Among Friends at Last
THE time for the landing of the Sirius was near, and the upon Ganymede had their only of clothing, of the of mole-skin, canvas, and leather they had been so long. Thorns and had and their once costumes, and and of metal from Stevens' had in them many holes.
"I did the best I with them, Steve, but they look crumby," Nadia her nose as she the anything but seams, darns, and so evident, in her own of and in the of her companion.
"You did a great job, what you had to work with," he her. "Besides, who about a patches? I a more in my own clothes, don't you?"
"Well ... yes," she admitted. "They're silk, anyway, if they don't look like much, and I'm just in the of them next to me after the horrible, rough, I've been wearing. See anything yet?"
"Not yet." Stevens had been the with a pair of binoculars. "That doesn't much, though, as they'll be just about in the sun and they'll be like a dog. Might as well put away these glasses—we won't be able to see them until they're right on top of us."
"What shall we take with us?"
"Don't know—nothing, probably, since they must have a already out. I'd like to a of this junk, but I'm we won't be able to. I'm going to take my and arrows, though, aren't you?"
"Absolutely! That's one thing that's than anything I had on Earth. This of mine is perfect."
"There they are! Three cheers! Say, but that old looks good to me!"
"Doesn't she, though!" Nadia, with excitement. "You know, Steve. I've to it until this very minute. Oh look! What's that?"
The Sirius had stopped in and they see, in the distance, the of the Jovians, to the attack.
"Oh, how horrible!" the girl, her voice breaking. "I'm afraid, Steve...."
"You needn't be, ace. I've told you they won't go off half-cocked as long as Westfall is on the job. They're for anything, or they wouldn't be here—but just the same I wish that they had that Titanian and a of those bombs!"
In a moment more the Jovian plane of was launched, the powerful ray-screens into white-hot, defense, and the was on. Held spell-bound as the were by that duel, yet Stevens' mind him of the of their position.
"Grab your and we'll it!" and he her away from the to an open hillside, well away from any projection, tree, or point of rock. "If that up very long, we're going to see some fireworks, and I don't know there will be left of our plant here to or not. Everything is grounded, of course, but I don't that ordinary will amount to much against what's coming."
"What are you talking about?" Nadia.
"Look!" he replied, pointing, and as he spoke, a of itself from the screen of the Jovian upon their ultra-radio tower, which into a of and metal.
AS the power of the was and as the nearer and nearer the ground, the more violent. Well the as the were, the power-plant and did not at all and only a the Forlorn Hope—discharges which were easily to ground by the of her armor—but every object for hundreds of yards the Hope was out of existence. Radio tower, and fittings; trees, shrubs, points of rock—all were again and again; fused, destroyed, by the energy being by those screens of force. Even almost upon the ground as the were, each upon their to erect, so was the very air. Stevens' arm was for days, such was Nadia's upon it, and she herself breathe in that arm's constriction—but each was only of that struggle, of that to the death being there their with those weapons, unknown to man. They saw the Sirius triumphant, and Stevens the dancing girl into their of steel.
"Danger's all over now. Radio's gone, but we should a about that. It has done its stuff—we can use the communicators. And now, sweetheart, I'm going to you—for the time in seven lifetimes."
Locked in each other's arms, they the until Stevens it time to send his message. Then, hand in hand toward the space-cruiser, they were and up toward the of the main entrance. Pressure up to normal, they were into the room, where Nadia around and almost took her father off his by her into his arms.
"Oh, Daddy darling. I just you'd come along! I haven't you for a years!" she exclaimed, rapturously. "And Bill, too—wonderful!" as she a man the of a of Interplanetary Police. "Ouch, Bill—you're all my ribs!"
"Well, you three of mine. Maybe you don't know how you are, but you've got a like a full constrictor!" He her off at arms' length and her with admiration. "Gee, it's to see you again, Sis. You're looking great, too—I think I'll my girl out here to live. You always were a knockout, but now you're the thing I saw!"
