [55, 56]. The use of titanium and tantalum
in CAD/CAM is due to their high melting point, making them usable
with AM methods, such as selective laser melting (SLM).
In functional bone regeneration, a three-dimensional scaffold is
fabricated. The implanted scaffolds tend to induce bone formation, in
order to replace the lost tissue and restore both function and form of
the defected area using host body’s regenerative abilities. Tissue
engineering scaffolds have been used to provide spatial support to
enable new bone formation in defected sites. In the other words,
scaffolds should optimally imitate the native properties of extracellular
matrix (ECM), both the mineral and organic portions of the native bone
tissue ECM [26]. Upon placement, the scaffold will undergo degradation
and be replaced over a period of 6–18 months with natural bone tissue
of normal anatomical features [57]. In functional bone regeneration,
materials that take the shape similar to bone at a lower temperature
are needed. In order to imitate ECM, there are materials of natural and
synthetic origin. Gelatin, collagen, chitosan, and fibrin are natural
polymers or hydrogels used with the FDM method to reconstruct a
bone-imitating scaffold [58, 59]. Organic scaffolds that exist in synthetic
form usually include a mixture of gelatin and methacrylate (GelMA),
polyethylene glycol (PEG), and alginate, which are also mainly prepared
by the FDM method [60, 61]. Bone-like mineral tissue is mainly
composed of tricalcium phosphate (TCP), hydroxyapatite (HA), or
composite of a polymer along with TCP or HA [62, 63].
As mentioned above, another category of CAD/CAM application in
bone reconstruction surgery is in situ bone regeneration through
preserving a protected healing space. In this method, there is a need to
preserve a protected healing space, so that the body can generate bone
in that space. To make this guided or protected healing space in the
CAD-CAM method, the material of the membrane is usually titanium,
and the method of choice, SLM [64, 65].
All fields of applied modern technologies and application of
CAD/CAM in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery are furtherly
discussed in the following chapters.

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© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2023
A. Khojasteh et al. (eds.), Emerging Technologies in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-8602-4_2

CBCT and MRI Data Acquisition as a Basis

for Computer-Assisted Maxillofacial
Treatments
Mitra Ghazizadeh Ahsaie1
(1) Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry,
Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Mitra Ghazizadeh Ahsaie

Email: mitraghazizadeh@sbmu.ac.ir

Keywords Cone beam computed tomography – Magnetic resonance imaging –

Acquisition protocol – DICOM – Additive manufacturing – Computer-guided
treatment planning

1 Introduction
The invention of advanced imaging such as computed tomography (CT) and
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has revolutionized the medical and dental
treatments. The oral and maxillofacial region has a complex anatomy due to the
presence of various critical organs, such as the nerves, vessels, teeth, eye, and
brain. Serving as the third eye, three-dimensional imaging modalities provide
accurate details on hard and soft tissue, anatomic land marks, variations,
abnormalities, and pathologies of the maxillofacial region [1].
Since the development of the first medical CT scanners in 1960s, various
generations have been introduced, each producing higher impact in the
diagnosis and treatment plans. The fundamental principles of CT, whether
applied to multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) or CBCT, are the same:
a collimated x-ray source and detector, mounted in a fixed or rotating gantry,
turn around the patient’ head [2]. During this rotation, the X-ray beam is
attenuated, the remnant photons are captured by the detector, and further
reconstruction algorithms mathematically and spatially process this
attenuated data into a 3D map (Fig. 1).
Fig. 1 Cone beam imaging geometry. A divergent cone beam X-ray is projected from the tube
head and is directed to the detector. The machine continues evolving around the object for the
entire 360° or along a reduced or partial trajectory
The initial CTs, also known as the first-generation CT scanners, used a
pencil-shaped X-ray beam and a single-array detector, with a translate rotate
function, and required a 5-min scan time. Subsequently, the CT scanner design
evolved through four generations, decreasing scan time to 1–2 s. In the late
1990s, MDCT or multislice CT (MSCT) was introduced, having 64–640 detector
rows; this technology has now become the most widely used CT scanner
design. This technology has considerably reduced scan times, which is an
important factor in reducing motion artifacts especially in pediatric, trauma, or
elderly patients [3].
In 1980s, CBCT was originally developed in angiography, and in the early
2000s, this modality was introduced in dental and maxillofacial 3D imaging.
While CBCT is used for many purposes including routine oral and maxillofacial
surgical treatments, like extraction of the mandibular third molars and removal
of impacted teeth and placement of dental implants, with expanding
availability of a third-party application software capable of importing data in
Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) format, the role of
maxillofacial CBCT has now expanded in a broad range of 3D printing
procedures of models and surgical guides for jaw or facial reconstruction.
In the 1980s, MRI was developed and entered practical clinical diagnosis. In
this noninvasive technique, the patient is placed in a large magnet.
Radiofrequency (RF) pulse is directed to the tissue, and the volumetric data is
produced based on a map of the distribution of hydrogen and local tissue
properties that influence the strength of the magnetic resonance signal. To
accurately assess maxillofacial soft tissues, MRI can provide three-dimensional
views and even provide soft tissue prosthesis using additive manufacturing
techniques [4].
CBCT and MRI data acquisition as a basis for computer-assisted
maxillofacial treatments is further discussed in this chapter, focusing on their
operating principles and clinical applications.

2 Invention of Cone Beam Computed Tomography

(CBCT)
The scope of dental imaging and digital dentistry has been greatly expanded
with the invention of CBCT. This 3D modality, also known as cone beam
volumetric imaging (CBVI) and cone beam volumetric tomography (CBVT), is
the most significant technologic advancement in maxillofacial imaging. After
justifying any radiographic image, one should peruse the rule of optimization
consisting “ALARA” (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) to reduce any
unnecessary patient exposure. CBCT benefits from lower dose and cost
compared to MDCT imaging. The radiation dose varies based on the applied
imaging protocol (exposure parameters, e.g., mA, kVp), field of view (FOV), and
resolution preference (standard or high); however, even in extended or
craniofacial FOVs, the dosage is substantially lower than MDCT (Table 1) [5]. In
addition, ultralow-dose CBCT scan manufacturers use a radiation dose
comparable with a single plain radiograph.

Table 1 Comparison of effective dose from CT examinations. Note the higher effective dose
of MDCT compared to CBCT

Imaging Examination Median effective Equivalent background exposure

modality dose (d, M)
CBCT Small FOV 50 µSv 6d
Medium FOV 100 µSv 12 d
Large FOV 120 µSv 15 d
Imaging Examination Median effective Equivalent background exposure
modality dose (d, M)
MDCT Maxillofacial 650 µSv 2M
Head 2 msv 8M

CBCT cone beam computed tomography, d days, FOV field of view, M month,
MDCT multidetector computed tomography, msv millisievert, μSv micro-sievert
Currently, there are 279 CBCT models from 47 manufactures available
commercially with applications not limited to the skull, such as cardiac
imaging, radiotherapy, extremities, and peripheral bone imaging (Table 2).
Maxillofacial CBCT units can be classified according to the orientation of
patient during image acquisition: standing, seated, and supine (Fig. 2) [6].
Standing units, like a panoramic machine, are the most common type; however,
these units are prone to motion artifacts and cannot be adjusted for lower
heights especially in disabled patients in wheelchair. Supine units, such as
NewTom 7G (Verona, Italy), provide higher patient stability and greatly reduce
patient motion artifacts. In addition, these types of units allow accurate
assessment of airway, especially in micro-gnathic patients with obstructive
sleep apnea. However, supine units are physically large with a bigger footprint
consuming more area. In all settings, the patient’s head should be completely
immobilized.

