Acting! And never once did we dare relax. If only Miko's signals would
hold off and give us time!
* * * * *
We may have talked for half an hour. We were in a small steel-lined
cubby, located in the forward deck of the ship. The dome was over it.
I could see from where I sat at the table that there was a forward
observatory tower under the dome quite near here. The ship was laid
out in rather similar fashion to the _Planetara_, though considerably
smaller.
Potan had dismissed his men from the cubby so as to be alone with us.
Out on the deck I could see them dragging apparatus about, bringing
the mechanisms of giant projectors up from below and beginning to
assemble them. Occasionally some of the men would come to our cubby
windows to peer in curiously.
My mind was roaming as I talked. For all my manner of casualness, I
knew that haste was necessary. Whatever Anita and I were to do must be
quickly done.
But to win this fellow's utter confidence first was necessary, so that
we might have the freedom of the ship, might move about unnoticed,
unwatched.
I was horribly tense inside. Through the dome windows across the deck
from the cubby, the rocks of the Lunar landscape were visible. I could
see the brink of this ledge upon which the ship lay, the descending
crags down the precipitous wall of Archimedes to the Earthlit plains
far below. Miko, Moa, and a few of the _Planetara's_ crew were down
there somewhere.
Anita and I had a fairly definite plan. We were now in Potan's
confidence; this interview at an end, I felt that our status among the
brigands would be established. We would be free to move about the
ship, join in its activities. It ought to be possible to locate the
signal room, get friendly with the operator there.
Perhaps we could find a secret opportunity to flash a signal to Earth.
This ship, I was confident, would have the power for a long range
signal, if not of too sustained a length. It would be a desperate
thing to attempt, but our whole procedure was desperate! Anita could
lure the duty man from the signal room, I might send a single flash or
two that would reach the Earth. Just a distress signal, signed
"Grantline." If I could do that and not get caught!
Anita was engaging Potan in talking of his plans. The brigand leader
was boasting of them: of his well equipped ship, the daring of his
men. And questioning her about the size of the treasure. My thoughts
were free to roam.
While we were making friends with this brigand, the longest range
electronic projector was being assembled. Miko then could flash his
signal and be damned to him! I would be on the deck with that
projector. Its operator and I would turn it upon Miko--one flash of it
and he and his little band would be wiped out.
But there was our escape to be thought of. We could not remain very
long with these brigands. We could tell them that the Grantline camp
was on the Mare Imbrium. It would delay them for a time, but our lie
would soon be discovered. We must escape from them, get away and back
to Grantline. With Miko dead, a distress signal to Earth, and Potan in
ignorance of Grantline's location, the treasure would be safe until
help arrived from Earth.
"By the infernal, little Anita, you look like a dove, but you're a
tigress! A comrade after my own heart--bloodthirsty as a
fire-worshipper!"
Her laugh rang out to mingle with his. "Oh no, _Set_ Potan! I am
treasure-thirsty."
"We'll get the treasure. Never fear, little Anita."
"With you to lead us, I'm sure we will."
A man entered the cubby. Potan looked frowningly around. "What is it,
Argle?"
The fellow answered in Martian, leered at Anita and withdrew.
Potan stood up. I noticed that he was unsteady with the drink.
"They want me with the work at the projectors."
"Go ahead," I said.
He nodded. We were comrades now. "Amuse yourself, Haljan. Or come out
on deck if you wish. I will tell my men you are one of us."
"And tell them to keep their hands off Miss Prince."
He stared at me. "I had not thought of that: a woman among so many
men!"
His own gaze at Anita was as offensive as any of his men could have
given. He said, "Have no fear, little tigress."