by E. K. Jarvis
gladdened his heart more than that of the great,competent-looking monster. The ramp was down and all was darknessinside.
"Shall I go ahead and check?" Nicko asked.
"It wouldn't help. If anyone's in there they'd probably nab you."
"Maybe I don't nab as easily as you think," Nicko growled.
"Anyhow, there isn't time. I think that crew spotted us when weentered the field. We've got to get in and away."
"Once inside we can lock the hatches and hold them off until weblast."
"You think so?" Mike asked. "With that funny fire ray they've got?"
"Well, maybe they just won't see us then."
"Let's hope not."
Nicko went up the ramp first. Mike followed with Doree in his arms.The H'Lorkan warrior brought up the rear. Into the dark maw of theship they went, where Nicko found a utility flashlight on its hooknear the door to the companionway. He sent a beam on ahead. "HolyMother Mars!" he croaked.
The light flashed back off thousands of brilliant jewels almostblinding them. The companionway was strewn inches deep in multicoloredgems.
"That's about what I figured," Mike said. "Those two have been loadingloot ever since they set down here. I'll bet every cabin's packed tothe guards."
This was true. As they moved through the ship it was like walking inthe treasure house of a Neptunian robber baron. "There's well over abillion in here," Nicko marveled. "Whatever you say about ourfriends--they aren't small timers."
"It will be a touchy job getting this ship off the ground," Mike said.
Nicko grinned hideously. "Want to stop and throw a few tonsoverboard?"
"There's no time or believe me, I would. Let's get to the controlcabin.
It was the one cabin in which no wealth was stored. In the place ofjewels and bar-gold there was something else. It seemed McKee andTalbott had not been as negligent of their hoard as it had firstappeared.
The half-dozen native guards in the control room allowed the four toenter, standing close against the near wall. Then they fell upon them.Taken by surprise and attacked by a greater number, the fugitives hadno chance. The H'Lorkan warrior, last into the room, fought bravely,but when the lights were turned on, the prisoners had been swiftlycuffed and subdued.
Doree had been jerked cruelly from Mike's arms and he saw a tallnative warrior just disappearing through the door carrying her in hisarms.
Mike's shoulders slumped as he tasted the bitter dregs of defeat....
* * * * *
They were led through the city streets under heavy guard, streetsbrightly illuminated by myriad glowing balls. The populace eyed themcuriously, their importance evidently indicated by the escort of adozen grim soldiers.
Only Mike and Nicko and M'Landa took the long walk up the avenue,Doree having been spirited away. Mike was a man in deep torment as hewondered helplessly about her fate. Was she already dead? Had she beenmade the plaything of some high official? Of McKee or Talbott or both?This last thought brought red rage flashing into his heart.
They were taken into a huge, gloomy building and down a long corridor.As they approached it, a sound greatened before them; a rolling mutedthunder of mixed anger, pain, and terror. They entered a long, narrowcorridor, one wall broken at regular intervals by small metal doors.Mike realized the sound came from beyond these doors--from the angrythroats of prisoners--that this could be nothing other than the city'sprison. There was no doubt of it.
The cavalcade stopped. One of the doors was unlocked and thrown open,the three pushed roughly inside. The door slammed, the lock was turnedand the guards stalked away as they had come.
The interior of the cell was very dim. Mike blinked his eyes, strivingto pierce the dimness. He opened them and got a surprise. This wasmore of a cage than a prison. The entire wall opposite the doorconsisted of bars.
The three went forward and stood in mute wonder at what they saw. Thecells were elevated and ran in a circle around an amphitheater--agreat lighted pit--so that the prisoners were spectators at the dramathat went on below.
It was indeed a strange place, this pit, its purpose temporarilyobscure to the three prisoners. It contained great vats of steaming,multicolored liquids, many tables, a great number and variety offrames, racks, and instruments.
