IV

They raced through the crowded streets and then out of the city. A

short time later they pulled to a stop on the dueling grounds and found

that Satish had already arrived. Savage moved to open the door and

Loong said:

"Wait. I'm taking no chances."

He opened a compartment built into the back of the driver's seat and

took out a pair of heat guns. He buckled one to his belt and gave the

other to the chauffeur with instructions to keep his eyes open.

"All right," he said, "we're as prepared as we'll ever be. I just hope

you can shoot straight."

The two parties met in the middle of the field and a further discussion

took place between Loong and Droga. The car lights were to provide

illumination and their positions were established. Then the guns were

examined. Finally Satish and Savage were placed in position with ten

yards between them and the guns were given them. The seconds backed

away.

"Under the rules you will raise your guns and fire one shot at the

count of three," Loong said loudly. "Only head shots are permitted. If

both miss, honor is satisfied, and the principals will leave the field.

Your guns down, please, I am about to count."

Savage braced his feet and stood relaxed, a light, firm grip on his gun.

"One."

What was the connection between Larhana and Loong, Savage wondered, and

what was Loong's plan?

"Two."

He had to go along with Loong, he decided. His comments on the Terran

situation presented interesting possibilities. Larhana was the most

beautiful woman he had ever known.

"Three."

With a swift, continuous motion Savage swung up the gun, centered the

sights and pressed the stud. There was no sound, no sensation, and

for a moment he thought they had both missed. Then Satish swayed and

crumpled.

Savage lowered his gun. Under the rules he had to remain in position

until notified of the results. Others ran to Satish. Loong bent over

him briefly and then shouted, "He's dead."

Savage walked toward the huddled group and as he approached, Droga

protested.

"That was not a head shot," he said heatedly. "Look, it grazed the chin

and entered the neck."

"I beg to differ," Loong countered.

"I insist," argued Droga. "I demand satisfaction."

"I concur with Captain Droga," broke in Satish's second companion. "I

will act for him."

"But ..." Loong protested and Savage interrupted:

"If he insists, he insists. It is his right."

They were quickly placed in position and again Loong counted. At

"Three" Savage again swung up the needle gun and pressed the stud.

Droga's head snapped back as his shot entered the ground almost at

Savage's feet.

Savage remained in position until Loong summoned him.

"There's no doubt about it this time," Loong said triumphantly. "Right

between the eyes."

"Honor is satisfied," said Satish's second companion and he turned

away. He walked a step and spun around, a blaster in his hand. A

blaster cut him in half. Loong's chauffeur had kept his eyes open.

Then there came a blaze of heat, this time from Satish's car, and flame

burned the grass beside them. Loong's chauffeur turned his attention

to the car. A stink filled the air. Loong worked his heat gun and they

made their way back to their car behind a wall of fire. They roared

away and there was no fire from the other car.

"I didn't think a heat gun was any good for spot shooting," the

chauffeur apologized, "so I used a blaster."

"Good thing," said Loong, "or we'd all been fried."

He opened the well stocked compartment and brought out a blaster. "Take

this," he said to Savage. "I'll drop you at your hotel and then try to

see the High Commissioner. You had better stay in your rooms until you

hear from me."

Savage was breakfasting in his room the next morning when the

communicator buzzed.

"Loong here," it announced, when Savage answered. "Things have come to

a head. I couldn't get to see the High Commissioner, but he has already

had an interview with the Emperor. I can only guess what it was about,

but I'm told that it was pretty stormy.

"But that's the least of it. The Commissioner has just issued secret

orders for your arrest. Go to the roof of the hotel. One of my hilocars

is already on its way to pick you up."

"Thanks. I'm on my way," Savage replied, and disconnected. He buckled

on the blaster and with a needle gun in his hand he went to the door.

The hall outside was empty and he ran swiftly to the service stairs.

On the floor above he ran to the levitor bank and pressed the "up"

stud. He watched the indicator impatiently as the levitor shot upward

and stopped on the floor below. Then it resumed its upward climb and

Savage held the needle gun ready as the doors slid apart to reveal a

CID man with a blaster in his hand.

Savage fired and leaped into the car as the blaster clattered to the

floor. The CID man was still crumpling as Savage pressed the stud for

the top floor.

When the levitor doors again slid apart Savage jammed them with a

blaster and raced up the stairs to the roof, praying that the hilocar

would be waiting. It was there and it took off with savage acceleration

as soon as he was aboard. Blaster and heat gun fire burned the air as

they rose and then it faded out of range.

"Whew," Savage breathed, "that was close."

"We're not out of it yet," the pilot replied. "There's a CID hilocar on

our tail."

A glance behind confirmed the pilot's statement and Savage said:

"My hand blaster won't do any good against the stuff they carry. Can

you get away from them?"

"I'm using full power, but they're gaining. There's a high powered

heater mounted behind you. I'll bring it up."