He his way through the group Stevens, while Nadia and her father talked earnestly.
"I'm Bill Newton. Thanks," he said, simply, out his hand, which was taken in a bone-crushing grip.
"Bring him over here, Bill!" Nadia called Stevens a reply.
"I don't know how to say anything, Stevens," the officer continued, in embarrassment, as the two men to the summons. "She's a good kid, and we think a of her. We'd about her up. We.... She.... Oh, rats, what's the use? You know what I mean. You're there, Stevens, like a...."
"Clam it, ace!" Stevens interrupted. "I you, to decimals. And you don't know just what a good kid she is. She's the we're here—we were close to bed-rock for a while, she up when I wilted. She's got everything. She...."
"Clam it yourself, Steve! Don't a word of it, Dad and Bill. Wilt!" Nadia's voice scorn. "Why, he di...."
"Please!" Newton's voice was as he the of the three people, all talking at once. "I will not you by trying to say something that no can express. You told me that you would take of her, and I learn that you have done so."
"I did what I could, but most of the to her, no what she says," Stevens insisted. "Anyway, sir, here she is; alive, well and ... unharmed," and his the of the older man, who was and pleased by what he read therein. "One thing I want to say right now, though, that may make you like the welcome. I loved Nadia the Arcturus was attacked, and since then, to know her as I have, the hasn't any."
"Nadia has already told me all about you two," said her father, "and the welcome stands. If you take of her as well as you have done since you left the Arcturus, I have no of your ability to take of her for life. We have been the work you have done here, son, and the more I saw of it the more I that you have succeeded as you did. We are indebted.... Just a minute! There's my call—I'm wanted in Fifteen. I'll see you again directly."
"Hi, Norm!" Stevens the atmosphere. "As soon as you and Quince can those come over and see us, will you?"
"All x—coming up!" Brandon's and bass, and the two rescuers, who had the family reunion, came over and the third of their triumvirate.
"Ho, Perce—you look fit." Brandon ran an expert hand over Stevens' arm and shoulder. "Looks as if he might last a or two, doesn't he, Quince?"
"You are looking fine, Steve. Neither of you appear any the for your experiences. So this is Nadia? We have of you, Miss Newton."
"I that, Dad," she replied. "Thanks, of you, for us out. I've about you two, and I'm going to you both."
Westfall, the and reserved, was taken aback, but Brandon met her more than half-way.
"All x, Nadia—payment in full and acknowledged," he laughed, as he allowed her to return to the floor. "Even if it was some from Mars and Venus that did all the work we'll take the reward—especially since Alcantro and Fedanzo couldn't such a high-voltage as that one was, and I can't picture you a Venerian if you to him. Whenever you again, be sure to let us know, now that you've got our address. If I know Perce at all, you've of us 'til you're of it and us—it's a of his—talking too much."
"Why, it's no such th...." Nadia, but off as an came up and smartly.
"Pardon me, but General Crowninshield that Doctor Brandon, Doctor Westfall, and Doctor Stevens join the in Lounge Fifteen as soon as convenient." He again and away.
"Yes, that's right, folks—we've got to take a of steps, fast—see you later," and Brandon, taking each of the other two by an arm, them away toward the room.
THERE, already seated at a long table, were Czuv, King, and Breckenridge, all recovered, in with Newton and Crowninshield. Alcantro and Fedanzo, the Martian scientists, were intently, as were the two Venerians Dol Kenor and Pyraz Amonar. The of the three newcomers, however, did not upon the group at the table, but were to one of the room, where six in the by the stores of the Interplanetary Police. Not only were they manacled, but each was a ray-projector, by a soldier that he would press the than not.
"Oh—those the we're fighting?" Brandon stopped at the and at the hexans. Goggling green venomously, they were quiet, but tense; to into activity should the attention of a for a single instant.
