Planet of Dread Page 12

happen to me. We may have to machine it a little tomake it fit the _Nadine's_ engines. But we're all right!"

  Carol's voice came in his helmet-phone. It was shaky and desperatelyglad.

  "_You're--all right? Quite all right? Please hurry back?_"

  "We're on the way," said Moran.

  * * * * *

  He was pleased with Carol's reaction. He also realized that now therewould be the right number of people on the _Nadine_; they would take offfrom this world and arrive reasonably near due-time at Loris withoutarousing the curiosity of space-port officials.

  He looked about him. The way the others had come down was a perfectlygood way to climb up again. On the surface, above, their trail would beclear on the multi-colored surface rusts. There were four men together,all with blast-pistols and three with torches. They should be safe.

  Moran talked cheerfully, climbing to the plateau on which the _Nadine_had landed, trudging with the others across a world on which it wasimpossible to see more than a quarter-mile in any direction. But the waywas plain. Beyond the mist Carol waited.

  THE END