We had returned safely to the Grantline camp. Anita and I found
ourselves exhausted from lack of sleep, our arduous climb of
Archimedes and that tense time on the brigand ship. On the flight
back, Snap had explained how the landing of the ship on Archimedes was
observed through the Grantline telescope. They had read with amazement
my signals to the brigands. Snap had rushed to completion the first of
our flying platforms. Then he had seen Miko's signals from the crater
base, seen the lights and the fight to capture Anita and me, and had
come to rescue us.
Back at the camp we were given food, and Grantline forced me to try to
sleep.
"They'll be on us in a few hours, Gregg. Miko wall have joined them by
now. He'll lead them to us. You must rest, for we need everyone at his
best."
And surprisingly, in the midst of the camp's turmoil of last minute
activities, I slept soundly until Snap called me, telling me the ship
was coming.
The corridor echoed with the tramp of Grantline's busy crew. But there
was no confusion; a grim calmness had settled on everyone.