"Of course!"
"It says, 'Arrived Venus June fifteen late, no sign of Lang outfit yet. Well keep looking and will report daily.' It's signed, 'Spencer.'"
"Okay," Walton said. "Thanks. And if any further word from them comes, let me have it right away."
The fate of the Lang expedition, Walton reflected, was not of immediate importance. But he would like to know what had happened to the group. He hoped Spencer and his rescue mission had something more concrete to report tomorrow.
The annunciator chimed. "Dr. Frederic Walton is on the line, sir. He says it's urgent."
"Okay," Walton said. He switched over and waited for his brother's face to appear on the screen. A nervous current of anticipation throbbed in him.
"Well, Fred?" he asked at length.
"You've been a busy little bee, haven't you?" Fred said. "I understand you have a new security chief to watch over you."
"I don't have time to make conversation now," Walton snapped.
"Nor do I. You fooled us badly, with that newsbreak on Sellors. You forced us into wiping out a useful contact prematurely."