He tried patience and a reasonable tone. “Look, kid. We can’t. We need to get out of here. I’m sorry but whoever this guy is, it’s just too bad.”
“Heighdy! Lack-a-day-dee! We’re not sticking our noses out to help some old geezer,” said Fal, being honest instead.
Neither approach had any effect. She sniffed. “How can you refuse to help one of the Korozhet? They’ve done so much for us.”
Chip was rather taken aback at this, if no more interested in rescue. “Your tutor is one of them? Those pricklepusses?”
She stamped her foot. “Of course he is! Don’t you know anything?”
“We must set up a search pattern,” said Eamon.
Chip’s mouth fell open. The big male bat had been all for summary justice when he found out who she was. Now he was talking about searching. “Are you crazy? We need out of here.”
“She says her tutor is a Korozhet. Is that true, little one?” said Eamon—who had insisted on not being out on flutter patrol because he wanted to scotch any plans this vile human might try to get them to agree to.
“Upon my honor, señor, it is,” said the galago.
“We’ll take the lower passages,” said Fal.
“Has that piece of plastic crap in your heads fried?!” demanded Chip furiously. “It’s a Korozhet. So what? You’re all behaving like they’re something great. What the hell have they done since the war started but sit in that ship of theirs?”
“They provided weapons, slowshields and soft-cyber units,” snapped Virginia. “Humanity on Harmony And Reason would be history without them!”
He wasn’t buying it. “At a price! At a hell of a price! Anyway, we have absolutely zip chance of finding the alien. We might as well get moving and head out, collect chow, and head for the sea.”
The galago raised himself up very erect on her shoulder. “You must not insult them like that, or I will challenge you to a duel!” He slouched, slightly. “And I know where the Professor is.”
“Oh Fluff! I knew I could rely on you!” Virginia hugged the small primate. “Where is he? We mustn’t waste another minute!”
“There are many Magh’ guarding him,” he said doubtfully.
She clapped a horrified hand to her mouth. “Oh, Fluff! We must rescue him, at once!”
“You are utterly insane,” pronounced Chip.
And found himself a voice in the wilderness. For no reason he could understand, all the bats and rats were entirely in favor of the girl’s idiotic proposal. Insane!
* * *
They followed the galago. He led them up. And up.
“We’re nearly at the level where we came in,” muttered one of the rats. Their sense of direction was uncanny.
They crossed the wide main passage hastily. There were few Maggots about, but there was no sense in looking for extra trouble.
Just on the far side of the tunnel in the side passage, Melene paused and sniffed. “Mothballs. And diesel. We must be near that booby trap of yours. What did you use the mothballs for?”
“Didn’t. You’re smelling something else,” insisted Siobhan.
“Hush, we are nearly there, señores. Prepare to fight! There were Magh’ here in numbers last time.”
Pistol twitched his nose. “Doth think perhaps we’ve got lucky?”
Indeed, they had. There was not a Maggot in sight. “He was in there.” The galago pointed to an open chamber.
“They’ll have hauled him hence,” said Behan gloomily.
“Let’s check it out. If he’s in there, there’ll be Maggots.” Chip took out the Solingen. “Stay back, girl.”
“I want to help,” she said.
Chip restrained her gently. “You’ll be in the way. Please . . . stay out.”
She noticed their postures had changed. Suddenly they looked like a very deadly crew. The big bat said: “Okay. Let’s go.”
Nobody ran. That didn’t help with slowshields. They just moved fast.
There was a terrible scream.
Virginia and Fluff ran into the room. The Korozhet, sitting in a shallow bath, shrieked again.
“Professor! It’s me! Virginia! We’ve come to rescue you.”
“Eeeeeeeee!!!!!”
“Shut up or I’ll knock your goddam spikes in, Pricklepuss!” Chip swung the four-pound hammer in a menacing arc.
The Korozhet at least stopped screaming. “Virginia! Oh, Miss Virginia! I was so overcome with excitement. We Korozhet are so emotional. I could not contain my delight at seeing my saviors! Have you come to rescue me from this terrible torture?”