"Shhh!"
The door opened. Cosmo caught sight of Bemmelman's gross features in
the opening. He looked ghastly in the phosphorescent glow. Beyond him
reared an immense gray pile of a building.
The planter's jaw dropped in disbelief as he recognized his captives.
Then a tide of red swept up from his bull-like neck.
"You!" he shouted. "What the hell are you doing in there?"
"Didn't you know?" said Cosmo dryly. "I'm trying to cure myself of
claustrophobia."
But already, a shrewd gleam of triumph had replaced the disappointment
in Bemmelman's pig-like brown eyes.
"You're the Renegade." He rubbed his hands together, began to grin.
"Yes sir, you're the Renegade. I should have guessed it before. And
you, Mia." He threw back his head, roared until the court reverberated
with his heavy laughter.
"Let us in on the joke," said Cosmo.
Bemmelman stopped laughing, wiped his eyes. "Two birds with one stone.
I didn't expect to catch both of you in the same trap. No sir, that I
didn't." He stepped back, clapped his hands.
* * * * *
Two naked Blue Dawn Men appeared, hauled forth the cage, shouldered it.
With Bemmelman following, they bore it across the court, into a doorway
at the base of the lichen covered tower.
"I feel perfectly ridiculous," whispered Mia, bouncing around in the
cage. "Thank goodness none of my friends can see me."
Cosmo chuckled, shot a glance after Bemmelman who was crossing the
floor to an intercommunicating telecast. The room appeared to be a
guard room. Weapons were racked against the walls, and a dozen naked
blue giants lay sleeping on the floor. These raised their handsome,
classical heads, surveyed the captives from incurious violet eyes.
Cosmo put his lips against Mia's ear and said:
"Remember Penang-ihtok."
He heard Bemmelman say: "Switch on the current in the tower. Send Llana
to me at once."