The creature did not go down. Its arms closed about Vanning. He reversed the gun and squeezed the trigger-button, but without result. Apparently the things were immune to their own weapons. The amphitheatre was in an uproar. In a flashing glance Vanning noticed that the black pool far below was curiously disturbed. That didn't matter. What mattered was the devil that was seeking to break his back-- Lysla tore the gun from Vanning's hand, firing it twice. The gnarled arms relaxed. But the two humans were almost hemmed in by the aroused Swamjas. A burly body dived into the mob, followed by another one. Hobbs yelled, "Come on, kid! Fast!" Hobbs and Zeeth! They, too, had come to the rescue. And none too soon! The unexpected assault broke the ranks of the Swamja for an instant, and then the Earth-people were through, racing down a slanting corridor. They emerged outside the amphitheatre. Lysla gave them no time to rest. Footsteps were thudding behind them. "This way. They'll kill us now if they catch us." She sped into an alleyway that gaped nearby. Vanning saw Hobbs and Sanderson racing in pursuit. So Sanderson had got through, too. Good! Zeeth? The Venusian reeled against Vanning, his fat face contorted. "I'm--hit. Go on--don't mind me--" "Nuts," the detective growled, and hoisted the flabby body to his shoulder. Zeeth had more courage than any of them, he thought. Weak of physique, hating pain, yet he had not hesitated to join his companions in a hopeless battle.... IV Vanning sped after the others, who had waited for him. After that it was a desperate hare-and-hounds chase, with Lysla leading them through the labyrinth of the city, her slender legs flying. "You okay?" Vanning gasped as he ran shoulder to shoulder with the girl for a moment. Her white teeth were fixed in her lower lip. "I ... I shot at that Swamja's eyes. Blinded him. It's the only way ... _ugh_!" "Where now?" Hobbs panted, his white hair rippling with the wind of his racing. Sanderson echoed the question. "Lysla? Can we--" "I don't know. We've been heading north. Never been there before. Can't go south--gates are always guarded." Hobbs panted, "There are only two ways out. The way we came in--guarded, eh?--and another gate at the north." "We'll try it," Vanning said. "Unless we can get to that space-ship--" Zeeth wriggled free. "Put me down. I'm all right now. The space-ship--that's guarded too. But there aren't any soldiers at the north gate. I don't know why." Through the city a rising tumult was growing. Lights were blazing here and there, but the party kept to the shadows. Twice they flattened themselves against walls as Swamja hurried past. Luck was with them; but how long it would last there was no way of knowing. Suddenly a great voice boomed out, carrying to every corner of the city. It seemed to come from the dome high above.