uneventfully, and an opening was cut into the lunar surface large enough to land an Earth-plane in.

It had become increasingly evident that the object, whatever it was, was a great deal larger than anyone had anticipated. The teeth of the diggers repeatedly slid over the impregnable surface of something which turned out to be incredibly tough, and no impression could be made on it.

Eventually, at the end of the shift, Phillip called an end to the day's work, and led the way slowly back to base. Behind him, like weary dinosaurs, the other machines came, emerging from the wall of dust in a whitened line of dull metal.

Discussion began as soon as the airlock doors closed.

"So what do you think it is?"

Phillip turned to meet the almost accusing gaze of Paul.

"Your guess is as good as mine," he said.

"We're not supposed to be guessing here," said Paul.

"I know."

"Well, how big is it?" Ralph chewed on a stick of vegetable meat as he spoke.

By way of reply, Phillip pulled down a chart from the wall. He pointed to an area which was clearly the place they had all been working.

"The object," he said pointing with a bright red laser spot, "Lies under this crater. There is still no sign of an edge to it, or a contour. It appears to be perfectly flat. I have no idea what it is made of, as I have not run any analysis tests."

The men considered what they had heard and said nothing.

Phillip felt uncomfortable. He knew that what he had told the men had certain awkward implications. He rather preferred not to think about them for the time being. He hoped the subject would be left alone, at least until tomorrow.

"Is it crystalline?" asked John, breaking the silence.

"It may be, but no crystalline substances that we know of have ever been known to spread this far".

"Perhaps its some new form of crystal. It might have formed out in Space".