Table 2 Selected maxillofacial CBCT machines available with large detector size, providing
large FOV for craniofacial assessments. Note that large FOVs generally have lower spatial
resolutions compared to small FOVs

Model Manufacturer Unit X-ray Focal Scan Scan Voxel FOV

type generator spot time technology size D×H
size min– (degree of (min– (min–
(min– max) rotation) max) max)
max) (s) (𝞵m) (cm)
(mm)
Viso G7 Planmeca Stand Fixed 0.5 1–36 200–360 75– 3 × 3–
(Helsinki, up anode 600 30 × 30
Finland)
NewTom Quantitative Supine Rotating 0.3– 7.2– Partial or 90– 4 × 4–
7G wide radiology anode 0.6 26 complete 500 29 × 56
vision (Verona, Italy) 360
NewTom Quantitative Stand Rotating 0.3 15– 360 100– 5 × 5–
VGi EVO radiology up anode 25 300 24 × 19
(Verona, Italy)
Model Manufacturer Unit X-ray Focal Scan Scan Voxel FOV
type generator spot time technology size D×H
size min– (degree of (min– (min–
(min– max) rotation) max) max)
max) (s) (𝞵m) (cm)
(mm)
3D J. Morita Seated Fixed 0.5 5.4– 180–360 80– 4 × 4–
Accuitomo (Kyoto, Japan) anode 17.5 250 17 × 12
170
i-CAT Kavo imaging Seated Fixed 0.5 4.8– 360 125– 8 × 5–
FLX17 (Hatfield, PA) anode 26.9 400 17 × 23
CS 9600 Carestream Seated Fixed 0.3– 5.5– 360 75 4 × 4–
dental, or anode 0.7 40 16 × 17
(Atlanta, GA) stand
up
SCANORA Soredex Seated Fixed 0.5 18– 360 100– 5 × 5–
3Dx (Tuusula, anode 34 500 25 × 16.5
Finland)
i3D- VATECH Seated Fixed 0.5 18 360 200– 8 × 8–
Premium (Gyeonggi-do, anode 400 21 × 19
Green 21 Korea)
NewTom Quantitative Stand Rotating 0.3 18– 360 75– 6 × 6–
VGi radiology up anode 26 300 15 × 15
(Verona, Italy)
GALILEOS Dentsply, Stand Fixed 0.5 14 204 125– 15 × 15
Comfort Sirona up anode 250
PLUS (Bensheim,
Germany
KaVo OP KaVo imaging Stand Fixed 0.5 11– 360 85– 5 × 5–
3D Pro (Hatfield, PA) up anode 42 420 13 × 15
Vision

D diameter, FOV field of view, H height, max maximum, min minimum

Fig. 2 Various types of CBCT machines. NewTom 7G wide vision (Verona, Italy) supine CBCT
unit (a). The patient is reclined on back and further inserted into the gantry. The supine
position reduces patient motion artifact and enables accurate assessment of the airway in
patients with sleep apnea disorder. Planmeca Viso 7G (Helsinki, Finland) standing CBCT unit
(b). Soredex (SCANORA 3Dx, Tuusula, Finland) seated CBCT unit (c). The machine turns
around the patient’s head like a panoramic imaging system (b, c)

3 Principles of Image Production

CBCT image production consist of three major steps: 1- X-ray generation, 2- X-
ray detection, and 3- image reconstruction. A divergent cone-like or pyramidal
X-ray source is directed to the specific region of interest (ROI) and the
remaining beam (attenuated, scattered, and with no interaction) reaches the
detector on the other side. Different image detectors could be used in CBCT
machines, the most common is cesium iodide/amorphous silicon flat panels
(CsI/a-si FPD). A series of raw data (also known as basis frame) are produced
by a single 180° to 720° rotation of gantry around the patient’s head [7]. The
number of raw images vary from 100 to 1000. Each frame is similar to a 2D
cephalometric radiography, each slightly offsets from the next. The projection
data is primarily reconstructed to three orthogonal planes of the axial, sagittal,
and coronal planes. A secondary reconstruction is further applied to provide
multi-planar reformat (MPR) and volumetric rendering (VR) images (Figs. 3
and 4) [8].
Fig. 3 Cone beam computed tomographic volumetric data reconstruction. Primary
reconstruction of raw data resulting in orthogonal planes (axial, coronal, and sagittal). Display
modes can further be divided into two categories: multi-planar reformation (MPR), such as
reformatted panoramic and cross-sectional views, and volumetric rendering (VR), which can
be further divided into two categories of direct (DVR) and indirect VR (IVR)
Fig. 4 Various CBCT 3D volumetric renderings. (a) Maximum intensity projection (MIP)
which is a “pseudo”-three-dimensional image representing the highest pixel value along an
imaginary projection ray. (b) A full-thickness ray sum simulating lateral cephalometric image.
(c) Surface rendering of bone as a solid surface or shaded surface display. (d) Surface
rendering of soft tissue, bone, and airway. (e) Paranasal sinuses and airway view transparent
bone. (f) Soft tissue profile view. (g) Color shaded surface bone rendering; note that the
patient has a lesion in anterior mandible. (h) Spectral colored 3D view; higher X-ray
attenuating structures, such as titanium implant fixture, crown, and enamel, are provided in
blue hue. Lower attenuating structures such as bone and roots are shown in green hue. (i) MIP
image with indication of the major nerves: inferior alveolar, nasopalatine, infraorbital, and
pterygopalatine nerves

4 CBCT Resolution and Voxel Size

CBCT resolution can be divided into two categories, contrast resolution and
spatial resolution. The ability to show difference in photon attenuation in gray
values is called the contrast resolution of system. CBCT has poor soft tissue
contrast compared to MDCT and therefore cannot assess soft tissue of
maxillofacial region in detail. This limitation is mainly due to presence of
artifacts and inherent noise of FPD detectors.
The volumetric data in CBCT are in the form of isotropic voxels. The smaller
the voxel size, the higher detail is presented in the imaging, which directly
effects spatial resolution. These result in a greater spatial resolution (0.4–
0.076 mm), often exceeding some of the highest grade MDCT scans. Most CBCT
machines have the ability of adjusting to at least two voxel sizes, one for the
standard resolution and one for high-resolution scans. The focal spot size also
affects the spatial resolution with smaller focal spots, higher resolution is
obtained. High-resolution scans are specially needed in 3D reconstruction of
delicate anatomic structures, such as the orbital floor, lamina papyracea, and
anterior wall of maxillary sinus [9].

