"This is a photographic chart of one hemisphere of Aldebaran IX, gentlemen. I have marked the area in which the Essex was operating. There are many landmarks which you can use for triangular bearing to establish the exact position of the site. These are also marked, as you will note. Prior to the Essex landing, we dropped shuttles at many random points about the planet and drew cores and meter readings. This area proved to possess the greatest density of high percentage ore. It seems natural that we light here again. Do you have sufficient data here, Mr. Throne?" Throne moved the chart closer to himself and studied it quietly for a moment. "I should think so, sir," he said. "This red marking, here. Would that indicate a mountainous area?" Kingsford leaned over the chart. "Yes," he said. "Good," Throne said. "Then I understand the markings." "Is there anything else I can tell you?" "No, sir. This chart seems complete enough. I'll have the ship dropped from orbit and scan the surface. We should be able to pick up check points to match the chart all right." "Or you can activate the counters, Mr. Throne. This ship is equipped with long range equipment. The point of highest incidence of count will be your mark." "Yes, sir. Will you be at the controls?" "For the landing, yes. Mr. Rogers and I will be in the control room shortly." "I'll get to this immediately, then," Throne said. He left the cabin and Kingsford shifted his gaze to me. "You seem disapproving of my methods, Mr. Rogers." "Not really, sir. Just your timing. You can hardly call it fair to have kept to yourself during all these months." "Perhaps, but remember one thing, Mr. Rogers. You have been my buffer during all these months. You are a conspirator to the silence. I think that my address to the crew brought them very much over to my side, don't you?" "They haven't had time to think," I said. "Or maybe they don't know how to, or prefer not to. They might wonder why you waited until now to tell them about your hunting plans. They might begin to feel, much as I do now, that this whole trip should never have taken place." "No, Mr. Rogers. It had to take place. It had to." "Why?" Kingsford didn't answer right away. He looked at me quietly for a time. Then a slow smile spread across his face. "For the betterment of mankind, Mr. Rogers," he said. "You see, I believe that the crew of the Essex met a fate that was destined long before preliminary surveys of Aldebaran IX were even projected. Before, even, men developed the power to travel into space. It was a warning. That is my belief, and my faith." He was interrupted by the communications buzzer. They had scanned the planet and matched the chart. Throne had located the landing site and we were awaited in the control room. We both stood. "I take it, Mr. Rogers, that you are not with me in this Aldebaran venture."