"Another logical development of nature," said the Professor. "They live on the dark side, so their bodies manufacture the necessary light. Are they armed?"
"They are. Just crude spears and clubs, though, so I guess we're safe enough in here. Oh, oh, here they come. I think they see me!"
Twisting his head around, Mark could barely see a corner of the window where Janus lay. In the twilight gray beyond he glimpsed the horde of barbarians rushing at the ship. It seemed fantastic that they could move in such gravity, fantastic that any creature could walk.
One of them hurled a spear with deadly accuracy. It struck the window and glanced away. Others crowded around, pounding at the glass with clubs, clamoring to get at Janus who lay just beyond.
"Professor," Janus said wryly, "this isn't very pleasant. Are you sure that glass will hold?"
"Don't worry. It will take more than their pounding to crack four inches of crystyte."
"Hope you're right." A moment later Janus exclaimed, "Hey, some of these babies have electric rifles! Good Lord, I see—one, two, three—at least half a dozen of 'em! Wait a minute, though—they're only using them as clubs. The metal parts are corroded. Why, those are the old-type electric rifles popular on Earth two hundred years ago!"
"You must be having delusions," came from Ferris.
"No, I'm not. I've seen that type of rifle in the museums. Now how do you suppose they got 'way out here?"
For a few minutes there was silence, broken only by a faint ringing sound as the clubs beat against the thick crystyte. Then Janus announced: