-no more than a hundred feet
long--was set amidships. A narrow deck, metallically enclosed, and
with large bull's-eye windows, encircled the superstructure. Some of
the cabins opened directly onto the deck. Others had doors to the
interior corridors. There were half a dozen small but luxurious public
rooms.

The rest of the vessel was given to freight storage and the mechanism
and control compartments. Forward of the passenger structure the deck
level continued under the cylindrical dome roof to the bow. The
forward watch tower observatory was here, officers' cabins, Captain
Carter's navigating rooms and Dr. Frank's office. Similarly, under the
stern dome, was the stern watch tower and a series of power
compartments.

Above the superstructure a confusion of spider bridges, ladders and
balconies were laced like a metal network. The turret in which Dr.
Frank and I now stood was perched here. Fifty feet away, like a bird's
nest, Snap's instrument room stood clinging to the metal bridge. The
dome roof, with the glassite windows rolled back now, rose in a mound
peak to cover the highest middle portion of the vessel.

Below, in the main hull, blue lit metal corridors ran the entire
length of the ship. Freight storage compartments; gravity control
rooms; the air renewal system; heater and ventilators and pressure
mechanisms--all were located there. And the kitchens, stewards'
compartments, and the living quarters of the crew. We carried a crew
of sixteen, this voyage, exclusive of the navigating officers, the
purser, Snap Dean, and Dr. Frank.

The passengers coming aboard seemed a fair representation of what we
usually had for the outward voyage to Ferrok-Shahn. Most were Earth
people--and returning Martians. Dr. Frank pointed out one. A huge
Martian in a grey cloak. A seven foot fellow.

"His name is _Set_ Miko," Dr. Frank remarked. "Ever heard of him?"

"No," I said. "Should I?"

"Well--" The doctor suddenly checked himself, as though he were sorry
he had spoken.

"I never heard of him," I repeated slowly.

An awkward silence fell between us.

There were a few Venus passengers. I saw one of them presently coming
up the incline, and recognized her. A girl traveling alone. We had
brought her from Grebhar, last voyage but one. I remembered her. An
alluring sort of girl, as most of them are. Her name was Venza. She
spoke English well. A singer and dancer who had been imported to
Greater New York to fill some theatr