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Observe standard cruise procedure!" "Power deck, aye!" was Astro's blasting answer over the loud-speaker. "Yeeeoooww! Out where we belong at last." "Radar bridge here," Roger's voice chimed in softly on the speaker. "Everything under control. And, Astro, you belong in a zoo if you're going to bellow like that!" "Ahhh rocket off, bubblehead!" The big Venusian's reply was good-natured.
"Get going or it'll count against your mark!" "Huh. What's a few points more or less when you're going to fail anyway," snorted Roger from the bunk. Again, Astro started to lunge forward and Tom braced himself against the Venusian's charge, but suddenly the burly cadet stopped. Disengaging Tom's restraining arms, he spoke coldly to the sneering boy on the bed.
She picked up the baby, and with her free hand tugged at the Venusian's arm. "Come on! Don't sacrifice yourself!" The door bulged under the attack. The noise was ear-splitting. Nevertheless Estra heard, and shook his head without looking at the woman from the Earth. She dashed to the window, then came back. "Hurry! There's a chance!" He stood unmoved, watchful and ready. "Estra!
"They just walked out on you?" he asked. Astro nodded. Vidac turned to the colonists who were standing around listening to the giant Venusian's story. "All right, men," he said, "I guess he's telling the truth. Back to the city. There aren't too many places they could be hiding." The men turned and ran for their cars.
For the first time, Estra looked astonished. He and Myrin exchanged lightninglike glances; then the Venusian's face warmed with the smile he gave the architect. "It is very good of you to say that," he said impressively. "I was afraid some of our peculiarities might arouse very different feelings."
At once the doctor saw that these were not Venusians; they had facial expressions as sour and cynical as the typical Venusian's had been pleasant and wise. "You will note," commented the professor very quietly, "that these people are far from happy." The class seemed to take it for granted; but the doctor's trained ears instantly caught a false note in the speaker's voice.
They followed him through two sets of doors, which slid noiselessly open before them in response to some mechanism operated by the Venusian's steps. This brought them to another of the glass elevators, in which they descended perhaps ten feet, stepping out of it onto a moving platform; this, in turn, extended the length of a low dimly lighted passageway about a hundred yards long.
Slowly he eased one arm from beneath Astro's heavy body and shifted his legs into a more comfortable position. Though the Venusian's weight still pressed him down in the seat, the muscular cramps were relieved. He began to pay attention to what Vidac and Bush were saying in the front seat of the car. "We'll blast off as soon as we reach the spaceport," said Vidac, "and get up to the asteroid."
Only, we label them psychological experiences. "In fact, the 'supernatural' is the Venusian's daily business!" There was another pause, during which both Venusians, driving at high speed though they were, once more closed their eyes for a second or so. Estra evidently thought it time to explain.
And instantly the four were eying him eagerly. This was really refreshing, to find that the Venusians were actually lacking in something. "So it didn't work?" commented the doctor, disappointed. But the Venusian's smile was still there. "It worked itself out," said he. "We have no further use for a league. We have no more nations. We are now one." And he helped them adjust the machines.
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