" Zip reflected for a moment about how little time he had known
Steve and how well he fit in to the group of three Starmen. Steve
already knew how he liked his coffee-hot and fresh-and what his
favorite meal was. While he was enjoying the aroma of the meal before
tucking into it, Steve brought in the coffee.
Zip lifted a mouthful of roast beef and potatoes. "What's going on?" he
repeated.
"Mark got hold of the big guys in Eagle City, told 'em what was going
on out here. They told us to wait until the Earth forces showed up and
then get on back to Mars. We've been under way almost an hour." Zip
nodded.
"Mark says there's more and wants to talk to you whenever you're ready."
"Send him in."
Mark came in as Zip put a fork into a chunk of tomato and lifted it out
of the bowl, dripping with dressing. "This really is delicious, Steve!"
he called out as Steve disappeared onto the flight deck, leaving the
two Starmen to themselves.
"Steve told you we're on our way back to Mars, I'm sure," said Mark by
way of preamble. Zip nodded. "Commander De Koven also said that we are
to report directly to Mars Base. We drop Steve off at Eagle City and go
right on to the Base without getting out of the ship." Mars Base was
Starlight Enterprise's headquarters on Mars. It was a huge plant,
covering several thousand acres of Martian desert near the north pole
and far from any other settlement.
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