"I didn't say where," said Captain Smith, smiling. "Our landing place is a million miles from the earth."
"Not on earth! Then where——"
"At the City of Space."
"The City of Space!"
"The capital of the Prince of Space. It is not a thousand miles before us."
Bill peered ahead, through the vitrolite dome, distinguished the bright constellation of Sagittarius with the luminous clouds of the Galaxy behind it.
"I don't see anything——"
"The Prince does not care to advertise his city. The outside of the City of Space is covered with black vitalium—which furnishes us with power. Reflecting none of the sun's rays, it cannot be seen by reflected light. Against the black background of space it is invisible, except when it occults a star."
Captain Smith busied himself with giving orders for the landing. Bill and Brand stood for many minutes looking forward through the vitrolite dome, while the motor ray tubes retarded the flier. Presently a little black point came against the silver haze of the Milky Way. It grew, stars vanishing behind its rim, until a huge section of the heavens was utterly black before them.