cloud of sand
as it went.

On Haines's lap sat a walkie-talkie. Boulton and Ferrati kept up a
running commentary as they approached the city. Ferrati described the
ground and the appearance of the oncoming city.

The jeep was now a small object merging with the dark mounds of the
city's outermost buildings. "We haven't met any Martians yet," came
Ferrari's voice. "Apparently they aren't interested in investigating us
even now. And here we are rolling right up to the city limits." There
was a pause.

The walkie-talkie emitted a series of squeaks and squawks, and Ferrati's
voice came through now with distortion. "We're crossing the city
limits--there's a sort of hard, plastic pavement that begins at the very
edge. Now we're going down an intersection between the buildings."

The squawks became increasingly louder. They could hear only a word or
two. Haines asked whether he was getting through to them, but he could
not make out an answer because of the racket.

"It's the Sun-tap station. It's generating distortion. We'll have to
wait until they return," said Burl.

Haines nodded and turned off the set which had begun to utter
ear-piercing howls. The two men waited quietly for about half an hour.
Only a phone call from the curious men in the control room interrupted
their vigil.

Then finally Burl spotted a little cloud of dust on the horizon. "There
they are!"

The two men stood up as the little jeep made its way back over the
desert to the ship. As it drew closer, they saw a third occupant sitting
in the back with Ferrati. Haines opened the walkie-talkie. "Wait till
you see this fellow," Ferrati's comment came through.

The jeep drew up to the ship and stopped. Ferrati waved them down. A few
seconds later they were joined by Lockhart and Clyde, also in pressure
suits.

The creature in the back of the jeep was a Martian. They stared in
fascination. It was about three feet long with a small, oval-shaped head
and two very large, many-faceted eyes. A small, beaklike mouth and
short, stubby antennae completed its face. The head was attached by a
short neck to a body that consisted of three oval masses joined together
by narrow belts, much like the joints of an insect. A pair of arms,
ending in long three-fingered hands, grew from the first segment. A set
of long, thin legs grew out of each of the two other segments. A
glistening grayish-blue shell, its skin, covered it from head to foot.

At the moment, this par