"We had hoped, on this expedition, to finally solve the mystery of the Sun's corona. Sir Arnold Gregg came near a solution when, in 2016, he determined identity between the solar corona and Earth's Heaviside layer. But his deduction needed verification—"
"And—" Dr. Anjers leaned forward intently—"were you successful? You learned he was right?"
Gary's voice deepened, assuming a tonal quality akin to awe. "I don't know. I have never studied the photographs to see. For my first glimpse of the developed films revealed something else. Something so great, so completely illogical yet so tremendously important that—"
He paused. "But, wait! I'm going too fast. Before I continue I should tell you that we attached to our telelens a cinematic spectroscope, the better to ascertain what change of elements was taking place within the corona.
"By this spectroscope may be determined the elements of sighted objects, also—"
"—their speed," agreed Dr. Bryant, "in relation to Earth. But I don't see—"
"You will!" promised the young man tensely. "At the moment of transit, when our cameras were focussed directly on Sol, chance treated us to a phenomenon which might not happen again for untold ages. A comet from the far depths of extra-galactic space moved within the vision of our lenses. We got a complete photographic and spectroscopic record of it!"
Blank stares met his eager pronouncement. Dr. Boris Anjers looked curious. Bryant stroked his jaw, waiting. Nora Powell laughed, her laughter a musical shard of scorn.
"How terribly interesting, Dr. Lane! I'm afraid you didn't film a very amusing stereop, though. A film without a plot or a hero—"