Chapter 7 Solutions — An Alien Hand

Tilloo's father was taking a siesta (afternoon nap) at home instead of being at work.

Tilloo took advantage of this and stole his father's security card.

He then slipped away while evading his watchful mother and reached the forbidden passage.

At the metal door, he inserted the security card into the slot — just as he had seen his father do — and the door opened noiselessly, letting him in.

The big TV screen in the Control Room showed a dot moving against a clear background — it was not a star because it was changing its position.

The computer had calculated a trajectory showing this 'thing' was heading towards their planet.

The Supervisor explained that it appeared to be a spacecraft coming from outside their solar system — an unprecedented event since their own ancient space programme had confirmed they were 'alone' in the solar system.

The appearance of an alien spacecraft heading towards them was extraordinary and alarming news.

The mechanical hand emerged from the alien spacecraft and approached the surface of the planet.

It bent and touched the soil of the planet.

Based on the NASA press releases in the story, the mechanical hand was designed to dig out soil samples for examination — to test whether there was any sign of life on the planet.

This matches the real Viking Mission's purpose of collecting and examining Martian soil.