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The Mercutians were not cowards. At the moment of the diversion, every one of them had gone for his sun-tube. A flame streaked close to Hilary's head, shivered the opposite wall into molten fragments. He ducked behind a table and fired. A Mercutian threw up his hands, staggered and pitched forward heavily.
"It was an unexpected blow; it caught me unawares," he said heatedly. "I'll break the slave in two." "Try it without your sun-tube," said Hilary laconically. The captain made a movement toward him. "Leave him alone," Artok cried sharply. He seemed to enjoy his Captain's discomfiture. "I have other plans for him. Now go. Take the girl with you. I'll watch this presumptuous Earthling."
Very carefully Hilary protruded his head around the vita-crystal, and ducked back almost instantly. But his quick eye had taken in all the essential details in that momentary vision. There were about a dozen Mercutians in the long laboratory, and each had a sun-tube dangling from his belt, ready at hand.
If he could not change the weather, at least he could destroy the infernal thing, stop its grinding out perfect sunshine for the Mercutians. He lifted his weapon. Off to one side a Mercutian arm advanced cautiously, bringing up a sun-tube. He swung on it and fired. The sun-tube clattered to the floor and the arm jerked back, accompanied by a howl of anguish.
The smarting pain tore the pistol out of his hand. It dropped to the floor, unheeded. Hilary found himself staring into the gross unpleasant face of Urga, a sun-tube trained directly at his midriff. "The Earth slave who tried to slink into the building," Urga said, surprised. "How did he get up here?" "I don't know," the Viceroy said shortly, working the gag out of his mouth.
That gray-faced giant turned his head suddenly, jumped up as fast as his lumbering alien weight could move, snatched at his sun-tube. "Don't move an inch, if you want to live," a deep, slow voice vibrated through the room. A well-remembered voice. Hilary would have laughed aloud his relief, but he was gagged. His comrades had not failed them.
"I take your pretty Earth maiden with me. In five minutes I return, with others. You cannot escape. Good-by." He jumped clumsily through the door. The crouching Earthmen heard a click. It had closed behind him. Hilary and his companions cleared the stairs in almost a single bound. He had snatched the sun-tube out of Wat's hand.
The Viceroy thrust off from him his bright yellow robes, wriggled his vast bulk swiftly into a close-fitting dull-gray tunic. To his belt he fastened little round knobs; the sun-tube dangled swankily at one side. He was accoutered for battle. He seemed to have forgotten the existence of the Earthlings.
And remember, if they escape, just turn that sun-tube of yours on yourself. It will be pleasanter for you. Understand?" "Yes, Magnificent." The obsequious guard caught hold of Hilary, under the watchful tube of Artok, and proceeded with clumsy weighted fingers to tie him up. Hilary did not resist. An idea was slowly forming in his mind. Joan's turn came next.
He slew your comrade, Gornu." The captain started, peered into his captive's unflinching countenance. "He's disguised!" he cried. "Let me kill him, Magnificent." He fingered his sun-tube significantly. The Viceroy was in high good humor now. "Not so fast. You would let him off too easy. I have a better scheme. We shall show the mutinous dogs how we treat those who revolt against our will."
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