lt, he grinned: "Well, Garth, shall we go?"

Garth nodded. He detached a torch that was clasped to his waist, then
opened the tunnel door that was carved out of a braced section of the
rear wall where the lodge had been built to shore into the
mountainside. Entering, the two men threaded a winding route through a
narrow dripping passageway, guided by the thin yellow beam of Garth's
light. They emerged several hundred feet farther on in a valley of
long shadows, cut off from the world on three sides by abrupt cliffs.
No ravines opened on this valley. Only by a desperate climb over the
surrounding peaks could it be reached--and hence it had been immune
to spying eyes. Here, amounting to a feat of superb pilotage in
itself, Dollard's vessel had been landed weeks earlier in anticipation
of just such a need as it now served.

Sturdy shrubbery screened the tunnel exit, although concealment had
not proved to be necessary. As they broke into the light, Dollard and
Garth pushed aside stunted conifers and half-stumbled, half-ran down a
shale-strewn incline which led them to the valley's floor.

A short northward walk brought them in view of the refitted space
craft. Based on stubby fins, it pointed vertically at the sky.

The high sharp ridges surrounding the valley blotted out the late
afternoon sun, casting gloom upon the sheer rock walls and overhanging
escarpments, and, despite his previous acclimatization to Sierra
altitudes, the thin sharp air made breathing difficult for Dollard.

A short distance from where the vessel was cradled, the bodies of five
coveralled workmen lay in stiff huddled forms. At the sight, Dollard
grunted. "Efficient toxin," he commented. "Good work."

* * * * *

Walking contemptuously past the bodies, the tycoon approached a work
shack which had housed the space ship mechanics. He picked up an
aluminum platform-ladder which rested on the trampled grass. Swinging
it above his head, he brought it back to the vessel and hooked it
against the rear fin so that the tubular platform lodged itself
against the ship's lowest loading hatch.

He turned to Garth. "Too bad we can't run an engine-to-mech check,
before taking off. But no mechanics."

Garth said, "Knocking off the men was your idea."

"My conscience'll rest easy with it," Dollard returned. "I was making
a joke."

"Very funny joke," said Garth.

"Very funny for you, too," said Dollard.

His fingers squeeze