5 Field of View (FOV)

The anatomical volume being assessed is controlled by FOV, also known as
scan volume, which contains the region or regions of interest the clinician
needs to assess. The dimensions of FOV depends on detector size, beam
projection geometry, and collimation. This dimension should be selected based
on patient’s anatomical size and prescription (Table 3). The correct choice of
FOV size reduces unnecessary patient dose and minimizes scatter radiation,
consequently improving the image quality. Most CBCT units are classified
based on the largest dimension of FOV (Tables 2 and 3).
Table 3 FOV option size and applications provided by various CBCT machines

FOV 3D surface FOV size Applications

Type rendering (Cm)
(D × H)
Extended 23 × 17 • Full skull
• Craniofacial
• Cervical vertebrae
• Paranasal sinus
• Airway
FOV 3D surface FOV size Applications
Type rendering (Cm)
(D × H)
Extra 15 × 15 • Bimaxillary orthognathic surgeries
large • Maxillofacial trauma
• Paranasal sinus
• Bilateral TMJ assessment

Large 15 × 12 • Multiple dental implants in both jaws

• Bimaxillary orthognathic surgeries
• Maxillofacial trauma
• Bilateral TMJ assessment
Medium 8 × 12 • Multiple dental implants in both jaws
• Full mouth assessment
• Assessment of impacted third molars
Small 8×8 • Dentoalveolar assessment of one jaw (maxilla
or mandible)
• Assessment of multiple impacted teeth,
multiple implants in both left and right side in a
single jaw
Extra 6×6 • Localized region of maxilla or mandible
small • Limited dentoalveolar trauma
• Root fractures, luxation, and/or displacement
of teeth
• Endodontic assessment, potential for extra
canals, complex morphology root or crown, and
dental abnormalities
• Impacted tooth
• Single dental implant

Cm centimeters, D diameter, 3D three-dimensional, FOV field of view, H height

For large FOVs, larger detector size is required; due to the higher cost of
large FPD detectors, some machines apply stitching or bio-image registration,
in which two or more FOVs are integrated vertically or horizontally to provide
the needed anatomy.
Larger FOVs provide information on craniofacial anatomy in cases in need
of orthognathic surgeries or reconstruction prosthesis and are generally
applied with standard resolution protocols to further control patient radiation
dose. To enable scanning ROI larger than FOV of the detector, data can be
obtained from two or more scans and further superimposition or fusion of
volumetric data using fiducial markers (bio-image registration). In addition,
some software can fuse adjacent volumetric scans to provide larger volumetric
data.
Small FOVs are usually applied in high resolution to present higher detail
especially in endodontic cases in search of a missing or obliterated root canals
and vertical fractures. Although each FOV can be cropped or segmented into a
smaller FOV, to adjust patient dose, FOV should be compatible with clinical
indications and patient size.

Fig. 5 Automatic segmentation. (a) Segmentation of paranasal sinuses and airways using
OnDemand application (Cybermed, Seoul, Korea). (b) Segmentation of maxillofacial area to
maxilla (yellow), mandible (green), teeth (white), and airway (teal) using Diagnocat
application (Diagnocat Inc., USA). This masking process results in better visualization of the
maxillofacial area and can provide ready-made models for printing on a 3D printer

Segmentation, meaning separation of area of interest, can be performed in

any FOV using three methods: 1- manual, 2- semiautomatic, and 3- fully
automatic segmentation. Segmenting an outline of desired anatomy is an
essential step in generating 3D models especially in treatment planning of
patients with craniofacial deformities [10] (Fig. 5) (See chap “Data Storing and
Conversion in Computer-Assisted Oral and Maxillofacial Treatments”).
Fig. 6 Selected CBCT artifacts. (a) Cone beam artifact at the superior aspect of image due to
inadequate data in reconstruction, (b) aliasing artifact causing fine alternating hypodense and
hyperdense stripes in the posterior periphery of volumetric mage, (c) motion artifact
resulting in double cortical border in mandible, and (d) beam hardening and metallic artifact

6 CBCT and Artifacts

CBCT artifact is the fundamental factor impairing image quality. CBCT
inherently has higher artifacts than MDCT, due to a lower X-ray energy
spectrum and cone beam geometry. However, metallic artifacts are lower in
CBCT. Various types of artifacts such as inherent artifacts, procedure-related
artifacts, introduced artifacts, and patient motion artifacts may be present in
the image (Fig. 6). Artifacts may interfere with the diagnostic process;
therefore, every clinician should be aware of their presence.
7 Clinical Reflections
CBCT imaging is now applied in all areas of dentistry such as diagnosis and
management of impacted teeth, implantology, temporomandibular disorders,
traumatology, pathological lesions (e.g., inflammatory conditions, cysts, benign
or malignant tumors, paranasal sinus disorders, and soft tissue calcifications
and ossifications), orthognathic surgery, cleft palate deformities, obstructive
sleep apnea patients, and surgical navigation (Fig. 7) [11]. It is assumed that
CBCT can replace MDCT in most maxillofacial diagnostic, surgical planning, and
follow-up needs. The greatest impact of CBCT is in dental implant surgeries.
Cross-sectional images provide information on alveolar bone height and width
and accurately provides distance to inferior alveolar nerve in the mandible,
nasal, and sinus floor in maxilla (Fig. 8).
Fig. 7 Selected applications of CBCT in the field of dentistry. (a) MIP view of a patient with
history of bimaxillary orthognathic surgery shows the locations of the pin and plates and sites
of osteotomies. (b) Coronal MPR follow-up image of patient with history of complete
maxillectomy due to the presence of a malignant lesion and reconstruction of left orbital floor
with mesh prosthesis. (c) Axial CBCT accurately locates the position of the impacted
supernumerary premolar. (d) Cross-sectional image indicates the presence of a cystic
radiolucent pathologic lesion at the apical region of upper lateral incisor. (e) Cross-sectional
view showing implant fixture fracture. (f) Axial view indicates complete root canal
calcification of left central incisor due to the history of trauma. (g) Reformatted panoramic
view shows relation of impacted mandibular third molar to the inferior alveolar nerve canal.
(h) Reformatted panoramic of a patient captured with dentures in occlusion with radiopaque
markers for further scan registration and implant guide reconstruction

Fig. 8 Serial CBCT scans captured form a patient in need of dental implant in the posterior
left maxilla. (a) Preoperative CBCT scan indicated alveolar resorption and sinus
pneumatization. The patient needs sinus lift and bone graft. (b) One-month postoperative
CBCT scan from the same segment after placement of bone graft shows ridge augmentation to
16.68 mm, note the presence of reactive mucosal thickening (arrows). (c) Six-month
postoperative CBCT scan shows reduction in mucosal thickening and slight graft height
shrinkage at the same cross-sectional view
CBCT has a major role in computer-assisted surgeries (CAS) and additive
manufacturing (AM). The obtained volumetric data can be used in the two
main categories: computer-assisted presurgical planning and navigation (See
chap “Data Storing and Conversion in Computer-Assisted Oral and Maxillofacial
Treatments”) [12]. Computer-assisted presurgical planning includes
preoperative surgical simulation with 3D images (Fig. 9) or models (Fig. 10).
Preoperative surgical simulations with 3D images are used to determine the
appropriate position, angulation, and size of dental implants noting the ridge
anatomy, quality, and landmarks prior to insertion [13].
Fig. 9 Cone beam computed tomography scan of fully edentulous patient coupled with a 3D
printed denture prosthesis model indicating sites of crowns with radiopaque material. (a)
Axial, (b) reformatted panoramic, (c) cross-sectional, and (d) 3D surface rendering views
show virtual implant insertion in the anterior maxilla and mandible, indicating the possibility
of buccal thread exposure in the maxilla if placed in the ideal inclination, identifying the need
for buccal bone augmentation prior to implant placement
Fig. 10 Coronal (a), axial (b) and sagittal (c) DICOM data from CBCT is converted to the
Standard Tessellation Language (TSL) format. A 3D model (d) is provided prior to an orbital
wall reconstruction in a patient with severe trauma to the left side of the face, with multiple
fractures in the zygoma, orbit, and frontal bone. The 3D prostheses (pink, orange, and blue) are
designed to reconstruct the traumatic sites. (Mimics research 21.0, Materialise NV, Leuven,
Belgium)
Recent advances in the fields of computer-assisted orthognathic surgery
planning and resection surgeries, due to the presence of intrabony pathologic
lesions, use software incorporating the DICOM (Digital Imaging and
Communications in Medicine) data from CBCT and have provided a valuable
tool assisting in the diagnosis, treatment planning, and evaluation of treatment
outcomes of maxillofacial deformities [1]. CBCT is by far the most used
modality for digitizing CAD models for AM purposes for 3D bone imaging, as
bone provides an excellent contrast and allows for high spatial accuracy to be
pursued by utilizing “sharp” reconstruction kernels [14]. (Fig. 10).

