? ? ? ? It was agreed that I should navigate the craft after we had reached her, and that if we made the outer world in safety we should attempt to reach Helium without a stop.
? ? ? ? "Why Helium?" asked the red youth.
? ? ? ? "I am a prince of Helium," I replied.
? ? ? ? He gave me a peculiar look, but said nothing further on the subject. I wondered at the time what the significance of his expression might be, but in the press of other matters it soon left my mind, nor did I have occasion to think of it again until later.
? ? ? ? "Come," I said at length, "now is as good a time as any. Let us go."
? ? ? ? Another moment found me at the top of the partition wall again with the boy beside me. Unbuckling my harness I snapped it together with a single long strap which I lowered to the waiting Xodar below. He grasped the end and was soon sitting beside us.
? ? ? ? "How simple," he laughed.
? ? ? ? "The balance should be even simpler," I replied. Then I raised myself to the top of the outer wall of the prison, just so that I could peer over and locate the passing sentry. For a matter of five minutes I waited and then he came in sight on his slow and snail-like beat about the structure.
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