Eight years passed.
The rocket whirled down from the sky and crashed into the hillside. A cloud of dust rose lazily from the spot and mingled with the fumes escaping from the vessel.
Straightway the escape hatch opened and Archie Simms jumped down to the surface of the planet.
"Here he is, Ed!" he shouted back into the ship. Ed's face appeared in the doorway.
"Fido," he remarked pleasantly.
"We've come," said Archie. "It's been a long drag, but we made it."
The purple sphere's left eye was black and swollen.
"Sorry I shot you," said Ed. "I didn't know...." The purple sphere looked sadly up at him. Archie petted it between the eyes and pointed to the ship.
"There she is," he said. "All yours. Take care of her."
Ed eased down the ramp, then hopped to the ground. He and Archie pushed the purple sphere into the ship.