"Get it," said Grantline shortly.
"I got one slight television swing a minute ago—then it faded. I think it's the Planetara."
"Planetara!" The crowding group of men chorused. How could it be the Planetara?
But it was. The call came in presently. Unmistakably the Planetara, turned back now from her course to Ferrok-Shahn.
"How far away, Peter?"
The duty man consulted the needles of his dial scale. "Close! Very weak infra-red. But close. Around thirty thousand miles, maybe. It's Snap Dean calling."
The Planetara here within thirty thousand miles! Excitement and pleasure swept the room. The Planetara had for so long been awaited eagerly!
The excitement communicated to Grantline. It was unlike him to be incautious; yet now with no thought save that some unforeseen and pleasing circumstance had brought the Planetara ahead of time; incautious, Grantline certainly was!
"Raise the barrage."
"I'll go. My suit is here."