However, a group of six thousand spaceships was organized for the attempt, ranging in size and model from small scouts such as were included in Commander Raws’ squadron to huge and powerful dreadnaughts of space. Since these larger, heavier craft were less fitted for long journeys, the start of the expedition was delayed until the middle of January, 2676. Should the group start from Earth at that time, computations showed, the Martian asteroid would be met at a point some seventy million miles away, shortly after the first of March. Even for that comparatively short journey the big ships would have to be refitted with special tanks for reserve fuel and the crews would have to be cut down accordingly. In the end, barely three hundred thousand men were included in the plans.
III
The Deserter
Yaxa, the prisoner, was of course ignorant of all these things as he sat alone in his secret prison. Food came to him by dumbwaiter and he did not see a human face. It was not until the middle of January that the door of his cell opened and admitted a Terrestrial—a Terrestrial whom he recognized as one of the three who had captured him.
“Courage!” said Neil Andresson. “We’re getting out of here.”
Yaxa looked at him levely. They made a striking contrast; the saddle-colored Martian—with his puffy body, his spidery legs and his head that, except for the brilliant eyes, seemed to be a high-craniumed skull covered only with skin—looked like a weird cartoon of the Terrestrial with his fine, muscular proportions, his smooth cheeks and his smiling countenance.
“Are you going to torture me further?” demanded Yaxa.
“Not I,” said Neil. “If you’ll remember, I never offered you violence at any time. I was not in sympathy with the measures taken to wring information from you, though I was in the minority and had to countenance them. For that matter, I’m not in sympathy with the Terrestrial cause at all.”
“Then what are you doing here?” asked the Martian.
“I succeeded in being detailed to guard you. I’m going to set you free.”
Yaxa made a helpless gesture. “What can I do if I am freed? I’ll be a stranger in a hostile world. Terrestrials will recognize me for an enemy as far as they can see me. I’ll be hunted down and killed or injured or, at the very least, brought back to prison.”
“I’ve provided for that, else I would not have made the suggestion,” said Neil. “Here, take this pistol. And see the cloak I am wearing. Take it, drape it about you. At first glance you might pass for a Terrestrial. Come, I know where your ship is kept. We’ll escape in it.”
“We?” repeated the captive.
“Yes, I’m going with you, back to your asteroid. It’s within space-shot now. I cannot remain here, I would be punished as a traitor.”
His eyes shining with new hope, Yaxa donned Neil’s cape and followed him into a deserted hallway, then out into a street where a closed surface-car awaited them. They entered this and traveled, by traffic-way and by lift, to the very top level of the city.
When Neil opened the door Yaxa peeped out and saw that they had reached a rocketport. Hangars stood at every hand, with rows of space craft, large and small, on all sides. But nearest to them and isolated from the others was the fast Martian scout which had been his when he had flown to his capture.
“Quick, we have no time to lose,” Neil urged him, and they left the car. A dozen steps took them to the side of the spaceship. A lock-panel was open and the two of them entered the inner compartment.
Sukune and Bull Mike looked up curiously from their seats inside. The leveled pistols of the two intruders prompted the young guards to raise their hands. “What’s the meaning of this?” asked Sukune.
“It’s what you Terrestrials call poetic justice,” smiled Yaxa. “You captured me—now I have captured you.”
“Neil, you traitor!” fumed Bull Mike.
“I wouldn’t call names if I were in your shoes,” rejoined Neil, crossing to the panel which led into the storeroom, and opening it. “Yaxa, this ship is well supplied with everything we need on the voyage. Shall we leave?”
“Yes, of course. What shall we do with these friends of yours?”
“Don’t call me a friend of his,” growled Bull Mike.
“We’ll take them along,” replied Neil, taking no notice of his former chum’s remark. “If we let them go now they’ll rouse the whole planet on us. As it is, the force that is tackling your asteroid doesn’t leave for two days yet. That ought to be head start enough for us.”
It seemed that nobody at the rocketport noticed the departure of the Martian ship. If notice was taken, perhaps it was reflected that there were Terrestrial guards on board and that all must be well. Unhindered, the craft went up and out, cleared the atmospheric envelope and headed for the bright speck in the sky that marked the sham world which was its goal.
For a few hours there was silence aboard between the captives and the captors, but at length Sukune spoke up with a smile.
“Why be unreasonable about this thing?” he said. “If we’re to be together for two months or so in space, we might as well be pleasant about it. I, for one, will accept defeat gracefully if you’ll let me.”
“Gladly,” said Yaxa.
“Me, too,” said
