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"Let's get out of here, Anina." He must have made a slight noise, or perhaps he and Anina, crouching there on the stairs, were seen by some one above. He never knew quite how it occurred, but, without warning, a man stood at the opening, looking down at them. There was a shout, and the room above was in instant turmoil. Mercer lost his head.
Then they sat down, together and ate about half the few remaining pieces of bread which Mercer was carrying in the pockets of his jacket. They were both tired out. Anina particularly was very sleepy. When they had finished eating Anina lay down, and Mercer covered her with the blanket. She smiled up at him. "Good night, Anina." "Good night, my friend Ollie."
In spite of all Mercer could do, they were blowing steadily closer to the wave-lashed cliffs. He began to despair. "If anything happens, Anina you fly up at once. You hear? Don't you wait. You can't help me any. I'll make out some way.
But we did know and the knowledge left us trembling and unnerved. I leaped to my feet, pulling Miela after me, and in a few moments more we were back beside the projector we had left with Mercer and Anina. Suddenly a white shape appeared in the sky over the city. It passed perilously close above the shattered light-barrage and came sailing out in our direction.
Mercer turned and looked back. The shore had already dropped almost to the rim of the close-encircling horizon. He leaned over toward Anina, resting one hand on the bamboo handle she was holding. "How long will it take us to get there, Anina?" He knew the girl would understand his words, but he did not realize she had little basis for comparing time in his language.
The king abruptly ceased his shouting and left the balcony. As he passed me and I glanced into his frightened face I felt a sudden sense of pity for this gentle, kindly old man, so well-meaning, but so utterly ineffective as a ruler. I was about to pull Miela back into the room when a girl flew up to the balcony railing. As she balanced herself upon it I saw it was Anina.
Miela came first, alighting with a swift, triumphant swoop upon the roof where Mercer and I were sitting. One glance at her face told me she had been successful. "They will come, my husband," she announced. "And they are ready and eager, all of them, to do what they can." Anina and Lua brought the same news.
Very cautiously they approached and soon made out the vague outlines of a boat moored to the bank. It seemed similar to the one in which they had come down the bayous from the Great City, only slightly larger. "Other men," whispered Anina. "From Lone City." Mercer's heart sank. A party from the Lone City more of Tao's men to join those he had set free! All his fine plans were swept away.
The men would all go up to the Lone City now in the boat, of course. There was nothing he could do to stop them. And now Tao would learn of the failure of his plans. Mercer's first idea was to give up and return to the shore of the sea; but Anina kept on going cautiously forward, and he followed her.
The rest of the girls he would send back to me with the platform, to tell Miela and me to come over the next evening to the end of the trail. He and Anina meanwhile would keep close behind the men, and then when the cañon was neared, get around in front of them, and bar their farther advance. This would be easy since he could walk and run much faster than they, and Anina could fly.
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