Again there was the shadow of a smile on Huth's bronze features.
"The extreme specialization of your science will never cease to amaze
me. At any rate, you are on the planet Melus, one of the outer planets
of the star which your Earth astronomers call Capella, and which they
place in the constellation of Auriga."
Lucifer blinked rapidly and rubbed the bristles of his mustache with
more than ordinary vigor. Some of his colleagues at Western University
had worked on rocket projects. He had always suspected they were fools;
now he was sure of it. Why else would they be wasting their time with
rockets, while another race was running around the universe, kidnapping
positives?
It was Nina who spoke up first, her dark, deep-set eyes burning with
excitement.
"Capella ... I know!" she exclaimed. "Sometimes I work with the medium
of astrology. It doesn't mean anything, really, no more than the cards.
I could do just as well without either. But the customers.... Say,
unless you're not telling the truth, Mr. Huth, we're quite a ways from
San Diego!"
"The distance is not important," said Huth. "Melus is now your home,
and will be for the rest of your lives."
As the import of his words reached them, Lucifer blinked again. Nina
sat down on the edge of the steel-grey couch.
"For the rest of our lives," she repeated wonderingly. "That's a long
time."
"It is to be hoped," said Dr. Thame.
Lucifer had to speak with more than usual severity in order to keep the
tremor out of his voice. "I asked two questions," he reminded Huth.
Huth nodded.
"Your second question will be answered during your orientation period."
"And how long does that last?"
"It varies. For you, Dr. Brill, it could be much longer than for your
wife."
"My--" This time, Lucifer's dry New England twang definitely broke.
"Oh, yes. We learned that by observing the rituals of your culture
we can minimize emotional trauma and thereby hasten orientation." He
turned to Nina. "I can assure you that the proper Earth rituals were
performed in the prescribed manner. Since neither of you were married,
we could dispense with the Earth divorce ritual and perform only the
marriage ritual. Does that ease your mind?"
She stared at him without answering.
Lucifer's temper bristled.
"I refuse to recognize such mockery. It is immoral, illegal and
definitely unethical."
Huth dismissed the matter with a slight shake of his massive head, and
proceeded to explain some of the objective facts of their situation.
During orientation period, they would be required to remain on their
own premises, except for their educational sessions at Center. They
would be taken to Center once or twice each day, depending on their
progress. Food preparation was handled at the Project commissary.
Huth opened a small pantry. Meals, cooked by molecular agitation in
the commissary, would be delivered to the pantry via the commissary
tubicular. He showed them how to turn on the visagraph screen.
"This is used for communication, education and also entertainment.
You will find it very pleasant to read micro-filmed books off the
screen. We also have a rather complete repertory of Earth music. After
orientation, you will be assigned duties, and, of course, can become
acquainted with fellow members of this project."
Dr. Thame added briefly that Melus had been chosen for the project
because it was a hydrogen-oxygen planet similar to Earth, although
almost uniformly tropical. The inner planets of the system were not
inhabitable, since Capella, with three times the mass of Sol, produced
one hundred times more heat.
"You'll discover that members of your Project have given this planet
another name," he concluded. "But don't let it disturb you."
Nina spoke up suddenly.
"The name is--It's Mendel's Planet!"