Part 29 (1/2)

”Hm-m-m,” said Hoddan. ”Why don't you think I've already done it?”

”Because they'd have killed you,” said Derec. ”Don Loris pointed that out. He doesn't believe you know how to make deathrays. He says it's not a secret anybody would be willing for anybody else to know. But ...

you know the truth, Bron! You killed that poor man back on Walden.

You've got to sacrifice yourself for humanity! You'll be treated kindly!”

Hoddan shook his head. It seemed somehow very startling for Derec to be harping on that same idea, after so many things had happened to Hoddan.

But he didn't think Derec would actually expect him to yield to persuasion. There must be something else. Derec might even have nerved himself up to something quite desperate.

”What did you really come here for, Derec?”

”To beg you to--”

Then, in one instant, Derec made an hysterical gesture and Hoddan's stun-pistol hummed. A small object left Derec's hand as his muscles convulsed from the stun-pistol bolt. It did not fly quite true. It fell a foot or so to one side of the boatport instead of inside.

It exploded luridly as Derec crumpled from the pistol bolt. There was thick, strangling smoke. Hoddan disappeared. When the thickest smoke drifted away there was nothing to be seen but Derec, lying on the ground, and thinner smoke drifting out of the still-open boatport.

Nearly half an hour later, figures came very cautiously toward the s.p.a.ceboat. Thal was their leader. His expression was mournful and depressed. Other brawny retainers came uncertainly behind him. At a nod from Thal, two of them picked up Derec and carted him off toward the castle.

”I guess he got it,” said Thal dismally.

He peered in. He shook his head.

”Wounded, maybe, and crawled off to die.”

He peered in again and shook his head once more.

”No sign of 'im.”

A spearman just behind Thal said:

”Dirty trick! I was with him to Walden, and he paid off good! A good man! Shoulda been a chieftain! Good man!”

Thal entered the s.p.a.ceboat. Gingerly. He wrinkled his nose at the faint smell of explosive still inside. Another man came in. Another.

”Say!” said one of them in a conspiratorial voice. ”We got our share of that loot from Walden. But he hadda share, too! What'd he do with it? He could've kept it in this boat here. We could take a quick look! What Don Loris don't know don't hurt him!”

”I'm going to find Hoddan first,” said Thal, with dignity. ”We don't have to carry him outside so's Don Loris knows we're looking for loot, but I'm going to find him first.”

There were other men in the s.p.a.ceboat now. A full dozen of them. Their spears were very much in the way.

The boat door closed quietly. Don Loris' retainers stared at each other.

The locking-dogs grumbled for half a second, sealing the door tightly.

Don Loris' retainers began to babble protestingly.