"The next floor. But you can't escape. Nobody ever escapes from this house." * * * * * Bemmelman stirred, opened his eyes, sat up groggily. His face was puffy, swollen. Blood had dried on his chin. He didn't say anything. The clatter of many feet resounded on the stair outside the boudoir. Mia clutched Cosmo's arm, said: "They're coming!" Cosmo took the dart gun from his pocket, narrowed his green eyes. "You go first, Bemmelman, if they rush us. Understand?" The slave breeder glared at Cosmo, moistened his battered lips. "What do you want me to do?" He spoke with difficulty. "Clear the tower. Order everyone into the rest of the house." Bemmelman nodded sullenly. Cosmo saw one of the mirrors shiver violently. Then the panel slid back. The stair was jammed with naked blue Jovians and Venusian serfs. The slave girl, Llana, was in the forefront. She pointed at Cosmo, screamed: "There they are!" The Jovians started to surge through the narrow door. Cosmo drew a bead on Bemmelman's thick neck, smiled grimly. Blood drained out of the planter's face. "Get out!" he cried in panic. The rescuers halted, stared stupidly. The ones in the rear continued to push forward causing momentary confusion. "Get out!" Bemmelman raged. "Get out, you fools! D'you want to get me killed? Clear the tower!" They began to withdraw sullenly. Cosmo stepped after them, slid shut the panel. He could hear their footsteps retreating down the stair. He let his breath escape through his teeth. "Keep your eye on the Blue Venus, Mia. She's a shifty wench." Mia seized a candlestick from a dainty Martian table, said, "This isn't going to hurt me half as bad as it will you," to Sofi. Cosmo dug the dart gun into Bemmelman's kidneys. "Let's go up to the telecast room." He pushed the planter ahead of him through the door. The stair well was deserted, silent. "I smell roses," said Mia. Cosmo thought he detected a glint of triumph in the slave breeder's eyes. "Up the steps," he said grimly. "At the first sign of treachery, Bemmelman, I'm pulling the trigger." They reached the telecast room without opposition. It was a small square chamber banked with control panels. An opaque screen was built into the left wall. There was only one chair. Cosmo closed the door, motioned Mia and the Blue Venus to one side. "Now, Bemmelman, call your head overseer; have him shut down the force screens." The red-faced planter laughed shortly, said: "No sir." He had regained his composure. "No sir, you won't kill me. You'd be throwing away your only chance to stay alive. The force screen stays up." "That's what I thought you'd say." Cosmo slipped the dart gun in his pocket. His eyes became hard green stones. "What about the Ormoo's feeding ground? Why do you want to know where they eat?" "That's my secret." A sullen note crept into Bemmelman's manner. "You don't want me to mess you up, do you, Bemmelman?" Cosmo asked softly.