"Mac," she repeated. "But that is so short and hard sounding. And what do those who love you say?"
The flyer grinned cheerfully. "There aren't many who could qualify in that respect, but if there were they would call me Tommy."
"That is better," said Althora with engaging directness; "that is much better--Tommy." Then she sprang to her feet and hurried him out where some further wonders must be seen and exclaimed over without delay. But Lieutenant McGuire saw the pink flush that crept into her face, and his own heart responded to the telltale betrayal of her feeling for him. For never in his young and eventful life had the man found anyone who seemed so entirely one with himself as did this lovely girl from a distant star.
He followed where she went dancing on her way, but not for long could his mind be led away from the menace he could not forget. And on this day, as on many days to come, he struggled and racked his brain to find some way in which he could thwart the enemy and avert or delay their stroke.
It was another day, and they were some months on their long journey away from the earth when an inspiration came. Althora had offered to help, and he knew well how gladly she would aid him; the feeling between them had flowered into open, if unspoken love. Not that he would subject her to any danger--he himself would take all of that when it came--but meanwhile--
"Althora," he asked her, "can you project your mind into that of one of the reds?"
"I could, easily," she replied, "but it would not be pleasant. Their minds are horrible; they reek of evil things." She shuddered at the thought, but the man persisted.
"But if you could help, would you be willing? I can do so little; I can never stop them; but I may save my people from some suffering at least. Here is my idea:
"Djorn tells me that I had it figured right: they plan an invasion of the earth when next the two planets approach. He has told me of their armies and their fleets of ships that will set off into space. I can't prevent it; I am helpless! But if I knew what their leader was thinking--"
"Torg!" she exclaimed. "You want to know the mind of that beast of beasts!"
"Yes," said the man. "It might be of value. Particularly if I could know something of their great gun--where it is and what it is--well, I might do something about that."