Part 26 (2/2)

Then a spear went past Hoddan's face and missed him only by inches. It buried its point in the floor. A whirling knife spun past his nose. He glanced up. There were balconies all around the great hall, and men popped up from behind the railings and threw things at him. They popped down out of sight instantly. There was no rhythm involved. He could not antic.i.p.ate their rising, nor shoot them through the balcony front. And more men infiltrated the hall, getting behind heavy chairs and tables, to push toward him behind them as shovable s.h.i.+elds. More spears and knives flew.

”Bron!” cried the Lady Fani, throatily.

He thought she had an exit for him. He sprang to her side.

”I ... I didn't want you to come,” she wept.

There was a singular pause in the clangings and clas.h.i.+ngs of weapons on the floor. For a second the noises continued. Then they stopped. Then one man popped up and hurled a knife. The clang of its fall was a very lonely one. Don Loris fairly howled at him.

”Idiot! Think of the Lady Fani!”

The Lady Fani suddenly smiled tremulously.

”Wonderful!” she said. ”They don't dare do anything while you're as close to me as this!”

”Do you suppose,” asked Hoddan, ”I could count on that?”

”I'm certain of it!” said Fani. ”And I think you'd better.”

”Then, excuse me,” said Hoddan with great politeness.

He swung her up and over his shoulder. With a stun-pistol in his free hand he headed down the hall.

”Outside,” she said zestfully. ”Get out the side door and turn left, and n.o.body can jump down on your neck. Then left again to the gate.”

He obeyed. Now and again he got in a pot-shot with his pistol. Don Loris had turned the castle into a very pretty trap. The Lady Fani said plaintively:

”This is terribly undignified, and I can't see where we're going. Where are we now?”

”Almost at the gate,” panted Hoddan. ”At it, now.” He swung out of the ma.s.sive entrance to Don Loris' stronghold. ”I can put you down now.”

”I wouldn't,” said the Lady Fani. ”In spite of the end of me that's uppermost, I think you'd better make for the s.p.a.ceboat exactly as we are.”

Again Hoddan obeyed, racing across the open ground. Howls of fury followed him. It was evidently the opinion of the castle that the Lady Fani was to be abducted in the place of the seven returned spearmen.

Hoddan, breathing hard, reached the s.p.a.ceboat. He put Fani down and said anxiously:

”You're all right? I'm very much in your debt! I was in a spot!” Then he nodded toward the castle. ”They are upset, aren't they? They must think I mean to kidnap you.”

The Lady Fani beamed.

”It would be terrible if you did,” she said hopefully. ”I couldn't do a thing to stop you! And a successful public abduction's a legal marriage, on Darth! Wouldn't it be terrible?”

Hoddan mopped his face and patted her rea.s.suringly on the shoulder.

”Don't worry!” he said warmly. ”You just got me out of an awful fix!

You're my friend! And anyhow I'm going to marry a girl on Walden, named Nedda. Good-by, Fani! Keep clear of the rocket blast.”

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