* * * * *

A section of the fuselage slid open and a long, turret-mounted heat

gun rose into view. At the same time the seat back slid down to permit

entry into the turret. Savage climbed in and settled himself over the

sights.

"All right," he said, "cut your speed."

At full aperture this weapon didn't require supreme accuracy. Savage

pressed the firing stud and the other hilocar was engulfed in flame and

then it exploded. Savage's pilot dived to ground level and after half

an hour of maneuvering between, over and sometimes almost through hills

and trees they were deep in the mountains south of the city.

They landed in a mountain clearing. Then the trees in front of them

slid apart and they rolled down into a ferro-concrete cavern; the

Terran stronghold repeated.

Larhana greeted him as he alighted.

"What are you doing here?" he asked involuntarily.

"I am wanted too," she said. "Hurry, Commodore Loong is waiting for us."

The cavern hummed with swift, orderly activity. Larhana led him quickly

through it, but Savage had time to note the fighting ships being

readied and the blasters and heat guns being uncrated and loaded.

Finally they entered a small room where Loong, alone, awaited them.

"Quite a place you have here," Savage said.

"We've been preparing for a long time," replied Loong, "and now we are

going to make use of it."

"How, Prince Kalnor?" asked Savage quietly. His hand was on the needle

gun in his pocket.

"The High Commissioner has.... What did you say?"

"Prince Kalnor, your Majesty."

"How did you know that?" Loong asked. He clutched at his blaster. But

Savage brought out the needle gun and he stopped the movement.

"It was evident from the beginning that you were not working with

either the High Commissioner or the Emperor, but at the same time

it was evident that you were highly placed in a third organization.

Then you yourself mentioned the Kalnor family and I went to the State

Library.

"With two powerful factions competing for the Empire, it struck me that

only the Kalnor name would attract enough adherents to form a third

party. It wasn't until a few moments ago that I realized that you were

the Kalnor in question; that you would be the leader and not a follower.

"Now that we each know who the other is, I'd like to know exactly what

you intend to do about Terra after we've put you on the throne of

Trygon."

"I meant what I said the other day," the Prince exclaimed. "Terra will

be free. And in time the friendly relationship of which I spoke can be

established."

Savage realized that he could use the Prince to bargain with the

Emperor, but once he had Kalnor would the Emperor stick to the terms of

whatever bargain he had made? No, it was ridiculous to think that he

would. He would have to trust the Prince. "That's all right with me,"

Savage said, and put away his gun. "I'd like to know what's happened,

though."

"An attempt was made on the Emperor's life, and at the same time, the

High Commissioner proclaimed himself Emperor. Something went wrong,

however, and the Emperor did not die. As a result we have what amounts

to war between the two factions, confined to the military and the city

of Czur. The average Trygonian citizen won't become involved."

"How about your men?" Savage asked.

"They are adapting to conditions and at the same time spreading a rumor

that a Kalnor will come. When I give the signal they will drop all

pretense and fight for the name of Kalnor. Now we must hurry to get

control of the _Agreet_. A ship is being readied to take us there."

"All right. Let's go," said Savage, the light of battle in his eyes.

"I'm coming too," announced Larhana and they looked at her in surprise.

"It'll be no place for a woman," Savage said. "There'll probably be a

battle."

Larhana's green eyes darkened and Loong said, "There's no use arguing

with her. If she's made up her mind to come nothing short of a blaster

will stop her."

"You're right," Larhana said and they went out together.

* * * * *

Loong's ship proved to be one of the latest medium fighters, crammed

with firepower and short on passenger space. They found cramped space

against the control room bulkhead and blasted off.

Minutes later they were approaching the great Fleet Spaceport, on which

rested the tremendous _Agreet_. A minor battle was in progress below

them for control of the port, but it was impossible to tell one faction

from the other. Loong's radio operator worked his instrument with

swift efficiency and the gunners peered into their scanner plates and

fingered their controls.

After a suspense-filled eternity the radioman said "Okay" and their

ship dived toward the _Agreet_. A port opened in the huge hull and they

floated in.

They alighted quickly and a pneumatic car carried them swiftly forward

to the bridge.

There they were met by an officer whom Loong introduced as Captain Slan.

"Everything is ready, your Highness," Slan said, careful not to notice

the presence of Larhana. "The officers faithful to either the High

Commissioner or the Pretender have been confined. The bare minimum for

the operation of the ship remain."

"Very good," said Loong with formal dignity. "Commodore Choon, will you

kindly take command?"

"Yes, sir. Captain Slan, you will take off immediately and establish

an orbit at three diameters. All screens are to be thrown out as soon

as we are clear and any ship that attempts to interfere is to be

destroyed."

"Yes, sir," said Slan and he went to the main controls. The ship

vibrated strongly for a moment and then they felt it rise gathering

momentum as it went.

