"More or less," she admitted. "It seemed to want to take me with it, but I begged off as politely as possible, and went back into town. Only, when I got there, the first thing I saw was my own picture on the stereo screen outside the public auditorium." "With shoot-to-kill commands ringing into the street," I nodded. "I suppose you swooned away on the pavement?" Snow gave me a black look. "Mister Delvin, I do not swoon!" I shrugged. "Just as well. Marsport has no pavement, anyhow." "Ho ho," she said. "Do you want to hear the rest of this, or not?" "Sorry," I said. "Go on." "Well, there didn't seem to be anything else to do then, but to get out of town, fast. I hadn't been spotted, yet. I guess my picture had only just gotten onto the screen. So I hurried back to where that cave mouth was, and the sugarfoot was still there, waiting for me." "He does sound like an untipped bellboy at that," I remarked. Snow ignored this, and continued. "Well, I went into the cave with him. After all, getting eaten by a dragon has no worse end result than getting hit with a collapser-bolt." "The process is a bit more painful, though," I said. "I took that chance," Snow said. "I had to. So I followed it for what seemed miles of slippery tubular tunnels--knowing, and it scared me stiff, that I'd never find my way out without a map--and it led me here, where I met Clatclit." "And where, by the way," I said, "are we?" "Darned if I know," said Snow. "We're at present in a room off one of those tunnels I mentioned. The sugarfeet have been wonderful, helping you. Especially in bringing water for you; they're deathly scared of the stuff." "I would be, too, in their case," I said. "It'd be like toting around a carboy of sulphuric acid." "Well, anyhow, you're alive," she said, "and that's something. But as for Ted--" her voice faltered. I looked up, startled. "He's not dead?" "D--? Oh, no. At least I hope not!" she said. "I only meant that, while I've located Clatclit, I can't figure out either his gestures or his--pardon the expression--words." "He understands English, even if his vocal apparatus can't form it," I said. "Why don't you just ask him yes-and-no questions? He nods easily enough." "I did that," she sighed. "I asked if Ted were alive, and he nodded. Then I asked to be brought to him, and he spread his hands. I said, 'Does that mean you don't know where Ted is?' He seemed stymied; he nodded, then shook his head immediately. You figure that one out!" I tried hard. Nothing happened inside my head. It was filled with the picture of Snow, her lips slightly parted, her violet eyes anxious, her hair like a misty golden corolla. "I can't. Not with you around. Remember?" I said, helplessly. She stood up from my bedside. "Then close your eyes, or something, Jery! I'll stand here, quiet as a mouse." "Well," I said, doubtfully, "I'll try." I shut my eyes and tried to convince myself that Snow wasn't anywhere about. I couldn't do it.