She trembled slightly. Thorn, watching her tautly, felt a queer chill as of a cold, alien breath in the room.
"But I do not know why I am talking of Erebus,” she said impatiently. “I am tired. I shall see you tomorrow at dawn, before our ships blast off."
Thus dismissed, Thorn left the Council House and walked slowly, deep in thought, down the street of Turkoon Town. The sun was setting, and from the little crimson disk a flood of pale red light uncannily illuminated the dark, surrounding fern jungle, the raw field and parked ships, and the straggling metal town.
He found the metal cabin assigned them. Gunner Welk and Sual Av sprang up eagerly as he entered.
"We've made it so far, John!” exclaimed the bald Venusian excitedly. “We're in with the pirates now, at least. Did you find out anything about Erebus from the girl?"
Thorn shook his head. “She won't talk about Erebus — she seems almost afraid to. I didn't dare press questions."
"We can't wait forever to get the secret out of her,” rumbled Gunner Welk warningly. “Even when we get it, it'll take a lot of time to get out to Erebus and lift the radite, remember."
"I know,” Thorn muttered. “But well ruin all our chances if we're too rash now."
He fished in his pocket for a rial cigarette.
"It's possible,” he said, “that whatever her father told her about Erebus—"