"But they won't tell. It's their most cherished military secret. And with the entire solar system in the state of nervous unrest it has been in for years—"
"They must tell. It is to their benefit as well as ours. We will go to them and explain the enormity of the disaster which threatens our solar system. They are not creatures quite like ourselves, true; but they are intelligent beings. And they desire extinction no more than we. When they have learned the awful truth, I think they will lend us their secret."
Professor Anjers laughed mirthlessly. "You have much to learn about the races that people the planets, my young friend, if you think the Jovians will contribute their great secret to save the races with whom even now war threatens—"
"They will not be the only contributors. Each of the major planets will contribute its share to this adventure. Must contribute, for the ultimate good of all.
"From Earth—" Gary ticked the requisites off on his fingers as he spoke—"from Earth's government we must borrow the knowledge of the hypatomic drive which makes spaceflight possible. Venus must supply us with neurotrope, their super-efficient fuel, the only type sufficiently condensed to enable us to leave our galaxy. The Martian people must lend us their formula for building impenetrable force-fields about space vehicles, lest a stray comet or a hail of meteoric debris met in the outer darkness bring our flight to sudden ending. And from Jupiter must come the secret of transcendent speed, through which—and only through which—can we hope to reach our goal."
Muldoon whistled softly. "That's a big order, Gary. Four big orders, in fact."
And Dr. Bryant said, "I'm afraid I can only repeat Dr. Anjers' words, Gary. You expect too much of our neighbors in asking them to give you—"
Of all his companions, only the girl, Nora Powell, offered any word of encouragement. Her eyes were shining with a great purpose, and with a great determination, too. With an almost indiscernible movement she seemed to leave the fellowship of his doubters and arraign herself at Gary's side. Her words were like the warmth of a friendly handclasp as she said:
"But they will give! Because they must! Dr. Lane—Gary—it's a great dream. One which we must see to fulfillment."