"
When everyone had finished breakfast, George St. George asked, "What
should we do now, Mr. Foster?"
"I was just going to ask you the same question, George," answered Zip.
"Let's get the men together and make some plans." George called the
miners together. Zip delivered a short speech, informing them that he,
Joe, and Mark were Starmen and gave a brief summary of their
assignment. With a nod, Zip asked Mark to tell what he had seen during
the night. Then a number of men began to ask questions.
All at once the room dimmed. The voices stopped suddenly. After a few
seconds, one of the corridors lit up with a soft, pleasant light.
"That's the way we go, I think," said Zip. "Pack up the food." The
contents of the remaining cartons were distributed among the men and
Zip led the way. He felt more hopeful than he had since the Starmen had
landed on Z25.
The corridor extended for several hundred yards in a straight line.
Many doors and other passages led off in different directions, each
marked with one or more figures, none of which was familiar. The
passageway was plain and utilitarian. After more than five minutes of
walking, the men came to an intersection of passages in a large,
faintly illuminated room. The lights in the corridor faded behind them.
Across the room was a row of elevator doors.
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