"Nothing, of course!" Mark laughed bitterly. "They're pre-occupied
with Perlac! I've personally contacted Dar Vaajo on the Ethero-Magnum.
He expresses regret and puzzlement, offers every aid in tracing the
disappearing ships. But there's an under-current of evasion. As a
desperate measure I sent two secret operatives to Mars."
"Good," Ketrik nodded his approval. "They get through all right?"
"Yes, apparently just in time. Dar Vaajo has thrown a close guard about
the planet. Anyway, my operatives managed to set up a communications
base in the wilds of the K'Mari Range, half a day's flight from
Turibek, capital of South Mars. I've contacted them twice. They report
strange activities at Turibek, something in the nature of a vast
scientific experiment! And another thing. Dar Vaajo apparently has made
a truce with the Rajecs."
"The Rajecs! Those Martian Outlanders?" Ketrik's face was dark with
real concern. This news seemed to affect him more than anything Mark
had said.
"We've really never learned much about those strange desert tribes,"
Mark went on. "But--"
"It's impossible!" Ketrik said. "Those Outlanders hate the Upper
Martians with a hatred beyond our understanding. Nothing would impel
them to make truce, absolutely _nothing_! I know, for I once lived
among them for six months." Ketrik was as near to being excited as was
possible for him. "Yes, Mark, I'll go to Mars. This really begins to
interest me!"