8 Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

MRI is a revolutionary imaging technique both in terms of lack of any ionizing
radiation and optimum visualization of soft tissues with T1 and T2 relaxation
times varying up to 40% compared to X-ray attenuation coefficients of soft
tissue, which is near 1% [15]. The potential of imaging using resonance was
initially introduced by Paul Lauterbur in 1973. The magnetic field causes the
nuclei of many atoms to align with the external magnetic field, particularly
hydrogens. In clinical imaging, the magnetic field varies between 0.1 and 7 T,
with 1.5 and 3 T being the most common. Application of 3 T MRI in dentistry
and craniofacial surgeries is getting more common. Hilgenfeld et al. proposed
the potential use of high-resolution MR imaging and indicated that MR-based
planning can achieve results comparable to those with CBCT-based planning
[16].

9 Principles of Image Production

MR images are mostly acquired with spin-echo pulse sequence. In the majority
of cases, both T1-weighted and T2-weighted images are obtained for the
assessment of oral and maxillofacial soft tissues, detection of lesions, their
extension, and effects on adjacent structures. MRI can also be performed with
contrast injection especially in case of presence of tumoral lesions, in which
gadolinum is injected intravenously. T1-weighted images are used for
anatomical evaluation and T2-weighted images are for the detection of
pathological lesions and inflammatory reactions. With MRI, direct sagittal,
coronal, and oblique images similar to CBCT are obtained (Fig. 11). On the
contrary, MDCT, provides axial images and further reconstruct coronal and
sagittal images, which may cause a slight reduction of resolution in
reformatted images. Coronal and axial MRI is usually provided for evaluation,
and sagittal planes are sometimes added when needed especially in
temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) and the evaluation of disc space
[17]. In MRI, the spatial resolution depends on the number of frequency
encoding steps (how often the free induction decay is sampled) and the size of
the field of view [18]. Maxillofacial MRI is usually captured with small FOV;
therefore, the frequency of encoding steps mainly affects the resolution. Higher
resolution scans provide more anatomical detail and are relatively sharper;
however, these scans are more prone to motion artifacts [19].

Fig. 11 MRI imaging. (a) Coronal T1-weighted, (b) sagittal T2-weighted, and (c) axial T2-
weighted images of maxillofacial region. Note that air and cortical bone are signal void

Based on the detected signal intensity in T1 and T2 MRI images, one can
assume the normal and abnormal anatomy in the maxillofacial region. Tissue
intensity can be categorized into signal void (cortical bone, enamel, dentin, air,
metallic artifacts), low (lower than the intensity of muscles), intermediate
(between muscle and fat signal), and high (same or higher than fat) (Fig. 12).

Fig. 12 Sagittal three Tesla T2 MRI. Note that the air in maxillary sinus, cortical bone,
enamel, and dentin are presented as signal voids. The pulp and root canal system are
presented in higher signal due to the presence of vessels and nerves

10 MRI and Artifacts

The resolution of MRI is not solely determined by acquisition factors; rather, it
is also affected by artifacts. In maxillofacial MRI, patient should remove any
removable metallic intraoral devices, such as removable orthodontic
appliances. Metals in dental restorations and air-tissue interface can
significantly affect and distort the images (Fig. 13). Artifacts should be detected
prior to any image segmentation and image preparation. Motion artifact can
also blur the image and reduce the accuracy of segmentation process. As
previously mentioned, higher resolution scans are more prone to motion
artifacts, and therefore, a balance should be provided between image voxel size
and acquisition time and the possibility of motion in patient [19].
Another random document with
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The Project Gutenberg eBook of The night of no
moon
This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States
and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no
restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it
under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this
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you are located before using this eBook.

Title: The night of no moon

Author: H. B. Fyfe

Illustrator: Paul Orban

Release date: August 31, 2023 [eBook #71530]

Language: English

Original publication: New York, NY: Royal Publications, Inc, 1957

Credits: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed

Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE NIGHT

OF NO MOON ***
 The Night of No Moon

By H. B. FYFE

Illustrated by ORBAN

A rough planet, Boyd III—where survival of the

fittest gave way to survival of the worst tempered!

