"This, I think, is the
lighting system." He pressed a button. There was a loud "chunk" sound
and the plant lit up brightly.
"Ow!" said the three Starmen and covered their eyes. They were not
prepared for the sudden brightness. When they could tolerate the light,
they looked above them. Without a word, Mark lay down on his back and
just stared upward. Rank after rank of lights went up on the iron
framework for nearly a mile. A ceiling the color of charcoal was barely
visible, with what looked like rectangular viewports imbedded in it.
Joe and Zip remained standing and looked to their left. The lights
blazed for about half a mile. Beyond that point was darkness.
"It will take a lifetime to learn everything there is to know about
this place," said Mark dreamily.
"I think we'll be back someday," replied Zip. "What else can you do,
Mark?"
Mark got up and turned the lights off. It took nearly a minute for
their eyes to adjust to the dimness. While Mark looked through file
after file, Joe and Zip wandered through some of the iron latticework.
They climbed spiral staircases for a level or two before descending
again, and examined the connections of tubes, pipes, and circuits.
"I've got something!" called out Mark. The others ran to him. He
pointed at the screen. "See, this is the main power generator.
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