"Come on. Let's get outta here. I don't want to be
recognized."
"But--but--what's up? What's that guy and the space freighter _Annie
Jones_ got to do with us?"
Loring didn't answer but stepped quickly to the nearest jet cab and
hopped into the back seat. Mason tumbled in after him.
"Spaceman's Row," Loring directed, "and make it quick!"
The driver stepped on the accelerator and the red teardrop-shaped
vehicle shot away from the curb into the crowd of cars racing along
Premier Highway Number One. In the back seat of the jet cab, Loring
turned to his spacemate and slapped him on the back.
"Soon's we get into the Row, you go and pack our gear, see! Then meet me
at the Cafe Cosmos in half an hour."
"Pack our gear?" asked Mason with alarm. "Are we going some place?"
Loring shot a glance at the driver. "Just do as I tell you!" he growled.
"In a few hours we'll be on our way to Tara, and then--" He dropped his
voice to a whisper. Mason listened and smiled.
The jet cab slid along the arrow-straight highway toward the heart of
the city of Venusport. Soon it reached the outskirts. On both sides of
the highway rose low, flat-roofed dwellings, built on a revolving wheel
to follow the precious sun, and constructed of pure Titan crystal.
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