ing, dead planet. Gleams of light shot like quicksilver
about their feet, quivered in the clear gloom
like trails of pale fire igniting lakes of argent flame.
It was magnificent and cruel, a superb fantasy
rippling over treacherous rocks, rock-like earth.

"Y' dam' idiot," Gordon mumbled, "if I die out
here where'll y' be then? I'd like to know that...
Don't sit down on me again, I don't know's I could
get you up, don't b'lieve I could. Like as not we
won't make her. That was an awful good horse.
I'm under contract to -- to... government."

Buckley Simmons sank to his knees: once more
Gordon kicked him erect. He spat and spat, constantly
growing weaker. "That's an awful lot of
blood for a man to lose," he complained.

Suddenly he saw upon the right the lighted square
of a window.

"Why!" he exclaimed weakly, "here's the valley."

He pushed Buckley toward the door, and there
was an answering stir within... voices.

[[365]]

p364 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p365w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p366

v?