Instantly there was a terrific explosion. The solometer flickered and steadied at three asthat inconceivable ray flashed out. It was relux, and he knew it, but he knew what would happen whenthat cosmic ray hit it.
Thelast one had not left, when Arcot shot a terrific cosmic ray toward thesphere. Asthough by magic the Thessian fleet cleared away from the _Thought_. Set in thosehills, surrounded by them, was a huge sphere, resting on the ground. In a few moments the titanic ship had crossed a great plain, and came toa region of bare, rocky hills several hundred feet high. The ship moved ahead, while about it the tremendous Thessian battlefleetbuzzed like flies, thousands of ships now, and more coming with eachsecond. "From the direction, I should say it was to the left and ahead of ourposition," replied Zezdon Afthen. "Shall we barge right in, or wait and investigate?" "We're about there," said Arcot, a peculiar tenseness showing in histhoughts. And, hours later,they saw the giant red sun of Antseck, the star of Thett and its system. Then there was a more manageable guidein the form of photographs, marked for route by constellationsformations as well, which would be their actual guide.Īt the maximum speed of the time apparatus, for thus they could betterfollow the constellations, the _Thought_ plunged along in the wake ofthe tiny scout ship that had already landed on Thett.
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It was hours later that, rested and refreshed, they started for Thett.Following the great space-chart that they had been given by theVenonians, a series of blocks of clear lux metal, with tiny points ofslowly disintegrating lux, such as had been used to illuminate theletters of the _Thought_'s name representing suns, the colors andrelative intensity being shown. The little tender had sufficient power to take care of anydamage that Thett might inflict, they felt sure.įor they had not learned of the triple ray. He acted as guard, and as hehad slept but four days before, he explained there was really no reasonfor him to sleep as yet.īut the terrestrians would feel the greatest strain of the comingencounter, especially Arcot and Morey, for Morey was to help byrepairing any damage done, by working from the control board of the_Banderlog_. The _Thought_ arose from Venone after long hours, and at Arcot'ssuggestion, they assumed an orbit about the world, at a distance of twomillion miles, and all on board slept, save Torlos, the tirelessmolecular motion machine of flesh and iron.