"Don, there's no reason you and the Robot can't continue mapping the drilling sites. It would be a shame to waste the good weather," John explained.

"Are you sure? It can wait, you know," Don countered.

"I know, but who knows how long winter lasts on this planet? Once the good weather passes, we could be stuck aboard ship for several more months."

"Well, when you put it like that..." Don laughed. "The Robot and I will get right to it."


"Where are you going?" Will asked Don as he walked out of the Jupiter 2.

"The Robot and I are going to continue mapping deutronium deposits. Your dad insisted we keep going while the weather is good," Don explained.

"Can I come too?" Will pleaded.

"You'll have to ask your dad," Don replied.

In a flash, Will had disappeared inside the ship to ask permission from his father. Don chuckled at the young Robinson's eagerness.

"Judy," Penny said, "let's go ask dad, too. It would be nice to get away from camp for a while."

"Maybe we could make a picnic out of it," Judy added as she watched Don preparing the chariot.

The two Robinson women followed Will into the ship. They found Will thanking his father profusely.

"Dad, can Judy and I go too?" Penny asked.

"I don't see why not," the Professor said. "Kai is no longer a threat. But, I expect all of you to obey Don and not wander off from the chariot. We haven't had much time to explore this planet. I expect all of you to carry a laser pistol at all times, for safety. Understood?"

Penny and Judy nodded and replied in unison, "Understood."

They both kissed their father on the cheek and then excitedly began preparing a picnic basket in the galley for their adventure.


Half an hour later, Don, Judy, Penny, and Will piled into the chariot. Don drove the chariot further south than their last excursion, aided by the Robot whose sensors were alert for signs of deutronium deposits. They discovered a few smaller deposits and mapped them. After their third deposit, the Robot alerted on something big.

"Major West, head 10 degrees to the southwest," the Robot stated. "I detect clay deposits and a slight increase in radiation in that direction. There may be large deutronium deposits there."

"You got it," Don confirmed as he correct the chariot's course. "How far?"

"Approximately three hundred yards," the Robot replied.

The Robot began counting down the distance to the deposit in ten yard increments. The Major stopped the chariot within five yards and parked it. Will hopped out and started to unpack equipment, while Don offered a hand to help Judy and Penny out of the vehicle.

"Robot, pinpoint the deposit," Don commanded.

"Affirmative," the Robot responded and rolled forward. "Here," the Robot pointed with one extended claw.

"Penny," Don requested, "could you grab the shovel out of the chariot? I want to get an idea if the ground is starting to thaw or if we've still got a ways to go with this winter."

"Sure thing, Don," Penny replied cheerily. She was happy to be useful and on an adventure, rather than bored to death back in the ship.

Will and Don unpacked the drill, rig, and toolbox, just in case the ground was soft enough that they got the chance to use it.

"Thanks, Penny," Don said as he took the shovel and sank it into the ground. The dirt gave way a little, but it wasn't completely thawed. He continued digging, removing a four inch layer of dirt in a roughly eighteen inch diameter circle. "Will, bring the drilling rig over here."

Together, Will and Don set up the tripod as Judy and Penny brought the drill from the chariot. Once secured in place, Don motioned everyone back.

"Let's see if we can hit pay dirt... err, deutronium," Don joked as he turned the drill on.

A brilliant beam streamed out of the drill and blasted into the ground. The quartet viewed the spectacle through protective glasses. Don let the drill run for about five minutes and switched it off.

"Well, will you look at that," he said as he examined the sample. "That looks like deutronium."

"My sensors indicate it is 98.35% pure," the Robot replied.

"Our refiner will hardly have to work at all," Will beamed.

Don patted the drill, "Whaddya say we turn this baby back on and bring back a little present for your father?"

"That's a great idea," Penny replied.

"I think he'd like that," Judy added.

Don started up the drill again as Penny got some canisters to fill from the chariot.

"Robot, do you think winter is almost over?" Will asked.

"There are too many variables to compute for me to answer with complete accuracy, but if you would like me to guess, I would say the odds are high," Robot replied.

Don rubbed his hands together, "It can't come soon enough for me." The others murmured their agreement.

A few hours later, the group had managed to drill enough deutronium to fill five canisters.

"We should probably start packing up," Don suggested. "It's getting late and we don't want your mother to worry any more than she has to."

Will helped Don dismantle and stow the drilling rig as Judy and Penny packed the shovel, other tools, and the full canisters of deutronium.

Maureen was waiting for the Chariot and came down the ramp as soon as it rolled into camp. She smiled when she saw all her children and Don hop out of the vehicle safe and sound.

"How did it go?" she asked.

Don held up a canister of deutronium in each hand. "I'd say it went pretty well."

"You were able to extract some deutronium? The ground was thawed enough?" Maureen asked.

"Winter is leaving!" Penny exclaimed. "Well, at least that's what the Robot thinks."

Maureen smiled. "John will be pleased. We've needed some good news like that for a while."

Don and Will got to work unpacking the Robot and all the supplies from the chariot, while Judy and Penny brought a canister of deutronium to their father.

"We have a surprise for you," Judy said as she held the deutronium out to him.

"Deutronium? You were able to drill?" the Professor asked.

"Yeah, the ground isn't completely thawed, but the Robot says the odds are high that winter is coming to an end. He also said the deposit we found is huge and should hold enough deutronium to power the Jupiter 2 for quite a while," Penny explained.

"That's wonderful news," John replied.

"How are you feeling?" Judy asked.

"Still a bit sore. The wound is healing nicely though, thanks to your mother's nursing," he smiled. "I think in a week or so, provided the Robot is right about the weather, Don and I might be able to start making repairs to the Jupiter. We'll be off this rock in no time."

"The sooner, the better," Penny added.