Read Online The Secret of the Martian Moons by Donald A. Wollheim - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Donald A. Wollheim
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far away to see any definite shapes of creatures. If you saw a man from where we are, you would not see more than a blurry spot. We may have actually to make a trip down to Mars and sneak up on them.”
Jim Worden laughed. “A fine chance we'd have! These Martians are the cagiest creatures anyone ever hunted. I'll bet they’ve got some sort of radar system that would tell them instantly the first time we even hit their atmosphere. Don’t forget how long they successfully hid from us.”
A strange idea suddenly slipped into Nelson’s head. He debated with himself whether he should mention it, finally chancing it. “Do you suppose that perhaps these are not the Martians? Maybe they’re some other set of explorers from elsewhere in space taking a look around now that we’ve abandoned the place?”
Jim Worden laughed. Bryan McQueen patted Nelse on the back. “It could be, but it’s highly unlikely. After all, how would these other explorers know we’d left unless they’d been watching us all along? Now the Martians might have been watching us, that I can believe. But why look for trouble elsewhere? One set of extra-Terrestrials is enough.”
By the next period when their Martian Athens came into sight, it was early morning there on Mars. As the sun rose and its belt of light flooded into the streets of the ancient town, McQueen, who was on observation, let out a shout. Piled in plain sight in the area between two structures were several large objects exactly like boxes or crates. They all took turns looking but there was no doubt about it. They could see no motion around, but it was clear that now the unknowns had decided they could dispense with a certain amount of secrecy.
“How many more hours of observation do we have?” asked the elder Parr anxiously.
Telders glanced up, gave a quick calculation. “Not good. This sector isn’t going to be visible from here for more than another couple hours. Then it will be rotated away from us and we won’t see the city for— ummm—maybe thirty hours.”
John Parr slammed one gloved hand angrily into the other. “Blast!” he groaned. “This is just the time we have to keep that place under constant watch. I’m sure, I’m as sure as I’m standing here, that something or someone is going to pick up those crates and take them somewhere. If we could only see how and who and where they take them to, we’ll be well on our way to solving this whole business.”
“There’s no way we can watch that city all day,” said Worden. “Not from here.”
“Then why can’t we find a better spot where we can see it?” urged Nelson. “Could we see the city all day from Deimos?”
“Now that’s an idea!” said his father quickly. “Telders, will you check that and see?”
Telders ran inside their cruiser and, after a few moments’ checking on their charts and calculators, called out on his helmet phone. “Yes, if we can get an observer on Deimos within the next two hours, we could watch that city from there during the broad daylight for at least the next ten hours.”
John Parr called back to Telders, “Is the ship’s lifeboat in workable order?”
“Of course,” came back the instant reply. “And it can make the trip easily.”
“O.K.,” said Parr, “we'll do it.” He turned to the men. “Worden, you and Nelse were due to take the next shift, so you’ll be in best shape for the job. Take the lifeboat, load on the other scope and lenses, and get going. Telders will give you the figures for the trip.”
Nelson’s heart gave a bound. Then he and Jim Worden raced back to the big cruiser, followed instructions, hastily loading the necessary equipment in the cruiser’s small lifeboat, itself a tiny spaceship capable of interplanetary flight on its own. There was no need to load up on food or water. The little craft always carried sufficient provisions in the event of an emergency and had its own water flask
Jim Worden laughed. “A fine chance we'd have! These Martians are the cagiest creatures anyone ever hunted. I'll bet they’ve got some sort of radar system that would tell them instantly the first time we even hit their atmosphere. Don’t forget how long they successfully hid from us.”
A strange idea suddenly slipped into Nelson’s head. He debated with himself whether he should mention it, finally chancing it. “Do you suppose that perhaps these are not the Martians? Maybe they’re some other set of explorers from elsewhere in space taking a look around now that we’ve abandoned the place?”
Jim Worden laughed. Bryan McQueen patted Nelse on the back. “It could be, but it’s highly unlikely. After all, how would these other explorers know we’d left unless they’d been watching us all along? Now the Martians might have been watching us, that I can believe. But why look for trouble elsewhere? One set of extra-Terrestrials is enough.”
By the next period when their Martian Athens came into sight, it was early morning there on Mars. As the sun rose and its belt of light flooded into the streets of the ancient town, McQueen, who was on observation, let out a shout. Piled in plain sight in the area between two structures were several large objects exactly like boxes or crates. They all took turns looking but there was no doubt about it. They could see no motion around, but it was clear that now the unknowns had decided they could dispense with a certain amount of secrecy.
“How many more hours of observation do we have?” asked the elder Parr anxiously.
Telders glanced up, gave a quick calculation. “Not good. This sector isn’t going to be visible from here for more than another couple hours. Then it will be rotated away from us and we won’t see the city for— ummm—maybe thirty hours.”
John Parr slammed one gloved hand angrily into the other. “Blast!” he groaned. “This is just the time we have to keep that place under constant watch. I’m sure, I’m as sure as I’m standing here, that something or someone is going to pick up those crates and take them somewhere. If we could only see how and who and where they take them to, we’ll be well on our way to solving this whole business.”
“There’s no way we can watch that city all day,” said Worden. “Not from here.”
“Then why can’t we find a better spot where we can see it?” urged Nelson. “Could we see the city all day from Deimos?”
“Now that’s an idea!” said his father quickly. “Telders, will you check that and see?”
Telders ran inside their cruiser and, after a few moments’ checking on their charts and calculators, called out on his helmet phone. “Yes, if we can get an observer on Deimos within the next two hours, we could watch that city from there during the broad daylight for at least the next ten hours.”
John Parr called back to Telders, “Is the ship’s lifeboat in workable order?”
“Of course,” came back the instant reply. “And it can make the trip easily.”
“O.K.,” said Parr, “we'll do it.” He turned to the men. “Worden, you and Nelse were due to take the next shift, so you’ll be in best shape for the job. Take the lifeboat, load on the other scope and lenses, and get going. Telders will give you the figures for the trip.”
Nelson’s heart gave a bound. Then he and Jim Worden raced back to the big cruiser, followed instructions, hastily loading the necessary equipment in the cruiser’s small lifeboat, itself a tiny spaceship capable of interplanetary flight on its own. There was no need to load up on food or water. The little craft always carried sufficient provisions in the event of an emergency and had its own water flask
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