Angus McClellan took a step forward which carried him half across the
room. Gordon Malherne, the young engineer, wasn't far behind him, and
the white-haired Doctor Gerard was surprisingly agile for his sixty-odd
years.
Jackson, the salesman, was quivering in indecision, when Laura Hanks,
the tallest of the teachers, stepped forward.
"You can count me in," she said firmly, her angular chin set in
determination.
The instant protest from the men goaded Jackson, and he stepped
sheepishly forward to join the others.
"All right," said Randall briskly. "Here's the setup. As soon as it's
dark we'll form a human chain and go over the stockade on the side
furthest from the gate. I have an automatic and an extra clip of
ammunition. Are any of the rest of you armed?"
All shook their heads.
"No matter," Randall continued. "I'll go over first to cover the rest
of you."
"But what'll we do then?" protested Jackson. "Why don't we get some of
the rest of the people to help?"
Randall examined the fat little man coldly. "Circumstances determine
the move," he said. "As for enlisting the aid of the rest of the
colony, one man in the enemy's castle is worth a thousand storming
the ramparts. We'll leave here at an appointed time and proceed by
different routes, all meeting directly across the enclosure from the
gate. Now we'd all better get some rest."