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Chapter 21

           Itisevenpossiblethattheyareintelepathiccontactwithhimatalltimes,thathedoesn’tevenneedtoreportback.Idon’tknowbutIdoknowthat,aftervisitingMars,Ifindsuchideasmucheasiertoswallow?andIknowthis:everybodyseemstotakeitforgrantedthat,findingahumanbeingonMars,wewouldofcoursebringhimhomeandthathewouldbeanxioustocomehome.Nothingcouldbefurtherfromthetruth.Eh,Sven?"

           "Mikehatedtheidea,"agreedNelson."Wecouldn’tevengetclosetohimatfirst;hewasafraidofus.Thenhewasorderedtogobackwithusandfromthenonhedidexactlywhatwetoldhimtodo.Hebehavedlikeasoldiercarryingoutwithperfectdisciplineordersthatscaredhimsilly."

           "Justamoment,"Caxtonprotested."Captain,evensoMarsattackus?Mars?YouknowmoreaboutthesethingsthanIdo,butwouldn’tthatbeaboutlikeusattackingJupiter?Imeantosay,wehaveabouttwoandahalftimesthesurfacegravitythatMarshas,justasJupiterhasabouttwoandahalftimesoursurfacegravity.Somewhatanalogousdifferences,eachway,onpressure,temperature,atmosphere,andsoforth.Wecouldn’tstayaliveonJupiter?andIdon’tseehowMartianscouldstandourconditions.Isn’tthattrue?"

           "Closeenough,"admittedvanTromp.

           "ThentellmewhyweshouldattackJupiter?OrMarsattackus?"

           "Mmm?Ben,haveyouseenanyoftheproposalstoattemptabeachheadonJupiter?"

           "Yes,but-Well,nothinghasevergottenbeyondthedreamstage.Itisn’tpractical."

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