It was a full minute before she spoke, and as she considered his words the expression of numbness left her eyes. "is that it? " she asked at last. "just that the ship doesn't have enough fuel? " "yes." "i can go alone or i can take seven others with me—is that the way it is? " "that's the way it is." "and nobody wants me to have to die? " "nobody." "then maybe—are you sure nothing can be done about it? wouldn't people me if they could? " "everyone would like to you but there is nothing anyone can do. i did the only thing i could do when i called the stardust." "and it won't come back—but there might be other cruisers, mightn't there? isn't there any hope at all that there might be someone, somewhere, who could do something to me? " she was leaning forward a little in her eagerness as she waited for his answer. "no." a. marilyn took a full minute to think about what she was going to say before she said it. b. no one wants marilyn to die, but there is no other hope for her at this point. c. there are many people who want to out with marilyn’s situation. d. the pilot gave marilyn a one-word answer that she did not want to hear.