I told her what Grantline's signal had suggested; the ship was
hovering overhead. It must be fairly close; for Grantline's telescope
had revealed its identity as an outlaw flyer, unmarked by any of the
standard code identification lights. It was doubtless too far away as
yet to have located the whereabouts of Grantline's camp. The Martian
brigands knew that we were in the vicinity of Archimedes, but no more
than that. Searching this glowing Moon surface, our tiny local
semaphore beams would certainly pass unnoticed.
But as the brigand ship approached now--dropping close to Archimedes
as it probably would--our danger was that Miko and his men would then
signal it, join it, and reveal the camp's location. And the brigand
attack would be upon us!
I told this now to Anita. "The signal from Grantline said, '_Unless
you can stop them._'"
It was an appeal to me. But how could I stop them? What could I do,
alone out here with Anita, to cope with this enemy?
Anita made no comment.
I added, "That ship will land near Archimedes, within an hour or two.
If Grantline can repair the ports, and I can get you inside...."
Again she made no comment. Then suddenly she gripped me. "Gregg, look
there!"
Out through the gully break in our bowl the figure of Miko showed! He
was running. But not at us. Circling the summit, leaping to keep
himself behind the upstanding crags. He passed the head of the
staircase; he did not descend it, but headed off along the summit of
the crater rim.