"Whoa," said Lloyd. Craig could be talkative on his professional topics. "I don't want the details, just some results. Kroner and I should be back in about an hour. I'll talk with Ulkay then, if you can show me how to reach him." He and Kroner strode off to their ship, set onto the cold red sands a mile away. It would take nearly three minutes for a message to reach Earth, and another three, at least, before the reply came back, so Lloyd, dispensing with formality, sent, "This is Lieutenant Lloyd of the _Sherlock II_. We have landed successfully on Mars, discovered a decaying Martian city, and eight inhabitants, so far. If you read me, set up a recorder and signal me when you are ready to tape my report." He sat back in the chair with a sigh. "There, that cuts out a lot of fuss," he remarked to Kroner. "And the less time spent away from our men, the better." "Yes," said Lloyd. "How does this thing--well, how does it _feel_ to you?" "Too easy," said Kroner without hesitation. "Of course, there's no reason why it should feel at all _hard_, is there?" "No," Lloyd admitted reluctantly. "No reason at all why we shouldn't establish contact with these Martians, find them friendly, get our information about their city, way of life, and so on, and go back safely to Earth and home. But--" "Yeah," said Kroner. "'_But!_'" "They _act_ friendly." "Maybe that's all it is, an act. But if they're not going to be chums, why go to all this trouble? You know what I mean, sir?" Lloyd leaned back in the padded chair and scratched his short-cropped head. "Beats me. And yet I can't help feeling uncomfortable about--There's the blinker. Earth's ready to record." He dropped the conversation and set himself to telling Earth of developments so far. * * * * * "Is it some sort of taboo or what?" Lloyd demanded irritably of Craig. It was three hours since he and Kroner had returned from the ship, and communication with Ulkay and his bunch had been established--but with one annoying and unexpected feature. "I can't seem to find out, sir," Craig said miserably. "He's responsive on almost every other topic, but when I ask him about the city here, he says he can't tell me. I've asked him why, but his answer escapes me." "When he says he 'can't' tell you, does he mean he is physically unable to, or forbidden to?" "I'm not even sure if it's '_can't_.' It might just be '_won't_.' But I _am_ sure it's a negative of some sort. They shake their heads and nod same as we do for yes and no." "Let's see that list," Lloyd said, his voice tired. Craig held it out, but Kroner took it. "You've looked at it ten times in the past hour, sir," he apologized. "Let me have a whack at it." Lloyd started to argue the point, then gave it up. "Okay, Sergeant. See what you can make of it. If you can ask a clear question of Ulkay and Company with those choice bits of language, I'll put in your name for a decoration."