Alayna rose and then hesitated as if in indecision. "The only way
to wipe out the Martian plot is to destroy the Thousand Minds and
do it now. If we fail to attack now, it will give them a respite to
re-establish themselves and our hopes will be lost."
"But there are only the three of us and two weapons," said Roal. "We
cannot attack a thousand Martians with such powers as you say they
have. We'll have to be concerned merely with escape now, and attack
later."
"You'll never find the Thousand Minds again, if you fail to follow
through now," said Alayna. "Would you attack if I could get you a
hundred armed spacemen?"
"With a third that many I'd attack, but where can you find them? Surely
not in the desert."
"Follow me."
The Queen of the Silver Stars stepped to the opening in the chamber and
glanced down. "It's too late to go that way. We'll have to use the old
air tunnel."
She came back into the room and approached an opening on the other side
so small that the two men had not noticed it.
"I can squeeze through. If you can follow me we can get out through
here."