Occasional dark houses. Deserted streets.
I slowed to a fast walk. I was breathless, panting in the heat.
I heard no pursuit now. But Sp.a.w.n and the rest of them doubtless were after me. Would they head back for Sp.a.w.n"s inn? I thought they would.
But I could beat them back there; I was sure there was no shorter route than this I was taking.
Would they use their flyer? That would not gain them any time, what with launching it and landing, for so short a flight. And a bandit flyer could not very well land unseen or unnoticed, even in somnolent Nareda.
I reached the main section of the village. There were occasional lights and pedestrians. My haste was noticeable, but I was not accosted. There seemed no police about. I recalled Perona"s remark that he had attended to that.
My electrode was tingling. I had been running again. I slowed down.
"Chief?"
"Phil." His voice carried relief. "You got away?"
"Yes. I"m in the village."
"Go to President Markes."
"No, I"m headed for Sp.a.w.n"s! They"re all behind me; I can get there a few minutes ahead of them."
I panted an exclamation, incoherently, but frankly, about Jetta. "I"m going to get her out of there."
"Phil, what in h.e.l.l--"
I told him.
"So you"ve fallen in love with a girl? Entangled--"
"Chief!"
"Go after her, Phil! Got her bound and gagged, have they? Going to marry her to this Perona? Like the Middle Ages?"
I had never seen this side of Hanley.
"Get her if you want her. Get her out of there. Take her to Markes--No, I wouldn"t trust anybody in Nareda! Take her into the uplands behind the village. But keep away from that mine! Have you got flash-fuses?"
"Yes."
I was within sight of Sp.a.w.n"s house. The street was dim and deserted. I was running again.
I panted. "I"m--almost at Sp.a.w.n"s!"
"Good! When it"s over, whatever happens up there at the mine, then signal the patrol."
"Yes."
I reached Sp.a.w.n"s front gate. The house and front garden were dark.
"Use your fuses, Phil. What colors?"
"I have red and blue."
"I"ll talk to the patrol ship again. Tell them to watch for you. Red and blue. Two short red flashes, a long blue."
"Right, Chief. I"m here at Sp.a.w.n"s, cutting off."
"Come back on when you can." His voice went anxious again. "I"ll wait here."
"All right."
I cut silent. I ran through the front doorway of Sp.a.w.n"s inn. The living room was dim and empty. Which way was Jetta"s room? I could only guess.
I had a few minutes, perhaps, before my pursuers would arrive.
I reached the inner, patio garden. The moon was well out from under the clouds now. The patio shimmered, a silent, deserted fairyland.
"Jetta!" I called it softly. Then louder. "Jetta!"
Sp.a.w.n"s house was fairly large and rambling. There were so many rooms.
Jetta was gagged; how could she answer me? But I had no time to search for her.
"Jetta?"
And then came her voice. "Philip?"
"Jetta! Which way? Where are you?"
"Here! This way: in my room."
A window and a door near the pergola. "Jetta!"
"Yes. I am in here. They tied me up. Not so loud, Phil: father will hear you."
"He"s gone out."
I reached her garden door. Turned its handle. Rattled the door. Shoved frantically with my shoulder!
The metal door was firmly sealed!
_(To be continued)_