Maxis turned back and Tommy knew he was ready to leave them to fend for
themselves. Tommy said, "You promised to help us if she told you what
you wanted to know."
"You are right. But you will be in my way."
"A promise is a promise," Tommy said stoutly.
"Very well. We will go down to the prison block. You two will march
ahead. I will act as though I am delivering you. But if there is any
trouble I will have to desert you. I cannot stand and fight. I cannot
risk being slain until I find my Emperor."
They marched out into the corridor. The three guards had gone their way
and no one was in sight. But from the grim look on the Martian's face,
Tommy knew peril lay ahead.
* * * * *
The door to the cell in which Rex and Jean were imprisoned was
unlocked. Five Martian guards entered. The leader was in high rage.
"This girl will have to do," he snapped. "The crowds in the square will
not know the difference and the priests will just have to keep their
mouths shut. Take her!"
As three of the guards advanced on Jean, Rex went into action. He drove
his knee into the groin of the leader, bending the Martian forward into
a straight right that almost tore his head off. The Martian went down.
His jaw structure was so thick, Rex's fist turned numb from the contact
and the Martian was only dazed.
Rex knew his one hope lay in getting control of the small pistol
the leader carried. He lunged. The gun lay in the fallen leader's
out-stretched hand. Rex's fingers touched it. But the leader's fist
closed.
The delay was fatal. It gave one of the guards time to take one long
step and kick Rex solidly behind the right ear. Rex went down hard,
smacking the floor with his face. He did not move. Jean screamed. A
hard hand went brutally over her mouth, dragging her down also.
The leader of the squad said, "Take her to the ceremonial room. Prepare
her for the knife. Tell the priests I will be there soon."
"Aye, great Lord Pandek," the guard said.
Jean bit the hand that lay across her mouth. It was jerked away. She
tore loose and threw herself down on Rex's unconscious body. She was
pulled roughly to her feet and other hard hands dragged her away.
* * * * *
Perhaps it was Tommy's luck that carried the party through. On the trip
to the cell blocks they met only two other Martians--not soldiers--who
exhibited only mild curiosity.
Once in the lower tier, Maxis seemed more at home. "This is the
likeliest cell block," he said.
"But we can't search all those cells," Tommy said. "It would take
hours. We'd surely be stopped." He was looking down a long corridor
lined with bars. Other corridors intersected until the place was a maze.
"You are right," Maxis said. "I have a plan that may save us time.
Come. You two walk behind me now."
They moved down the corridor. Only one guard lay in their path but he
was down on his haunches, asleep. They glided past him, Maxis' gun
held ready. They moved on until they were approaching a more brightly
lighted intersection. A small table was located against the bars of a
corner cell and a Martian sat at the table occupied with some papers.
The trio approached from behind the man quietly. He heard them when
they were a few steps away. He turned. Maxis took a last bold step and
was towering over the seated one.
Maxis spoke casually, but with authority. "I've been sent to deliver
Fanton to the council hall."
Maxis did not expect cooperation from the guard. But he hoped for
something else. His eyes were on the guard's face, watching for the
man's first reaction.
It was entirely satisfactory from Maxis' point of view. The guard's
startled eyes widened, then narrowed in suspicion. "Who sent you for
him?"
Maxis smiled without humor. "Then he is here! He does live! What cell,
you mother's mistake? Quick!"
The guard looked into the barrel of the deadly gun Maxis held close to
his face. A black hole from whence could come needle flames that would
burn his head into an instantaneous crisp. "The--third aisle--cell
eight--"
The gun in Maxis's hand spit a small blue flame. For a moment, the
guard's head was enveloped in fire. Then the head was gone.
Helen Spencer recoiled in horror. Maxis said, "He was a traitor." To
the Martian, that justified everything. He bent over and picked up the
headless body and carried it into the nearest cell.
He returned and said to Tommy, "This is the dangerous moment. You must
help me--do exactly as I say. You must go to the cell and bring Fanton
back to this table. I must wait here."
Tommy was perplexed. "I don't get it. You should be better able to get
him out of his cell. If we meet a guard, he'll stop us."
"No he won't. He will bring you here. All authority in the block stems
from this key-center. If you meet a guard tell him you are under orders
from the key-keeper. He will be suspicious and completely confounded,
but he will bring you here. In the meantime I can better stave off
trouble with the authority this post gives me." Maxis looked at Helen
and pointed. "You--into that cell--out of sight. Stay there until we
have either succeeded or failed." His face was grim. "If we fail, you
must shift for yourself with nothing but my good wishes to help you on
your way."
His tone indicated his good wishes would be of scant aid. He laid a
hand on Tommy's shoulder. "Walk to the next intersection down that
corridor. Turn to your right and count off seven cells. Fanton will be
in the eighth. Good luck."
* * * * *
Tommy took the key Maxis handed him and started off as directed. The
key seemed very heavy. The corridor seemed very long. The task set for
him seemed next to impossible.
He reached the cell without trouble. He unlocked the door. Inside, a
very old Martian lay in filth and rags on the floor. Tommy knelt beside
him, his heart pounding. "You are to come with me," he said.