It lasted only a moment more; the second Noth dog was down, with Atal's
fangs buried in its throat.
The two dogs came leaping back to their mistress, their bodies torn, and
matted with dirt and blood.
Dee patted them affectionately as they stood licking their wounds. "But
you should have minded me," she said.
George had taken one look at the two charred figures lying in the road;
he drew the girl away.
"Come on. I wouldn't look over there. We must hurry, Dee."
They mounted the dogs and started forward, more slowly this time, for
the animals carried them with difficulty.
Again George remembered. Toroh would be at the Orleen Cavern by this
time. They had lost! This delay had been the one unexpected thing that
could defeat them.
"Dee--"
But the girl had anticipated him.
"They are in the plane." She half whispered the words. "Azeela has been
trying to tell me for a long time. Toroh had a spy at the cavern
entrance, a man whom we trust as a Scientist. He let them in--Azeela had
no chance to make an outcry. They are in the plane now. Azeela telling
Toroh she cannot operate it. Wait! Now he's trying the proton switch
himself."
A silence.
"Dee! What is it?" George pleaded.