Brigands of the Moon

tion and worked them out. I was, I think, of the Planetara's officers the most expert handler of the mathematical calculators. The locating of our posit

Carter in the isolat

've a normal group of passengers apparently, but I don't l

and the Englishman are great on argumen

hung on

his things. We searched both

Instead I told him about t

night when the passengers are asleep, come here to me

-about the Gran

stone." Balch and Blackstone we

say about the zero hour. We

dismis

luded deck. A porthole, with the black heavens and the bl

he Venus form of jocu

h me. I have been wondering w

y are you going to Mars, V

some a man. Do you know, from Venus to Earth, and I ha

every girl of your world." And I added seriously, "Y

at else? Of course, a chanc

e silly,

I have no doubt, to display her shapely, satin-sheathed legs. Her black hair was coiled in a heavy knot at the bac

wise from beneath her

ious,"

ber. Intoxicated

at sort of

ce me. "There's a fellow here on the Planetara, Rance Rankin, he calls himself. At our

old me. No, I nev

s listed for the same theater I am. Nice sort of fellow." She paused,

me. "Why do

Earth woman and child and a small Venus m

there's something strange about this voyage. I'm no

nkin-" I

me-I've known too many magicians." She grinned. "I chal

Ob Hahn?" I

at breakfast. By Satan, what a flow of words that devil driver

's words: "Things are not always what they seem-" Were these passengers masqueraders? Were the

voice to a whisper. "I'll be serious. I want to know what in hell is

ou mean?"

talking about. And what was the excitement y

item

e made sure no one was within hearing. She put her hand on my arm. I could ba

he

it. You are in it. I saw you this mornin

ou

deflecting, invisible cloak. You couldn't fool an audienc

Don't ramble, Ve

itting with a cigarette. I saw the purser

prowler went throug

did. I coul

purser

hought that was queer. He never made a move. And then you came along an

nza, where did the pr

see his blurred outline." She added, "Why should George Prince be sneaking around wit

ster Moa came strolling along the d

oing on. Listen! Whatever you learn-whatever you encounter which looks unusual-will you t

ou." She was trembling with excitement. "Whatever it is, I want to be in on it. Here's some

are t

Englishman, Sir Arthur, this morning. Stripped him of half a pound of eight-inch leaves-a neat little st

She was a mine of in

y wanted to know what kind of a ship this was. Why? Because Shac has a cute little eavesdropping microphone of

, "Venza

retended to drape herself upon me. Her hair smo

purser joined them." Her whispered words tumbled over one another. "A hundred pounds of gold leaf-tha

d. "Well?"

ac's current wa

lk with him. No! I'd better let him alone

do anything I told

t what y

abruptly. "There's Ani

deck, but turned back. Venza ca

dsome as you would gaze after me like that." She turned solemn. "You may be interested to

e've hardl

y? I never hear

nd when I rose beside her, she whispered, "We should n

d figure as she turned into th