by Alex Raymond
“Flash Gordon fought in the arena against apemen, and then against tigers,” said Anmar. “He seems to have survived all challenges.”
“That’s Flash, sure enough.”
“His exact whereabouts at present we don’t know. Our informant believes he may have been returned to Ming’s dungeons. At any rate, Zarkov, both he and the girl are alive.”
Zarkov placed a hand on the other man’s shoulder. “Anmar,” he said, “I’ll work on these cannons for you as I promised. After that I am going to work on a few new weapons for myself. Then I’m going to Ming’s capital and I’m going to get Flash and Dale out of there. You and Prince Barin and every damn citizen of Arboria better not try to stop me.”
“We will not,” said Anmar.
CHAPTER 23
Flash awoke. He was surrounded by a thick blackness. He remembered falling a considerable distance and landing on rocky ground. After that he had passed out. “Tun?” he called in a dry voice. “Tun, are you here?”
There was no response.
Flash listened, was certain he heard the sound of breathing nearby. He moved on hands and knees through the dark. “Tun?”
The lion man was stretched out on his back, breathing loudly through his open mouth.
Nudging him gently, Flash asked, “Are you hurt?”
“By the one beady orb of the god of the waters,” exclaimed Tun faintly, “that was a fall, was it not?”
“A good twenty feet.”
“From the feel of myself I broke nothing essential.” Tun grunted as he sat up. “How did you fare, my friend?”
“A few lumps and bruises. Nothing more.”
“Now you have seen for yourself how Ming the Merciless keeps his promises,” said Tun. “And so have those thousands of cowards in the audience seen. Though it’s unlikely they’ll yet take action against him.”
Flash said, “I imagine we’re in one of his dungeons again.”
“Aye, and we may have seen the last of daylight.”
Flash had been squinting into the darkness in various directions. “Seems to be a very small glimmer of light over in that direction.”
“Where? Oh, yes, I perceive it now.”
“I’ll go take a look.”
“Be on the watch for further pitfalls.”
“I don’t see how we can drop any lower underground than we already are.” Flash rose, felt out with his right hand. After a moment his fingertips brushed against stone. “Wall right here.” Keeping his hand in contact with the cold stone wall, Flash worked his way across the room. “Yes, there’s a door right here. Thick, wooden. It closes flush on every side except the bottom. That’s where the light’s coming in.”
“Can you spy anything through the slit?”
Flash knelt, put his face down against the ground. “Stone floor out there, lighted by candlelight.”
“Let me have a look.” Tun crossed to Flash. He dropped down, placing his nose against the tiny crack beneath their cell’s door. “Aye, we’re in a dungeon. I get the scent of others locked away down here. Some of them have been here a good long time and one of them is several days dead.”
“Which means we may not be getting much attention.”
“Aye, perhaps Ming intends to leave us here until we starve to death,” said Tun. “That would not be my favorite way to die. I . . . ow!”
“What’s wrong?”
“I forgot I had put that tigers horn in my belt. Just now I cut my wrist on it.”
“Wait now,” said Flash. “I think I had one in my hand when we dropped through the ground.” Bent low, he felt his way along the ground. “Yes, here it is.
“So then we have two weapons,” said Tun, “but no one to fight.”
“We’ve got that door to fight,” Flash said. “There’s a good chance we can cut our way through.”
Tun rubbed his hands over the rough surface of the thick door. “Indeed we can.” He laughed. “Let us get to work here on this side by the hinges, for I feel no knob or keyhole on our side.”
Flash joined him and they began to work.
An hour later the door rattled and was pushed suddenly open from the outside.
“Stand back,” ordered the Royal Police officer on the threshold. Three other cloaked and helmeted men stood behind him. “Poor innocent babes, did you honestly think we didn’t have your cell monitored with camera eyes? Turn over those weapons to me.”
“You must fight to get them,” challenged Tun, taking a backward step.
“Nay, that we will not do.” The officer nodded at one of his men.
A stun rifle whirred.
The big lion man froze where he stood.
“You’ll get the same if you don’t follow orders,” the Royal Policeman told Flash. “Now, give me that weapon.”
Flash handed it over.
“Collect the one in your half-human friend’s hand.”
Taking the bone horn from Tun’s stiff fingers, Flash gave it to the policeman.
“By the way,” said the officer, “had you succeeded in getting your door open, you would have been killed the instant you stepped into the corridor. There are blaster beams trained on every door. Anyone who tries an unauthorized departure is gunned down at once.” He gave a snickering laugh. “Please be careful in the future; we don’t want you to die.”
“Why?”
“Ming has much more in mind for you.”
CHAPTER 24
Tun groaned once again. His left hand shook, his left arm began to swing down toward his side, his long tail snapped.
Flash had been long enough in the dark cell so that his eyes could make out the life-returning movements of the lion man.
The stun rifle had caused Tun to remain petrified for several hours. Flash had no accurate way of telling time, but he reckoned they had now been in their cell for at least ten hours.
“Tun, how are you?”
