_On the outskirts, just coming into the city. I'll be there to spring you in plenty of time._ The main palace was visible ahead, about a mile further into the city. Mason quickened his pace. There was time but not much. He stepped between a pair of drunken Mordargans who were jostling each other on the narrow street. Suddenly one of them turned and said, "Hey, there's an Earthman. Come on, Terran. Have a drink with us?" * * * * * They were wobbling unsteadily. Mason caught his breath. He had little enough time to get to Klon Darra as it was. He calculated the speed at which they could move and wondered if he could outrun them. "Sorry," he snapped. "I'm too busy for a drink now." He lowered his head and ran. They grunted in surprise and started to chase him. He heard their heavy feet clobbering along on the pavement. He cursed. They were probably just trying to be sociable but this was no time for that. "Ho, Earthman! You run fast but your legs are short!" He glanced back. They were gaining on him. A tangle of buildings loomed up ahead and he made for those. A rough hand clamped around the back of his neck and dragged him to a halt. Mason spun around and waded in without waiting for an introduction. His fist crashed into the stomach of the nearest Mordargan and sent him rocking back against his companion. Mason hit him again and he started to sag. The heavy body thudded against the pavement. But the other Mordargan was more sober. He stepped over his companion's unconscious body and wrapped mighty arms around Mason's middle. The Earthman gasped and turned purple. His fists pounded at the alien without avail. "Had enough, Earthman?" "You're choking me! Let go!" "When a Mordargan invites you to drink with him, you drink!" The alien tightened his grip and Mason felt the universe reel. He could hardly see; his eyes were ready to pop. Against the 300 pound Mordargan he stood no chance at all. Suddenly the alien released him. Mason took several hesitant, dizzy steps, sucking in breath as fast as he could. The alien's bearhug had nearly finished him. The big Mordargan was chuckling happily. "Earthman, you don't know how close you came to death just then!" "Oh, yes I do!" Mason said, rubbing his bruised body. There didn't seem to be any obvious broken bones at any rate. But he was wasting valuable time. "Will you come now, Terran?" "I--I have an appointment," Mason said. He realized the futility of trying to run away again. There was a blaster in his pocket but it was hardly possible to gun the creature down on a public street. "I can't stay," he said. "You can't? We'll see about that." * * * * *