Part 12 (1/2)

Chaney stood still as he took this in. Then he raised his voice. ”Uncle Ken! Uncle Ken!” He started toward the platform, lira tagging along behind him.

The man turned, smiling in welcome. ”Yon!”

he called. ”At last”

Chaney was half-way to the platform now.

Thank G.o.d you're all right. It's been pretty hec- tic out there.”

”I can imagine,” said Uncle Ken, and his smile faded.

”What is it?” Chaney asked, closing the gap between them. ”What's going on?”

Uncle Ken looked around, indicating with a gesture that this was not the place for such a dis- cussion. He addressed the escort. Thank you, Bycroft, you may leave now.”

”As you wish.” said the young officer, saluting briskly before turning his men and exiting from the conference hall quickly.

”If you two will come with me,” said Uncle

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Chelsea Quinn farbw

Ken thoughtfully, ”I think we can explain every- thing. Demoiselle Bouriere, I know you must be worried for your family.” His sympathy seemed genuine enough, but Tira hung back from Uncle Ken, placing more faith in the man she knew.

There was a side door and Uncle Ken led them through it while discussing the size of the under- ground installation. ”There's quite a complex above us, on the surface, but its nothing like this.”

”What is on the surface?” asked Tira.

”I thought I told you,” said Uncle Ken as they entered yet another short hallway. ”There's a large complex of administrative buildings,”

”In the middle of the desert?” said Tira.

”Room is precious, even in this part of the planet,” said Uncle Ken, ushering them into a side room.

Four Navy men were waiting, and they stepped up to Chaney, confining his arms and taking his pistol.

”What the devil. . . !” Chaney burst out. He struggled, trying to strike out at the four men.

Uncle Ken shook his head in commiseration.

”I'm sony, my boy, truly sony. But you've gotten too deep in something you should have avoided.

You cannot be allowed to interfere.” He started to add something when a loud report filled the room.

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There was a smoking hole in the side of Tira s reticule, and a much larger, bleeding one at the base of Uncle Kens ribs. She stepped aside as Uncle Ken collapsed, and carefully pulled the Samtoepoe A7mark923 into view. ”I think,” she said very calmly, ”that you had better let him go,”

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