There was nothing to do now but wait. Mike's hopes were slim and desperate ones--that the slain man would not be missed for a while, and that the wreckage of the ship would not be cleared away until the following day. The time dragged. Activity around the wreck dwindled and died out. Total darkness had not yet come and Mike prayed for a few more minutes of safety. But he was not to get it. A commotion over toward the city brought him to a break in the wreckage through which he could scan the area. A huge derrick-like affair, encrusted with the usual gold and gems, was lumbering toward the wrecked platform. A gang of workmen followed on foot. Incandescent balls were carried by another group, brightly illuminating the scene. "We've got to run for it!" Mike said. "Out--everybody! Run straight to the left! There's an airfield over there. McKee and Talbott's ship is on the far edge. I saw it just before we fell!" The four wormed their way out from under the wreckage. "That ship should be primed to go!" Nicko said with excitement. "That's what I'm hoping." "No!" Doree cried, and pulled away from Mike. "No! I won't go away from here and leave my father! We've got to try to help him!" * * * * * Mike did not hesitate. He swung a short solid right. It cracked against Doree's jaw and she went limp. "Sorry," he said grimly, "but this is no time to argue." "We're going to hit that ship and blast out?" Nicko asked. "What else? She'll hate me for it, but we've got to use common sense. There's nothing we can do for Professor Brandon this trip. Maybe we can come back later." "It will be hard on the kitty." "Okay," Mike retorted harshly. "My responsibility is getting Doree out of here alive!" "I'm not arguing," Nicko said. "Let's move." The H'Lorkan had remained silent the whole time. He had done what was expected of him promptly and efficiently and proven himself a good comrade. But there was no time now to explain the plan to him. If he had remained where he was they would probably have gone off and left him. But when they started across the open country, he ran with them. Mike momentarily expected the light from the glowing bulbs to pick them out, but luck was with them and they gained the edge of the airfield without being detected. They disappeared in among the craft. There was quite an assortment of these and from the design and variations in size, Mike got the impression they were pleasure craft and not a part of the fighting force. Encrusted jewels were used in profusion and decorations along with both silver and gold. On this planet these precious materials seemed to have little value as no guards were posted over the field. * * * * * There were lights in a few of them. These, Mike carefully skirted until the party came at last to the sleek black hull of the ship McKee and Talbott had arrived in.