Doctor Verkhovtseff’s sleeping and working quarters turned out to be in a small store room between containers, filled with books and microfilms; there was scarcely room to place a folding cot which was covered with papers and films.
“Sit down, why don’t you; make yourselves at home.” The doctor said.
Other than to the occupant it was completely clear that there was nowhere here to find a place to sit. Verkhovtseff brushed a pile of papers onto the floor. The pages flew end over end, and Alice bent down to gather them up.
“You’re writing a novel?” Poloskov asked.
“Why would I write a novel? Oh, yes, of course, the lives of the Three Captains are far more interesting than any novel. It would be worth while in order to describe them as examples for future generations. But I have absolutely no literary gifts whatsoever.”
I thought that Doctor Verkhovtseff was just being modest. After all, it had been he who flew to the researchers on Arcturus Minor in order to find the plans of one of the Captains’ ships.
“And so,” the Doctor said, “how might I prove useful to my honored guests?”
“We were told that you knew everything there was to know about the Three Captains.” I began.
“We-el,” Verkhovtseff even turned red from embarassment, “that is a clear exaggeration.”
He placed his hat down on a pile of books; the hat tried to slide off, but the doctor caught it and placed it again in its former spot.
“The Captains explored a great many otherwise unknown planets.” I said. “They encountered remarkable animals and birds. We were told they left notes and observations in their diaries and logs. Our expedition is searching for unknown animals from other planets. Would you be able to help us?”
“Ah, that’s why…” Verkhovtseff grew pensive. His hat took this opportunity to slide off the pile of books and vanished beneath the cot. “Hmn,” he said, “if I had known earlier…”
“Papa, may I ask…” Alice asked.
“Of course, little girl.” The Doctor turned toward her.
“One of the stone Captains has a bird with two claws and a crown of feathers on its head perched on his shoulder. There’s no bird like that in the Zoo. Do you know anything about it?
“No.” Verkhovtseff said. “Almost nothing at all. And where is my hat?”
“Beneath your bed.” Alice said. “I can get it for you.”
“Don’t be troubled.” Verkhovtseff said, and crawled beneath his bed until only his legs stuck out from beneath it. It was searching for his hat in the darkness, shuffling papers, and continuing to talk: “They gave the sculptors the last photographs of the Captains. They chose the photos they liked the best.”
“You mean they just came up with the bird. The sculptors, I mean?” I asked, bending low over the bed.
“No, no!” Verkhovtseff’s shoes twitched. “I saw the photos myself.”
“And would you know where they were taken?”
“The First Captain was never separated from the bird,” Verkhovtseff answered, “but when he joined the Venus project he gave the bird to the Second Captain. And the Second Captain, as you know, vanished without a trace. The bird vanished too.”
“So it’s not even known where it came from?”
Verkhovtseff finally crawled out from under is bed. He had the hat rolled up on one fist, and in general he looked very embarrassed.
“Pardon me,” He said, “but I’ve lost the train of thought.”
“I mean, does anyone know where this type of bird originates?”
“No. Oh no.” Verkhovtseff answered quickly.
“Too bad.” I sighed. “It means failure. There seems to be no way you might be able to help us. And we were so hoping…”
“And why do you think that?!” Doctor Verkhovtseff grew indignant. “I’ve done a lot of traveling all on my own. Just let me think a moment.”
The doctor thought for about three minutes, then he said:
“Now I remember! On the planet Eurydice you can find the Dragonette minor. Also, they say, the Dragonette major.”
“I know.” I said. “One of the Captains shot a Dragonette major.”
“Do you know that for a fact?” Verkhovtseff asked.
“I know it. My friend, the archaeologist Gromozeka, told me about it.”
“Odd.” Verkhovtseff muttered and tilted his head to one side, looking me over as if he had seen me for the first time. “Well then just let me think some more.”
He thought for a few more minutes and then when on to describe the Martian Mantis. That was actually funny. Martian mantises may be found not only in all Zoos, but in many homes as well as pets. Alice, for example, has one.
Then Verkhovtseff went on to tell us about the tadprowlers, about the Fyxxian mudfly, about the Demon Birds of the planet Trool, and about other animals all well known from the pages of Guide to the Animals of our Galaxy.
“No, none of these animals are at all worth capturing.”
“My regrets,” Verkhovtseff said politely, “but I’ve spent my entire life interested in intelligent beings, and haven’t encountered all that many animals. May I give it one more go?”
Verkhovtseff began to ponder anew.
“Just where was I?” He asked himself. “A-ha,” He answered his own question. “I was on the Empty Planet.”
“Where?”
“On the Empty Planet. It’s not far from here, in a neighboring star system.”
“But if it’s an ‘Empty Planet,’ then how does it have animals.” Alice asked surprised.
“That’s something no one knows. You must understand, we were there on a Monday, and the whole sky was alive with birds. But on Tuesday there wasn’t a bird to be found, just wolves howling after herds. And the deer. But on Wednesday you couldn’t find either. The planet was empty.”
“But couldn’t the animals simply been hiding in dens or…”
“No, not at all.” Verkhovtseff said. “We were in a fast scout ship and out of curiosity we flew over most of the planet. There were no animals, and no birds. Just lakes. And I wasn’t the only one who was amazed by it. I’ll give you the coordinates.”
“Thank you.” I said. “But if you can’t remember anything else we’d like a chance to look at the Captains’ notebooks. In their travels and explorations they must have had a chance to observe many different kinds of animals.
“And who told you about the notebooks?” The Doctor asked, and frowned.
“Our friend the archaeologist Gromozeka.” I answered.
“I’ve never heard of him. Just why do you want the notebooks? I’ve just remembered the skliss from the planet Sheshineru. There are countless numbers of them there. They told me about it.”
“Thank you very much for the information.” I said. But what I really wanted was a chance to look through the Captain’s notebooks, but for some reason Doctor Verkhovtseff did not want me anywhere near them. For some reason he did not trust us.
“You’re welcome.”
“And the notebooks?” Alice asked.
“Oh, child, what in the universe would you want the notebooks for? And anyway, they’re not here. They’re on Fyxx; they hold them in the Archive. Yes, yes, in the Archive.” Doctor Verkhovtseff suddenly came alive, as though he had thought up a successful lie.
“Oh well.” Alice said.
The doctor was embarrassed, he wiped his eyes with the rumpled hat, and said:
“And you must certainly visit the market in Palaputra.”
“That’s one place we will be certain to stop.” I said. “We know all about it.”
“Then I shall see you off.” said the Doctor.
He stood up and led us back between the crates and containers toward the exit from the base. He walked very quickly, as though he feared we might change our minds and not leave.
We found ourselves back at the monument. We stopped beside it.
“And what happened to the Second Captain?” I asked.