“Angry, mighty angry, my friend,” said Tun in a croaking voice. “By the long red whiskers of the god of chance, to think I allowed those whelps to do that to me without even getting a hand on one of them.”
Flash rubbed the big man’s wrists and arms. “Still numb?”
“A trifle, but I’m getting control of myself again,” said Tun. “For a bit there I could still hear and understand what was going on, then that ended. I was like some poor plow horse, sleeping on my feet.” He stretched his arms over his head, causing his spine to crackle. “Did they bring us any food or drink during my catnap?”
“No, nothing.”
“Then indeed Ming may mean for us to starve.”
“The Royal Police gave me the impression Ming has something even more painful in mind.”
The lion man stooped, rubbing at his legs. “You know, my friend, I can understand why Ming hates me. It’s only fair, after all, since the lion men hate him,” he said. “You, however, are a pleasant lad, and come here and make a friendly visit.”
“It must have something to do with Dale.”
“Ah, I should have thought of that. Ming has no doubt taken a fancy to the girl. He believes he’ll have a better chance with her if you are gone.”
Flash’s fists clenched. “I’m afraid that’s it.”
“Someone is coming,” whispered Tun.
The footsteps were light, barely sounding on the stones of the corridor outside. They halted in front of the cell door. Keys rattled softly, two locks clicked, and a bolt was drawn.
The door swung outward. Princess Aura, wearing a full-length black cloak, with its hood hiding her auburn hair, stood there. She stepped into the cell. “Come with me quickly. I have an airship waiting,” she said. “And I’ve seen to it the spy cameras watching this part of the dungeon won’t work for the next few minutes. Come, hurry.”
“Can we trust you?” asked Tun.
“Yes, yes. Only please hurry.”
Flash took hold of her arm. “I can’t leave the capital without Dale Arden.”
“If you stay here yo
u’ll die, die by torture or under the claws of some dreadful beast. You must come with me now, Flash.”
“You know where Dale is?”
Aura said, “Yes, she’s in the north tower, in the women’s quarters.”
“Tell me how to get there,” said Flash, “how to get there with as few people as possible noticing me.”
“You’ll never make it there and back alive. Come with me now.”
Flash shook his head. “Tell me.”
After a second’s hesitation, the princess said, “Very well. Here is what you must do.” She gave him detailed instructions as quickly as she could on how to get from the dungeons to the north tower of the palace. “But,” she concluded, “my father has special guards outside her apartment.”
“Tun, you go with Aura to the airship.”
“Nay, I would come with you.”
“No,” Flash said. “When I have Dale clear of the palace I’ll join you. Aura, where is the ship hidden?”
“On the outskirts of town, near the river.” She told him exactly where the craft was.
“Good luck to you then, my friend,” said Tun, “Well be waiting.”
“Wait only an hour, no more.” Flash stepped out into the corridor and moved away from them.
At the first turning, he went right as Aura had told him. Pacing off exactly ten feet, Flash reached up and pulled down on the iron candle holder mounted on the stone wall.
Silently, a section of the wall swung open. There was a stairway beyond, with an unlit candle sitting on the lowest step. Flash took it, lighted it from the wall candle and stepped through to the stairs.
The wall closed behind him.
It took Flash ten minutes to travel through the walls of the dungeon, across a concealed catwalk into the walls of Ming’s palace. The air was hot and dry. He encountered no one.
Finally he reached the point inside the north tower that he was seeking. He located a stone flower on the wall and twisted it a full turn to the right. A narrow slice of wall swung inward.
Thick velvet draperies blocked his view. Flash listened for a moment before finding the slit in the drapes and parting them a fraction of an inch.
He saw the door of Dale’s apartment and two guards seated before it, one on each side. The man on the left was slumped in sleep. The other guard had his cloak wrapped tight around him as though cold. He was awake.
Flash coughed. The guard didn’t notice. Flash coughed again louder.
The man sat up, glancing around. He left his chair, and came cautiously down the marble floor of the hall.
Another loud cough brought the man directly in front of the drapes. “What is this I hear?” the guard asked himself.
Flash’s fist shot swiftly through the parting in the drapes to connect with the guard’s jaw.
Before the unconscious man could hit the floor, Flash had yanked him through the drapes and into the secret passage. Working rapidly, he bound and gagged the guard with strips torn from the man’s own garments.
After borrowing his cloak and keys, Flash stepped out into the corridor, leaving the unconscious guard behind.
The other guard slept on.
Flash moved silently closer to the door. He got the correct key on the second try, unlocked Dale’s door, and pushed it carefully open. He entered the apartment, closing the door behind him.
The dark-haired girl was at the open door to the balcony, watching the night sky. She turned, saying, “You’re not supposed . . . Flash!” She came running across the thick white fur rug to him.
“It’s taken longer than I planned to find you.”
“Oh, Flash.” She put her arms around him.
Flash kissed her, then gently pushed her back. “We’ve got to get out of here right now, Dale.”
“They took all my things, so I will go as I am.”
“Does Ming have Dr. Zarkov?”
“No,” she said. “Didn’t you rendezvous with him after the crash?”
