"No Great Master," we both answered.
"You shall not, unless you attempt to cause us trouble. Your thoughts
are black." He addressed Molo. "Have they ever been read?"
"No, Great Master."
"When opportunity comes, have them read." He added to Snap and me: "I
plan to take prisoners. My Supreme Rulers, rulers of a neighboring
more powerful planet, which sent Wandl upon her mission of conquest,
ordered it. When your worlds are vacant of life, those who command me
will want some of you left alive to be studied. Your thoughts are very
black, Earthman. I think when they are carefully read you will prove
no great advantage to us."
There was irony in the voice, and upon the monstrous bulging face came
the horrible travesty of a grin.
The grin on the brain's face faded. His interest went again to Molo.
"That is your sister." The eyes swung to Meka and back.
"Yes, Great Master."
"She is caring for this Earth-girl and this girl from Venus?"
"Yes, Great Master. I am fond of them. I have plans."
"They are in your charge, Martian; I will not interfere with you. But
guard them well. I trust you and your sister. These others...."
"The Earth and the Venus girl can be of help to me, Great Master."
"How?"
"They knew young men who were in the Spaceship Service. They can tell
me the armament of men and weapons on most of the spaceships which
Earth will send against us."
Did Molo really believe that? Probably not, but he wanted the girls
with him. Again came that grotesque smile. "Let them not bother you,
Martian. You have work to do. Listen carefully. There will be a
battle. Earth, Mars, and Venus may perhaps have a hundred ships. I
cannot bring destruction upon those three worlds in a day. We soon
will make contact with the light-beam you placed on Earth. That I will
show you. But the rotation cannot be stopped at once. It will take
time.
"The enemy ships might dare to come to Wandl, but I shall not wait for
that. All my spaceships are very nearly ready. If there is to be a
battle, it shall be far from here, in the neighborhood of the enemy
worlds. We are at this time about sixty-two million of your miles from
the Earth, a third less than that from Mars, and about a third more
from Venus. I understand, Martian, that you are skilled in space
warfare."
The brain went on, "I have given you a vessel to command. You will be
surprised to know its name: the _Star-Streak_."