Instantly, the girl straightened. "Of course, Stewart." A smile, tremulous and uncertain. "Where--where are we going--?" "We'll find out in a minute." Ross stepped over to the wall com-set and dialed a number. A moment later he said, "Mr. Lindgren, please." And then, after another pause: "Peter?--This is Stewart." A longer pause, replete with sputtering sounds. When the sounds had died, Ross said, "I know I'm wanted, Peter. That's why I'm calling on you: I need help, badly. Otherwise I may not be able to wind up this business, get back that formula. And without the formula I'm in for a sure short-court." More sputtering. More waiting. Finally Ross said, "Either you want to help me or you don't, Peter. What I need is any information you can give me on an address: number III of side three, Triangle Square, Calor City, Mars." Silence. Echoing eternities of silence. At last Veta Hall whispered, "What makes you think those symbols represent that address?" "Tornelescu's laboratory was located at number 121, side two. I found that out at the briefing when I took on this assignment." "Oh." The com-set again, but with swift, clipped words instead of sputtering. A thin smile came to Ross' lips. "Thanks, Peter." He flipped off the switch. Veta's eyes locked with his, her face a wordless question. Ross' smile grew. A grim smile, without mirth. "Come on," he rapped. "We're back in business." And then, as he steered the girl towards the door: "Number III's a warehouse owned by the Japetan Trading Coadunate, and Adjudicator Pike Mawson is the coadunate's director!" CHAPTER VI ASTRELL The warehouse at III(3) Triangle Square was sealed up tighter than any tomb. The only windows were those in front, flanking the heavy turn-plate door that opened on the street side. Narrow-eyed, Ross drew Veta back into a patch of shadow, while overhead Phobos raced Deimos across the sky, the two tiny moons like bright coins against the black backdrop of the Martian night. For the third time, Veta said, "Stewart, it's impossible. There's simply no way to get in. And even if you found one, what good would it do? No one's there. The place is dark as the Coalsack." "Maybe." Ross' jaw took on a stubborn set. "Then again, maybe not. But one thing's certain: I didn't lay myself open to charges of everything from grand theft to piracy in forcing that cruiser to set us down here just in order to give up now, without even checking." Turning, he scanned the deserted square for a moment, then walked briskly across to the warehouse again, following its left wall until--a good hundred yards farther on--he reached the rear end. Breathing hard, Veta came up beside him. "Stewart, where are you going?"