Sanderson--or Callahan--shrugged impatiently. "Let's have it. This is
the only way left. I wouldn't have given myself away if it hadn't been
necessary. You'd never have suspected me ... let's have it!"
Silently Vanning handed over the make-up kit. Lysla had lifted her
head to watch Callahan out of wondering eyes. Hobbs was chewing his
lip, scowling in amazement. Zeeth was the only one who did not look
surprised.
But even he lost his impassivity when Callahan began to use the make-up
kit. It was a Pandora's box, and it seemed incredible that a complete
disguise could issue from that small container. And yet--
Callahan used the polished back of it as a mirror. He sent Lysla for
water and containers, easily procurable elsewhere in the building, and
mixed a greenish paste which he applied to his skin. Tiny wire gadgets
expanded his mouth to a gaping slit. Artificial tissue built up his
face till his nose had vanished. _Isoflex_ was cut and moulded into
duplicates of the Swamja's bulging, glassy eyes. Callahan's fingers
flew. He mixed, painted, worked unerringly. He even altered the color
of his garments by dousing them in a dye-solution, till they had lost
the betraying red tint that betokened a slave.
In the end--a Swamja stood facing Vanning!
"All right," Callahan said tiredly. "I'll pass--if we keep out of
bright lights. Now go out and help Lysla do guard duty. I'm going to
disguise you all. That'll help."
Vanning didn't move as the others left. Callahan took an oilskin packet
from his belt and held it out. "Here's the treaty. I suppose you came
after that."
The detective opened the bundle and checked its contents. He nodded. It
was the vital treaty, which would have caused revolution on Callisto.
Slowly Vanning tore it into tiny shreds, his eyes on Callahan. It was
difficult, somehow, for him to find words.
The other man shrugged. "That's that. And I suppose you'll be taking me
back to Earth--if we get out of this alive."
"Yeah," Vanning said tonelessly.
"Okay." Callahan's voice was tired. "Let's go. We haven't time to
disguise everybody--that was just an excuse to give you the treaty. A
private matter--"
He shuffled to the door, with the lumbering tread of the Swamja, and
Vanning followed close at his heels.
The others were waiting.
Vanning said, "Okay. Let's start. No time to disguise ourselves. Stay
behind--"
* * * * *
In a close group the five moved along the avenue, Callahan in the lead.
The outlaw's disguise was almost perfect, but nevertheless he did not
trust to it entirely. When possible, he moved along dimly-lighted
streets, the four others keeping close to his heels. Once a patrol of
Swamja guards passed, but at a distance.
"I'm worried," Callahan whispered to Vanning. "Those creatures
have--different senses from ours. I've a hunch they communicate partly
by telepathy. If they try that on me--"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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