The surface plane came to rest lightly beside the Ormoo. The door was flung open and eight men piled out, weapons in their hands. There was no word spoken. Five were swarthy Venusian serfs. There was the yellow eyed Mercurian, bland, smiling unarmed. There was Natal, the traitorous Martian, and the blue Jovian. "We're going to get a girl," said Big Unse. Cosmo slapped the Ormoo on the side. It launched itself silently into the air. "The plane won't be noticed," he said; "but that bird would catch the eye of a dead man." He nodded toward the tower. Like wolves they followed him silently inside. "The manacles." Cosmo's voice was low as he held out his arms. "Bemmelman has the key." Big Unse dropped beside the unconscious planter. He dug out the key, unlocked Cosmo's wrists. "Put them on Bemmelman," said Cosmo. As soon as the planter was securely cuffed, he said, "pick him up. Bring him along." * * * * * They crept down the stairs, fanned out like hunting dogs. Without appearing to do so, Cosmo kept Natal, the spy, under observation. They reached the corridor, started for the office. A serf came out of a bisecting passage. He saw them, drew back, tried to yell. Two of the Venusians were on him like tigers. They clamped a hand over his mouth, held him so that he couldn't wriggle. Cosmo said, "Bring him along too." Big Unse put his face down close to the serf's, said, "Don't cry out, or by the star on my forehead, I'll skin you alive." The serf's eyes rolled. He nodded vigorously trying to convey his absolute willingness to cooperate. There was a faint amused gleam in Cosmo's eyes. He paused before the office, then slid the panel back. Mia and the Blue Venus, still manacled, stumbled to their feet. Llana, the slave woman jerked around from the windows, her jaw dropping. Then she bit her lip, glanced at the button on the glassite desk. "Stay away from the desk, Llana," Cosmo admonished her. He stood aside, allowed his men to file into the office. They deposited Bemmelman on the sofa. Cosmo saw that Natal was safely inside, shut the door. At his nod, Big Unse unlocked both the girls. Mia said: "But ... but...." Then a look of fright wiped away the relief on her wide gray eyes. "The Security Patrol! Cosmo, they'll be here any moment! Please Cosmo, don't let them catch you!" The buzzer on the telecast began to sound. "It's too late." Cosmo smiled grimly. "I've a hunch that's the Security Patrol now." He turned to the Terran slave girl, said: "Llana, string along with me, and I'll promise that both you and your daughter are provided with passage to Earth." The telecast continued to buzz impatiently. "My daughter!" The slave girl clapped her hand to her mouth. "You know." "I've suspected," he corrected her. "There's a resemblance. So Sofi really is your daughter."