Barry resumed cutting, puzzled and suspicious, opening a hole just
large enough to admit his head. He had guessed his position well, for
Sanlan and Lart were standing with their backs toward him while they
watched the hatchway.
The Earthman withdrew silently, taking no chances that Sanlan's talk
had been a trick to draw him out.
Xintel glanced up as he dropped to the middle room. A confused
discussion was in progress below, for no man wanted to be the first to
rush the barricade.
"Give me both your tube-weapons," Barry demanded.
She turned her hips, allowing him to take them from her belt without
putting down her crossbow or relaxing her vigilance.
"Come at once when you hear me call," he directed. "We can't hold out
forever. It's run or die."
"Run? Where?"
"Outside. It is our only chance."
He leaped to the upper room again.
A tube gun in each hand, he thrust his wrists through the hole he had
cut. Sanlan and Lart were still waiting.
"Perhaps you should have others break through the walls," Lart
suggested impatiently.