"Someone is after you?" Jim said quickly.
"Yes. I thought--but I guess not now. Oh you are good Earthmen--not
like Curtmann. I escaped, and I have come long long a way from my poor
terrified people."
I saw Jim glance at me significantly. We both had the same thought, of
course. A girl demented; with painted skin and fancy dress--trappings
of insanity; and she had escaped from some asylum?
But those leaps were far beyond the power of any trained athlete!
"What's your name?" I murmured.
"Venta. I was a prisoner--and now I have to tell someone of importance
here on Earth. I did escape when I was brought here by Curtmann." She
babbled it out, breathless, terrified. "I did not know what to do, he
is so bad to my people--to the Midge--to all of us. And I--I do not
love him. I am afraid of him. In Shan he rules--and my family now are
all in the great Forest City. And Curtmann will capture that too."
Blankly Jim and I exchanged glances. And suddenly with a muttered oath,
Jim gasped,
"My God, Art! Look at that--thing! There--behind you!"