“Time to explore,” he told the girl, picking the compass up. “I’ve no weapon you can use, I’m afraid. I’m relying on my usual methods. . . . Ready for a risk?”
“Ready, yes—but where are we going?”
“Following the compass. That will bring us finally to the spot we’re looking for. I want to be satisfied as to what we have to face: if it’s too big for us we’ll fly back to the authorities in Tropica City and tip them off.”
Opening the airlock, he stepped out into the forest, the girl coming behind him. Immediately they were conscious of the soaking heat and humidity of the atmosphere and the heady, indescribable perfume from untold myriads of giant blossoms. Nowhere a sound. Even insects were not apparent at the moment, though it was well known that they existed.
“A good thing the ship blot
