Her gaze was on my face. Keen eyes, but they were luminous now--an
emotion in them sweeping her. But outwardly she was calm.
"Well, why don't you tell me?" I said. "If I am to help...."
"Gregg, I want you with us. Don't you understand. And we are not many,
really. My brother and I are guiding this affair. With your help, I
would feel differently."
"The ship at Ferrok-Shahn--"
My fears were realized. She said, "I think our signals reached it.
Dean tried and Coniston was checking him."
"You think the ship is coming?"
"Yes."
"Where will it join us?"
"At the Moon. We will be there in thirty hours. Your figures gave
that, did they not?"
"Yes," I said. "And the other ship--how fast is it?"
"Quite fast. In eight days--perhaps nine, it will reach the Moon."
She seemed willing enough to talk. There was indeed, no reason why she
shouldn't: I could not, she naturally felt, turn the knowledge to
account. Certainly my position seemed desperately helpless.
"Manned--" I prompted.
"About forty men."
"And armed? Long range projectors?"
"You ask very avid questions, Gregg!"
"Why should I not? Don't you suppose I'm interested?" I touched her.
"Moa, did it ever occur to you, if once you and Miko trusted me--which
you don't--I might show more interest in joining you?"
The look on her face emboldened me. "Did you ever think of that, Moa?
And some arrangement for my share of this treasure? I am not like
Johnson, to be hired for a hundred pounds of gold leaf."
"Gregg, I will see that you get your share. Riches for you and me."
"I was thinking, Moa--when we land at the Moon tomorrow--where is our
equipment?"
The Moon, with its lack of atmosphere, needed special equipment. I had
never heard Captain Carter mention what apparatus the _Planetara_ was
carrying.
Moa laughed. "We have located air suits and helmets--a variety of
suitable apparatus, Gregg. But we were not foolish enough to leave
Greater New York on this voyage without our own apparatus. My brother
and Coniston and Prince--all of us snipped crates of freight consigned
to Ferrok-Shahn; and Rankin had special baggage marked 'theatrical
apparatus.'"
I understood it now. These brigands had boarded the _Planetara_ with
their own Moon equipment, disguised as freight and personal baggage.
Shipped in bond, to be inspected by the tax officials of Mars.
"It is on board now. We will open it when we leave the asteroid,
Gregg. We are well equipped."
She bent toward me. And suddenly her long, lean fingers were gripping
my shoulders.
"Gregg, look at me!"
I gazed into her eyes. There was passion there; and her voice was
intense.
"Gregg, I told you once a Martian girl goes after what she wants. It
is you I want--"