A probe returning from
Venus crashes in the African desert; a Venusian
spore on board thrives in its new environment; a grey
mould quickly spreading and killing all it touches. An urgent crewed mission to Venus is launched from Lunaville, the now permanent
Moon base. Chris Godfrey, Morrey Kant, Serge Smyslov, Tony Hale and Pierre, a scientist, are sent to try and discover what limits the mould's growth in its natural environment. The plan is to collect samples from the
Venusian atmosphere but in the end a forced landing on Venus is required. ==References==