by E. K. Jarvis
kicked them cruelly to their feet and theystaggered off into the darkness before Katal'halee's weapon, stillpleading for mercy.
Mertaan appeared to forget about them. He turned to Mike. "Into yourship. Quick! There is not too much time."
"You're helping us to make our escape?"
"I have a reason. Hurry."
They went up the ramp and inside. Mertaan stopped just outside thehatch and Mike turned. The Baserite said, "I know not from whence youcame, stranger, but I ask that you go back to your world, wherever itis. Tell your people of us and plead our cause. Tell of thegenerations of cruelty on this planet and bring help for theoppressed. This I ask of you."
"But this uprising--your attack--"
Mertaan shook his head. "It does not go well. We will fight to thedeath as my people have fought before but I fear the result. ThePtomenites are powerful."
"Thanks." Mike held out his hand.
The Baserite took it, a little clumsily and smiled a farewell to Nickowho was peering around Mike, interpreting. "Go with your gods," theBaserite said. Then he turned and hurried back to the carnage and thebloodshed....
* * * * *
"Father is resting," Doree said. "I'm sure he'll be all right in alittle while. The treatment he received was a shock."
"It would have shaken a far stronger man. He'll be all right when hegets back to Terra and they honor him for this discovery."
The ship rocketed smoothly through space. Doree slipped into Mike'sarms. "He found what he wanted. So did I." Mike kissed her.
A while later she asked, "Do you think the Baserites won?"
Mike stared out through the port, his eyes sad. "Somehow I don't thinkso. We can only hope. But soon a few thousand ships will appear intheir skies. Their doors will be opened to all the universe andtyranny will not survive."
"Then we'll go back," Doree said.
"Then we'll go back."
THE END
* * * * *