His call was answered. A voice said incredulously on the space-phone speaker:
"What? What's that? What's that you say?"
"Med Ship Aesclipus Twenty," Calhoun repeated patiently. "Requesting co-ordinates for landing. Our mass is fifty tons. Repeat, five-oh tons. Purpose of landing, planetary health inspection."
The voice said more incredulously still:
"A Med Ship? Holy—" By the change of sound, the man down on the planet had turned away from the microphone. "Hey! Listen to this—"
There was abrupt silence. Calhoun raised his eyebrows. He drummed on the control desk before him.
There was a long pause. A very long pause. Then a new voice came on the space phone, up from the ground:
"You up aloft there! Identify yourself!"
Calhoun said very politely:
"This is Med Ship Aesclipus Twenty. I would like to come to ground. Purpose of landing, health inspection."