Petchareff looked up as Pashkov was led forward by the guards. "Not
bad," Petchareff said. "We could use Monsieur Fanti. What's his price?"
"Don't you know me, chief? Me, Pashkov."
"Curse me," Nadezhda said, staring at him. "Another Pashkov."
A terrible howl came from Zubov. Petya and Kolya, imitating
Petchareff's efforts to revive their master, were battering Zubov's
face with their slouched hats.
"Stand back!" Kolya screamed, smashing his hat into Zubov's face. "He
is trying to say something!"
"He's moving!" Petya kicked Zubov and looked up for approval, his hair
standing up like spikes.
Petchareff slapped Kolya's face and crushed the glowing end of his
cigar on Petya's forehead. The apes reeled back to a tree.
* * * * *
Pashkov whispered to Colonel James.
"Capitalist hell and damnation, now I can't tell them apart myself,"
Petchareff said. "Zubov!"
"Hhng?"
"Which one's the real Pashkov?"
"Hhng?"
But Colonel James was running to the flier, throwing Nadezhda's rock at
Petchareff and running.
"Grenade!" Pashkov yelled, and flung himself to the ground.
At the same moment Boris Knackenpast ran from the house to the flier,
his robot gear clattering like Don Quixote's armor.
The guards scattered and dove for cover.
"Down, lads! Grenade!" Pashkov yelled.
The two apes took up the cry, "Grenade, grenade!" and flattened
themselves behind the tree.
Nadezhda and Medvedev collided, digging in behind the valet.