Disappointment flooded Arturo; I flashed him a warning glance. “But he is hungry,” I pleaded. “I send food.” One of the men pulled at me, but I pushed him off. “I want him to come with me--” The woman leaped. Her hands went to my shoulders; her dark eyes blazed at me; unreasoning anger in them--she might have done anything--ordered me killed without stopping to think of it. “You talk much. Go!” With a last look at Arturo, I turned and let them lead me out. We followed the dim vaulted corridor. The women went ahead with their catlike tread. There were two men beside me; others in front and behind. We passed other vaulted doorways. A turn up a small incline; over a dark interior bridge of metal. It spanned a black void; overhead, the vaulted metal roof was within touch of my hand. Into another larger corridor; this one brighter. I was alert trying to remember the turns--I would have to get back here some way to Arturo. Or persuade Rhana to bring him up. * * * * * The interior of the building seemed enormous. We turned other corners evidently into another wing; ascended another incline. It was surprisingly long and steep. I realized Arturo’s cell must be underground. We came to an upper hallway. I saw a room with barred windows that seemingly opened to the garden. There were lights out there now. We advanced through a room thronged with Gians, men and women. They made way for us; the babble of their voices hushed, and they stared at my towering figure curiously. We crossed the room. A wide door opened. I was in the presence of Rhana. She sat at a table. It was littered with flexible sheets--metal, perhaps--like paper, with strange writing upon them. Women sat around her. Men, garbed in vivid clothes of bright colors, were in the room, most of them standing. A man to whom Rhana had been speaking, made an obsequious gesture and hastened from the room. Two other men and a woman came forward to report to her. There was an air of hurried activity. That outside room with its waiting, excited throng; here, in this inner private apartment, Rhana with her close subordinates, directing the departure. There were broad windows through which I could see the lighted garden; Gians out there, moving about with apparatus; a large aërocar was there, being loaded. Departure for battle. I did not need to be told it was that. It was plainly to be seen. They stood me before Rhana. I met her gaze, with a level frown of my own. My heart was pounding. These windows were larger, and unbarred. The ground was no more than twenty feet below. I remembered my vaulting over the garden palisade. I could leap from one of these windows and not be hurt. Or, there was a staircase here in the room, leading to the roof. Rhana was saying: “So? You make a disturbance? How do you dare?” “I’m hungry. I want to be fed.” Some of these men were armed. There were too many here now. If I could wait here until they went away.