Penny cried, "Lark! We knew you'd find us! We knew you would come!" And Nora echoed, "We were waiting. But Gary, what does the alarm mean? When they heard it, those who were attending us fled. All the women in Khundru have taken shelter--" "And every man has gone to his post," explained Gary. "They've spotted the Gogean army outside the city. We must work fast before they can turn their armaments on our unprotected friends. Come on." "Yes, but where?" "To the control tower. It's the key to the whole situation." * * * * * This time their flight through the avenues of the Palace Royal was not so unimpeded as before. The entire city had sprung to a state of alert. As they left the residential quarters and moved once more into that portion of the citadel which was its walled fortress, they passed on several occasions small bodies of troops hurrying toward designated battle posts. As they passed gun stations they saw artillery crews huddled behind flame guns and rotors which, through slits in the palace wall, commanded wide areas of the city before and below. Twice their passage was challenged. Once by a patrol sentry whom Lark easily satisfied. "_Kraedar_ Gorilu and one attendant on special duty. Taking these two females to the dungeons for safekeeping." "Very good, sir," said the sentry, and permitted them to pass. But the second challenge was not so easily averted. This came from a _kraedar_ of equal rank to him as whom Lark masqueraded. This noble made the fatal error of attempting to question the fugitives without first calling assistance. "_Kraedar_ Gorilu?" he repeated. "I know no such lord. And your trappings designate you as one of the _inner_ Palace Guard. Why, then, are you fleeing in _this_ direction? And why are you drawing that gun, _kraedar_?" "Because," answered Lark simply, "you ask too damn many questions, and we haven't got time to answer them. Sorry, pal!" And they left the inquisitive _kraedar_ behind, inquisitive and suspicious no longer.... But finally they went again to that section of the Palace Royal which they knew to be its nerve center. From the deepening throb of many motors, and by the slowly increasing static crackling of dynamos endlessly turning, they knew when they had reached their objective. But there was something missing. Something which puzzled and worried Gary Lane. So much so that as they approached the central control tower he drew his companions to a halt in the shadow of a deserted lookout niche. "Wait a minute," he warned. "Let's stop and look this situation over. There's something wrong here." "Wrong," repeated Lark. "What's wrong about it? Everything looks O.Q. to me. We got _this_ far without trouble--well, much, that is. And judging by appearances, that doorway--" He nodded--"opens to the control tower proper. So far as _I_ can see there's not a damn soul around to stop us."