nd
water and pushing aside reluctant vegetation for over an Earth hour.

"I am very much afraid," Jrann-Pttt admitted, "that our camp has been
lost--that is to say, inundated."

"What are we going to do now?" the captain asked of the company at
large.

Professor Bernardi shrugged. "Our only course would seem to be making
for one of the cities and throwing ourselves upon the na--Jrann-Pttt's
people's hospitality. If Professor Jrann-Pttt has even the vaguest idea
of the direction in which his home lies, we might as well head that
way." _I wonder whether the natives could help us raise the ship._

"I'm sure my people will be more than happy to welcome you," Jrann-Pttt
said smoothly, "and to make you comfortable until your people send
another ship to fetch you."

The terrestrials looked at one another. Dfar-Lll looked at Jrann-Pttt.

Professor Bernardi coughed. "That was the only spaceship we had," he
admitted. "The first experimental model, you know." _We don't expect to
stay on this awful planet forever. After all, as Louisa says, the
government will have to forgive us. Public opinion and all that._

"Oh," the saurian said. "Then we shall have the pleasure of your company
until they build another?"

There was silence. "We have the only plans," the professor said,
gripping his briefcase more tightly. "I am the inventor of the ship, so
naturally I would have them." _If we brought back some specimens of
Venusian life--of intelligent Venusian life--to prove we'd been
here...._

"Matter of fact, old fellow," Mortland said, "we took all the plans with
us so they couldn't build another ship and follow--"

"Mortland!" the professor exclaimed.

"But they're telepaths," Miss Anspacher said. "They must know already."

Everyone turned to look at the saurians.

"I have ... certain information," Jrann-Pttt admitted, "but I cannot
understand it. You are in trouble with your rulers because they would
not give you the funds, claiming space travel was impossible?"

"That's right," Bernardi said. _Not really specimens, you understand.
Guests._

"And you went ahead and appropriated the funds and materials from your
government, since you were in a trusted position where you could do so?"

Bernardi nodded.

"Of course the question is now academic, for the ship is gone, but since
you proved the possibility of space travel by coming here, wouldn't your
government then dismiss the charges against you?"

"That's exactly what