"The Centaurians," mused Doyle, half to himself. "What’ll they be like? Monsters or men? If Parker’s right about universal justice, they’ll be men." "Hey, where there’s men, there’s women!" yelled Parker. "A Centaurian woman! Say!" "Look at those clouds!" exclaimed Doyle. "Damn it, we can’t see the surface." "Hey, there! Look there, to the right! See it? It’s silver, down in a hole in the clouds. It’s like a city!" "Maybe it’s just water." "No, it’s a city!" "Bring ’er down, Captain. God, Captain, bring ’er down fast!" "Drag Brown in here! He ought to see this!" "Can’t you bring ’er down faster, Captain?" "Damn it, it _is_ a city!" "Why doesn’t someone get Brown?" "Take to your couches, men," said Captain Wiley. "Landing’s apt to be a bit bumpy. Better strap yourselves in." ———— Down went the rocket, more slowly now, great plumes of scarlet thundering from its forward braking jets. Down, down into soft, cotton-like clouds, the whiteness sliding silently past the ports. Suddenly, a droning voice: "To those in the ship from the planet called Earth: Please refrain from landing at this moment. You will await landing instructions." Parker leaped off his couch, grasping a stanchion for support. "That voice! It was human!" Captain Wiley’s trembling hand moved over the jet-control panel. The ship slowed in its descent. The clouds outside the portholes became motionless, a milky whiteness pressed against the ship. "The voice!" Parker cried again. "Am I crazy? Did everyone hear it?" Captain Wiley turned away from the panel. "We heard it, Parker. It was in our minds. Telepathy." He smiled. "Yes, the planet is inhabited. There are intelligent beings on it. Perhaps they’re more intelligent than we are." It was strange. The men had hoped, dreamed, prayed for this moment. Now they sat stunned, unable to comprehend, their tongues frozen. "We’ll see them very soon," said Captain Wiley, his voice quivering. "We’ll wait for their directions." Breathlessly, they waited. Captain Wiley’s fingers drummed nervously on the base of the control panel. Lieutenant Gunderson rose from his couch, stood in the center of the cabin, then returned to his couch. Silence, save for the constant, rumbling roar of the jets which held the ship aloft. "I wonder how long it’ll be," murmured Fong at last. "It seems like a long time!" burst Parker. "We’ve waited nine years," said Captain Wiley. "We can wait a few more minutes." They waited. "Good Lord!" said Parker. "How long is it going to be? What time is it? We’ve been waiting an hour! What kind of people are they down there?" "Maybe they’ve forgotten about us," said Fong. "That’s it!" cried Parker. "They’ve forgotten about us! Hey, you! Down there—you that talked to us! We’re still here, damn it! We want to land!" "Parker," said Captain Wiley, sternly. Parker sat down on his couch, his lips quivering. Then came the voice: