Stepping over to the communications panel he called the Space Bird. No answer, and though he kept calling he could not raise the ship.
Then he called Staker Field on Earth.
"Caxton?"
The field came back. "Staker Field. Go ahead."
"Caxton, we've found the Space Bird but can't speak to them, so I'm cutting you in on communications with an Asteroid Mining ship that's hanging around. Tape pictures and sound—the whole works."
"Okay."
Flipping another switch, Bill called the strange ship on the all-interplanetary frequency.
Suddenly after long minutes of silence the dark screen lighted up with the impassive features of a round faced, cold eyed man.
"Yeah? This is the Pluton. What d'you want—and who are you?"
"This is the Space Dragon—sister ship to the Space Bird there in your vicinity. What's the matter with our ship?"