[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from

Infinity June 1957.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
The main trouble with the planet Boyd III was one satellite too many.
Had there been no third moon, large and close, the tides might have
been less confused and the weather more predictable. Certain peaks
of atmospheric wildness, recurrent coastal catastrophes, logical but
distressing customs of the natives—lack of these factors would have
made Boyd III a much more attractive world.
The same lack, however, would not have tempted Pete Guthrie to
survey such conditions from the surface of the planet as part of his
exploratory and mapping duties. But it was too late now to be sorry
he had not secured his rocket properly against the incredible tides of
the shoreline he had rashly chosen for a landing.
He mentioned this, for about the hundredth time, to Polf.
"Huh! Cables! Braces! No matter when wind-spirits want you,"
retorted the local humanoid, darting a cowed glance at the sky from
beneath his heavy brow-ridge. "They want you stay, we will keep
you."
"And I'll be stuck with you forever! Don't you have to make a living?"
"I am appointed. Like Retho, who sleeps at your door in the nights."
Guthrie scowled and examined the sky. It was a clear blue. One of
the moons, named Jhux, was a yellow-white disk, faintly blurred at
the edge by its thin envelope of air. The spacer wished he had
remained on Jhux to do his observing. With an oxygen mask, a man
could be fairly comfortable there.
The clear blue sky above him, on the other hand, would be a
fearsome sight in a month or so when the storms closed in.
"It is good some spoke for you," said Polf, nodding in quiet
satisfaction.
Guthrie frowned at him. Every so often, his companion's thought
pattern eluded him. The Skirkhi, as they named themselves, used a
typically developed humanoid language, and he had managed to
learn enough for communication. It was the way they thought that
baffled him.
"Last season was not as bad as some," continued Polf, staring over
the flat plain from their trifling eminence on the hill. "Elders say living
will be hard this storm. It is a time of heat."
Guthrie also stared off into the distance, toward the seacoast beyond
the plain. He tried to show no expression, for he suspected that
these people were cunning at reading faces.
His looks, to be sure, must be a handicap to them. He was long and
lean of face where they tended to be round and pudgy. His reddish
hair and blue eyes were certainly outside their experience, for they
had aroused much frightened comment when he had first been
discovered near his landing site.
He turned his head slowly to study Polf. The Skirkh crouched with
bowed legs folded under him and his big head thrust forward. His
profile was flat against the blue sky, for his nose was a wide-nostriled
snout. The eyes that gazed moodily at the horizon were black glints
between brow and cheek ridges.
The lower part of the native's face, though the chin receded,
completed the design of blunt, durable strength. It symbolized,
Guthrie reflected, Skirkhi life. The delicate had simply not survived
on this world.
On the other hand, Polf was not very large compared to the Terran.
Guthrie guessed him to be an inch or two over five feet, although his
squat, straddling stance made the estimate a rough one.
I wouldn't have much trouble with him, Guthrie thought. Of course,
the whole gang would be something else....
The village of two hundred was part of a tribe of six or seven times
that number. There were other tribes in surrounding areas, but
Guthrie had learned little about them. The Skirkhi said they were evil
people. He assumed that that meant they treated prisoners with the
same eager cruelty he had seen his captors display.
I should complain! he reproved himself. If not them, it might have
been me. I wonder when the Service will check about the reports I'm
not sending?
"Gaah!" exclaimed Polf, springing half erect and assuming a bare-
toothed posture of defense.
His naturally tan face flushed to an alarming coppery hue, a process
Guthrie had previously observed when village arguments came to
blows.
The flaring light streaked deliberately across the sky, pulsing
repeatedly, and descended in a direction Guthrie fancied was
southeast.
He realized that he, too, had risen at the sight. He turned to follow
the vapor trail in the sky, and noticed that the lower end wavered
erratically.
"That's no meteor!" he muttered. "But look at the knot-heads! If they
land that way, they'll spread like a ton of boiling butter and I'll never
get away!"
He realized that Polf had scampered back after a few steps downhill,
and was now crouched at Guthrie's feet more like an animal than a
man. The Skirkh uttered a sound between a snarl and a whimper.
"Get up, Polf!" said Guthrie. "It's a spaceship. I told you what mine
was like. Go tell the elders! They will think well of the bearer of such
news."
Polf bobbed his thick head and took a step downhill. Then duty
halted him.
"Oh, all right; I'll come with you," sighed Guthrie. "Maybe they'll
appoint us to lead the search if you tell them there will be other
Terrans."
He hoped that there would be other live Terrans. Even more, he
hoped that their ship would be in good condition. He was good and
tired of Boyd III.
Two days later, about noon, a sound of excited voices approaching
roused Guthrie and his shadow, neither of whom had been permitted
to join the search. They sat up, where they had been sunning
themselves on the roof of their house.
"They're back," exclaimed Guthrie, poking Polf eagerly.
Then, as he caught sight of two taller figures with the search party,
he slid down from the roof and started to run as soon as he hit the
ground.
Polf let out a squeak and tumbled in pursuit. By the time Guthrie and
his shadow reached the end of the single, irregular street boasted by
the village, the new arrivals had been surrounded by half of the
population.
At first, Guthrie found his approach deliberately blocked by several of
the village elders.
"What do you fear in this moment?" he snarled in Skirkhi, as he
shoved his way through the inner ranks. "Who else will tell you what
they say?"
He managed to jab old Kilki on the side of his thick skull with one
elbow, a limited satisfaction because Kilki ranked only about fourth in
the Council of Elders. Guthrie wished he could get at Thyggar, who
had ruled that he be kept inside one of the cramped stone huts for
several weeks following his capture.
Kilki rubbed the knobby side of his head philosophically and said,
"How we know they are not good spirits called to steal you back to
the sky, Gut'rie?"
"Huh!" snorted the Terran, pointing to the disheveled pair with the
search party. "They don't look like good spirits to me!"
"That is what you say," grunted Kilki. "Maybe we burn—then be
sure!"
The man was Guthrie's height or an inch taller, and broad of
shoulder. He had a strong face with bold, regular features slightly
spoiled by a thick stub of a nose. High cheekbones gave his eyes a
masked expression. Though sweat-darkened, his hair appeared to
be blond and wavy.
The girl did not stare at Guthrie with the same blend of irritation and
expectancy. Instead, her gray eyes shone with a trusting relief that
caused the spacer to grimace uncomfortably. He thought she was
probably pretty, if a trifle thin, but could not be sure. Somewhere on
the way—he guessed in the marsh about a mile south of the village
—she had fallen flat in the mud.
"Who'n'ell are these monkeys?" demanded the man. "I couldn't get
anything out of them except signals to go faster."
He almost succeeded in controlling a querulous note in his voice by
trying to assume the buddy-to-buddy tone of one Terran discussing
with another the universal peculiarity of aborigines. He watched
Guthrie carefully.
"What did you come down in?" asked the latter abruptly.
The other stared. The girl, who had been sagging wearily against the
stocky form of the nearest Skirkh, straightened up with a hurt look.
"It was an emergency rocket of the Mount Pico. Mr. Trent piloted it
down here after the others ... passed on ... from their burns—"
"Explosion and fire just before we were to pass this system on the
way to Altair," explained Trent rapidly. He had retreated from hope to
a worried expression. "I don't know what did it; they braked from
interstellar drive to give the rockets a chance at these planets. It all
went pretty fast."
"Then there's no ship to pick us up from this mudball?"
Trent glanced at the jostling Skirkhi, then at Guthrie. His brow
furrowed.
"Well, of course the government and the spaceline will send ships to
search this volume of space. I think the crew got off a message...."
"Aw, hell!" grunted Guthrie contemptuously.
Trent's voice trailed off. Then, ignoring Guthrie's scowl, he tried to
pick up where he had left off.
"... but I thought, perhaps ... couldn't you send a message about us?"
Guthrie regarded the crowd of Skirkhi, who gaped back with
gleaming eyes and hanging jaws. Old Thyggar raised a thick, four-
fingered hand at him and demanded, "What do they say?"
"Later, Old One," retorted Guthrie, turning to look at the girl.
"Oh—this is Miss Norsund," Trent explained. "Listen, if you don't
want to send a message, couldn't you have some of these people
guide us?"
"First," said Guthrie, "travel is dangerous. You might get eaten or
made into window-flaps. Secondly, I don't know where they could
guide you to."
He let them absorb that, then went on.
"And I can't send any message because I don't know the right spells
and incantations to summon any good spirits to carry the message."
Trent and Miss Norsund began to develop glassy stares.
"And finally," growled Guthrie, "they won't let me send a spirit
message because they're saving me for the first night with no moon!"
A subdued chattering sprang up among the Skirkhi when they heard
his voice rise to a shout. Guthrie controlled his accumulated
frustration with an effort. Meeting the girl's shocked glance, he felt a
twinge, and knew he had better stop.
"Are they good spirits?" demanded old Thyggar impatiently.
"Ask them, Old One!" said Guthrie, turning on his heel.
He seized the unguarded moment to jab the heel of his hand under
the short chin of the nearest Skirkh, propelling the latter against his
fellows. Through the narrow way thus cleared, the spacer stalked out
of the crowd.
"Thyggar wear sour look," mumbled Polf, trotting doggedly at his
heels.
He sounded more respectful than at any time during the day. Guthrie
reminded himself to watch out. He seemed to be earning too much
admiration; it might be wiser to slack off before it drew retaliation.
Through experience, he was learning to keep the score even, but....
Polf somehow managed to trip him as he turned into the doorway of
the house assigned to him. He plunged through the low, dark
entrance head first, displacing a crude but sturdy bench someone
had left in the way.
"Your father was undoubtedly a good spirit who stole your mother's
wits with a dream of soft summers," said Guthrie, sitting up just in
time to thrust a boot between Polf's ankles.
The Skirkh sprawled in his turn upon the hard-packed floor. The two
of them sat there for a long moment, raising both palms in the ritual
gesture to the sky spirits and glaring at each other in mutual respect.

