"How do you feel?"
"All right--I guess. Nothing seems to be broken."
"Lie and rest." Mike turned and found Nicko was sitting up, his eyes
open but still a trifle vacant. "You okay?"
"Guess so. They couldn't kill me with a club but I get knocked out
coming downstairs."
"Something must have hit you on the head just right."
"Something sure did. Tell me, what's the situation?"
"I don't know. I'm playing it from hand to mouth. We're hidden under
the ruins of the ship."
"They'll be after us."
"If they weren't killed." Mike found a small opening and peered out.
Help had come from the city now and he saw a line of stretcher bearers
moving away from the wreck. His spirits rose as he identified three of
the casualties. McKee, Talbott, Katal'halee. Were any or all of them
dead? He had no way of knowing. But at least they appeared to be past
caring about the four prisoners--at least for a time.
This did not insure safety however. The entrance to the improvised
cave darkened and a face appeared. Mike held his breath, expecting
challenge and exposure.
But none came. Then Mike realized that dusk had fallen and the eyes of
the searcher could not penetrate their hiding place with any degree of
surety. There were sharp words in the alien tongue. Obviously the
searcher was calling for any trapped or injured person.
Desperately, Mike hoped he would let it go at that. But such was not
the case. The man got down on his knees and pushed inside.
He found himself taken instantly into the iron grasp of three
desperate tenants. The H'Lorkan got him by the legs, Nicko hit him in
the middle, and Mike got strong hands on his throat, drove powerful
fingers into it, shutting off the man's breath forever.
The man struggled helplessly for a few moments. Then he lay still as
Mike snapped his neck suddenly backward and broke it.
* * * * *
The darkness served another purpose. It kept Doree from the horror of
seeing a man killed not two feet from her eyes. But she realized what
was happening and buried her face in her hands.
"I'm sorry," Mike whispered. "But this is a matter of survival. Try
and look at it in that light."
There was nothing to do now but wait. Mike's hopes were slim and
desperate ones--that the slain man would not be missed for a while,
and that the wreckage of the ship would not be cleared away until the
following day.
The time dragged. Activity around the wreck dwindled and died out.
Total darkness had not yet come and Mike prayed for a few more minutes
of safety. But he was not to get it. A commotion over toward the city
brought him to a break in the wreckage through which he could scan
the area. A huge derrick-like affair, encrusted with the usual gold
and gems, was lumbering toward the wrecked platform. A gang of workmen
followed on foot. Incandescent balls were carried by another group,
brightly illuminating the scene.
"We've got to run for it!" Mike said. "Out--everybody! Run straight to
the left! There's an airfield over there. McKee and Talbott's ship is
on the far edge. I saw it just before we fell!"
The four wormed their way out from under the wreckage. "That ship
should be primed to go!" Nicko said with excitement.
"That's what I'm hoping."
"No!" Doree cried, and pulled away from Mike. "No! I won't go away
from here and leave my father! We've got to try to help him!"
* * * * *
Mike did not hesitate. He swung a short solid right. It cracked
against Doree's jaw and she went limp. "Sorry," he said grimly, "but
this is no time to argue."
"We're going to hit that ship and blast out?" Nicko asked.
"What else? She'll hate me for it, but we've got to use common sense.
There's nothing we can do for Professor Brandon this trip. Maybe we
can come back later."
"It will be hard on the kitty."
"Okay," Mike retorted harshly. "My responsibility is getting Doree out
of here alive!"
"I'm not arguing," Nicko said. "Let's move."
The H'Lorkan had remained silent the whole time. He had done what was
expected of him promptly and efficiently and proven himself a good
comrade. But there was no time now to explain the plan to him. If he
had remained where he was they would probably have gone off and left
him. But when they started across the open country, he ran with them.
Mike momentarily expected the light from the glowing bulbs to pick
them out, but luck was with them and they gained the edge of the
airfield without being detected. They disappeared in among the craft.
There was quite an assortment of these and from the design and
variations in size, Mike got the impression they were pleasure craft
and not a part of the fighting force. Encrusted jewels were used in
profusion and decorations along with both silver and gold. On this
planet these precious materials seemed to have little value as no
guards were posted over the field.