There were perhaps a dozen men at work down there. They appeared to bemaking preparation for what was to follow. Mike wondered about theiroccupation, then turned sharply on Nicko.
"What's the matter with you? Why aren't you finding out about this?"
Nicko stared in amazement. "Me? How the devil can I--?"
"The H'Lorkan. He might be able to give you some information. Askhim!"
Nicko shuddered as though coming out of a daze. "Sure. I guess mywheels got kind of stopped."
M'Landa, who never seemed to speak unless spoken to, answered Nicko'squestions calmly. Mike watched the two as they conversed; saw Nicko'sincreasing indignation and horror. "All right!" Mike snapped. "Don'tkeep it to yourself. What did he say?"
"Not much. Just that these are the high priests of the Ptomenties.They prepare the bodies of the dead for burial and their job is tomake them look so life-like that you wouldn't even know they weredead. This is their experimental laboratory--where they keep theirhands in. They experiment on the prisoners."
As the chill went through Mike, he saw four guards who had beenstationed on the far side of the pit acknowledge a sign from one ofthe priests and start toward a staircase leading to the prisoner'sbalcony.
They stopped at one of the cells and unlocked a door set in the barredfront. As they entered a roar of hatred went up from every cell in thedreadful circle.
* * * * *
As he watched, Mike was conscious of the fact that only he and Nickowere watching the proceedings, that M'Landa's face was not glued tothe bars. The thing's too horrible for the H'Lorkan to take, Mikethought. He's crouching back there behind us--covering his face mostlikely. And I can't say I blame him.
The guards came forth from the cell dragging a screaming victim, atall naked speciman who bested even the Ptomenites in physicalperfection. Here, Mike realized, was truly a man.
The screams had been from rage, not from fear. As the door snappedbehind him, the victim stopped screaming, evidently realizing this wasthe end, that escape was now impossible. He raised his head, a look ofcontempt lighting his handsome features. He walked proudly amidst theguards. He seemed completely indifferent to whatever fate awaited him.
Mike stared as the man was led to the center of the pit. Chains wereclamped to his wrists and ankles. Then the guards lifted him, holdinghim horizontal. One of the priests extended his arms upward, over theprone man, and seemed to be mouthing a prayer or incantation. Heappeared to Mike to be asking some deity to accept this poor offering.
This ceremony over, the guards walked with the helpless man toward agreat vat of smoking purple liquid. But at this moment, Mike'sattention was diverted. A door had opened far down the circle and twofigures were approaching. As the guards lifted the unfortunateprisoner and threw him in the vat a great roar of fury went up fromthe circle of cells. And Mike recognized the approaching figures.
McKee and Talbott.
McKee was amply bandaged about the head and shoulders. Talbottappeared to have come off better, only his right wrist and elbowtightly wrapped.
They moved past the cells until they were confronting Mike and Nicko.There they stopped. McKee, the fat one, grinned and glanced at hiscompanion. "Dangerous looking specimens, aren't they?"
Talbott wore a sneer. "Quite. The priests will have a lot of fun withthe scaly creature. I understand they're already discussing him--eagerto get their hands on him."
Mike's rage tore at his own throat. He strove for control of hisvoice. "What have you swine done with Doree?"
A look of disappointment came on Talbott's face. "I wanted herfor--for other things, but I wasn't able to handle it. So she comes inhere like the rest."
&nb
sp; "You mean they're going to throw her into that--?" the question wasfrom Nicko as every scale on his body quivered.
Mike saw that the prisoner below had now been removed from the vat. Hehad been laid on a table and one of the priests was advancing upon thebody with a long shining needle in his hand. He pointed the needlevery carefully at a place on the man's skull.
"She's next, I understand," Talbott was saying easily. "She is in theother block. Only male prisoners on this side. They'll bring her insoon. It will be quite a show. Perhaps we'll stay to watch."
Mike could control himself no longer. He flung himself against thebars like a wild beast. Even though in no danger, McKee drew back inalarm.