But which system to choose in the midst of so many?
“The best thing to do,” Abna commented, “is use a process of elimination. In other words, discard as useless the systems that do not contain features similar to our own. We want a system with a G-type dwarf sun, such as our own system has, and worlds with atmosphere similar to Earth’s. Among this multitude we ought to find something.”
The Amazon nodded silent assent and there began the task of setting the automatic analyzers to work. While the machines functioned the trio took the opportunity to refresh themselves after their enforced week-long sleep, and by the time this had been done the master-analyzer had gathered the computations of the “slaves” and produced an answer.
“Mmmm, sounds promising,” Abna commented. “There is a system in the ninth quadrant from here, seven planets and a G-type dwarf sun. Each planet possessing oxy-hydro-nitrogen atmosphere, like our own earth.”
“Ninth quadrant?” Viona repeated. “All right—let’s head that way.”
Abna and the Amazon knew she was experienced enough to handle the controls, so they moved to the window while she went to work. It seemed as though the ship remained motionless while the infinity of systems swung leftwards—then the course had been set and the radio-telescope was put in action. The perfect mechanics of the instruments made it that the required system was now exactly centered on the screen.
Abna and the Amazon crossed to Viona’s side in the now darkened control room and surveyed the screen’s image critically. The point that struck them immediately was that the system was somewhat unusual, in that there were six planets, all of similar size, so placed that they formed the six points of a hexagon. The instruments showed they were following a steady “follow-my-leader” orbit round the sun, each world exactly the same distance from it. The most surprising thing was that there was a seventh world, smaller than the others, comparatively close to the sun.
“That smaller world,” Viona said, reading the instruments, “is 7,900 miles in diameter. I don’t know whether it’s coincidence or not, but Earth is exactly that diameter also. The other worlds vary between 9,200 and 9,800 miles diameter. The little world is about 70,000,000 miles from the sun, and the others are quite 100,000,000.”
“Altogether a remarkable planetary system,” the Amazon remarked, pondering. “The balance of it would be disturbed, you’d think, by that solitary inner world—yet everything seems in order.”
“Whatever the peculiarities it looks like the right system for us to investigate,” Abna decided.
The Ultra continued its onward journey, all the time reducing speed. Abna took charge of the actual control of the vessel while Viona and the Amazon made studies of the planetary system, and particularly its sun. Here again there was the hand of coincidence—or something, for in every particular the sun matched up with the dimensions and composition of Earth’s own sun.
“Not that it ought really to be so surprising,” the Amazon commented, studying the instruments. “There must be myriads of suns identical to our own G-type dwarf.”
“Which, all things being equal, should mean planets having properties similar to those of our own system,” Viona responded. “Soon find out, anyway.”
It was, however, several hours later before the Ultra had come close enough to the unknown system for the radio-telescope to pick up details of the planets’ surfaces. It appeared that the innermost world had the normal formations of continents, and oceans and clouds were few. All the other planets were shrouded in dense atmospheric blankets so no surface details were discernible.
“It looks to me,” Abna said slowly, as the close-up image of the small inner world came back on to the screen, “as though that planet has considerable civilization, and of a fairly high order, too. Cities, observe? And those dots on the oceans must be seagoing craft. In fact, if it were not so ridiculous, I’d say that the formation of the continents looks curiously like those on Earth.”
“Coincidence,” the Amazon shrugged. “In any case, I’m not so interested in a world which reveals itself. I prefer the mystery of one cloaked in fog, like the rest of these outer planets. Since we’re compelled to pass them first, we may as well stop at the one nearest to us.”
So it was decided, and in due course Abna was lowering the great vessel out of the blazing sunlight into the dense fog of the nearest of the six outer worlds. The fog only thinned out after the instruments had shown a descent of two and a half miles—then there suddenly burst into view a gray view of landscape and the unmistakable signs of small towns and dwellings.
With scarcely a jolt, Abna finally brought the Ultra down in a clear stretch about half a mile from the nearest group of buildings.
“Everything’s just right for investigation!” Viona exclaimed. “Gravity, atmosphere, humidity— We can go outside just as we are without trouble.”
They paused only long enough to arm themselves, and then the airlock was opened. So similar was the exterior atmospheric pressure to that of Earth there was not even the sound of air escaping from the control room. Then, in that silent personal wonder which always possessed them when they set foot on an alien world, the three stepped out of the airlock and ankle deep into something that looked like the very finest gray ash.
Puzzled, they looked down at their covered feet—then at each other.
“What do you suppose this is?” Viona questioned. “Volcanic deposit of some kind?”
The Amazon unhooked a small scoop from her belt and gathered some of the substance into it. The tiny register on the scoop immediately analyzed the substance.
“Believe it or not,” she said in wonder, “but this stuff is nothing else but dust! The undisturbed dust of time!”
“Dust?” Viona repeated. “But—but that’s impossible! You don’t get inches of dust lying like this in the open. Wind action keeps it moving.…”
“There isn’t any wind here,” Abna said, in a queer voice. “Look! The clouds aren’t moving!”
“I don’t understand this at all,” Abna confessed finally. “Let’s keep moving. Maybe those trees over there can tell us something.”
Their feet making no sound in the thick dust carpet, they headed to where four trees stood in an isolated clump. At close quarters they stood revealed as being of a species unknown on Earth, even though their general formation was normal enough. The extraordinary thing about them, however, was the bark, branches, and leaves. They were gray and petrified.
“Petrifaction of some sort,” the Amazon decided at length, “though how it ever came about is a new one on me. Wonder if the same thing has happened to organic life?”
In general the town conformed to the standards of any town anywhere—where the civilization was not immensely advanced—and there were recognizable shops, dwellings, small parks—full of the same gray trees—and well-planned terraces. But nobody or anything was moving.
Finally Abna turned, his curiosity overwhelmed, and crossed to the door of one of the nearby stores. To his surprise the door was not locked, but he did notice it had a deadly coldness as he grasped the handle. Even more extraordinary, the door fell to bits and powder as he pushed it inwards.
Silent, fascinated by the mystery, Viona and the Amazon followed him through
