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uick smile； then his face became calm again。 〃If you're all right I'll look at Steengo。〃
〃I'm great。 Knocked about but great；〃 I croaked as I climbed painfully to my feet。
〃Pulse good；〃 he said； kneeling beside our friend。 〃He has taken a lot of punishment but nothing seems to be broken that I can find。 He will e out of this fine。〃
I was groggy； now even weaker with relief； blurted out the words without thinking。
〃He's fine。 I'm fine。 However we would have been a lot better if you had waded into this fracas sooner。〃
I saw him wince at the words； wished I could take them back。 You never can。
〃I'm sorry； I really am。 I had to wait； see what he could do。 I know that you're good； Jim。 I knew you could at least hold him。 I'm sorry but I had to see how fast he could move before I took him on。 I had to wear him down； not get touched。 I knew I could do it…and I moved as soon as I knew。 Sorry 。 。 。〃
〃Reporting；〃 our guard…guy…girl said。 〃The Red One is unconscious。〃
She lowered the small； coin…sized municator as I stalked towards her； hands out and ready to strike。
〃Who were you talking to？ Whose side are you on？ What's happening here？ Speak…or get demolished。〃
The guard； spear lowered and pointed at me； stood her ground。 〃The answer to your questions is arriving now。 There。〃 The point of her spear moved to indicate a spot behind me。 A ruse？ Who knew； who cared。 I turned and looked at Iron John's giant throne。
Which was slowly turning on some invisible axis。 Floyd and I both faced that way； hands raised automatically on the defense。 A black opening was revealed and； as the throne stopped moving； there was motion in the darkness beyond。 Two figures appeared； walked out into the room。
Both women。
One of them was Madonette。
〃Hi； guys；〃 she said； smiling and waving。 〃I'd like to introduce a new friend； Mata。〃
The woman was about my height； regal of bearing in her dark robe touched with gold embroidery。 Her expression was posed； peaceful； small wrinkles at the corners of her eyes； a touch of gray to her hair； were the only signs of age。
〃Wele to the other side of Paradise； Jim；〃 she said…and held out her hand。 Her handshake was firm and quick。 I opened my mouth but could not think of anything relevant to say。
〃I know that you have many questions。〃 Her words filled the gap。 〃M of which xill be answered。 But it would be wisest to postpone our little chat until we are out of this place。 A moment； please。〃
She took a very efficient…looking hypodermic from the reticule hanging at her waist。 Uncapped it and bent to brush aside the thick hair on his leg to give Iron John a quick injection。
〃He will sleep the better；〃 she said。 〃Bethuel…will you lead the way？〃
The guard raised her spear in a quick salute； then marched resolutely past the throne and into the opening。 Madonette touched Steengo's cheek； then waved Floyd to her。 〃Help me carry him。 Jim will have enough to do just moving himself。〃
I resented the remark…a blotch on my masculine pride but before I could stumble over they had lifted him and were following the guard； Bethuel。
There were no lights in the tunnel behind the throne。 At least none until Mata had entered behind us and sealed it once again。 Pale illumination flickered into existence。 More than enough to see by。 Nor was it a long walk to the open door at the far end。 We emerged into a large； red brick room that could have been a mirror…image of the one that we had just left。
Just in physical size； though。 Here the walls were covered by pleasant hangings； tapestries of sunshine and floral landscapes。 Instead of the swords and shields that adorned the other。 The stained…glass windows here depicted scenes of mountains and valleys； villages and forests。 Unlike Iron John's windows which featured the clash of battle； spackle of gore。 This was altogether more civilized。
As was the murmur of concerned voices from the women in attendance here。 They tenderly carried Steengo to a couch where another woman； dressed in white； ministered to him。 I dropped into the nearest chair and scowled around at all the female bustle。 My voice； louder and more censorious than I had intended； cut through the peaceful scene。
〃Now would somebody； anybody； tell me just what the hell is going on。〃
The way I was ignored was ment enough in itself。 Though a smiling girl did bring me a glass of cool …vine…on the way to serve the others。 Madonette sat next to Mata； where they put their heads together for a moment before Madonette spoke。
〃First…and most important now that you all are safe…is the fact that the artifact is here and is being looked after。 In addition there is…〃
〃Excuse if I interrupt；〃 I said。 〃A matter of priority。〃 I clamped my jaw twice。 〃Did you hear that； Tremearne？〃 His answer buzzed in my jawbone。
〃I did； and 。 。 。〃
〃Priorities； Captain。〃 I spoke quietly so only he could hear。 〃Mission plete。 Alien artifact returned。 Antidote for me on its way down。 Nine days is close enough to e。 Do you understand all that？〃
〃Of course。 But there is a plication 。 。 。〃
〃plication！〃 I could hear the squeak of fear edging my voice。 〃What？〃
〃I sent for the antidote to the thirty…day poison as soon as I heard about it。 I had no intention of waiting until the deadline to administer it。 However there was an accident in transit。〃 Sweat suddenly beaded my forehead and my toes tapped anxiously on the floor。 〃These things happen。 I've sent for a second batch and it's en route now。〃
I cursed viciously under my breath； then realized that I was the object of more than one concerned glance。 Smiled woodenly and snarled my answer。
〃Do it。 Get it。 No excuses。 Now。 Understood。〃
〃Understood。 〃
〃Fine。〃 I stopped whispering and called out。 〃I'm most cheered to hear that the artifact has been found。 Now； if you please； an explanation of what all this is about。〃
〃Seems obvious；〃 Madonette said undoubtedly miffed by my surly behavior。 〃It looks like the ladies have saved your bacon and you should be grateful。〃
Which did nothing to clear the air。 〃As I recall；〃 I recalled。 〃It was the gentlemen…at some physical cost I must add…who polished off that russet rottweiler before you all came onto the scene。 I also remember that we were watched all the time during the life…and…death struggle by one of your lot who did nothing to help。〃
The tough answer sprang to her lips and I snarled around at the female pany。 Tempers flared on all sides but Mata cooled things down。
〃Children…there has been enough tribulation and pain； so do not cause yourself any more。〃 She turned to me。 〃Jim； let me explain。 The soldier who aided your escape； Bethuel； is one of our spies who keeps us informed about all the masculine meanderings beyond the wall。 I ordered her to help you escape your guards； which she did。 I also ordered her not to reveal her presence to Iron John。 The men beyond the wall have no idea that we watch them closely and I wish it to remain that way。 She aided your escape and you should be grateful。〃
I was； and I should have admitted it； but I was still bullheaded and angry and settled for a surly mutter and growl。 Mata nodded blithely as though I had municated something of importance。
〃See how well everything has worked out？ You are here and safe； your friends safe as well； and that for which you seek； the strange artifact； is secure and close by。〃
I only half listened。 Fine for the troops。 But there were other forces at work that did not bode well for my future。 Accidents in transit did not happen by accident。 Someone in the bureaucracy that was manipulating me…did not like me。 Perhaps had never liked me and never had any intention of supplying the antidote。 I would certainly be less trouble to them if I were safely dead。 And there were only nine days left to sort the whole thing out。
I had touched my puter controls automatically while these thoughts were whizzing about my tired brain。 The number glowed before me。 I really had had a longer sleep than I realized。
Eight days to go。
CHAPTER 20
I looked around at the peaceful female bustle…and suddenly felt very； very tired。 My side hurt and I felt sure that a couple of ribs were broken。 I sipped the wine but it di