But little more than as large as the with Stevens had in the upon Ganymede, the those only as men might of our own Earth. Brandon's from short, powerful up a round, red to the enormous, pair of shoulders, with its jointing. From the four limbs, the pair of which were arms, in large, but normal, hands. The were longer than the and were much more powerful than the arms, and ended in members that were very and hands combined. What in a being would be the of the hand was the of the foot—when walking upon that the long and thumb and were up, out of the way and protected from injury, in the of the hand. From the there rose a long and very flexible, yet and neck, supporting a neither bestial—a unknown to Terrestrial history or experience. The a and brain, as did the three large and expressive, peculiar, eyes. The three ears were very long, erect, and pointed. Each was set above an eye, one upon each of the and one in front. Each ear was and in any direction, to catch the sound. The head, like the and limbs, was of hair. The horns, so in the Stevens had seen, were in this but vestigial—three small, sharp, black only an in length, one each ear, the forehead. The nose almost the whole middle of the and was not a nose—it into a small and active proboscis. The was almost to the point of disappearance, so that the mouth, with its of small, sharp, gleaming-white teeth, was almost under the of being a part of it. Such were the hexans, at the Big Three in amazement.
"Attention, please!" Newton called the meeting to order. "We have learned that all the of the Arcturus, and all the save three, are alive and safe for the time being. Most of them are upon the Europa. However, I that we are not yet well to such an attack in as will when we move to them. This to be a of physics—Doctor Brandon, as for the Scientific of the expedition, what are your suggestions?"
"Anticipating an attack in response to sent out by the enemy," Brandon. "I directly south immediately. We are now well south the ecliptic, and are traveling at more than full Martian acceleration. Before making any suggestions, I should like to from Captain Czuv, who is more familiar than we are with the common enemy. Are they to us: can they us if we should at velocity; and can we search the of the with his Callistonian thought-exchanger, if he should one with our help?"
"If they are close to us to overtake us without too much time, they will attack us," Czuv answered at a from Newton. "Ordinarily they would us to the limits of the Solar System if necessary, but since they have of late and cannot any vessels, they will not us far. Yes, they can us, without the rays, since this much low-tension, low-frequency electricity in its machinery, lights, and so on. No; our thought-transformer cannot take by force, and the will no ideas with us. They are and of all humanity, of or race. Mercy is to them unknown—they neither give take quarter."
"I can him out in that," Crowninshield grimly. "The one to our ordinary like so much and four men to pieces the of us him. Will you need me longer, Director Newton?"
"I think not. General. Captain Czuv, you have no with them?" asked the Director.
"None whatever, as I foretold. They me thoroughly, since two of them speak my own tongue, but nothing that they have said can be here. I from the that all such would be fruitless, but I have tried—and failed. I what I at first—put them to death, here and now, as they there, for most they will in some way to take of of your own if you allow them to live."
"You may be right," said Newton, "but neither the General myself can give the order for their death, since Interplanetary law not such action. However, the are of the peril, and will every at the of unruliness. General Crowninshield, you may remove the and with them in with...."
PANDEMONIUM reigned. At Crowninshield's for the to the room with their captives, all six had at their and three of them had free in a flash, themselves upon the with ferocity. Stevens, a ray-projector in a hand of one of the prisoners, his chair and with force. The into the air, and useless, while the was into a by the of the and there, and broken. Brandon, instantaneously, had over and a leg of the table, his against the corner. With a of his powerful he out the support and with a of the same motion, he the of his terrible full upon the of the second hexan, who had already one and was toward Czuv, his foe. In he was to the floor, his a shapeless, mass, and Brandon, again aloft, into the fray. For a moment here and there, and snapped, once more that and like the of Thor, again and blood as it descended—then again came silence. The six dead, but they had taken five of the with them—literally dismembered, from by the superhuman, physical and of the hexans.
By common the meeting was to another room, for the in hand not be postponed.