"We made it," said Larhana, taking Savage's arm.

"Yes," said Savage stiffly, "but we still have a lot to do."

He was very certain now that she had attracted all Trygonian

officialdom to the Club Galaxy so that information could be gathered

from liquor-loosened lips for Loong, but he didn't know how much

further their relationship extended.

The return of Slan recalled Savage to the problem at hand.

"Good news, your Highness," he announced. "Our men have captured the

Pretender and are proceeding according to plan."

"And the Commissioner," Loong asked. "Where is he?"

"He is directing the operations of his forces from his offices in the

Supreme Headquarters Building, your Highness. What are your orders?"

"He must be destroyed at any cost," Loong said grimly. "An assault

would be indicated."

"Screens have been set up to guard the building," Slan said. "The most

powerful blaster will not penetrate them."

"We must use the _Agreet's_ Atomics then...."

"You'd destroy half the city," Savage interrupted. "There's been too

much bloodshed already."

"What do you suggest, then?" asked Loong.

"Have you any men in the building?" Savage asked.

"We have not been able to contact any," Slan said.

"Well, perhaps this will work. We will make a concentrated attack,

using the _Agreet's_ armed scouts and your fighter. During the attack

I can take one of the scouts under the screen, land near the building,

and force my way in."

"That might succeed," agreed Loong. "But once inside you'd never find

the Commissioner. You don't know the building. I'll go with you."

"I couldn't permit that, your Highness," Slan objected. "Your life is

too valuable to risk."

"What ..." Loong flashed, but Savage interrupted.

"He's right," he said. "You'll have to remain on board the _Agreet_."

"I will go in your stead, your Highness," Slan said firmly.

"Very well," said Loong unhappily.

"I will make the arrangements," said Slan. "We will use number seven

scout."

He excused himself and left the group, while Loong turned to Savage.

"I am beginning to understand why we have not been able to completely

subdue your people. Tell me, what is your Terran name?"

Savage told him.

"I have studied one of the Terran languages a bit--English, I believe

it is called--and it seems that your name is also a word. What does it

mean?"

"Untamed," Savage said.

"Aha!" said Loong.

At this point Slan returned.

"We will be in position to launch the attack shortly," he said. "We

had best make ready. I beg your pardon, but the lady seems to have

disappeared."

"So she has," said Loong after glancing around. "Well, we can't look

for her now."

They took another car to their scout ship and exchanged their uniforms

for more efficient fighting suits; black coveralls, crash helmets,

respirator masks and battle packs.

They were each provided with a heat gun and a blaster, but Savage

strapped the little needle gun to his wrist over the coverall sleeve.

"For sniping," he explained.

Loong held out his hand.

"Good luck," he said, and Savage remembered the General.

V

The attacking fleet, the medium fighter and twelve scouts, roared

in over the city and blaster fire came up to meet them. They passed

through the wall of flame with the loss of only one scout and then they

opened up with their own weapons. The only effect of their combined

fire was to make the invisible force screen protecting their target

flash and flare.

They made a second pass. Two more scouts went down and Savage decided

that they too crashed. He manipulated the controls and the scout

lurched sickeningly and went into a steep dive.

At the last possible moment Savage pulled out and, barely off the

streets, roared between the buildings toward Supreme Headquarters. He

slowed as they approached the building and rested one hand lightly on

the bank of blaster studs.

"Brace yourself, we're going in," he said and slammed down on

the studs. A chunk of wall in front of them disintegrated and he

decelerated savagely. They went through the gap at dead low speed, but

still they crashed through two inner walls before they finally stopped.

They were bruised and shaken, but otherwise unhurt.

"Here's where we get out," Savage announced and Larhana's voice came

from behind them.

"Wait for me," she cried and they whirled around.

From somewhere she had gotten a suit of coveralls that were almost the

right size, as well as a helmet and mask. Two blasters were belted to

her slim waist and the whole effect was one of efficient deadliness,

spoiled only by the loveliness that insisted on making itself known

through the coveralls.

"What are you doing here?" Savage finally got out.

"I wanted to help you," she said simply.

"What are we to do?" asked Slan. "We surely can't leave her here."

"She'll have to come with us. Let's go," Savage said, there was no time

for argument or recrimination.

He kicked open the hatch and jumped down to the rubble covered floor.

Flames were already crackling behind the ship as he helped Larhana

alight, and when Slan had joined them he blasted their way through the

wall into a corridor.

With Slan in the lead they ran to the levitor bank. They had just

reached it when a pair of doors slid open and black-uniformed men

poured out, only to be cut down bloodily by Savage's blaster. The

carnage lasted only a few moments and then they were in the levitor.

"Czako's offices are on the forty-fifth floor," Slan explained as he

pressed the stud. "They will be thick with his men, of course."

