"Thanks," I said. "I'm flattered."
"She still hopes I may really win you to join us," he went on. "Gold
leaf is a wonderful thing; there would be plenty for you in this
affair. And to be rich, and have the love of a woman like Moa...."
He paused. I was trying cautiously to gauge him, to get from him all
the information I could. I said, with another smile, "That is
premature, to talk of Moa. I will help you chart your course. But this
venture, as you call it, is dangerous. A police ship--"
"There are not many," he declared. "The chances of our encountering
one are very slim." He grinned at me. "You know that as well as I do.
And we now have those code passwords--I forced Dean to tell me where
he had hidden them. If we should be challenged, our password answer
will relieve suspicion."
"The _Planetara_," I objected, "being overdue at Ferrok-Shahn, will
cause alarm. You'll have a covey of patrol ships after you."
"That will be two weeks from now," he smiled. "I have a ship of my own
in Ferrok-Shahn. It lies there waiting now, manned and armed. I am
hoping that, with Dean's help, we may be able to flash them a signal.
It will join us on the Moon. Fear not for the danger, Haljan. I have
great interests allied with me in this thing. Plenty of money. We have
planned carefully."
He was idly fingering his cylinder; he gazed at me as I sat docile on
my bunk. "Did you think George Prince was a leader of this? A mere
boy. I engaged him a year ago--his knowledge of science is valuable to
us."
My heart was pounding but I strove not to show it. He went on calmly.
"I told you I am impulsive. Half a dozen times I have nearly killed
George Prince, and he knows it." He frowned. "I wish I had killed him
instead of his sister. That was an error."
There was a note of real concern in his voice. He added, "That is
done--nothing can change it. George Prince is helpful to me. Your
friend Dean, is another. I had trouble with him, but he is docile
now."
I said abruptly, "I don't know whether your promise means anything or
not, Miko. But Prince said you would use no more torture."
"I won't. Not if you and Dean obey me."
"You tell Dean I have agreed to that. You say he gave you the code
words he took from Johnson?"
"Yes. There was a fool, for you! That Johnson! You blame me, Haljan,
for the death of Carter? You need not. Johnson offered to try and
capture you, take you both alive. He killed Carter because he was
angry with him. A stupid, vengeful fool! He is dead and I'm glad of
it."
My mind was on Miko's plans. I ventured, "This treasure on the
Moon--did you say it was on the Moon?"
"Don't play the fool," he retorted. "I know as much about Grantline as
you do."
"That's very little."
"Perhaps."
"Perhaps you know more, Miko. The Moon is a big place. Where, for
instance, is Grantline located?"
I held my breath. Would he tell me that? A score of questions--vague
plans were in my mind. How skilled at mathematics were these brigands?
Miko, Coniston, Hahn--could I fool them? If I could learn Grantline's
location on the Moon, and keep the _Planetara_ away from it. A
pretended error of charting. Time lost--and perhaps Snap could find an
opportunity to signal Earth, get help.
Miko answered my question as bluntly as I asked it. "I don't know
where Grantline is located. But we will find out. He will not suspect
the _Planetara_ so when we get close to the Moon, we will signal and
ask him. We can trick him into telling us. You think I do not know
what is on your mind, Haljan? There is a secret code of signals
arranged between Dean and Grantline. I have forced Dean to confess it.
Without torture! Prince helped me in that. He persuaded Dean not to
defy me. A very persuasive fellow, George Prince. More diplomatic than
I am. I give him credit for that."
I strove to hold my voice calm. "If I should join you, Miko--my word,
if I ever gave it, you would find dependable--I would say George
Prince is very valuable to us. You should rein your temper. He is
half your size--you might some time, without intention, do him
injury."