companion was Anita. The
effort was taking too long: with the Grantline camp imprisoned and his
ship at hand, it was Miko's best move to return to his own camp,
rejoin his men, and await their opportunity to signal the ship.

At least, so I reasoned it. Anita and I stood alone. What could we do?

* * * * *

We went to the brink of the cliff. The unlighted Grantline buildings
showed vaguely in the Earthlight.

I said, "We'll go down, I'll leave you there. You can wait at the
porte. They'll repair it soon, perhaps, and let you in."

"And what will you do?" she demanded.

I was hurrying her down the stairs. But suddenly she stopped. "What
are you going to do, Gregg?"

I had not intended to tell her. "Hurry, Anita!"

"Why?" She stood stock still. Through the visors I could see her white
face gazing at me rebelliously.

"Why should I hurry, Gregg?"

"Because I want to leave you at the porte. I'm going after Miko--try
and locate where he and his men are camping."

I had indeed no specific plan as yet. But it seemed useless for me to
sit at the porte waiting to be let in.

"But he's gone, Gregg."

She was right on that. Miko was already a mile or more away, down on
the outer surface, making off. He would soon be out of sight. It would
be impossible to follow him.

"Gregg, let me go with you."

She jerked away from me and bounded back up the staircase. I caught
her on the summit.

"Anita!"

"I'm going with you."

"You're going to stay here."

"I'm not!"

This exasperating controversy! And time was so precious!

"Anita, please."

"I'll be safer with you than waiting here, Gregg."

* * * * *

It almost decided me. Perhaps she would. It was only my intention to
follow Miko at a distance. And with much more of this delay here, he
would be lost to me.

And she added, "Besides, I won't stay, and you can't make me."

We ran along the crater-top. At its distant edge the lower plain
spread before us. Far down, and far away on the distant broken
surface, the leaping figure of Miko showed.

We plunged down the broken outer slope, reached the level. Soon, as we
ran, the little Grantline crater faded behind us.

Anita ran more skillfully than I. Ten minutes or so passed. We had seen
Miko, and the direction he was taking, but down here on the plain we
could no longer see him. It struck me that this was purposeless--and
dangerous. Suppose Mik