surface . . . Both minnows breaking for dive . . ."
Jaguers muttered, in an agony of impatience: "Go on . . . go on. What's holding them?"
It came with a rush, "Head and one arm sighted . . . minnows have spotted and are racing for place . . . trunk now in view . . . it's a man all right . . . not clear yet . . . yes, it's Sommers . . . someone here recognizes . . . tossed right up now as if released from an ether packet . . . leading minnow has reached him . . . they've got him . . . hold on! . . . something's breaking just to the right of them . . . it's the nose of a big ship . . . the minnows are turning . . . no, it's not a ship, it's like a big wheel spinning on its flat . . . it seems to be trying to push through something . . ."
The voice broke away. It came again; but faintly, as if the speaker's head was turned aside: "The thing's attacking. Can't see anything, but both minnows seem to be flung up as if something exploded under them. Turret Z has sent a tracer . . . just missed . . . They've got the range . . . Come on, minnows, come ON. The wheel's gone. I don't know if we hit it, but it's gone. But the ether is all tossing, and there's a queer kind of hum, as if something I can't see was passing us . . . We're landing the minnows; yes, it's Sommers all right. He doesn't seem alive though . . . everything ripped off him . . ."
The voice halted again. They heard. "Yes, sir . . . Well, thank God for that, sir . . ."
A new voice spoke; the calm, precise tones contrasting with the previous speaker's excitement.
"E.S.P. Seven. Benhurion speaking. Is that you. Grant? Come through all right?"
"Yes, yes." Grant could hardly speak. He was thinking: These Service Chiefs! They don't seem to have any emotions at all. I daresay it's just as well, though. He cleared his throat and said: "It's true then? Is he . . . all right?"
"Out to it, but not in too bad shape. I'd say. The doctors are working on him now. Came in naked as the day he was born . . . Look here, Grant, I've only got half the story . . . Eh! Oh, well. I'll just have to wait then, I suppose. We'll be sending Sommers in on one of the flotilla ships. Yes, about a week, I'd say. Hear the static starting up?"
Ben Jaguers sat with his head on his crossed arms. His shoulders were heaving.
Dr. Walstab rose quietly and stood in front of the now featureless screen. "There are more things . . . Lord!"
Almost automatically, he moved the Odour Switch.
And suddenly the light on the cosmar screen grew tender. A sweet breath as of flowers crept into their nostrils, and all sound was folded like the passing of an angel host. It was so still, they could hear the clamor of their own hearts.
