I was running now, chancing that he would hear me. I was on the path; I could see it vaguely. From behind me came a sizzling flash, and the ting of the flying needle as it missed me by a foot. "The Americano! He goes there!" Another shot. The shouts of the bandits in the archway. A turmoil back there. But it was all behind me. I leaped sidewise off the path as Gutierrez small light-beam swept it. I ran stumbling through a stubble of boulders, around an upstanding rock spire, back to the path again. There were other shots. Then De Boer's voice, faint by distance: "Stop! Fools! We will alarm the village! The landing field can see our shots from here! Take it easy! You can't get him!" The turmoil quieted. I went around a bend in the path, running swiftly. Pursuit was behind me. I could hear them coming. * * * * * It was a run of no more than ten minutes to the junction where, down the slope, I could see the lights of the landing field. The glow of the village was ahead of me. Then I was in its outskirts. Occasional dark houses. Deserted streets. I slowed to a fast walk. I was breathless, panting in the heat. I heard no pursuit now. But Spawn and the rest of them doubtless were after me. Would they head back for Spawn's inn? I thought they would. But I could beat them back there; I was sure there was no shorter route than this I was taking. Would they use their flyer? That would not gain them any time, what with launching it and landing, for so short a flight. And a bandit flyer could not very well land unseen or unnoticed, even in somnolent Nareda. I reached the main section of the village. There were occasional lights and pedestrians. My haste was noticeable, but I was not accosted. There seemed no police about. I recalled Perona's remark that he had attended to that. My electrode was tingling. I had been running again. I slowed down. "Chief?" "Phil." His voice carried relief. "You got away?" "Yes. I'm in the village." "Go to President Markes." "No, I'm headed for Spawn's! They're all behind me; I can get there a few minutes ahead of them." * * * * * I panted an exclamation, incoherently, but frankly, about Jetta. "I'm going to get her out of there." "Phil, what in hell--" I told him. "So you've fallen in love with a girl? Entangled--" "Chief!" "Go after her, Phil! Got her bound and gagged, have they? Going to marry her to this Perona? Like the Middle Ages?" I had never seen this side of Hanley. "Get her if you want her. Get her out of there. Take her to Markes--No, I wouldn't trust anybody in Nareda! Take her into the uplands behind the village. But keep away from that mine! Have you got flash-fuses?" "Yes." I was within sight of Spawn's house. The street was dim and deserted. I was running again. I panted. "I'm--almost at Spawn's!" "Good! When it's over, whatever happens up there at the mine, then signal the patrol." "Yes."