On the second morning after the arrival of Trent and Miss Norsund,
Guthrie judged the time ripe for a longer talk.
When he and Polf approached the hut in which the newcomers were
quartered, signs of obstructionism appeared; but the spacer sneered
them down. By the time he found himself seated on the ground
facing Trent and the girl, the onlookers had been reduced to Polf and
a trio of glum guards. The former seemed to take pleasure in his
comrades' loss of face.
"Sorry I took so long," Guthrie apologized. "There's a certain act you
have to put on around here. They been treating you all right?"
He looked at the girl as he spoke, reflecting that a little cleaning up
had improved her immeasurably. With the mud off, she displayed a
glowing complexion and a headful of chestnut curls; and Guthrie was
no longer sure she was too thin. He determined to check the first
time she stood up in the short, borrowed dress of Skirkhi leather.
"Look here, Guthrie—that is your name, isn't it?" Trent asked
peevishly.
"That's right. Pete Guthrie, currently employed, I hope, by the
Galactic Survey. And you two are Trent and Norsund?"
"George Trent and Karen Norsund, yes. But what I want to say is
that we find your attitude very strange. How can we expect co-
operation from the natives if you throw your weight around the way
you do?"
"And what," asked Karen Norsund, turning her big gray eyes on
Guthrie, "was that remark about the natives saving you from
something?"
"It's for something. I think I'd better tell you the local superstitions."
"If you don't mind," Trent interrupted, "I'd rather know how far it is to
a Terran settlement. We tried to treat the crowd like humans after
you left, but we'd prefer not to stay here until a rescue ship arrives."
"As far as I know," said Guthrie, "we are the only Terrans on this
planet."
He watched that sink in for a few moments, then explained how the
system had fallen within the volume of space allotted to him for
general survey, how it had never before aroused any great interest
beyond being noted in the Galactic Atlas for the benefit of space
travelers in just such a situation as theirs.
"I hope your rocket is in good shape," he finished. "Did you land
well?"
"Oh ... well enough," said Trent. "What about it? Why not stay here
until we think a rescue ship is near, then go back and televise for
help?"
"It's not that easy," said Guthrie. "If this ship we're hoping for stops to
scout for other survivors, we'll be in a real unhealthy situation."
They looked puzzled.
"The seasons here," he explained, "tend to wild extremes. They have
tidal waves you wouldn't believe. In a few weeks, the storms will
begin and the Skirkhi will go to the hills to dig in. It's a bad time to be
caught in the open."
"Oh, come, man!" Trent snapped. "We shouldn't be here that long."
"It's only two or three weeks. The trouble is that on a certain night
shortly before they leave the village to the mercy of the sky spirits,
the Skirkhi have a nasty custom—"
"I don't care about your low opinion of the local customs," interrupted
Trent. "From what I've seen of you, Guthrie, it is obvious that you are
not the sort to represent Terra on the frontiers. Just tell me—if you
can't get along with the natives like a civilized being, where do you
expect to get?"
"Up to Jhux," said Guthrie.
"Where?"
"Jhux, the largest moon. It has a thin atmosphere. We could pump
enough air into your rocket to live on, and wait to signal any
approaching ship."
"But why go to all that trouble?"
"Besides," Karen Norsund put in, "I think I've had enough travel in a
small rocket for the time being."
"It'll be better than the hurricanes here," Guthrie sighed. "Now, if
you'll just let me finish about the Skirkhi—"
Trent screwed up his face in exasperation until his eyes were slits
above his cheekbones. He shrugged to Karen in a way that turned
Guthrie's neck red.
"All right!" the latter choked out. "You seem to want to make me look
narrow-minded! Wait till you know the Skirkhi! They believe very
seriously in these sky spirits. They try to buy them off, to save the
village and their own skins—and they pay in blood!"
He waited for the shocked exclamations, the suspicion, then the
exchange of glances that agreed to further consideration.
"Until you two came along, I was the goat. Now there are three of us
to choose from, but your rocket gives us the means to make a run for
it."
They thought that over for a few minutes.
"How do you know they won't ... use ... all three of us?" shuddered
Karen.
"The Skirkhi have learned to be frugal. They'll save something for
next season. Otherwise, they'd have to raid some other tribe or elect
one of them."
"But, before then, either a rescue ship or one from the Survey will
have arrived, don't you think?" suggested Trent.
"What are you getting at?"
"Well ... this: assuming that you are not exaggerating your distrust of
the natives, if they actually feel it necessary to ... er ... sacrifice to
these sky spirits, that will still leave the remaining two of us a good
chance."
Guthrie wiped a hand slowly over his face. He glanced out of the
corner of his eye at Polf and the Skirkhi guards, wondering if they
could guess the drift of the conversation.
"And what will your next idea be?" he demanded bitterly. "Want us to
draw straws to see which of us goes out and commits hara-kiri for
them?"
"Now, now! We must be realistic. After all, nothing serious may come
of this. Merely because you and the natives share a mutual antipathy
—"
"You make me sick!" growled Guthrie, rising to his feet.
"I don't know what you mean."
"But I know what you're figuring," said the spacer. "The excuse will
be that you're willing to take your chance with the Skirkhi choice, or
that you don't want to stir up trouble because of the girl; but actually
you think I'm the natural candidate!"
"Mr. Guthrie!" exclaimed Karen, jumping up.
"Pardon me! I have to go and commune with the spirits of the sky!"
He pivoted toward the street and bounced off one of the guards who
had crept closer to eavesdrop. Automatically, he shoved the Skirkh
into the wall.
Behind him, he heard a muttered curse in Skirkhi, then another thud
as a thick skull clunked yet again into the wall. He deduced that Polf
was following both his footsteps and his example.

They walked out toward the hill where he and Polf had sat the day
the rocket had flared down from the sky. Two pale crescents hovered
on the horizon.
"There will still be Yiv in the night," muttered Polf, "but soon he will
follow Jhux and there will be no moon. Then come storms."
Guthrie recalled his surprise at the natives' awareness of Yiv, a small
satellite whose distance made it appear merely an enormous star.
He had noted it from space, but they must have realized its nature
from regular observation.
They walked a few minutes, when Polf peered slyly at him.
"I think these sky ones good spirits, not like you."
"What do you mean?" asked the other suspiciously.
"When in hard talk, you get red in face almost like human. They not.
The she-spirit a little, yes. But the other ... I think he is best spirit of
all!"
"Aw, what do you know about Terrans?" demanded Guthrie
uncertainly.
"What are Terrans?" Polf leered at the effort to take him in by a trick
name. "You, Gut'rie, you act like us. You learn fear evil spirits like
smart man. Maybe was trick of good ones—send you here so we
make mistake."
Guthrie stared down at the stocky Skirkh, trying to follow that chain
of thought and wondering how many in the village would find it
logical.
Most of them, I'm afraid, he thought. I wonder ... what if I just kept
quiet and let him dig his own grave? If I read Trent right, he'll do it!
They sat for a while on the crest of the low hill, in the warmth of the
sun. Polf seemed not to mind Guthrie's brooding. Patience was a
Skirkhi forte. At times, the spacer pitied the natives, with their harsh
and precarious life.
Maybe something could be done here, he reflected. A good,
thorough survey would tell. After all, G. S. engineers have controlled
temperatures on some planets by diverting a few ocean currents.
And there's cloud-seeding....
"Huh!" he grunted. "Already thinking as if I were safe on Jhux."
He began to question Polf as to what the search party had reported,
and derived a good idea of the route to the rocket. Tortuous details of
Skirkhi trail directions baffled him every few minutes, so that it was
twilight before he was satisfied that he could find the craft on his
own. With Polf trailing, he strolled thoughtfully to his quarters,
bracing for supper of fish or lizard.

