Koal nodded his head. "That's what I think."
"We've got to know what it is," cried Norman. "If it's the blight, and it leaves only one plant man alive, he's still master of every one of us." He paused, bit his lip, said, "Koal, issue the green suits to a select force. Have them ready to storm the hill. I'm going to reconnoitre the force wall."
"Watch your step," the Martian cautioned. "This may be a trap." He turned on his heel, left the apartment.
"Norman," said Jennifer looking utterly miserable, "do be careful."
He kissed her, said, "I will," and started for the door. A heady excitement was pounding in his blood.
From the apartment he drove to the gate in the force wall.
Two parallel lines of yellow intersected the silver track at right angles and indicated the segment which could be shut off. Just within the wall he saw a small cage like a switchman's shack on a railroad. But the plant man who operated the gate was not there.
He frowned, swept the hill above with his eyes. Not a figure stirred on any of the airy balconies. Nothing moved in the streets. The city of the Dohlmites was a ghost town.
A feeling that he was being watched made his heart beat faster.
He caught his breath. For a moment he thought he had detected a faint movement in one of the doorways. Was this a trap after all? Minutes slipped past but the movement was not repeated. The high noon sun beat down on the empty street.