* * * * *
There were lights in a few of them. These, Mike carefully skirted
until the party came at last to the sleek black hull of the ship McKee
and Talbott had arrived in.
No sight ever gladdened his heart more than that of the great,
competent-looking monster. The ramp was down and all was darkness
inside.
"Shall I go ahead and check?" Nicko asked.
"It wouldn't help. If anyone's in there they'd probably nab you."
"Maybe I don't nab as easily as you think," Nicko growled.
"Anyhow, there isn't time. I think that crew spotted us when we
entered the field. We've got to get in and away."
"Once inside we can lock the hatches and hold them off until we
blast."
"You think so?" Mike asked. "With that funny fire ray they've got?"
"Well, maybe they just won't see us then."
"Let's hope not."
Nicko went up the ramp first. Mike followed with Doree in his arms.
The H'Lorkan warrior brought up the rear. Into the dark maw of the
ship they went, where Nicko found a utility flashlight on its hook
near the door to the companionway. He sent a beam on ahead. "Holy
Mother Mars!" he croaked.
The light flashed back off thousands of brilliant jewels almost
blinding them. The companionway was strewn inches deep in multicolored
gems.
"That's about what I figured," Mike said. "Those two have been loading
loot ever since they set down here. I'll bet every cabin's packed to
the guards."
This was true. As they moved through the ship it was like walking in
the treasure house of a Neptunian robber baron. "There's well over a
billion in here," Nicko marveled. "Whatever you say about our
friends--they aren't small timers."
"It will be a touchy job getting this ship off the ground," Mike said.
Nicko grinned hideously. "Want to stop and throw a few tons
overboard?"
"There's no time or believe me, I would. Let's get to the control
cabin.
It was the one cabin in which no wealth was stored. In the place of
jewels and bar-gold there was something else. It seemed McKee and
Talbott had not been as negligent of their hoard as it had first
appeared.
The half-dozen native guards in the control room allowed the four to
enter, standing close against the near wall. Then they fell upon them.
Taken by surprise and attacked by a greater number, the fugitives had
no chance. The H'Lorkan warrior, last into the room, fought bravely,
but when the lights were turned on, the prisoners had been swiftly
cuffed and subdued.
Doree had been jerked cruelly from Mike's arms and he saw a tall
native warrior just disappearing through the door carrying her in his
arms.
Mike's shoulders slumped as he tasted the bitter dregs of defeat....
* * * * *
They were led through the city streets under heavy guard, streets
brightly illuminated by myriad glowing balls. The populace eyed them
curiously, their importance evidently indicated by the escort of a
dozen grim soldiers.
Only Mike and Nicko and M'Landa took the long walk up the avenue,
Doree having been spirited away. Mike was a man in deep torment as he
wondered helplessly about her fate. Was she already dead? Had she been
made the plaything of some high official? Of McKee or Talbott or both?
This last thought brought red rage flashing into his heart.
They were taken into a huge, gloomy building and down a long corridor.
As they approached it, a sound greatened before them; a rolling muted
thunder of mixed anger, pain, and terror. They entered a long, narrow
corridor, one wall broken at regular intervals by small metal doors.
Mike realized the sound came from beyond these doors--from the angry
throats of prisoners--that this could be nothing other than the city's
prison. There was no doubt of it.
The cavalcade stopped. One of the doors was unlocked and thrown open,
the three pushed roughly inside. The door slammed, the lock was turned
and the guards stalked away as they had come.
The interior of the cell was very dim. Mike blinked his eyes, striving
to pierce the dimness. He opened them and got a surprise. This was
more of a cage than a prison. The entire wall opposite the door
consisted of bars.
The three went forward and stood in mute wonder at what they saw. The
cells were elevated and ran in a circle around an amphitheater--a
great lighted pit--so that the prisoners were spectators at the drama
that went on below.
It was indeed a strange place, this pit, its purpose temporarily
obscure to the three prisoners. It contained great vats of steaming,
multicolored liquids, many tables, a great number and variety of
frames, racks, and instruments.
There were perhaps a dozen men at work down there. They appeared to be
making preparation for what was to follow. Mike wondered about their
occupation, then turned sharply on Nicko.
"What's the matter with you? Why aren't you finding out about this?"