"Okay, hold it," said MacIlheny. "Let's see what happens next. Surely they felt the jar when the ship landed." Forcing himself to be calm, MacIlheny struck a match and fired the tobacco in the bowl of his pipe.
They didn't have to wait long. From the edge of the hole, there suddenly appeared a moving shape. It was a manlike figure clad in a brilliant crimson spacesuit. The helmet was a dark purple, and it was difficult to see the head within.
"Looks like a man," said Blake.
"Not quite," MacIlheny said. "Look at the joints in the arms and legs. He's got two knees and two elbows."
"What's that he's holding cradled in his arms?" Blake wondered.
The major grunted. "Weapon of some sort. Look how he's pointing it straight at us."