They were to be lookers-on, nothing more.
Meanwhile the survivors of a once great civilization prepared to move in
person against the bees. They did this after Deltos had pointed out the
advantages of such a step.
"If we rout the bees ourselves," said he, "the natives will regard us as
their saviors, and we shall have no trouble with them afterward."
This was sound policy; even Somat had to admit it. He had decided to be
a member of the expedition, for the reason that Rolla flatly refused to
accompany the other men unless he, her special god, went along. His two
liberal-minded friends stayed behind to take care of their belongings in
the ruined city.
The expedition was a simple one. It consisted of a single large auto
truck and trailer, the only items of automotive machinery that the
twelve had been able to reconstruct from the ruins. However, these
served the purpose; they carried large supplies of food, also means for
protection against the bees, together with abundant material for routing
them. A large quantity of crude explosives also was included. The
trailer was large enough to seat everybody; and the ten men of the party
had a good deal of amusement watching Rolla as she tried to get
accustomed to that land of travel.
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