"What is it?" old Prytan demanded.
"Curtmann comes! He and all his men—his army, coming now to attack the Forest City!"
Curtmann coming to attack us! A dozen little male Midges here on the floor of the room heard it and scurried away.
"Curtmann coming?" Prytan gasped. "Why—why we will not be ready for him."
It stunned us. Within a minute, out in the city, the news was spreading with cries of the frightened people. A panic was beginning here. That would have to be controlled.
"They've left Shan already?" I demanded of the little Midge.
"No. Perhaps not. But they are ready—the storm may hold them off."
I was on my feet. Old Prytan was trembling with the palsy of his confused terror. By what Jim and I had seen of the young men of the Forest City, there was not one who could be counted on to do anything constructive in this crisis. If the Venus-people were to have any leadership, it would have to be Jim and me.
"Send word that the women and children are to stay in their homes," I said. "There must be no panic. Have the young men come here. Storm or no storm we shall have to get to the broken city, and get those Venus-weapons."