"What?" interjected Hugh Warren. "You mean the intensified magnetization—"
"Exactly, Captain. That is my reason for dwelling here on this outpost, twelve thousand miles from my beloved homeland. We of Mars have installed here a tremendous power plant capable of projecting its magnetic beam upon any vessel which approaches our planet. There is another similar station on Phobos. Master scientists control each of these laboratories. When spacecraft which we have reason to believe may have hostile intent approach Mars, switches are thrown converting these satellites into gigantic magnets of tremendous power.
"That is why—" He smiled a bit ruefully—"That is why, on several occasions, Earth ships have crashed on Deimos and Phobos. Because it was clear they planned to disturb the quietude of our community."
"But," cried Flick Muldoon, "how about us? We didn't come here with a chip on our shoulders. Our purpose was peaceful enough."
Dr. Kang said softly, "This I know, my friend, now. But you must admit that appearances were against you. You came foreheralded by bulletins of treachery and theft on Earth, of strong-armed compulsion and allegiance with a privateer on Venus. We did not know what you wanted, but—" The old Martian shrugged—"we thought it best to deter your arrival until you could be questioned."
O'Day, whom it was hard to believe had heard a single word of the conversation, so raptly had his attention been riveted upon the ivory-skinned scientist's daughter, said abruptly, "And now that you know, Dr. Kang, what is your decision?"
Kang's long dark eyes seemed to withdraw within the curiously involute epithelial folds of their lids. For a long moment he considered the question. Silent he sat, and as impassive as a carven Buddha of the Earth race whose members he so strongly resembled. Then he said, "There can be but one answer, my friend. And on a matter such as this I am free to speak not only for myself but for all my people. You shall have that for which you came."
"We may, Doctor?" cried Gary Lane.
"No kidding?" yelled Muldoon.
"Say—!" breathed Captain Warren.