But search as they would, they saw no other occupants. They traversed streets that were dead and empty and silent. That palely diffused greenish radiance was everywhere, coloring all with a ghostly brightness. For several hours they explored, wandering far from that central plaza. Kaarji stayed very close to Jim now, his original excitement having faded; indeed he seemed appalled, if not a little frightened, as he stared around in the abysmal stillness, and several times Jim noticed the Martian pass his hand in a puzzled manner across his brow. Wessel's mien brightened, as he watched the needle of his radite-finder gyrating wildly as if at any moment it would jump its bearings. "It must mean we're now in the very center of the main deposit!" he exclaimed. "If only we--" It was then they saw the figure of an Earthman emerge from a building hardly fifty yards away. He saw them at the same time. He turned quickly indoors again, and shouted something that sounded like: "New arrivals!" Then three other men emerged, and they all walked toward the little group of five. * * * * * "We're friendly," one of them said as they neared, and Jim's hand fell away from his weapon. "Because we have to be, here. Hmmm. When did _you_ arrive?" "A few hours ago." "Uh-huh. And you met the funny little man, I suppose?" "If you mean Bhruulo," Conley said with a grimace, "we sure did! Is he head man here?" "More about that later. My name's Spurlin. Ross, Fleming, Adams," he introduced the others. Jim was staring at the speaker, a huge man with a purposeful set to his unshaven jaw. "Then you're Gregg Spurlin, who headed the scientific expedition three years ago in the search for M'Tonak!" "And found it, as you can see. Found it too damn well. But we weren't the first. What about you?" Briefly, Jim told of their trek, and of his search for his brother. "What about him?" he said in imitation of Spurlin's own brusqueness. "Frank Landor. He should have arrived here weeks ago, unless--" He stopped there, looking from one to the other. The men were looking uncomfortably at each other. "No Frank Landor ever showed up here," Adams said. Fleming nodded agreement, a little too hurriedly, Jim thought, and none of the men would look directly at him. "They're lying to you," Spurlin said. "You might as well know the truth; but before I tell you about it let's get back inside, out of this green hell." He led the way back into the building whence they had emerged. But once inside they did not stop. The greenish radiance penetrated even there. They hurried over to a wide metal door that slid silently open when Spurlin pressed a hidden button. Revealed to their gaze was a dark narrow tunnel, leading downward. "What about the Martian?" Ross said, addressing Spurlin. "He goes along!" Jim snapped, and Kaarji looked at him gratefully.