proar. It streaked upward, wavering from side to side and making the
golden walls visible in a ghostly fashion. It shivered in a hasty
rhythm.

Aten groaned, almost sobbed. There was another flash of that
unbearable actinic flame. A thermit-thrower was in action. Then a
third flash. This was farther away. The tumult died suddenly, but the
green light-beam continued its motion.

Tommy was snapping questions. Aten spoke, and choked upon his words.
Tommy swore in a sudden raging passion and then turned a chalky face
toward the other two men from Earth.

"The prisoners!" he said in a hoarse voice. "The men from Rahn! They
broke loose. They rushed an arsenal. With hand weapons and a
thermit-thrower they fought their way to a place where the big
vehicles are kept. They raided a dwelling-tower on the way and seized
women. They've gone off on the metal roads through the jungle!" He
tried to ease his collar. Aten, still watching the green beam, croaked
another sentence. "Those devils have got Evelyn!" cried Tommy
hoarsely. "My God! Aten's wife, and his...." He jerked a hand toward
the Councilor. "Fifty women--gone through the jungle with them, toward
Rahn! Those devils have got Evelyn!"

He whirled upon Aten, seizing his shoulder, shaking the man as he
roared questions.

"No chance of catching them." Far away, in the jungle, the infinitely
vivid actinic flame blazed for several seconds. "They've sprayed
thermit on the road. It's melted and ruined. It'd take hours to haul
the ground vehicles past the gap. They're got arms and lights. They
can fight off the beasts and Ragged Men. They'll make Rahn. And
then"--he shook with the rage that possessed him--"Jacaro's there with
those gunmen of his and his friends the Ragged Men!"

* * * * *

He seemed to control himself with a terrific effort. He turned to the
white-bearded Councilor, whose bearing was that of a man stunned by
disaster. Tommy spoke measuredly, choosing words with a painstaking
care, clipping the words crisply as he spoke.

The Councilor stiffened. Old as he was, an undeniable fighting light
came into his eyes. He barked orders right and left. Men woke from the
paralysis of shock and fled upon errands of his command. And Tommy
turned to Denham and Smithers.

"The women will be safe until dawn," he said evenly. "Our late
prisoners can't lose the way--aluminum roads that are no longer much
used lead between all the cities--but the