"On the other hand, we have a lot of stars," he said, turning the other knob. The starry heavens faded, leaving a widely scattered group of pinpricks grouped about a deeper black disk. He pointed to the disk and said: "Since it is the brightest, we may expect it to be the darkest too. Can't beat Sol from here. At any rate, this knob causes the fading of all bodies that shine by intrinsic light. The reflected-light bodies remain, so."
"Marshal, sir, there are nine of them," said the technician.
"Well," interrupted Kane, "there are nine planets, aren't there?"
"Not from one of them," answered the technician. "Or," he asked Maynard, "would we appear along with the rest?"
"No," said Maynard slowly. "You're right. There are nine planets, which counting the one we're on makes a total of ten."
"You realize what you're saying?" stammered Kane. "That means you've discovered a new planet with this gadget."
Maynard shook his head in dazed unbelief. "Another planet?" Then he shook off the amazement and said: "It may be so. But before we shout too loud, we must investigate and be certain."
"Of course."
Maynard turned the stellar intensity knob up slightly, bringing the stellar background into faint light. "Get the constants of that planet, and we'll check. Kane, you'll come along as a representative of the Terran Press?"
"I wouldn't miss it for the world itself," said Kane. "Any chance of missing it?"