CHAPTER 16Turning the dial idly for other news, Bruce suddenly caught a radio-call of deafening volume. It must be some transmitter nearby in the Asteroids. He heard an exchange of calls, one somewhat fainter than the other as if it were an approaching ship.
“Spaceship ZZQQ calling Mars Asteroid base KKKJJ. Request landing.”
“Radar shows you are an Earthship. Halt!”
“Yes, but look in your codebook for ZZQQ.”
“Ah, yes. John Gor—”
“Shut up, you fool! But you know who I am. Inform Martian patrol units to let me through without firing.”
“It will be done. Advance, ZZQQ.”
Bruce’s brain was afire. John Gorson’s ship! He was here in the Asteroids—within reach. Bruce tuned the approach instructions and heard the spatial coordinates. Then his hands streaked to the flight controls. He could in
