He broke off and looked up at the sky with a frown. There was an angry red glow right above them, a far-distant roar.
They leaped to their feet. The glow brightened swiftly. It seemed to be headed straight for them. The sound filled the air.
"We have visitors!" shouted the captain.
"Wh-who?" stammered Betty. "The police?"
"They don't use braking jets any more. It's an obsolete freighter."
"Oh!" Betty put her hands to her face in terror. "It's the Beautiful Joe. That man Possett—he's coming back after Cousin Aurelia!"
The red glow passed to the northward. They saw the ship's shape for a moment, spurting flame, slowing. Then it dropped out of sight. The ground shuddered briefly. There was quiet.
The captain grabbed Betty's arm. "They're down in the clearing. Quick! When he dropped you, did Possett take anything with him?"
"Just a fresh supply of water."
"My God!" blurted Charles. "That means they're—"