Ds afterward, there was silence. Then there came a soft rumble, as of
water beginning to boil in some huge but distant samovar. It seemed to
go on and on and on. And there was a bluish, fluctuating glow on the
horizon. _Radioactivity?_ Wang wondered. Surely not an atomic-powered
ship without safety cutoffs in this day and age. Still, there was always
the possibility that the cutoffs had failed. He pulled out his
radiophone and thumbed the call button again. This time there was no
delay. "Yes?" "How are the radiation detectors behaving there,
Grandfather?" "One moment. I shall see." There was a silence. Then: "No
unusual activity, young Wang. Why?" Wang told him. Then he asked: "Did
you get hold of the air transport authorities?" "Yes. They have no
missing aircraft, but they're checking with the space fields. The way
you describe it, the thing must be a spaceship of some kind." "I think
so too. I wish I had a radiation detector here, though. I'd like to know
whether that thing is hot or not. It's only a couple of miles
away--maybe a little more--and if that blue glow is ionization caused by
radiation, it's much too close for comfort." "I think any source that
strong would register on our detectors here, young Wang," said the old
man in his dry voice. "However, I agree that it might not be the
pinnacle of wisdom to approach the source too closely." "Clear your mind
of worry, Grandfather," Wang said. "I accept your words of wisdom and
will go no nearer. Meanwhile, you had best put in a call to Central
Headquarters Fire Control. There's going to be a blaze if I'm any judge
unless they get here fast with plenty of fire equipment." "I'll see to
it," said his grandfather, cutting off. The bluish glow in the sky had
quite died away by now, and the distant rumbling was fading, too. And,
oddly enough, there was not much smoke in the distance. There was a
small cloud of gray vapor that rose, streamer-like, fr