"Captain Czuv was right—we Tellurians not in the of such a without the of our own senses." Newton reopened the meeting. "From this time on we take no prisoners. Doctor Brandon, you may resume."
"The and will give of any attack, and Doctor Westfall has that we should have all possible at hand we try to decide upon a of action. We should like to the full reports of Captain King, Captain Czuv, Chief Pilot Breckenridge, and Doctor Stevens."
The four men told their and rapidly, while the others in attention. As the last sat down, Newton again to Brandon, who his at Westfall, his own in such a situation—realizing that here was needed Westfall's cold and thinking.
"Director Newton and gentlemen," Westfall spoke and precisely. "We have much to do we can meet the upon equal terms. We have many new of and to develop, of nature and Doctor Brandon is already aware. Then, too, we must our so that we can at range and efficiency. We must also the space-ship which is towing, to do which it will be to at for a time. In it we may or as yet unknown to us. It also to me that since this is an Interplanetary Police problem of the magnitude, we should at once in touch with Police Headquarters, so that the Peace Fleet can be as we ourselves are, or shall be, armed; for a large and will be necessary to do that which must be done. It is, of course, a that Interplanetary will support the of Callisto against the hexans.
"It is also self-evident that we must here and the Tellurians now upon Europa and Callisto, but we are not yet in position to decide just how that is to be accomplished. Four are open to us. First, to attempt it as soon as we shall have our as much as is now possible. That would a attack, and in my opinion would be foolish—probably suicidal. Second, to by at a until the rocket-ship is launched, then to it to the Earth. Third, to the Callistonians as much as possible while the of the rocket-vessel. Fourth, and the most and quickest, it may be possible for the Callistonian rocket-ships to out fellow-Tellurians, a at a time, to us here out in space, since they are able to come and go at will. However, I would that we make no plans for the as yet—there is little use in attempting to with an ever-changing until we are to act forthwith. I that we our and first, then secure as to the exact of affairs, upon Callisto and upon Europa. Then, to act, we will do at once called for by the then obtaining."
"The program as sensible. Are there any or suggestions?" None having been offered, Director Newton the meeting and each man his particular problem.
True to Czuv's the did not it to the Terrestrial vessel, so and so from them, and shortly, the was cut off, to possible a study of the two of the of the enemy. Scientists space-suits and every of the vessel, while and transferred to the Sirius every device and of interest. One or two and useful of and were found, their and in particular being of a high of efficiency; but upon the whole the science of the was to be to that now to the scientists of Interplanetary's laboratory. Brandon the power-system most carefully, and, in and after a long talk with Westfall, he called a in the control-room.
"Gentlemen, we have done about we can do for the time being. By the best of the and of the with our own newly-perfected devices, we now have a excellent of communication. Our friends from Mars and Venus have so and our force-controls that our and fields, rays, and screens little to be desired. In power we are ahead of the enemy. They know nothing of the possibilities of radiation, but upon tight-beam from their own power-plants—which they have perfected to a point anything by us of the three planets. They do not use accumulators, and therefore their is limited to their maximum reception, which is about seventy thousand kilofranks. Since we can ten times that amount of energy, we withstand, for a time, the of ten of their vessels. Eleven or more of them, however, would be able to our screens—and Captain Czuv has as many as a hundred of their space-ships in one formation. Furthermore, since they have times our maximum acceleration, they upon any point. We not them by if they set out to overtake us, which they will do if we again into their territory. Therefore it is clear that we cannot ourselves to any attack in and it that we cannot do much of anything until the police of some five hundred can be re-armed and can join us near Callisto. This will months at best. As you already know, it has been that we should not return to any of the minor planets, as to do so might a attack upon our police which is as yet unprepared. We are now for Uranus, in the that such a will the attention of the from Tellus, though they already know that we are Tellurians. Our new will any of the Jovian from this point. It has been that it is safe to use it, since it an almost tight of very small diameter, and since we know that that one vessel, at least, had no to a of that nature. We will therefore now in touch with the Callistonians and with our own people."
