"Why," said Peter, a curious smile beginning to force its way to his
lips, "just like it's pronounced in Russia--Kareff--C-A-R-E-W--Kareff."
And at the same instant, tears of joy sprang uncontrollably to their
eyes and the two brothers grabbed each other, laughing and pounding one
another's back in wild reunion.
Korree stared uncomprehendingly at the curious sight of two Earth men
apparently taken leave of their senses.
_15. Getaway Bomb_
After they had recovered from their outburst of enthusiasm the two let
go of each other and sat down out of breath. "Well, this is really
amazing," said Robin finally. "Here I have to go to the Moon to find my
brother. You know I really do not remember very much."
"Of course not. You could not have been more than four years old when
we parted. I was about three years older, I guess. Perhaps we can put
what we do know together and find out what did happen. I know that
Father and Mother were interned in Germany by the Nazis. That when
the war was nearing its end, the Germans started to move them and
other prisoners around. In the confusion, we were stranded somewhere
and there was heavy bombardment going on. I lost you and Mom and Dad
somewhere, wandered by myself for many days. I was with a band of
Russian people who had been taken to Germany by the Nazis to do slave
labor. They were making their way back to their homes and I clung to
them. So the Soviet Army simply counted me among its own orphans and
took me back. But maybe you know more about our family?" Peter looked
expectantly at his younger brother.
Robin nodded. "I don't remember what happened. I was too young. I only
remember being terribly frightened and alone and things going bang.
When I was older I looked up the orphanage records. It seems that Dad
had been some sort of business agent in Germany and when the U.S.
got into the war he was interned along with Mom and the two of us.
Evidently they were killed in some sort of bombardment at the war's
end and I was the only one who survived. You are listed as having been
killed with them, according to the American Army report."
Korree was moving restlessly during this conversation, not
understanding very much of it. Now he pulled at Robin's sleeve,
pointed. "Look. Cheeky come."
Sure enough Robin's simian pet had finally found them. Evidently having
easily avoided capture by the Glassies, the little animal had been
searching for his master. Now his little head appeared around the edge
of the big rock that sealed their cave. At a whistle from Robin, Cheeky
pushed his way through the narrow gap and scampered to his friend.
Peter watched the monkey with interest. "I wonder if we can't make use
of your pet to help us get out of here," he said. "We really ought to
start thinking of escape. I don't know when Von Borck will take the
notion to start something bad."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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