He led them around the cluster of dimly lighted buildings, past the mud-flats of cavot plants. The city was voiceless, the streets were vacant. As they turned a corner, a great clearing spread before them, a landing field dotted with the shadowed shapes of space liners, and smaller craft. The field was sparsely lighted.
They paused.
"Spread out. See what's about," Spike whispered. "Meet here in ten revs."
The men slowly faded into the darkness.
Rusty saw a flat, lighted building at a near corner of the field.
Moving stealthily to a glowing window, he peeped over the sill. The walls were filled with space-station equipment. In the center of the room was a table around which nine men were seated, Martian pilots and a native watchman. As Rusty looked, the watchman arose, strapped a gun about him and left the room.
Rusty heard an outside door open and close, fled silently.
He returned, found the Venusian and Lothar. Spike had not come back.
They waited, staring into the darkness.