“I was too late,” replied Flash. “My guess is he was grabbed by someone, but if not by Ming’s men, I don’t know who.”
Dale gave him one more quick hug. “Okay, I’m ready. We can talk later.”
They had taken two steps toward the door when it opened.
Ming stepped into the apartment.
CHAPTER 25
The street was illuminated by floating globes of light. Each floated ten feet up, glowing pale orange, pale yellow, and pale green. Great leafy oaks lined the walkway, casting intricate shadow patterns on the paving and the mosaic stones of the wide street. A faint wind had risen and was blowing thin tatters of mist up from the night river.
Tun, wearing a dark cloak provided by Aura, walked at the girl’s side. “By the three gilded horns of the goddess of fate,” he muttered, “I wish we could move faster.”
“We’re out in the open now,” reminded Princess Aura. “We don’t want to attract attention by running.”
“Aye, I suppose you’re right.”
This was a street of shops, small shops with bright awnings and cluttered windows. All the shops were dark, save for an occasional night light burning far back in the shadows. Fruit and vegetables were displayed in one window, swords and knives in another, a jumble of marine equipment in yet another.
“You haven’t known Flash Gordon long, have you?” asked Aura.
“Nay, but I know him well. We have been through much together in a very short time.”
“I suppose,” said the girl, “he’s in love with Dale Arden, very much in love.”
Tun said, “He’s traveled far and fought hard to find her. I would venture to say he does indeed love the girl.”
“But he’s never actually talked about it?” They reached the corner and she beckoned him to the right.
The river was in sight now. “Sometimes among men, especially among fighting men, Princess, such things are not spoken of. I don’t exactly know why, though such is the case.”
There was more light on the river side of this street. Several cafes and saloons were open and doing considerable business.
“The old wharf we want,” said Aura, “lies about a half mile beyond this district.”
“You could not have arranged all this yourself.”
“No, I had some assistance.”
Tun reached a big hand up under his concealing hood to scratch at his mane. “Then there may be some possibility of betrayal.”
“No,” the princess assured him. “There are people, a few yet, in the palace whom I can trust completely.”
“Hey there, you two,” called a blurred voice from behind them.
Tun slowed, stopped, and turned.
Two big men in the cloaks and helmets of the Royal Police were approaching them. The men had come out of one of the saloons and now crossed the street.
“What is it you wish?” asked Tun.
“Keep your temper,” warned Aura in a whisper.
“You needn’t tremble in your boots, my oafish friend,” said the policeman who’d hailed them. “We are off duty, not on official business.”
His companion laughed, swaying some as he did. “Aye, our only official business is to raise as many tankards of good green ale as we can.”
“And that, oaf, is why we have detained you.”
“Exactly,” continued the other. “For we stand in need of a young lady to share the evening with us.”
“You appear to be, oaf, in possession of a young lady. Therefore, we must humbly request that you turn her over to us with all haste.”
“Lest we shoot you dead in your tracks,” the other added.
“A moment if you please,” said Tun. “True it is that I travel with a young woman. I must warn you, however, she is my spinster sister and the reason for her long season of maindenhood is her extreme ugliness.”
“She is ugly, say you?”
“Very much so,” said Tun, “though it pains me to say such of my own flesh and blood.”
“We shan’t,” sai
d one of the Royal Police, “simply take your word for it.”
“Nay, Sir Oaf, we needs must see for ourselves.”
“I was about to suggest the very thing,” said the lion man. “Step closer, gentlemen, look within the hood.”
The two men moved, swaying, closer to Aura. Heads side by side, one reached out to push aside the dark hood.
Then the lion man acted. He reached out, banged their heads together. It produced a great crunch.
Before the policemen recovered from the shock, Tun administered chopping blows to the neck of each. They staggered, stumbled, and sprawled on the mosaic pavement.
“Now,” announced Tun, “I believe we will run.”
CHAPTER 26
The emperor, tracing his moustache with his bony forefinger, said, “Flash Gordon, isn’t it?” He allowed the door to close behind him.
“Yes, Ming.”
“I should have suspected something, since the monitors in your cell haven’t been functioning for the past half hour.”
“I’ve come to take Dale away from here,” Flash told him.
A dry chattering laugh shook Ming. “Have you indeed, my audacious alien visitor? You’ve come without weapons or allies in the foolish hope you might win out against me—against the Emperor. That is truly daring.”
“So is this.” Flash leaped at the saffron-robed Ming.
The emperor eluded him, drawing out a pistol from beneath his cloak. “You will die by your own weapon, Flash Gordon.” The pistol crackled.
But Flash was flying through the air, low and under the blast of the pistol.
“You dare touch me,” gasped Ming as Flash tackled him.
The two men fell to the floor. A marble table toppled over, throwing a heavy bronze lamp onto the thick rug.
Flash clutched the wrist of the hand holding the gun. “Let go.”
“Nay, I will not,” but Ming could hold on no longer. With a cry of pain, he dropped the pistol.
Dale ran over, grabbed it.
With a violent twist, Ming threw Flash off him.
Flash’s head thunked hard against a corner of the fallen marble table.