“He is tall as I said, great Rhana?” He whined ingratiatingly. He cast a sidelong glance of triumph at me. Arturo had been standing back against the wall. He took a sudden step. “You cowardly little hangar-rat!” I whirled. “Hush, Arturo!” Bhool, fortified by Rhana’s presence, retorted. “Not so cowardly--I did capture you.” Arturo avoided me; he took another step at Bhool, who retreated. I shoved Arturo away. Rhana exclaimed, “You quarrel? Stop it--” She swished a chain, idly as though at disobedient quarreling dogs. It caught around Bhool’s legs; he groveled. She said frowningly, “You annoy me, Bhool, to want praise. I gave you reward. You forget you have duties not done yet.” He slunk through the doorway at her gesture. She added abruptly, “You are interesting, Geoffry Grant--I will come again--” “I’m hungry,” I said. She smiled. “You shall be fed. I would have no man hungry unless he has done wrong.” I added impulsively, “I want to get out of here!” I watched to see how she would take it. She smiled further. “We all want many things. You are interesting. I will not come again--I will send for you.” Her gaze barely touched Arturo. She added to me, “He will die here pleasantly enough. We will leave him when we go.” She turned, and stooped for the doorway. The heavy door closed after her. * * * * * “But see here, Arturo, what was it you planned for me, when you sent for me, brought me down here?” “That’s of no use now, I tell you.” We were sitting on the couch of our cell after Rhana had left us. “Isn’t that for me to judge, Arturo?” He was suddenly meek. My words had had effect. “You’re right, Jeff. What is it you wanted to know?” “A good many things. What was I supposed to do with this Rhana?” “I thought,” he said, “we could send you to her. Pretend you might help her with the coming war. And you might capture her, perhaps, or kill her. Without a leader these women would go to pieces. The Gian men are worse--you see?” “Not exactly,” I said. “Well, she would like you. Easy for you to get into her confidence. She does like you, Jeff; that’s obvious. There’s nobody would dare speak to her the way you did. It just made her smile--you could handle her.” I had my doubts on that. “She said, take me with her--” “Her army must be about ready, Jeff. And leave me here to die. Well--” “But we’re going to get out of here,” I assured him. We had decided that all we could do now was wait quietly for the woman to come with food, and be on the alert then to see if we might escape. We sat for a time, there on the couch. Arturo talked freely. He knew a great deal of the situation, here, and the geography of this strange dark realm. He talked swiftly, at first with no comments.