BRANDON seated himself the screen, and while the others packed themselves closely around his stool, he on the and the which that invisible, through space. The screen was in itself a of vantage, through space with the of light, and the and themselves together, as with that speed they toward the surface of Callisto. So was the that they themselves were through the void, that they themselves into their positive knowledge that the was not an happening! Reducing the of the as it approached the satellite, Brandon it into a by Czuv, and along a to the city of Zbardk, where the Callistonian captain a long with the Council of the nation. Frowning in thought, he to Newton and spoke and slowly.
"Immediately after the of our super-plane, with the death of King, Breckenridge, and myself, the other Tellurian officers were returned to Europa, since they be of no to us Callistonians in our against the new, high-acceleration of the hexans. The present is much more than I would have possible. The last going to visit Wruszk, our city upon Europa, was and by the hexans, and for many no ship or message has come from there to Callisto. In of the that the is smaller than before, they are Europa very closely. It is that they may have and our city there—an is now about to set out in a attempt to learn the of our fellows."
"Suppose the of the were in landing?" asked Brandon. "That might have them a clue."
"Possibly; but it is possible that our own men careless in the operation of one of our own vessels. Having been so long, they might have their vigilance. We may know."
"Tell 'em to the expedition—we'll shoot the over there right now and out all about it. We'll let them know quickly. Also, you might tell them that you've got complete plans and for all the that the have, and a besides, and that the they shoot a ship out here after you, the sooner they can to some to those clear out of space!"
It was the work of only a moments to drive the to Europa, where Czuv, to the great of all, that the had not yet either Wruszk or the Terrestrial workings. All Europan humanity, aware of the investment, was every possible against by the enemy. This was to the Council of Callisto, and the was then across the of space and into the in which was being the rocket-ship in which the Terrestrial were to attempt the long to their own planet.
It took some little time to Doctor Penfield that there had been into the empty air of his little an and of pure of and voice and vision. Once of the of the phenomenon, however, the Brandon's screen under the of his greeting, so great was his at the of the of and in that King and Breckenridge, they had, of course, up for dead, were the Interplanetary vessel.
Penfield reported that the work upon the great rocket-ship was satisfactorily, although slowly, since it was so much larger than any by the Callistonians. Newton, in turn, the of the Terrestrials as to the of the party.
"Of course, of the blockade, you cannot take us off until they have been out, which will be months at best," the said, slowly, and a came over his as he spoke. "Well, what can't be cured...."
"Trouble with the personnel?" King in sharply.
"Personnel, yes; but not trouble in the you mean—we have had none of that. It is only that there are four more of us now than there were...."
"Huh? How come?" Brandon, in astonishment.
"Four have been to us here so far, and more are coming. They are the ones I'm about. Most normal can it here without any effects, but this thin and weak are to result in of children. However, there may be another way out of it. Are you using normal acceleration, or have you Martians aboard?"
"Both," Brandon. "We are two of Mars, but Alcantro and Fedanzo are not ordinary Martians. They have been in since we left Tellus, and now they can as high an as a weak Tellurian. We're at normal."
"Good! As you already know, there has been no of late here and Callisto. It had already been decided, however, that one more must be risked, in order to material which is most urgently needed. Since the will here light and is large to about thirty on a with some crowding, the Council will approve of having it some of our out to the Sirius—especially now, since a must visit you, anyway, to Captain Czuv and the of the new armament. All these can be done with one in one trip."
"That fine!" King. "It will give me a to there where I belong, too. Whom are you sending out?"
"The seven who either have already or who will have them in the next months; and some of our who aren't the any too well. You won't be in the red very on the deal, either—while two or three of the I am sending you will be a nuisance; use, anywhere, such men as Commander Sanderson and Lieut..."
