tcher bearers
moving away from the wreck. His spirits rose as he identified three of
the casualties. McKee, Talbott, Katal'halee. Were any or all of them
dead? He had no way of knowing. But at least they appeared to be past
caring about the four prisoners--at least for a time.

This did not insure safety however. The entrance to the improvised
cave darkened and a face appeared. Mike held his breath, expecting
challenge and exposure.

But none came. Then Mike realized that dusk had fallen and the eyes of
the searcher could not penetrate their hiding place with any degree of
surety. There were sharp words in the alien tongue. Obviously the
searcher was calling for any trapped or injured person.

Desperately, Mike hoped he would let it go at that. But such was not
the case. The man got down on his knees and pushed inside.

He found himself taken instantly into the iron grasp of three
desperate tenants. The H'Lorkan got him by the legs, Nicko hit him in
the middle, and Mike got strong hands on his throat, drove powerful
fingers into it, shutting off the man's breath forever.

The man struggled helplessly for a few moments. Then he lay still as
Mike snapped his neck suddenly backward and broke it.

* * * * *

The darkness served another purpose. It kept Doree from the horror of
seeing a man killed not two feet from her eyes. But she realized what
was happening and buried her face in her hands.

"I'm sorry," Mike whispered. "But this is a matter of survival. Try
and look at it in that light."

There was nothing to do now but wait. Mike's hopes were slim and
desperate ones--that the slain man would not be missed for a while,
and that the wreckage of the ship would not be cleared away until the
following day.

The time dragged. Activity around the wreck dwindled and died out.
Total darkness had not yet come and Mike prayed for a few more minutes
of safety. But he was not to get it. A commotion over toward the city
brought him to a break in the wreckage through which he could scan
the area. A huge derrick-like affair, encrusted with the usual gold
and gems, was lumbering toward the wrecked platform. A gang of workmen
followed on foot. Incandescent balls were carried by another group,
brightly illuminating the scene.

"We've got to run for it!" Mike said. "Out--everybody! Run straight to
the left! There's an airfield over there. McKee and Talbott's ship is
on the far edge. I saw it jus