Part 56 (1/2)

Running and running, through the empty dark. Irisis was dragged around a corner and struck her knee on a projecting rock. She cried out.

'What's the matter?'

'Just a broken kneecap!' she said.

'I've climbed mountains with worse. Stop moaning and get on with it.'

'When we get out of here, you hateful man, I'm going to give you the biggest drubbing you've ever had in your life.'

'A drubbing drubbing?' He smiled. 'I'll look forward to it.'

'Lift's not far ahead now,' he said some time later.

'Where's Ullii?'

'Up ahead. She knows how to take care of herself.'

'But does she know how to take care of us?'

'What do you mean?' They rounded the last corner and Flydd began to laugh.

'What's so funny?'

'We're at the edge of the lift shaft. Don't go forward. The lift's gone. Ullii has wound it up without us.'

'Call her down again.'

'Ullii?' he bawled. The sound echoed and re-echoed in the shaft. 'Bring that lift down again, right away right away!'

Silence, over which she could hear the sound of running feet.

'Ullii?'

She did not reply but the lift rope began to move down. Irisis could hear it swis.h.i.+ng through the water, which lay just below the lip of the entrance to their level.

'Hurry up!'

Ullii whimpered. The footsteps came closer. Irisis recognised the wheezing breath of Jal-Nish. She cursed. He'd got out after all.

'Basket's here,' said Flydd, who had freed his hands. He helped Irisis over the side into the basket, cut her bonds and put her hands on the crank. 'As soon as I give the word, wind like fury.'

'Stop!' panted Jal-Nish. 'Stop or we'll shoot.'

The basket swayed as Flydd sprang in. 'Wind the d.a.m.n thing! There's only two, Jal-Nish and one soldier.'

Irisis heaved at the crank. The basket jerked up.

'Shoot them!' roared Jal-Nish. 'Shoo Where's your d.a.m.ned crossbow, soldier?'

'It went under the floor, surr, when I was pulling you out. Sorry, surr ...'

'Useless fool,' Jal-Nish screamed. 'They're getting away and we can't do anything about it.'

Xervish Flydd laughed fit to burst. 'Goodbye, Jal-Nish. Don't forget to put this in your next despatch to the Council. I'll certainly mention it in mine.'

As they neared the top, Flydd called up to the lift guards, 'Jal-Nish is in trouble at the bottom. Better get down after him.'

The guards whispered to one another. Wasn't Flydd an outlaw now?

'Hurry up!' roared Flydd, helping Irisis over the side. Used to obeying without question, the guards did as they were told.

Once their basket reached the bottom, Flydd cut the lift rope. 'A good evening's work,' he said, whistling jauntily, and headed up the tunnel.

They reached the upper entrance without incident. He flashed the signal lantern and the air-floater came drifting down to the top of the hill.

'What happens now?' said Irisis, snuggling into a canvas seat. Ullii was already hidden in a corner, under the bench.

'We let out all Jal-Nish's skeets, to give us a few extra days, drop Oon-Mie and Zoyl at a safe manufactory, then go to a rendezvous,' said Flydd. 'I don't know what we'll find there. How are your eyes?'

'How do you think they are?' she snapped.

'Have you tried them lately?'

'No. Why would I?'

He untied the bandage and pulled off the pads, which had stuck to her eyelids.

'Ouch!' she said.

'Can you see anything?'

'I can't open my eyes.'

They were gummed shut with yellow secretions. Calling for a bowl of water, he bathed her eyelids until they came un-gummed.

'Now try.'

She rubbed her eyes, opened them and stared at where she thought he was. 'I still can't see anything.'

'Of course not. You're looking out into the dark. Turn around.' He turned her. 'There.'

She gazed at him and slowly her eyes began to water. Tears flooded her cheeks.

'I can't be that ugly,' he said gruffly.

'I can see!' she cried. 'I can see!' Throwing her arms around him, she sobbed her heart out.