"I want to speak to you, Set Haljan." "Go ahead." I felt an instinctive aversion for this Martian girl. Yet she was not unattractive. Over six feet tall, straight and slim. Sleek blond hair. Rather a handsome face. Not gray, like the burly Miko, but pink and white. Stern-lipped, yet feminine, too. She was smiling gravely now. Her blue eyes regarded me keenly. She said gently: "A sad occurrence, Gregg Haljan. And mysterious. I would not question you--" "Is that all you have to say?" I demanded, when she paused. "No. You are a handsome man, Gregg--attractive to women--to any Martian woman." * * * * * She said it impulsively. Admiration for me was on her face, in her eyes--a man cannot miss it. "Thank you." "I mean, I would be your friend. My brother Miko is so sorry about what happened between you and him this morning. He only wanted to talk to you, and he came to your cubby door--" "With a torch to break its seal," I interjected. She waved that away. "He was afraid you would not admit him. He told you he would not hurt you." "And so he struck me with one of your cursed Martian paralyzing rays!" "He is sorry...." She seemed gauging me, trying, no doubt, to find out what reprisal would be taken against her brother. I felt sure that Moa was as active as a man in any plan that was under way to capture the Grantline treasure. Miko, with his ungovernable temper, was doing things that put their plans in jeopardy. I demanded abruptly, "What did your brother want to talk to me about?" "Me," she said surprisingly. "I sent him. A Martian girl goes after what she wants. Did you know that?" She swung on her heel and left me. I puzzled over it. Was that why Miko had struck me down, and was carrying me off? Was my accursed masculine beauty so attractive to this Martian girl? I did not think so. I could not believe that all these incidents were so unrelated to what I knew was the main undercurrent. They wanted me, had tried to capture me. For something else than because Moa liked my looks.... * * * * * Dr. Frank found me mooning alone. "Go to bed, Gregg! You look awful." "I don't want to go to bed." "Where's Snap?" "I don't know. He was here a while ago." I had not seen him since the burial of Anita. "The captain wants him." The surgeon left me. Within an hour the morning siren would arouse the passengers. I was seated in a secluded corner of the deck, when George Prince came along. He went past me, a slight, somber, dark-robed figure. He had on high, thick boots. A hood was over his head, but as he saw me he pushed it back and dropped down beside me. But for a moment he did not speak. His face showed pallid in the pallid star-gleams. "She said you loved her." His soft voice was throaty with emotion.