"Well you don't need to be so assertive about it," said Mia, and laid her head gingerly on his shoulder.
"Sure," said Cosmo. He was staring at the roof of the cage.
Presently, she said in a sleepy voice, "I haven't leprosy either, in case you're worried."
"Of course not."
Mia muttered something unladylike under her breath.
"What's that?"
"I think," said Mia distinctly; "that you're a worm!"
Cosmo chuckled. The plane continued to steer itself arrow-like into the South of Mu.
A faint jerk brought Cosmo wide awake as some jungle animal. The plane, he realized had stopped, settled to Venus.
It was night. The green phosphorescent light of the luminous vegetation flooded through the port holes. From somewhere, the sound of a muffled bell, ringing, ringing, reached his ears.