Carr jumped to his feet. "By the heat devils of Mercury!" he roared, "well go to their lousy little satellite and find a way to prevent it!" * * * * * Ora gazed at his flushed face with unconcealed admiration. "You're crazy!" exploded Mado. "What can we do with the _Nomad_?" "Her D-ray can do plenty of damage." "Yes, but they'd have us down before we could account for five of their vessels. It's no use, I tell you." But Carr was stubborn. "We'll pay them a call anyway. I'll bet we can dope out some way of putting it over on them. Are you game?" "Of course I'm game. I'll go anywhere you will. But it's a fool idea just the same." "Maybe so. Maybe not. Anyway--let's go." "Just a moment, gentlemen," Detis interposed. "How about me?" Carr stared at him and saw that his eyes shone with excitement. "Why, I believe you'd like to go with us!" he exclaimed admiringly. "I would, indeed." "Come on then. We're off." He was impatient to be gone. Detis busied himself with a small apparatus that folded into a compact case, explaining that it was one that might prove useful. Ora left the room but quickly returned. She too carried a small case, and she had donned a snug fitting leather garment that covered her from neck to knees. "What's this?" demanded Carr. "Surely Miss Ora does not intend to come with us?" "She never leaves my side," said Detis proudly. "Nothing doing!" Carr stated emphatically. "There'll be plenty of danger on this trip. Well have no woman along--least of all your charming daughter." * * * * * Mado was leaving everything to his friend, but he grinned in anticipation when he saw the look of anger on the girl's face. She stamped her little foot and faced Carr valiantly. "See here, Mr. Carr Parker!" she stormed. "I'm no weakling. I'm the daughter of my father and where he goes I go. You'll take me or I'll never speak to you again." Carr flushed. He was accustomed to his own way in most things and entirely unused to the ways of the gentler sex. He could have shaken the little vixen! But now she was standing before him and there was something in those great blue eyes besides anger; something that set his heart pounding madly. "All right!" he agreed desperately, "have your own way." He turned on his heel and strode to the door. Giving in to this slip of a girl! What a fool he was! But it would be great at that to have her along in the _Nomad_. They found the public square deserted, the gilded dwellings hung with somber colors in mourning for Carli. Ora and Detis were very quiet and preoccupied when they entered the _Nomad_. The five isini of lamentation for the young prince had not yet passed.