Klev came through the doorway just then, hurrying as fast as his age
would permit. Quietly he moved toward a vacant seat, and at once the
chairs around it were empty too, Martians moving away as he advanced.
They seemed to regard him with distrust, distrust and fear.
He rose and spoke, the pleading note in his voice evident even to Nick.
The others had been heard in silence, but time and again Klev was
interrupted by shouts of disapproval.
"He's speaking for us and at the same time warning against a mass
attack on Central Camp," Susan whispered.
"They don't seem to go for his ideas," Nick commented.
At last Klev finished, and even as he sat down a dozen Martians were
shouting angry protests. Merlo was foremost among them.
The presiding Martian asked a question.
Klev replied shortly and turned in his seat to watch the doorway. The
excited conversation of the assembly rose from a mutter to a babble.
After a short wait another Martian hurried in and took the floor.
His address was more pantomime than speech. He raised both arms as
though holding a rifle and squinted through imaginary sights. Slowly he
lowered the invisible weapon and stooped as though picking up a small
object from the floor.
Nick gripped Susan's arm in sudden astonishment.
"Hell," he said. "That's the one who got me outlawed by the Mecs."
The Martian made a throwing gesture and waved his arms as though
warning someone to go away. Then he pointed at Nick.
"I spotted him while I was on ground patrol in the city," Nick told
Susan. "Caught him on a roof. But hell, I couldn't shoot him, not
while he just stood there looking helpless and sort of pitiful, with
his hands hanging at his sides. He didn't even try to run. Not without
Gravinol, I couldn't. I chunked a rock at him to scare him away."
"But--?"
"Standing orders for all Mecs to kill anything that moves, particularly
Marties, you know. Some lieutenant with field glasses saw me
deliberately let that one get away and radioed in that something was
wrong. Within two minutes Colonel Hammer had the orders out to get me."
The Martian finished, and this time the reaction of the crowd did not
indicate any unanimous emotion. One after another rose to his feet and
commented, Susan's head turning as she tried to follow each excited
outburst.
At last silence settled over the room as the Martian on the dais raised
both arms for silence.
"You and the man," he spoke directly to Susan and she translated for
Nick's benefit, "will not be executed. That is according to the laws
of Mars.
"You will both be taken to the surface and released there. Do not
return, under penalty of death."
A disguised death sentence, but as effective as though they were to be
executed on the spot. Nick's hand streaked toward his knife, but before
he could draw it half a dozen _varlus_ had him numb and helpless.
His last impression as they were led away was the smugly satisfied
expression on Merlo's bluish face.