"Very good, sir. Sorry to have detained you!" The officer stared after Ric's departing figure as though wondering how a Captain of the Interstellar Fleet could gain admittance here where so many big-names had failed.
And even Ric didn't realize what an occasion this was until he reached the tower. Every outstanding figure in the scientific as well as the political world was here, gathered in tense groups about the huge tele-panel in the center of the room. This Mars take-off was certainly the most dramatic event in all Mars' history and perhaps Earth's as well!
Professor Broxted spied him, came over and shook hands.
"Good evening, Ric! I won't bother with introductions. No one cares about that tonight. Glad you could make it!"
"So am I, Professor. I wouldn't have missed this. How much time?"
"Take-off's in twenty minutes, but we've already got the scene in focus. We can bring it to a distance of a few miles, thanks to the new magni-beams. Come."
They threaded their way toward the huge screen to stare at the scene pictured there.
It was a terribly changed Mars that Ric looked upon. The blood-red metallic haze covered all but a mile-wide strip of clear atmosphere; and along this strip Ric could see tiny dots of white light, which he guessed must be the Ionization Towers.
"There's the Valiant," Broxted said. "You can just see it on the lower edge of the screen."