Part 23 (2/2)

Under it, and anchoring it, was a concrete wall all around the city.

Izzy came back from a careful exploration. ”We can work enough powder under those webbing supports, and lay the fuse wire beside the plastic ring that keeps it airtight,” he reported. ”But G.o.d help us, gov'nor, if any gee spots us.”

They worked through the night, while Rusty went back to requisition more explosives from the dwindling supply, and while the Kid and Izzy took time off to break into a closed converter plant and find wire enough to connect the charges. But dawn caught them with less done than they had hoped. Gordon went to connect a wire and switch from the battery and coil they had installed, but jerked backwards as he saw a suspicious guard staring at him.

”Let him think we're just scouting,” Randolph advised.

There were suspicious looks as the group came back to the Coop, but Mother Corey waddled over to meet them. ”Did you find them, cobber?” he asked quickly, and one of his eyelids flickered.

Izzy answered before Gordon could rise to it. ”Not yet, Mother. May have to go back tonight.”

Gordon left them discussing the mythical search for certain supplies that Mother Corey had apparently used as an alibi for their absence from the building. Sheila started to make coffee, but he shook his head and headed for the bed. She yawned and nodded, fingering the st.i.tches that still ran down the blanket to divide it. Then she grimaced faintly and dropped down beside him on top of the blanket. Her head hit his arm, and she seemed to be asleep almost at once.

He awoke to find Izzy shaking his shoulder. He looked down for Sheila, but she was gone. Izzy followed his eyes, and shook his head.

”The princess took off in a car three hours ago,” he said. ”She said it was something that had to be done, gov'nor, so I figured you'd know about it.”

Gordon shrugged, and let it pa.s.s. He found the rest of the group ready, with Mother Corey wis.h.i.+ng them better luck tonight. The Mother obviously knew something; but he kept his suspicions to himself, and gave them a cover from the others.

There was no sign of Sheila near the dome. But inside, there were guards pacing along it. Gordon spotted them first, and drew the others back. If they'd found the carefully worked-in powder...

The Kid ducked down and out of the car, worming his way around the building that concealed them. He waited for the guard to vanish, and then went crawling forward. Gordon swore, but there was no sense in two of them risking themselves, only to attract more attention. And at last the Kid came back. He ducked into the truck, nodding.

”Wire and explosive still there?” Gordon asked.

The Kid made the sound he used for a.s.sent.

It made no sense; there was no reason for the sudden vigilance inside the dome.

”We might be able to run the wire in,” Izzy said doubtfully.

Gordon grunted. ”And tip them off to where it is, probably. No, we'll have to do it under some kind of covering, the way I had it planned in the first place, only with one more d.a.m.ned complication. We'll pull another false raid on the dome. As soon as we get chased off, I'll manage to set it off while they're relaxing and laughing at us.”

”It smells!” Izzy told him. ”Who elected you chief martyr around here?

You'll be blown up, gov'nor--and if you ain't, they'll rip you to ribbons for knocking off the dome.”

Then he stopped suddenly, staring. Bruce Gordon leaned forward, with Izzy's hands grabbing for him. But he'd seen it, too.

Standing next to the dome was Trench, talking to one of the guards. And beside him stood Sheila, with one hand resting on the man's elbow!

He could feel the thickness of the silence and misery in the truck, but he pushed it away, with all the other things. ”Get us back, Izzy,” he ordered. ”We've got to round up whatever group we can and get them back here on the double. They must be counting on our original time, so they're in no hurry to remove the powder and wiring. But we can't count on any more time.”

”You're going through with it?” Randolph asked doubtfully.

”In one hour. And you might pa.s.s the word along that we're doing it to save the dome. Tell the men we just found out that Trench is losing and intends to blow it up instead of letting the Legals win.”

Rumor would travel fast enough, he hoped. And it should give him a few extra seconds before his forces cracked.

He lifted the switch in his hands and stared at it. It wasn't necessary now. All he had to do was to reach the battery and drop any metal across the two terminals there--if they could get back before Trench--and Sheila--could remove the battery.

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