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Updated: June 18, 2025
Had seized his ray cylinder and struck him down, and been herself knocked unconscious by his dying lunge, which also had broken the tubes and wrecked the Planetara. And Venza, unconscious, had been lying here with the mechanism of her cloak still operating, so that we did not see her when we came and found why Hahn did not answer my signals. "It's here, Gregg."
I found Venza seated alone in a starlit corner of the secluded deck. A porthole, with the black heavens and the blazing stars was before her. There was an empty seat nearby. She greeted me with the Venus form of jocular, intimate greeting: "Hola-lo, Gregg! Sit here with me. I have been wondering when you would come after me." I sat down beside her. "Why are you going to Mars, Venza?
Shortly after that midday meal I encountered Venza sitting on the starlit deck. I had been in the bow observatory; taken my routine castings of our position and worked them out. I was, I think, of the Planetara's officers the most expert handler of the mathematical calculators.
And the purser acting innocent? And who is this George Prince, anyway?" The huge Martian, Miko, with his sister Moa came strolling along the deck. They nodded as they passed us. I whispered, "I can't explain anything now. But you're right, Venza: there is something going on. Listen! Whatever you learn whatever you encounter which looks unusual will you tell me? I ... well, I do trust you.
Disheveled, frightened, with Moa standing watching them. Stewards were serving them with a meal. Upon a bench, bodies were lying. Some were dead. I saw Rance Rankin. Others were evidently only injured. Dr. Frank was moving among them, attending them. Venza was there, unharmed. And I saw the gamblers, Shac and Dud, sitting white-faced, whispering together.
I gripped her. "Don't ramble, Venza! You saw me?" "Yes. My stateroom door was open. I was sitting with a cigarette. I saw the purser in the smoking room. He was visible from " "Wait! Venza, that prowler went through the smoking room!" "I know he did. I could hear him." "Did the purser hear him?" "Of course. The purser looked up, followed the sound with his gaze. I thought that was queer.
He's with them whatever it is. He promised to do something or other for them." She stopped. "Well?" I prompted. "That's all. Shac's current was interrupted." "Tell him to try it again, Venza! I'll talk with him. No! I'd better let him alone. Can you get him to keep his mouth shut?" "I think he might do anything I told him. He's a man!" "Find out what you can." She drew away from me abruptly.
But these were thoughts of comparative dimness. In a patch where the Earthlight struck through the darkness of the rocks, I saw another of our fallen platforms! Snap and Venza? It was not they, but three figures of our men. One was dead. Two had survived the fall. They stood up, staggering. And in that instant, before the turgid black curtain closed over them, I saw two brigands come rushing.
And the other bodies, Balch, Blackstone, Captain Carter, Johnson Miko flung them all. And the course masters and those of our crew who had been killed. The passengers were all on the ground now. It was dim down there. I tried to distinguish Venza, but could not. I could see Dr. Frank's figure at the end of the chained line of men.
And Snap and Venza must have felt the same. Among the men, we were always quietly, grimly active. But alone.... I came upon Snap once with his arms around the little Venus girl. I heard him say: "Accursed luck! That you and I should find each other too late, Venza. We could have a lot of fun in Greater New York together." "Snap, we will!"
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