“The pirates haven’t really taken over, Zip,” said Joe. “It looks as if they haven’t gone beyond the first few levels! Something’s kept them out. Only George was able to get beyond the floor where the warehouse is. Maybe that’s why Zimbardo wanted to find him and keep him alive. George doesn’t know too much about this, this, I don’t know what to call this place, but he knows more than any human living.”
“Whatever the truth is, we have some friends,” contributed Mark. “They don’t want to be seen, but they’ll help us. I’ll bet a golden asteroid that they’re the ones who destroyed the airbot. I think we need to be ready to see what happens next.”
“You’re right, Mark,” said Zip. “We’ll have to be prepared to move.” The Starmen went back to the group. Everyone was seated on the floor or on chairs, eating a welcome and refreshing breakfast. The four men who had been rendered unconscious by the airbot had benefited from a good night’s sleep and were back to normal.
Mark reached into one of the crates and took out one of the items that looked like a large cracker. He saw that several of the miners were eating them. Zip had also taken a bite out of one and was chewing thoughtfully.
“What do you think of these crackers?” Mark asked.
“Survival food,” opined Zip. “The fruit is delicious, though.”
When everyone had finished breakfast, George St. George asked, “What should we do now, Mr. Foster?”
“I was just going to ask you the same question, George,” answered Zip. “Let’s get the men together and make some plans.” George called the miners together. Zip delivered a short speech, informing them that he, Joe, and Mark were Starmen and gave a brief summary of their assignment. With a nod, Zip asked Mark to tell what he had seen during the night. Then a number of men began to ask questions.
All at once the room dimmed. The voices stopped suddenly. After a few seconds, one of the corridors lit up with a soft, pleasant light. “That’s the way we go, I think,” said Zip. “Pack up the food.” The contents of the remaining cartons were distributed among the men and Zip led the way. He felt more hopeful than he had since the Starmen had landed on Z25.
The corridor extended for several hundred yards in a straight line. Many doors and other passages led off in different directions, each marked with one or more figures, none of which was familiar. The passageway was plain and utilitarian. After more than five minutes of walking, the men came to an intersection of passages in a large, faintly illuminated room. The lights in the corridor faded behind them. Across the room was a row of elevator doors. A row of lights lit up over one of them. Zip strode boldly across the floor to the elevator that had been indicated, and the others followed without a word. When he was within twenty feet of the door, it opened. After the men entered the compartment and laid down their burdens, the door closed.