he level of the stage was a turmoil of confusion. The escalators, with the last of the freight aboard, were folded back. But the stage was jammed with incoming passen

like birds to our stage. Thirty-eight passengers to Mars for this voyage, but that accursed desire of every friend and relati

long. But here in the turret Dr. Frank and I found our

. I knew him well: we had made several flights together. An American-I fancy of Jewish ances

is pressure sickness is a rotten nuisance-keeps me dashing around all night assuring fri

n to him. My gaze was down on the spider incline, up which, over the bend of the ship's sleek, silvery body,

superstructure-no more than a hundred feet long-was set amidships. A narrow deck, metallically enclosed, and with large bull's-eye windows, encircled the supers

k level continued under the cylindrical dome roof to the bow. The forward watch tower observatory was here, officers' cabins, Captain Cart

. Frank and I now stood was perched here. Fifty feet away, like a bird's nest, Snap's instrument room stood clinging to the metal bri

ir renewal system; heater and ventilators and pressure mechanisms-all were located there. And the kitchens, stewards' compartments, and the liv

or the outward voyage to Ferrok-Shahn. Most were Earth people-and returning Martia

," Dr. Frank remarked

said. "S

checked himself, as though

of him," I re

silence fel

her from Grebhar, last voyage but one. I remembered her. An alluring sort of girl, as most of them are. Her name was Venza. She spoke English wel

r. Gazing up, she saw Dr. Frank and me at the turret

irways, there's Alta Venza! You saw that

ed. "But I doubt it-the Venza

traveled. Spoke English with a colloquial, theatrical manner more characteristic of Greater New York than of

e aboard. And then I thought I saw him down on the landing stage, just arrived from a private tube car. A small, slight figure. The customs men were around him. I could onl

. Frank was also gazing dow

se, "Suppose we go dow

vel. The head of the arriving incline was near us. Preceded by two carriers who were littered with hand luggage, Geor

e showed her clearly when she was half way up. A girl with her hood pushed back; her face framed in thic

ed my amazed expression. "

is

Martian whom Dr. Frank had called Miko. He was loitering here, quite evidently watching

am in A22," she told the carrier. "My br

d my whisper. "Th

arrier, when she stumbled and very nearly fell. I was nearest

her feet again. She had twisted her ankle. She balance

right-t

ll and soft against me. Her face, framed in the thick, black hair, smiled up at me. Small, oval face-beau

ht, thank yo

then it seemed that for an instant she yielded and was clinging. And I met her start

"I beg your pardon. Yes, o

owed the carriers along the d

love can be born of such a glance. The first meeting, across all the barriers of which love springs unsought, unbidden-defian

a and me, it must

quarter beyond the zero hour, the Planetara got away. With the dome windows battened tightly, we lifted from the landing stage