* * * * * Accompanied by two Martian envoys, Damis and Turgan entered the cylinders and fastened them closely. They set their feet in place and grasped the handles before them. Again came the feeling of nausea and then a thought ordered them to emerge from the transporters. They emerged almost at the same instant. Before them lay the space ship with its airlock wide open. Not a living soul was in sight. Damis leaped toward the ship, but his foot struck an obstruction which sent him sprawling. He glanced down and a hoarse cry of alarm broke from his lips. He had stumbled over the body of Kastner. The body had been horribly mutilated by some heavy instrument, one arm hanging to the torso by a mere shred of flesh. Scattered around on the ground lay other mutilated bodies. With a shout of anguish, Turgan sped toward the open space ship. Damis, with a pale face, hastily examined the dead bodies. Eighteen of the Terrestrials lay stiff in death while the bodies of two huge Jovians in the uniform of Glavour's personal guard told the cause of their death. Damis struck by a sudden apprehension, ran from one body to the next, and in a little while he straightened up with a momentary breath of relief. Lura's body was not among them. He turned to the space ship in time to see Turgan appear in the door of the airlock, his face distorted by grief and his tall body swaying. Damis hurriedly ran to him. "Is Lura--dead?" He brought out the last word with an effort. Turgan's face worked for a moment before he could reply. Through the thin air of Mars came his choking voice. "Worse," he muttered: "she is gone!" [Illustration] [Illustration: Damis' fist caught him under the ear.] CHAPTER IV _Damis' Decision_ Damis stared at Turgan for a moment as though unable to comprehend the old man's words. "Gone?" he repeated stupidly. "She has slain herself?" "No," replied the Kildare, his face still working in grief; "she is gone from us. She has been captured by Glavour's minions." "Her dagger--?" asked Damis hesitatingly. "Is gone with her," replied Turgan. The Nepthalim started toward the space ship but a thought wave from one of the Martian envoys stopped him in mid-stride. "Wait, Man of Earth," came the message. "The heavens are eternally watched by our people and none can enter or leave the vicinity of Mars unknown to us. My comrade is now inquiring of each of the observers whence came the Jovians and where they have gone." Turgan and Damis waited impatiently. Presently the second Martian sent a thought wave to their minds.