The wheels screeched as they bore the weight of the big engine across the marble floor. Kortha's leg-muscles bunched and writhed under the pressure he exerted. His naked arms bulged, tightening under the smooth skin. Up the ramp went the machine to grate to a halt opposite the entrance doors. Kortha lengthened the distance level of the beam, and wiped a forearm across his wet brow. He smiled mirthlessly, "Let them come, now. We're ready for them." Xax shrilled, "You said we could escape by throwing a beam of light on the mechanism of the doors. Then why do we stay here?" "Guantra has sent men to overcome me. If we escape, we'll be out in the open where they can overcome us at will. Here we have a chance. They have to come in that door. I'll have them all in front of me. I have to kill them all, Xax. Otherwise Guantra may learn where I've gone." "He may still find out," the tumblie grumbled. "I know. It's a chance I have to take." * * * * * The drone of the fliers sounded sooner than Kortha had anticipated. He could imagine them circling above the ancient city, swooping in to a landing in the square. A moment later he heard the drumming of feet on stone. The doors rolled open effortlessly. Guantra's guards came in yelling, with guns in their hands, leaping for him; shouting loudly at sight of him. Kortha put a hand on a lever, threw it down. A beam lanced out at the doorway. It splashed its pale green color over the scarlet tunics and naked legs of the guards. The guards changed color. They glittered yellow, metallic. One or two of them were off balance. They fell with a ringing clangour on the marble floor. Xax gasped, "Gold. They're all solid gold statues!" "I told you it was a weapon," rasped Kortha, shoving the machine in front of him, wheeling it toward the square. There were a few guards left, in front of the fliers. When they saw Kortha, they came running. One by one he picked them off; watched them fall harshly, bouncing a little on the cobblestones. They did not fire. Kortha realized Guantra must have been very explicit about wanting him taken alive. When he stood alone in the square, Kortha lifted his hammer and brought it down on the glistening orifact. Metal danced and shattered under his blows. Casings split. Magnetizers fell apart. Bolts and shards of metallic rings jangled on the paving, clattering and rolling among the lichen-lifted flaggings. "Guantra will never use that," said Kortha grimly. He walked toward the fliers. One after the other, he smashed their radios; and the controls of every ship but one. Holding open the door of the last plane, he said to Xax, "Get in." "Where are we going?"