The Chamber was not the only secret of the asteroid
which Lurton had retained for himself, but it was certainly the best
one.
At last the peace and enchantment of the Chamber overcame Lurton's
resistance to slumber. He sat down and rested with his back against a
tree, gazing over the landscape at the alien city. The massive trunk
was slightly rough but not uncomfortable. Huge roots spread out in all
directions before disappearing into the grassy soil. Branches laden
with broad leaves made a shadow-filled canopy over the pirate leader.
As he felt sleep coming on, he fumed one more time at the Starmen and
the stupidity of Troy Putnam. He mulled over his plan and smiled a
little. The Starmen would live to regret what they had done to him. His
eyes closed and his breathing became deep and regular. At last the
pirates' new leader slept.
Above him a few birds chirped peacefully. A short distance away a brook
murmured in lyric gentleness. The sky over the city gradually turned
from flawless blue through lavender into violet, and silver stars
emerged.
2: Sent to Ceres
THE SPLENDOR of the Asteroid Belt stretched away in all directions, and
the piercing light of uncountable stars filled the background. Such a
view was possible only in airless space. Starman David Foster was
staring out of the window of his ship, the Star Ranger, but he was not
really seeing anything.
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