"Sanderson!" King. "Why, he wasn't—when did he married?"
"The day after we here," the surgeon. "His was the Arcturus, and when they out how long we would have to be here, they very not to wait."
"Were there any others?" Nadia, who, Stevens and her father, had been an listener.
"Plenty of them! Fourteen of our have married here upon Europa. A married fellow-passengers, but most of them out officers of the Arcturus. You'll your staff up of now, King! We've been here a year, you know, and time will tell! Young Commander Sanderson's a baby—he'll be a to the IPC some day, if we can him the Sirius, where he can a good start. We give our normal air pressure here by special rooms, but we cannot give them the normal necessary to their properly."
"Well, we'd over to Callisto and take this up with the Council," Brandon put in. "I don't that there will be any objections, so you might as well your ship up and loaded—we'll be here with the in about a minute and a half."
WITH Brandon at the and with Czuv at the plate, the toward Callisto and the group melted away, each man going about his task.
"Daddy, take us somewhere—I want to talk to you," Nadia spoke to her father, and the her and Stevens to his own room.
"All x, daughter; out with it!" and he upon her a glance, under which a from her to her forehead.
"Dad, I've been a since you us, and what we've just has me the nerve to say it. Steve, of course, wouldn't such a thing until we're safely on Earth, so I will." Her his steadily. "All those girls got married—why, some of them have already—and Steve and I have waited for each other so long, daddy! And none of them love each other the way we do. Do they, Steve?"
"I don't see how they could, sir; and that goes across the panel," and he the of the older man as his right arm the girl and her close.
"Well, why not?" A Newton's visage. "There are three with the police—a Methodist minister, a Catholic priest, and a Jewish rabbi. Also, we have on two full-fledged I-P captains, either of is to tie knots. The means are not lacking—if you're sure of yourselves?" and all as he the two faces.
"Yes, you are sure," he after a moment "just as her mother and I were—and are. It is too that she cannot be here with you, but it may be a long time we can return to Tellus, and you have waited long."
"Oh thanks, Daddy, you're just a perfectly old darling!" Nadia exclaimed, as she her arms around his neck. "And this isn't a at all—you know perfectly well that it's a laboratory, and that as soon as the Navy here, you won't let it a more, such scientists can't be allowed to themselves! And also, you're that whole of and that are out here just as fast as they can themselves ready. So going, old dear, and let's do things! Steve's a Quaker and we're Presbyterians, so none of the will do at all. Besides, I promised Captain King ago that he me, so go him and we'll do it now. Bill can be my bridesmaid, you'll give me away, and Steve can have the other two of his Big Three for best men. I'm off to up the flimsiest, white dress I can in my trunks. Let's go!"
"Mr. Newton." Stevens spoke as Nadia away. "You said something about her mother, I didn't want to say anything to false while she was here, but I've got an idea. Let's meet in Brandon's room of here. We can send to Tellus easily on our ultrawave, and we may be able to up something on vision."
A minutes later the Big Three were in Brandon's private study; into a screen of ground upon which played flickering, lights, while the black-haired in arcs.
"Once more, Mac," Brandon directed. "Pretty nearly had them that time. We're this about six hundred percent, but we've got to make this connection. Can't you give me just a little more on those secondaries?"
"I can not!" the voice of the from the speaker. "I'm now so that some of my plates are hot—if I this much longer, the whole secondary bank of is going out. All x—you're on zero!"
"All x!" Flashing and waning, the lights upon the screen fleeting, shifting, images of a station upon Earth; but the power of the neither the image it.
"Back off, Mac," Brandon instructed. "I'm we can't 'em direct—no use a bank of tubes. We'll try through Mars—we can them there, I think. It will up some, but it will be than direct, at that. Point oh five three six ... all x—shoot!"
