Or if he had done so, he had not, after his
usual custom, presented the bodies of the slain to any crew member.
"It looks as if we have something at last," Ali observed and someone
echoed that with a sigh of heartdeep relief.
Chapter XII
STRANGE BEHAVIOR OF A HOOBAT
"All right, so we think we know a little more," Ali added a moment later.
"Just what are we going to do? We can't stay in space forever--there're
the small items of fuel and supplies and--"
Rip had come to a decision. "We're not going to remain space borne," he
stated with the confidence of one who now saw an open road before him.
"Luna--" Weeks was plainly doubtful.
"No. Not after that warn-off. Terra!"
For a second or two the other three stared at Rip agape. The audacity and
danger of what he suggested was a little stunning. Since men had taken
regularly to space no ship had made a direct landing on their home
planet--all had passed through the quarantine on Luna. It was not only
risky--it was so unheard of that for some minutes they did not understand
him.
"We try to set down at Terraport," Dane found his tongue first, "and they
flame us out--"
Rip was smiling.
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