At intervals during the next three days, he saw the new couple about
the village. Trent, especially, did not seem eager to speak to him,
and they were always accompanied by at least one Skirkhi couple.
In a moment of relaxation, Guthrie permitted himself to observe
Karen with pleasure, when she appeared in her own clothes. With
the mud washed out, it became apparent that she had been wearing
a smart pair of lounging pajamas when interrupted by the
spaceliner's alarm.
Trent had also cleaned his sport shirt and baggy slacks, and now
went about making himself buoyantly pleasant to the natives. Once
or twice, turning away from this spectacle with a frown, Guthrie
chanced to encounter the black, analytical stare of old Thyggar. A
sardonic grin quirked the elder's wide mouth.
"Retho tell me Trent learn speak Skirkhi fast," Polf reported, glittering
eyes nearly hidden by the contortion that passed for a smile on
Skirkhi faces, "so he can tell what a good man he is. He says is kind.
He says is friend. You would laugh, Gut'rie—he call you names!"
"So will he laugh," growled Guthrie, "on the other side of his face.
He's begging for it, all right."
He chewed his lip for a moment, then shrugged. With a nod to Polf,
he started down the street to the huts assigned to Trent and Karen.
He found the girl behind the squat stone house, doing her best to
comb out a mop of freshly washed chestnut hair.
"You'd do better to leave some mud in it," he advised her.
This drew a hard gray stare. Guthrie turned to Polf.
"Can't you do something with this one sitting beside her?" he
demanded.
Polf grinned, showing a sturdy set of broad teeth.
"It would be like sacrifice to those who sent down these others," he
said. "Last night, when leaving Retho at your door, I kill chivah lizard
in street. With club. But was only a little blood and we are full of
thanks."
After a few minutes of conversation under the glowering gaze of the
Terran girl, he enticed the Skirkhi woman around the corner toward
the entrance of the hut. Guthrie turned to Karen.
"Listen!" he said urgently. "What is this I hear about Trent going
around like a cock-eyed good-will ambassador?"
"I can't help what he does," Karen said defensively. She had trouble
meeting his eye. "I told him I didn't think he should talk that way, but
he said ... well ... that you—"
"I can imagine," said Guthrie. "Well, he'd better stop it, and not on my
account. This is a queer, dangerous place."
He took a few steps to the corner of the hut, to check that the space
between adjoining houses was empty of spies. The guards loitered
in the street.
"It may sound strange," he continued, "but it makes a distorted kind
of sense for people who live on a planet like Boyd III—this belief in
sky spirits. I told you about the bad season, I think, and the uproar
raised by coinciding tides."
Karen, having brushed her hair into some sort of order, eyed him
watchfully.
"I would expect them to protect themselves from the rains," she
remarked.
"Rains!" snorted Guthrie. "You don't know! Hurricanes! Tidal waves!
Floods! They lose people every storm. This is a very bad place to
live. So what do you suppose they worship?"
"Sky spirits, you keep telling me."
"Yes," he said, lowering his voice instinctively. "But not good ones,
naturally—spirits of evil."
Karen looked at him sidelong and clucked her tongue.
"It's not funny; it's perfectly logical. They spend their lives one jump
ahead of freezing or drowning. Their world's against them. Other
savage races have figured it that way, even on Terra."
"All right, it's logical. What has it to do with us?"
"It has this to do," said Guthrie. "That clown, Trent, is going around
making friends like a puppy. He's cutting his own throat, an' I'd bet he
thinks he's cutting mine. But you don't think they'd sacrifice a bad
person, do you?"
The thought penetrated, and she rose slowly to her feet. He reached
out to her shoulders and gave her a little shake.
"The Skirkhi spend weeks before the stormy season making sure the
evil spirits notice what nasty people they are. Like Terran kids before
Christmas, in reverse. And there's that apple-polisher making a
gilded saint of himself while the natives are spitting in their friends'
faces and trying to steal their wives or cheat old Thyggar on their
taxes."
The girl stared at him in horror. The flesh of her shoulders was soft
but firm under his fingers. He suddenly wished there were no Skirkhi
hanging about.
Suddenly, Karen's gray eyes widened with a new wariness.
"Let go!" she ordered.
"Maybe I shouldn't," Guthrie teased her. "Maybe I ought to let the
Skirkhi see that you have claws. It would help your reputation here."
She began to struggle, and he had a hard time holding her but
somehow hated to let go. He was conscious of a padding of feet in
the alleyway as a couple of guards drifted in from the street.
Karen tried kicking him in the shin, then wound the fingers of one
hand in his hair and yanked. Guthrie, who had by then clasped both
hands in the small of her back, let go with his left to grab her wrist.
Immediately, the nails of her other hand raked past his right eye.
He muttered a curse, let go completely as he felt a sudden fury well
up in him, then grabbed a handful of her long hair in his left hand. He
half raised his other hand, undecided whether to slap or let her go.
She screwed up her face and tried to turn away.
"Guthrie!" shouted a man's voice.
Trent ran between the huts, trailed by a score of Skirkhi.
Well, this ought to be it, thought Guthrie, releasing the girl. He can't
let this pass. I suppose I have a poke in the snoot coming.
Trent hauled Karen aside protectively, frowning at Guthrie. The latter
stood with his hands waist-high, shoulders slightly forward, waiting.
Watching Trent's eyes, he saw them flicker toward the expectant
Skirkhi.
"I realize that there can be only one explanation, Guthrie," said the
other, "but this is obviously neither the time nor place to argue it."
"I didn't offer any explanation," said Guthrie, ashamed but irritated.
"We are being observed," Trent reminded. "Show a little Terran
dignity!"
He raised his chin with dignity and Guthrie punched it as hard as he
could.

Thinking it over later, he realized that he had entirely wasted the

quick feint with his left. Trent was still posing as a saint when
Guthrie's fist sent him flying into the solid stone and clay wall of the
house behind him.
The spacer stared at Trent as the man slid limply down the wall to a
sitting position. He flexed his numbed fingers thoughtfully, as Trent
peered glassily up at him without seeming to know where he was.
Karen slipped behind a rank of thick-shouldered Skirkhi as a hum of
comment began to rise from the gathering. Guthrie turned and
pushed his way through to the street. Out of habit, he took the
direction to his quarters, vaguely aware that Polf had reappeared to
follow him.
Disgusted with himself, he tried to see Karen's side of it.
It must have looked just wonderful! he told himself. I think I might
have really tried it—guess she saw that in my face, so I can't blame
her for ducking. How could I? This place is getting me. Pretty soon,
I'll be a first-class Skirkh!
He kicked moodily at the dust outside his doorway, then climbed the
projecting stones at the corner. Polf grunted and followed him up to
the roof.
"He is too good," said the Skirkh. "It will be easy. I will do it for you
with Retho. My brother, Kror, will come too."
"Do what?" asked Guthrie.
"Steal his woman for you tonight. It will be a bad thing to do and the
best time to do it. Elders say no moon tonight."
"But what makes you think—?"
"Your face. Do not say to Polf you not want. And if you not admit she
is his woman, it is not bad enough a thing to do."
"You don't understand, Polf," said the spacer. "I couldn't ... that is, it's
not the same for me...." My God! he thought. I'm beginning to sound
like Trent!
"The storms come," murmured Polf. "You want the wrong spirits for
friends? If it is tonight, elders stay with Trent. Will be easy."
"Won't you have to be there? And your friends?"
"Gah!" exclaimed Polf. "Whole dumb village be there. What better
time to do bigger spirit work? You want Thyggar steal her first?"
Guthrie sat up abruptly, and almost slid from the roof.
"Well, why not?" he muttered after a moment. "She must have
warned Trent by now. If he can't think of a way out, I'd better save
what can be saved. That was his own idea. I can't help it if he
wouldn't listen to me."
It did not sound quite right to him, but time was running out. The
thought of being transformed lingeringly into a few pounds of hacked
and burnt meat crossed his mind once again, and he could feel
himself beginning to sweat. He glanced over his shoulder at the
broad, expectant face.
"All right," he whispered. "Tell Retho and your brother."
What else can I do? he asked himself. If it has to be one of us—

