"If Tao comes back as he plans, we have not got a chance. That's why Miela stole this little vehicle and, without it being publicly known in Mercury, came here to warn us. That's what she was after, to help us, risked her life to warn us people of another world."
Alan stopped abruptly, and, dropping to the floor of the porch beside Miela, laid his arm across her lap, looking up into her face as though she were a goddess. She stroked his hair tenderly, and I could see her eyes were wet with tears.
There was a moment's silence. I could not have known what Professor Newland and Beth were thinking, but a moment later I understood.
Then I realized the sorrow that was oppressing them both.
"What can be done?" I asked finally.
Alan jumped to his feet. He began pacing up and down the porch before us; evidently he was laboring under a great nervous excitement.
"There's nothing to be done," he said—"nothing at all—here on earth. We have not got a chance. It's up there the thing has got to be fought out—up there on Mercury—to keep them from returning."
Alan paused again. When he resumed his voice was pitched lower, but was very tense.
"I'm going there, Bob—with Miela."
I heard Professor Newland's sharply indrawn breath, and saw Beth's dear face suddenly whiten.