So, finding the ice world survivors became the next task. They returned to the ice world and ran another parallax survey. It produced many of the same systems. When they’d eliminated the stars they’d already visited, and stars that were not the correct classification, only twenty-six remained.

Barry provided another schedule that would require the least travel time, and they were off again. The first two systems gave them nothing, and they sat back, expecting another long tour. But the third star provided not only a world in the habitable zone, but a shower of radio signals. It was 120 million kilometers away. A second jump took them close enough to see that lights were spread across the planet’s night side. Barry reported hundreds of artificial satellites.

“Thank God,” said Derek. “Maybe we’re finally getting a break.”

“Let’s hope,” Hutch said.

The planet had a big moon, larger than Luna. Hutch saw nothing unusual on the moon’s surface. It was desolate and covered with craters.

“How long till we get there, Hutch?”

“About three days.” They could try to jump in closer, but they would possibly arrive farther out. Besides, Hutch wanted to preserve the Locarno’s fuel supply. Best was just to glide in.

“It’s okay,” said Derek. “That’ll give us time to listen. Maybe we can learn something about them instead of just charging in.”

“Barry,” she said, “what’s the scope look like?”

He put it on the display and they looked down at the lights: villages and houses and roadways. Inhabitants were walking around. They were bipeds. “Of course they are,” said Wally. “You think something with no arms is going to be able to build that cabin?” He was referring to a small structure on a hilltop overlooking a river. “That’s the kind of place I’d like to vacation in.”

Boats floated on lakes whose shores were filled with cabins and chalets. Some of the villages were anchored by larger buildings that might have been administration centers or churches or theaters or schools. Ken came up onto the bridge. “I don’t see any cities down there,” he said. Flatboats carried passengers across lakes and rivers. “I’m getting the impression they all live out in the country.”

Two-lane roads crossed in all directions. A few aircraft moved through the night. Hutch thought at first they were simply jet-powered, but the wings were small, like those on the lander. “It looks,” she said, “as if they have antigravity.” Ships resembling passenger vessels moved across the oceans. But Ken was right about the cities. Even in harbors, where there should have been ports, there were docking facilities but no indication of a concentrated population.

“The transmissions,” said Barry, “include video.”

“Good.” Derek was enjoying himself. Maybe they could get some help. “Let’s see some of the pictures.”