"Yes," the Venusian nodded. "Remember, Bedrim was my father; I can be most useful to them. Although my father's dead, there are still followers on three planets, ready at a moment's notice to rally behind a leader. I could be that leader--or at least appear to be. I am a guest of honor on this cruiser--a prisoner, of course," Aladdo smiled ironically, "but shown every courtesy. I even have my own private quarters instead of sleeping here with the crew." "But what is it all about, Aladdo?" Mark was exasperated as the mystery grew. "What's the purpose behind all this? Ruthless criminals salvaged from a Venusian Prison swamp, and now this super-cruiser built to withstand anything! And who is that girl? I--" But the Venusian interrupted him. "No time now. You'll learn everything presently. Dress quickly and come with me." "I'm dressed," Mark answered, springing up. He zipped on light, insulated shoes and followed Aladdo to the main cabin. The rest of the men were already there, clustered about the starboard ports in an excited group. The light in this room was blazing. Mark could feel the gentle vibration of the atomomotors somewhere deep in the spaceship, and again the question overwhelmed him: where were they going? * * * * * He was soon to learn. Recklessly he gazed out into space. Instantly he pivoted away, as if a gigantic hand had spun him. He had looked almost directly into the sun! It was a sun vast beyond imagining, tongues of flame flickering slowly out for thousands of miles. He knew it was only the thickness of the Crystyte ports that saved the men's eyes. Slowly Mark's eyes became accustomed to the fierce glare and by shading them obliquely he could discern the object of the men's excitement--a dark little speck of a planet sweeping in its orbit just beyond the sun's rim. It rapidly grew larger as the spaceship moved inward on a long tangent. "Mercury!" Mark exclaimed, staring. "No, we crossed the orbit of Mercury two hours ago." It was Aladdo who spoke beside him. "Then, that must be ... but it's impossible!" Mark laughed a little wildly. "How long since we left Venus?" "Ten hours, Earthman. It is possible. That is the planet Vulcan." "Unbelievable," Mark almost whispered. "Why, it takes the fastest Patrol cruiser forty-eight hours to reach Mercury's orbit from Venus. Lord! What sort of speed has this Spacer?" But Aladdo didn't answer. A door had opened and Luhor stepped in. "Vulcan," he said tonelessly. "As we approach, even the thickness of these ports won't be enough. Put on these." He handed the men pairs of Crystyte goggles, the lenses specially processed. "Does this mean we're actually going to attempt a landing on Vulcan?" Mark asked the half-breed. "It's madness! It has never been done!" "But it has been done." Luhor gazed at Mark frigidly. "You merely have never heard of it." "Who's at the controls?" Mark struggled to subdue the excitement in his voice.