"It'll be a way to break the tedium of existence," offered another.
"And excellent practice for our coming raid on Earth," added a third.
"Will you fight on our side?" the first speaker asked Neil.
"No, I'll be a non-combatant," grinned the Terrestrial. "After all, I've some old comrades in those ships. However," he continued, "I'll drink in the fashion of my planet to your success and that of your friends."
He was loudly applauded and several raised their glasses in imitation of his courtesy.
The gathering broke up late and Neil confessing himself tired, was allowed to go to bed in quarters near those of Yaxa. Yet he did not sleep for hours and, when he dozed off at last, it seemed but a moment before Yaxa knocked at his door to waken him.
He dressed and went out into the wide passage that served as a street. The carefree attitude of the Martians was gone now; everywhere he saw bodies of troops drawn up into formation, while here and there sped vehicles laden with munitions and supplies.
"The enemy is almost here and we're getting ready," explained Yaxa. "The commander has told me to bring you to him, that he may ask what part you want to take in the action."
"I've already said that I don't want to fight," said Neil. "As a matter of fact, I think that I'd do best as a guard over the Terrestrial prisoners who came with us. I'm built along the same mental and physical lines that they are, and so I ought to be ideal for the job."
When he faced the Martian chief he made the same suggestion and it was accepted on the spot. Yaxa conducted him to an elevator and they descended, it seemed for miles. At last they stepped out into a narrow corridor the floor of which was sharply curved.