Gavin wrenched his shoulders. The girl merely tightened her grip
until his biceps felt numb. She smelled strongly of arsilene, a heavy
sweetish Martian perfume.
She said over his shoulder again, "Who else but one of their spies
would refuse a million credits?"
The shot struck home. X made an expression of distaste and slipped his
hand in the pocket of his jacket.
It was no time for gallantry. Gavin snapped back his head. His skull
crushed into the girl's face. Her hands loosened. With a wrench, he
jerked free and kicked the table in X's lap.
[Illustration: _With a wrench, Gavin jerked free!_]
Gavin bounded around the table, pulling his hands from his pockets.
Brass knucks gleamed on both fists. X was scrambling up from beneath
the debris. Gavin hit him in the temple.
He whirled in time to see the big blonde reaching for him. Gavin had
no intention of letting her get her hands on him again. His gleaming
knucks caught the girl on the jaw. She folded to the floor, half-across
the legs of the unconscious X.
He regarded the pair for a moment, catching his breath. Then he went to
the door, shot a bolt and opened it cautiously. The three men who had
herded him into the bar were standing just outside.
He backed out, waved negligently and said, "I'll see you later, then,"
loudly enough for the three men to hear, and closed the door.
The men eyed him coldly. As soon as he was past they trooped inside.
Gavin instantly lit out running at top speed. He didn't slow down until
he skidded inside the Temple of Joy half a block away and brought up
panting before a startled headwaiter. "Where's the _Nova_ party?"
"_Nova_ party, sir?"
"Yes, yes," Gavin said impatiently. He changed position so he could
keep the entrance in sight. "The officers of the _Nova_ are throwing a
celebration here tonight. Where are they, man? Speak up."
The waiter looked at Gavin as if he were crazy. "I never heard of
them," he said. "There's no such party here."
Gavin's lips thinned. He was silent a moment, digesting this
information. He glanced toward the door. To return now to the street
would be fatal. They would be waiting for him. He wasn't safe even here
in the lobby of the Temple of Joy. He wanted to mix in with the safety
of crowds and lights.