"Not yet, Earthman!" The alien voice was at once like a whiplash and like a fragment of music. Both men whirled about.
Out of the shadows, as if emerging from the bizarre scene of tortured rocks and twisted cavern-walls, stepped a slender figure with pendant wings.
"Aladdo!" Mark felt a curious tingling at sight of his Venusian friend, as he went forward with hands outstretched.
It was nothing compared to the shock mirrored on Carston's face. "Aladdian!" he too exclaimed, a mixture of despair and impotent rage in his voice.
"Peace, lower order!" Aladdo laughed, but hiding his hands behind his back as he addressed Mark. "I shall not trust my hands to you again. It is enough to have crippled wings!" The Venusian stared full into Carston's eyes as he uttered the last words significantly, and the latter's face turned deep red.
"Are you still a guest? Where are they keeping you? I've missed you...." Mark turned to Carston, his face alight. "Aladdo saved my life in the swamp!"
"I'm staying with the Commander and her father. It is a small universe after all," he added, turning to Carston, "eh, Colonel?"
"You know each other?" Mark asked, surprised.
Carston's face reddened and then paled. "I'm a servant of my Government," he answered the Venusian stiffly. "My duty is to obey, not to question orders, Princess!"