Later, he tried to convince himself that he could sleep for a few

hours.
Still later, following Polf down the torch-lit street, trying to look
nonchalant before the unusual gathering of Skirkhi, he asked himself
again, What else can I do? He avoided the amused glint in old
Thyggar's eyes.
The doing drove out the thought, and it was some hours before it
occurred to him again. When it did, he was stumbling up a pitch-
black slope miles to the south of the village.
Behind him, he could hear the sounds of panting and of dragging
footsteps as Karen, Polf, and two other Skirkhi followed. The slope
leveled off to a plateau. Something too big and solid to be a tree
loomed up against the horizon.
"There it is!" Guthrie gasped.
The darkness was relieved only slightly by the stars, but there was
no mistaking that silhouette. Guthrie stumbled the last hundred yards
and came to a halt beside one big fin.
He stretched out a hand and accounted for the others by touch as
they arrived. The rocket was canted slightly because one of the fins
had sunk a little way into the ground, and the hatch half-way up the
hull had been left open with the exit ladder extended to the surface.
"We'd better catch our wind before trying to climb up," he said.
He knelt on the grassy ground and rolled wearily over to a sitting
position.
"How could I do it?" he murmured.
"What? You speak wrong talk, Gut'rie," panted Polf. "Like you talk to
the good one before they start celebration. What you say to fool
him?"
"What does he say?" whispered Karen anxiously.
"Wants to know what I said to Trent," he answered, tugging the
frayed cuff of his trousers away from his leg. He seemed to be mud
to the knees.
"When you came along as he was getting ready for the ceremony?
You told him to dump the fancy costume and run for it."
"I did?" mused Guthrie. "Yes, I forgot. Well, he wouldn't listen, would
he?"
"No, and he wanted me to go with him. You got mad because he
thought they were taking him into the tribe."
"He's being taken, all right," muttered Guthrie. "There's no moon up
yet."
He crawled to his feet and groped through the dark to the ladder.
"What are you doing?" asked Karen.
"Gonna take a look. Hope there's fuel to bounce her off this
mudball."
He told Polf of his intention and began to climb. The metal rungs
were cold. Reaching the open airlock, he swung himself inside the
cramped chamber and closed the outer hatch in order to open the
inner. Lights came on automatically.
He found a shorter ladder inside and climbed up to the passenger
compartment. There were padded seats for about two dozen people,
well packed, but they had swung to an upright position for landing.
Guthrie climbed them to the pilot's position, where he seated himself
to look over the instruments.
"Whew!" he exclaimed. "This can has just enough to get along on."
After noting the amount of fuel left in the tanks, he searched the
drawers of the little control desk for information. He discovered a
booklet of data on the rocket and a set of simple charts. To these, he
added his memory of the mass calculated for Boyd III back when he
had facilities for such work.
"We ought to get off okay," he told himself. "My God! A hand-crank
calculator—they don't waste power in these things! Well ... later."
There was power provided, he saw, for "beacon" and "auto. radio" as
well as for a few essentials like ventilation. A distress call could be
broadcast automatically, at intervals regulated to economize on
power, and the same could be done with the beacon. He looked up
details in the booklet. The rocket possessed, at least, means to
make a loud noise and show a bright light if any rescuer should
approach. It remained for them to take it where these could be
effective.
He went to work calculating firing data to blast the rocket into a
course for Jhux. His figures lacked the polish he might have obtained
in his own ship, but anything would have to do in this pinch.
"Maybe I ought to figure a closed orbit," he muttered. "Once up, we
can pick the right time to edge out to Jhux ... maybe put out a few
signals first."
He stared reflectively at his arithmetic, chin in hand.
After several minutes, he leaned back and thought, Pete, my boy,
maybe you won't have to do it after all! There might just be an out if
there's still time.
He grabbed up the pencil he had been using and feverishly
undertook another course calculation. In the end, after making a few
corrections and comparing the requirements with the fuel gauges, he
decided it would be possible.
"Now, let's see ... how do I get a distress call taped and set for
broadcast...?"
When he scrambled down the ladder a little later, he brought a
flashlight with him. Karen squinted and the three Skirkhi cringed in its
beam.
"Polf, how long till day?" Guthrie demanded.
Polf found enough voice to guess that a third of the night remained.
Guthrie reached up and strained to unhook the ladder. As it came
loose, he let it fall and said, "Let's get out of here before the jets
light!"
"What are you doing?" protested the girl, grabbing his arm.
"Sending it up on automatic to broadcast a distress call."
"But I thought—"
"Well, I thought of a better one," snapped Guthrie. In Skirkhi, he
added, "Move your feet, worms, before we become a burning
sacrifice!"

Shoving the natives ahead and towing a Karen whose voice showed
signs of turning shrill, he got the group over the crest of the hill in
plenty of time before the sky flared and thundered with the sudden
roar of rockets.
The horrid noise departed toward the upper atmosphere. Presently,
Guthrie's eyes readjusted to the dark until he could make out the
trees through which they had groped and bumped heads an hour
earlier.
"Might as well start," he said. "We might make it back in time for
lunch."
"But the rocket!" wailed Karen. "After that awful trip to find it!"
"I set the controls," he explained, "to blast it up into an orbit around
the planet, where it can broadcast our location until we're picked up."
"Oh," said Karen. "Well, I hope you can handle your friends till then."
"We should be able to see it in a little while. I set the controls to flop
it over when it's high enough and send it around east to west."
"Why?"
"So it will match the apparent motions of the moons."
Karen walked perhaps twenty steps in silence, then stopped dead.
"Guthrie! Do you really mean we can see it?"
"Sure. I did it a bit roughly, but I'm hoping for under two thousand
miles and two or three periods a night. Even when it isn't catching
any sunlight, that beacon ought to show. Dimmer than Yiv, maybe,
but moving and easy to spot."
With the flashlight, making their way through the woods took less
time. They were half-way across a grassy plain when Polf exclaimed
and pointed to the sky. Guthrie whooped.
"There's a moon for tonight!" he yelled. "And every night, for quite
some time, until the pulls of the real ones spoil its orbit."
He felt so good that he threw an arm about Karen's waist. It must
have felt good to her, too, for instead of pulling away, she leaned
closer.
"They'll wait now, won't they?" she asked. "I mean, unless there's no
moon.... Wait till George finds out what you've done for him!"
"I don't know why I'm so good to him when I like the Skirkhi better,"
said Guthrie. "Of course, we can't explain until I think up a suitably
rotten excuse, or it would ruin my reputation with them!"
They stood motionless for a few minutes, watching the bright light
creep perceptibly along its path in the heavens.
"Is it Yiv?" asked Kror, puzzled. "It should not be, now."
"Gah!" exclaimed Polf. "You mud-head! Of course, it is not Yiv. Our
Gut'rie has made a new moon. Be grateful to Polf for bringing you,
for we shall be big in the village after this!"
He looked proudly at Guthrie. The latter turned off the flashlight to
see if the sky were actually beginning to show a pre-dawn lightening.
"We will be very big," Polf repeated. "Are we not friends of the evilest
spirit of them all?"
*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE NIGHT OF
NO MOON ***

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