time it took me to return. Hoping to hear from you soon,
"I remain, dear sir,
"Yours faithfully,
"Alan Macrae."
"That," said the Professor to himself, "quite settles one question. He was forbidden for a time, not for always; evidently a definite named time. How tremendous must be the psychic force wielded by these beings!"
Making a Date With a Venetian
Ae saw there would be time to reach Station X by the date given, with a little Government assistance at the other end. Obeying his first impulse, he at once replied to Macrae's letter. While in the middle of his letter, he paused. A thought had occurred to him which completely altered the aspect of the affair. He felt perfect confidence in obeying the wishes of the Venerian, but Macrae had heard two voices, both of which he described as addressing him with imperative orders of some kind. He had also the impression that they were in opposition to each other. By which influence, then, was he now being swayed? This it was vital to ascertain; but how?
He decided not to proceed further unless, or until, this question could be answered. For a moment he saw no way of doing so, but presently a possible clue occurred to him. He turned to a book containing some astronomical tables. After making a short calculation he gave vent to a sigh of relief. What he had discovered was that, on the 27th of July, Mars was in conjunction, that is, at the extreme other side of his orbit from the Earth, and with the Sun itself intervening.
"Well done, Venerian!" he exclaimed aloud. "Caught unawares, evidently utterly by surprise and unprepared, with not a second to lose, contending in a losing battle with a being greater than himself, and every instant full of peril, the Venerian had kept his head. In a moment of time he had decided on a plan of action, made the astronomical calculation mentally, forced his order on Macrae, and sent him into temporary oblivion, to be out of harm's way. 'Something like darkness descended on me,' Macrae had said, 'accompanied by some sharp command of the first voice, and I was apparently struck a violent blow on the back of my head.' The floor struck him. In his conversation with Macrae the Venerian claimed the mental superiority. It is already placed beyond dispute; he has given his proofs."
The Trip to Station X and the Parting of the Lovers
Professor Rudge was not a man who easily showed excitement, or allowed himself to be influenced perceptibly by his emotions, but for once he seemed a little carried away. The thing he had desired, more than he knew, seemed at last to show probability of realization, to be almost within his grasp. In point of fact there was, in his attitude for the moment, something of the man as well as the scientist. He reflected that if this discovery fell to him, he would not only have made an advance, the extent of which was beyond human power to estimate, but also he would have his opponents beaten.
The renewal of the Admiralty permission, and Macrae's leave of absence, were easily obtained. It remained but to pack up the few things necessary for the journey, and those that might be wanted at Station X. Here Professor Rudge was in a quandary. He could not decide how much or little to encumber himself with. Should he take books of reference? What was really going to happen, if all went well? A scientific discussion? Would he not, according to what had been spoken to Macrae, be in the position of a pupil, with much to learn and little to impart? He became so engrossed with the possibilities of the affair before him, that his absent-mindedness became very pronounced and his sister, who kept house for him, had the gravest suspicions that he must have fallen in love at last.
It was decided to go by P. & O. steamer to Hong-Kong, and there the Admiralty had arranged to take them on board one of the cruisers attached to the China Station and convey them to Station X. The authorities were quite willing to make this slight return for the valuable services the scientist had previously rendered in connection with radio telephony, and the choice and equipment of these stations; services for which he had refused remuneration.
The leave-taking between Macrae and May Treherne again took place on Plymouth Hoe, and again it fell to her lot to hearten her lover. She could not fail to see how depressed he was.
"Are you sure you want to go on this journey, Alan?" she asked. "You remember we agreed that it should be given up."
"I must go, May," he replied, with decision; "in fact, nothing would prevent me. But do you remember, dear, the last time we said good-bye, when I went to—to that place? I spoke to you then of a cloud looming in the future."
"Yes, Alan, and you were justified," May said; "but that is all past now, isn't it?"
The Voyage to Station X
"When I came back you said what had happened had proved me right, and I let it go at that. But in spite of that the cloud has not passed away. It remains ahead, May, darker than ever, and very much nearer." He shuddered involuntarily.
Greatly distressed, the girl endeavored to dissuade him, even at this last moment, from starting on such an ill-presaged journey, but without success. Just as it had been before impossible to incline him to go, now his one idea was to start. She saw that further words would be wasted. She was not herself unduly impressed with his premonition, yet she would have been quite willing for him to give up the idea. Finding him immovable, she did her best to cheer him, and with some success. Yet the parting was a sad one, the outward cheerfulness of both somewhat forced.
The voyage passed uneventfully, and on the 26th of July, only a day from the time desired, they were landed at Station X.
Professor Rudge, having made the acquaintance of Lieutenant Hughes, the officer in charge, found that arrangements against his arrival had been
