O'Day nodded at Lane significantly. "Magogeans, all right. But our pal Borisu's not with them. He'd know how to operate the lock from outside. They don't."
Gary said tightly, "Well, since the mountain can't come to Mohammed—" and drew down the lever which opened the inner port. The noises were clearer now. In addition to the scrabbling sound there were faint murmurs, a low babble of indistinguishable voices.
Warren glanced swiftly at instruments on the airlock wall, nodded to his companions. "Gravity and atmosphere O.Q. We're adjusted to the first by our changed size, I guess, and the second approaches Earth's normal. Everybody set? I'll throw open the outer door. The minute you see them, let 'em have it."
And his hand reached for the second control lever, that which would open the passageway between the Liberty's interior and the outer darkness. But even before the activating machinery could throw the massive door open, a single voice raised above those others which muttered outside. And the words it spoke startled all the Liberty's equipage into stunned immobility. For in clear, unmistakable terms, the voice repeated a single phrase in three languages ... Jovian, Solar Universal, and Amer-English.
"Phaedu m'akki; toratu'sl!... Amiji sumo; ammité!... We are friends; let us in!"
Gary gasped, "Good Lord! English!"
"A trick!" Lark warned. "Don't take any chances!"
But then the great door swung open. And even he allowed his ready weapon to fall to his side as there stood outlined in the bright oblong of the portal a group of azure-tinted men similar in trappings and appearance to their Jovian benefactors.
Dr. Bryant choked, "Men of Jupiter! But how come you here?"