But after a moment there was a shuffling of feet and a whispering that grew to a murmur. Then out of the murmur came derisive shouts and catcalls. "King Hector the First!" somebody hooted. "Long live the king!" The words could have been gratifying but the tone of voice was all wrong. "Where's Hector's crown?" somebody else cried. "Hey, Jack, did you forget to bring the crown?" "Yeah," Jack said. "I forgot. But I got a rope over on my truck. We could elevate him that way." Jack was obviously joking, but a group of men in another part of the crowd pushed toward the platform. "Yeah," one of them said, "let's string him up." A woman at the back of the crowd screamed. Two hairy figures about five feet tall appeared from the darkness. They were kangaroo-like, with long tails. No one tried to stop them, and the creatures reached the platform and pulled Hector down. They placed him between them and, their way clear now, began to hop away. Their hops grew longer as they reached the edge of the square. Their leaps had become prodigious as they disappeared in the direction of North Lake, Civek in his heavy coat looking almost like one of them. Don Cort couldn't tell whether the creatures were kidnaping Civek or rescuing him. VIII Hector Civek hadn't been found by the time Judge Helms' court convened at 10:00 A.M. Joe Negus was there, wearing a new suit and looking confident. His confederate, Hank Stacy, was obviously trying to achieve the same poise but not succeeding. Jerry Lynch, their lawyer, was talking to Ed Clark. Don Cort took a seat the editor had saved for him in the front row. Alis Garet came in and sat next to him. "I cut my sociology class," she told him. "Anybody find His Majesty yet?" "No," Don said. "Who gave him that crackpot idea?" "He's had big ideas ever since he ran for the State Assembly. He got licked then, but this is the first time he's been kidnaped. Or should it be kanganaped? Poor Hector. I shouldn't joke about it." Judge Helms, who was really a justice of the peace, came in through a side door and the clerk banged his gavel. But the business of the court did not get under way immediately. Someone burst in from the street and shouted: "He's back! Civek's back!" The people at the rear of the room rushed out to see. In a moment they were crowding back in behind Hector Civek's grand entrance. "Oh, no," Alis said. "Don't tell me he made it this time!" Civek was wearing the trappings of royalty. He walked with dignity down the aisle, an ermine robe on his shoulders, a crown on his head and a scepter in his right hand. He nodded benignly about him. "Good morning, Judge," he said. To the clerk he said, "Frank, see to our horses, will you?" "Horses?" the clerk said, blinking. "Our royal coach is without, and the horses need attending to," Civek said patiently. "You don't think a king walks, do you?"