Brandon's station upon Mars was and held, and a of there work of the Earth-Mars linkage. Soon the screen with the picture of the transmitter-room of the Terrestrial station, and while the three men were waiting for Mrs. Newton to be called to her own television set, the door them opened. Nadia and her entered the room—but Stevens' saw only the of that was his bride. Dressed in a white of silk, her a corona, and wide eloquent, she paused as Stevens came to his and at her, his very in his eyes.
"You saw me in a dress before—do you like me, Steve?"
"Like you! You're beautiful!" and and brown, with wonder and with love, met and as, the presence of their friends, they into each other's arms in a as and as final as Fate itself.
"Hi, Nadia old dear!" and "Daughter, from what I can see of my son-in-law, I that he may do," came together from the speaker. Nadia herself from Stevens' embrace, to see upon the screen the of her mother and sister.
"Mother! Claire! Oh, you three wonder-workers!" She the Terrestrials and the scientists at her side, while exclamations, by ominous, snaps, came from the amplifier.
"Sorry to interrupt," MacDonald's voice in, "but you'll have to it up. Alcantro and Fedanzo are doing their best, but every plate in my secondary bank's red hot, and you an egg on any one of my transformers. Even my are hot. She won't together five minutes longer!"
Captain King opened his book, and in that small room, save for upon of bookcases, the but joining two was read—its only by its accompaniment. For from Brandon at the controls, through the power-room of the Sirius and the relay-station upon Mars, to the Interplanetary upon Earth, the radio and television of two were equipment, trying to an almost connection, in order that Nadia Newton's mother and sister might be present at her wedding, hundreds of millions of miles in space!
"I you man and wife. Whom God joined, let no man put asunder." The old ended and Captain King up the in his great arms as though she were a baby, her vigorously, and set her in of the transmitter. In the of the that a tearing, crash came from the and the screen blank.
"There!" MacDonald from the power room. "I they'd blow! There goes my whole secondary bank—eight perfectly good ten-nineteens all to...."
"That's too bad, but it couldn't be helped; they for a good cause," Brandon. "I'll come and help clean up the mess."
LEAVING the party, he his way to the power room, where he MacDonald and the two Martians the of what had been the secondary bank of their powerful ultra-transmitter. Spare parts in were on hand, and it was not long until the was as good as new.
"Now to try her out," Brandon announced. "We want to give her a good workout, but there's no use trying the I-P any more—they're too hard to at this range. Czuv said something about an unknown of at the south of Jupiter—let's try it on them for a while."
He the of out into space, as to his will as a well-trained horse, and it toward the southern of that world. Down and the plunged, through mile after mile of reeking, fog, to eyes. Finally it came to upon the surface, hundreds of in a lush, dank, jungle, and Brandon into the Venerian room.
"Kenor? We've got a of use for you, if you can come here for a while. Thanks a lot." He to the Martians. "Luckily, we've got a of infra-red aboard, so we won't have to one. You might one out and it onto this while Dol Kenor is up something for us to look at.
"Hi, old Infra-Eyes!" he on, as the Venerian scientist into the room in his space-suit. "We've got something here that's right your alley. Want to see what you can see?"
"Ah, a scene!" Dol Kenor, after one into the plate. "It is a relief, after all this and glare, to see such a soft, warm landscape—even though I have to such a of jungle," and under his the over hundreds of miles of territory. To the of the Terrestrials the screen only a blank, grayness, through which at times there lines and of and meaningless form; but the Venerian was very and many and scenes.
"There, I think, is what you wish to see first," he announced, as he the controls, and Brandon cut in upon the screen the infra-red transformer. This device, long to possible the use of Terrestrial in the of Venus, up the fog-piercing long into the of light of the retina. Instantly the blank of the screen into a clear and picture of the great city of the Jovians of the South.
"Great Cat!" Brandon exclaimed. "Flying is right! They're in formation, too, or I'm a polyp! We've got to watch this, Mac, all of it, and watch it close—it's to have a big on what we'll have to do, they done. Better we up another set, and put a of on this job!"
