We started down the viaduct. Under us, in patches of soil, I could see the vivid colors of the little Arctic flowers already rearing their heads to the Spring sunlight. I called Elza's attention to them. A vague apprehension was within me; my heart was pounding unreasonably. But this was Dr. Brende's affair, not mine; and I wanted to hide my perturbation from Elza. The viaduct reached the ground; a path led on to the houses. Suddenly Dr. Brende called out: "Robins! Robins! Grantley! Where are you!" The words seemed to echo back faintly to us; but the buildings remained silent. "You'd better wait here with Elza," Georg said. "I'll go on--see what----" He checked his words, and started forward. But Dr. Brende was with him, and in doubt what to do I followed with Elza. We entered the nearest building, into a low, dim room, with doors on the sides. In the silence I seemed to hear my heart pounding my ribs. Elza's face was pale and perturbed, but she smiled very courageously at me. "Wait!" said Georg. "You wait here." He turned into a side door leading to another room, and in an instant was back with a face from which the color had departed. "They're not in there," he said unsteadily. "Elza--you go outside with father.... They must be around somewhere, Jac. Come, look." There was a rustle behind us. Arms came around me, pinning me. I heard Elza scream, saw Georg fighting two dark forms which had leaped upon him. I was flung to the ground, but I fought--three men, it seemed to be, who were upon me. Then Georg's voice: "Jac! Stop--they'll kill you." I yielded suddenly, and my assailants jerked me to my feet. A group of Venus men were surrounding us. Georg, his jacket torn to ribbons, was backed up against the wall with three or four Venus men holding him. And on the floor nearby Dr. Brende lay prone, with a crimson stain spreading on his white ruffled shirt, and Elza sobbing over him. CHAPTER V _Outlawed Flight_ Dr. Brende was dead. We knew it in the moment that followed our sudden assault and capture. Elza knelt there sobbing. Then she stood up, her tears checked; and on her face a look of pathetic determination to repress her grief. Now that we had yielded, the Venus men, searching us for our weapons, cast us loose. We bent over Dr. Brende, Georg and I. Dead. No power in this universe could bring him back to us. Georg pressed his lips tightly together. His face, red from the exertion of his fight, went pale. But he showed no other emotion. And, as he leaned toward me, he whispered: "Got us, Jac! Say nothing. Don't put up any show of fight." Elza now was standing against the wall, a hand before her eyes. I went to her. "Elza, dear----" Her hand pressed mine.