"Yes. No! I must get that sheet of Hahn's last figures." "Are they checked?" "Yes." I picked the sheet up from my desk. "Hahn is fairly accurate, Moa." "A fool nevertheless. An apprehensive fool." A comradeship seemed coming between us. It was my purpose to establish it. "Are we going to maroon Dr. Frank with the passengers?" I asked. "Yes." "But he may be of use to us." I wanted Dr. Frank kept aboard. I still felt that there was a chance for us to recapture the ship. But Moa shook her head decisively. "My brother has decided not. We will be well rid of Dr. Frank. Are you ready, Gregg?" "Yes." She opened the door. Her gesture reassured the look-out, who was alertly watching the stern watch-tower. "Come, Gregg." I stepped out, and followed her forward along the deck, which now was bright with the radiance of the nearby asteroid. CHAPTER XVIII _Marooned on an Asteroid_ A fair little world. I had thought so before; and I thought so now as I gazed at the asteroid hanging so close before our bow. A huge, thin crescent, with the Sun off to one side behind it. A silver crescent, tinged with red. From this near viewpoint, all of the little globe's disc was visible. The shadowed portion lay dimly red, mysteriously; the sunlit crescent--widening visibly is we approached--was gleaming silver. Inky moonlike shadows in the hollows, brilliant light upon the mountain heights. The seas lay in gray patches. The convexity of the disc was sharply defined. So small a world! Fair and beautiful, shrouded with clouded areas. "Where is Miko?" "In the lounge, Gregg." "Can we stop there?" Moa turned into the lounge archway. Strange, tense scene. I saw Anita at once. Her robed figure lurked in an inconspicuous corner; her eyes were upon me as Moa and I entered, but she did not move. The thirty-odd passengers were huddled in a group. Solemn, white-faced men, frightened women. Some of them were sobbing. One Earth-woman--a young widow--sat holding her little girl, and wailing with uncontrolled hysteria. The child knew me. As I appeared now, with my gold-laced white coat over my shoulders, the little child seemed to see in my uniform a mark of authority. She left her mother and ran to me. "You, please--you will help us? My moms is crying." I sent her gently back. But there came upon me then a compassion for these innocent passengers, fated to have embarked upon this ill-starred voyage. Herded here in this cabin, with brigands like pirates of old guarding them. Waiting now to be marooned on an uninhabited asteroid roaming in space. A sense of responsibility swept me. I swung upon Miko. He stood with a nonchalant grace, lounging against the wall with a cylinder dangling in his hand. He anticipated me. "So, Haljan--she put some sense into your head? No more trouble? Then get into the turret. Moa, stay there with him. Send Hahn here. Where is that ass Coniston? We will be in the atmosphere shortly."