There was more strange talk which Karn did not understand. More debate, too. It seemed that these men spent half their time arguing with the woman.
Apparently the men held the supremacy, but a very shaky one. The woman seemed not to know too much about this ship. But she had a good deal to say nevertheless.
Then Harus’ voice came out of nowhere. “Better strap in again. We’ve hit Mahlo’s orbit.”
Again there was the awful pressure, the crushing weight. Violent forces shook the ship. Andra moaned softly. Strange words issued from her lips. Then they were out of the clutch of the awful force.
“Landing at Nobla,” Ven said. Panels slid away and Karn could see through the walls of the ship.
Below them was a city. They dropped toward it and its gargoyle-topped towers reached up to meet them. Strange birds winged across an azure sky. They came down over the city and landed gently in a meadow next to the mouth of a great cavern.
“Nobody around,” Ven said. “I don’t understand it.”
“They weren’t expecting us to land at Nobla,” Andra said. “You’re always worrying about something. Come on, let’s get out.”