Unfortunately he didn't have a few more days. He made contact with the green-skinned destroyers no more than half an hour thereafter. CHAPTER V They lay on the crest of a hill. Before them was a rolling plain spotted with patches of old snow. A thousand yards from the base of the hill was a small town, with figures moving among the houses. It had not been blasted by the saucers, but Trace's people did not run down the slope toward it, because along that plain from horizon to horizon rested a line of the great green spacecraft; and the moving figures, there was little doubt, had olive skin and horny bird-feet and a single eye apiece. "Reconnoiter," breathed Trace. "Got to know what's what. That place must be local GHQ, and they look dug in pretty solid. I'm going down after dark and give 'em a squint. I'll take Bill with me, in case I want to bring back souvenirs." "I'm rather more insignificant in the dark than he," said Slough quietly. "And you ought to have three on the party." "Your arm would slow you down." "It would not," said Slough firmly. Trace looked at him and after a moment shrugged. "You're right, I could use another." He took the sporting rifle from Bill and gave it to Jane Kelly. He offered the revolver to Slough, who refused it; he handed it to Bill, keeping the alien's pistol for himself. Then he drew the teacher off a short distance. "Look, miss," he said earnestly, "I want you to keep these inter-office-memo types waiting here for me if you can. I don't expect you to actually shoot 'em, but maybe the rifle will cow 'em some. They aren't what you'd call blood and guts sort." "Why don't you let them go?" she asked suddenly. "What good will three cowards do for you?" "You never know. I figure they are human, and in the long run they'll show it. Hafnagel is the best--if he has time to recover. He lost his wife in the city." Jane said, "I was lucky. I hadn't anyone to lose. Except mankind." Trace looked at her steadily. "At another time, Miss Kelly," he said, "I'd like to tell you what a hell of a fine female you are. I know it wouldn't mean anything to you now, but I must say you are one swell dish." Then he blushed all over his big hawk-nosed face, and turned abruptly to the saucer-cut plain. In the first darkness the three of them crawled over the top and headed down the slope. * * * * *