Savage nodded grimly, his weapons ready, and watched the moving

indicator. Then, as the forty-third floor clicked by and they were

bracing themselves for the rush, a muffled blast rocked the building.

The lights went out and they were hurled to the floor as the car

stopped abruptly. Then they began to fall.

For an agonizing moment they felt helpless, doomed. Then the safety

brakes went on and the car ground to a halt.

"What happened?" Larhana gasped.

"The fire must have gotten to the scout's fuel or blaster magazine and

it blew up," Savage said. "But we've got to get out of here."

Slan produced a hand torch while Savage tried to open the doors.

"They're jammed," he said after a moment's effort. "Stand back. I'll

use a blaster."

The car filled with heat and smoke and the stink of burning metal came

through their masks. Finally he had a man-sized opening and he stuck

his head out cautiously. A blaster bolt from down the hall gashed the

door above his head and he recoiled.

"Burn a hole through the back while I keep them busy," he ordered and

he felt reflected heat from behind him as he filled the hall outside

with flame.

A few minutes later he heard Slan whisper from close behind him,

"Everything is clear on the other side and Larhana is on guard. As soon

as I finish this we can get out of here."

Alternating his attention between the hall and Slan, Savage watched him

set a block charge booby-trap with practiced efficiency. Then he was

finished and they stepped over the trip-wire and out of the levitor.

* * * * *

They ran across the room and as they went through the door a blaster

roared behind them. Slan screamed and fell, only his momentum carrying

him around the angle of the door jamb. Savage whirled to return the

fire and then the block charge erupted and was thrown against a desk.

Protected by the wall Larhana was already at Slan's side as Savage

picked himself up. Vainly she was trying to staunch the flow of blood

from the clean-cut stumps that were all that remained of Slan's legs.

Savage quickly took two pieces of Plastograft from his kit and with

them sealed the stumps as Slan ground out between clenched teeth,

"You've got to get Czako." He struggled to get up, but fell back into

Larhana's arms, sweat glistening on his face.

"We'll take care of you first," Savage said.

"Get Czako," Slan gasped. "Take the stairs.... Room five leads to

office.... Armored door, use block charge.... Three blocks.... Hurry,

hurry...."

His voice trailed off to nothingness and he died.

Larhana's green eyes were blazing as they cautiously traversed the

offices.

At the forty-fifth floor Savage tried the door. It opened and then the

frame splintered under the impact of a heavy needle gun. They dropped

to the floor, leaving the door ajar. He held his heat gun and blaster

together and quickly shoved them through the opening toward the unseen

gun and pressed the studs. They roared and a scream answered.

Still on the floor, he twisted his weapons around and bathed the hall

with flame in the other direction. Then he scrambled to his feet and

with her dancer's agility Larhana followed him. Behind the flame of his

weapons they ran down the scarred hall and found office five.

Savage took no chances; he used the blaster on the door and his heat

gun was on as they went in. The room's furnishings were reduced to

charred ruins, as were the three guards, but after the draperies and

papers were consumed there was nothing left to burn.

"Keep your eyes on the door while I get the charges ready," Savage

ordered.

He went to the armored door set into the opposite wall and carefully

taped on the block charges. Then he set and connected the igniter.

Returning to Larhana, he said, "We don't have much time now. Cover me

while I toss a couple of charges down the hall. As soon as they go off,

run across to that other office and get under cover."

Quickly he prepared two more charges, setting the igniters for contact.

He threw one and it had not yet exploded when he threw the second. The

roaring double blast shook the floor and ferro-concrete dust filled

the hall. Behind a sheet of flame they raced across the hall. Then,

sheltered behind the wall, they waited for the next blast.

Savage was ready to believe that something had gone wrong with the

igniter when the roaring thunder came. The rolling concussion lifted

them and then slammed them with cruel violence to the floor. They lay

dazed for a long moment before they were able to get up and return to

office five. This time there was no interference.

The charge had blown in the heavy door and crushed under it was a

twisted needle gun and its crew. Of the five other men in the room,

only one seemed capable of movement. He made a feeble effort to raise

his blaster and Savage cut him down.

They found High Commissioner Czako dazed and bleeding behind his huge

desk. Savage hauled him roughly to his feet and jabbed the blaster into

his middle.

"You're finished, Czako," he said. "Get on the radio and tell your men

to lay down their arms."

Czako nodded in bitter defeat.

* * * * *

It was three Trygonian months later when His Highness, Emperor Kalnor

met Savage and Larhana at the great space-port. Above them loomed the

_Agreet_, ready to depart on its voyage through hyper-space to Terra.

"We'll be back someday," Larhana promised.

"Yes," agreed Savage. "I'm as much Trygonian now as Terran, but we want

to see Terra on the road to complete reconstruction first. A lot of

prejudices will have to be overcome, but in time it will be done."