Escape!

We had little time, however, to waste in endearments, and very little to devote to informing me as to the American plans. The essential thing was that I report the Han plans and resources to the fullest of my ability. And for an hour or two I talked steadily, giving an outline of all I had learned from San-Lan and his Councillors, and particularly of the arrangements for drawing off the population of the city to new cities concealed underground, through the system of tunnels radiating from the base of the mountain. And as a result, the Americans determined to speed up their attack.

We had little time, however, for expressions of affection, and even less to tell me about the American plans. The essential thing was for me to report the Han plans and resources as fully as I could. For an hour or two, I talked steadily, outlining everything I had learned from San-Lan and his Councillors. I focused particularly on the plans to move the city’s population to new underground cities. These cities were hidden and reached through a network of tunnels spreading out from the base of the mountain. As a result, the Americans decided to speed up their attack.

There were, as a matter of fact, only two relatively small commands facing the city, Wilma told me, but both of them were picked troops of the new Federal Council. Those to the south were a division of veterans who a few weeks before had destroyed the Han city of Sa-Lus (St. Louis). On the east were a number of the Colorado Gangs and an expeditionary force of our own Wyomings. The attack on Lo-Tan was intended chiefly as an attack on the morale of the Hans of the other twelve cities. If there seemed to be a chance of victory, the operations were to be pushed through. Otherwise the object would be to do as much damage as possible, and fade away into the forests if the Hans developed any real pressure with their new infantry and field batteries of rocket guns and disintegrator-rays.

Wilma told me that only two relatively small forces faced the city. But both were elite troops of the new Federal Council. To the south was a division of veterans who had destroyed the Han city of Sa-Lus (St. Louis) a few weeks earlier. To the east were several of the Colorado Gangs and an expeditionary force of our own Wyomings. The attack on Lo-Tan was meant chiefly to weaken the morale of the Hans in the other twelve cities. If victory seemed possible, the forces were to press the attack. Otherwise, they were to do as much damage as possible. If the Hans brought serious pressure to bear with their new infantry and field batteries of rocket guns and disintegrator-rays, the forces were to disappear into the forests.

The "air balls" were simply miniature swoopers of spherical shape, ultronically controlled by operators at control boards miles away, and who saw on their viewplates whatever picture the ultronic television lens in the sphere itself picked up at the predetermined focus. The main propulsive rocket motor was diametrically opposite the lens, so that the sphere could be steered simply by keeping the picture of its objective centered on the crossed hairlines of the viewplates. The outer shell moved magnetically as desired with respect to the core, which was gyroscopically stabilized. Auxiliary rocket motors enabled the operator to make a sphere move sidewise, backward or vertically. Some of these spheres were equipped with devices which enabled their operators to hear as well as see through their ultronic broadcasts, and most of those which had invaded the interior of Lo-Tan were equipped with "speakers," in the hope of finding me and establishing communication. Still others were equipped for two-stage control. That is, the operator control led the vision sphere, and through it watched and steered an air torpedo that travelled ahead of it.

The "air balls" were simply miniature, spherical swoopers. Operators at control boards miles away controlled them ultronically. On their viewplates, the operators saw whatever the ultronic television lens in each sphere picked up at its predetermined focus. The main rocket motor was on the opposite side of the sphere from the lens. This let the operator steer the sphere simply by keeping its target centered on the crossed lines of the viewplate. The outer shell moved magnetically as needed around the gyroscopically stabilized core. Auxiliary rocket motors let the operator move a sphere sideways, backward, or vertically. Some spheres had devices that let their operators hear as well as see through their ultronic broadcasts. Most of those that had entered Lo-Tan had "speakers," in the hope of finding me and establishing communication. Still others were equipped for two-stage control. The operator controlled the vision sphere, then used it to watch and steer an air torpedo traveling ahead of it.

The Han airship or any other target selected by the operator of such a combination was doomed. There was no escape. The spheres and torpedoes were too small to be hit. They could travel with the speed of bullets. They could trail a ship indefinitely, hover a safe distance from their mark, and strike at will. Finally, neither darkness nor smoke screens were any bar to their ultronic vision. The spheres, which had penetrated and explored Lo-Tan in their search for me, had floated through breaches in the walls and roofs made by their advance torpedoes.

The Han airship, or any other target chosen by the operator of such a combination, was doomed. There was no escape. The spheres and torpedoes were too small to hit. They could travel as fast as bullets. They could follow a ship indefinitely, hover at a safe distance, and strike whenever they chose. Neither darkness nor smoke screens could block their ultronic vision. The spheres had entered and searched Lo-Tan looking for me. They had floated through openings in the walls and roofs made by the torpedoes sent ahead of them.

Wilma had just finished explaining all this to me when I heard a noise outside my door. With a whispered warning I flung myself back on the couch and simulated unconsciousness. When I did not answer the poundings and calls to open, a police detail broke in and shook me roughly.

Wilma had just finished explaining all this to me when I heard a noise outside my door. I whispered a warning, threw myself back on the couch, and pretended to be unconscious. When I did not answer the pounding and calls to open the door, a police detail broke in and shook me roughly.

"The air ball," I moaned, pretending to regain consciousness slowly. "It came in from the corridor. Look what it did to the guard. It must have grazed my head. Where is it?"

"The air ball," I moaned, pretending to slowly regain consciousness. "It came in from the corridor. Look what it did to the guard. It must have grazed my head. Where is it?"

"Gone," muttered the under-officer, looking fearfully around. "Yes, undoubtedly gone. These men have been dead some time. And this pistol. The ball got him before he had a chance to use it. See, it has beamed through the wall only here, where he dropped it. Who are you? You look like a tribesman. Oh, yes, you're the Heaven-Born's special prisoner. Maybe I ought to beam you right now. Good thing. Everyone would call it an accident. By the Grand Dragon, I will!"

"Gone," muttered the under-officer, looking around fearfully. "Yes, definitely gone. These men have been dead for some time. And this pistol. The ball hit him before he had a chance to use it. Look, it has only beamed through the wall here, where he dropped it. Who are you? You look like a tribesman. Oh, yes, you're the Heaven-Born's special prisoner. Maybe I should beam you right now. Good idea. Everyone would call it an accident. By the Grand Dragon, I will!"

While he was talking, I had staggered to the other side of the room, to draw his attention away from the couch where the ball was concealed.

While he was talking, I had staggered to the other side of the room. I wanted to draw his attention away from the couch where the ball was hidden.

Now suddenly the pillows burst apart, and a blanket with which I had covered the thing streaked from the couch, hitting the man in the small of the back. I could hear his spine snap under the impact. Then it shot through the air toward the group of soldiers in the doorway, bowling them over and sending them shrieking right and left along the corridor. Relentlessly and with amazing speed it launched itself at each in turn, until the corpses lay grotesquely strewn about, and not one had escaped.

Suddenly, the pillows burst apart. The blanket I had used to cover the thing shot off the couch and hit the man in the lower back. I could hear his spine snap from the impact. Then the thing shot through the air toward the soldiers in the doorway. It knocked them over and sent them screaming in both directions down the corridor. Relentlessly and with amazing speed, it attacked each one in turn. Soon their bodies lay scattered grotesquely about, and not one had escaped.

It returned to me for all the world like an old-fashioned ghost, the blanket still draped over it (and not interfering with its ultronic vision in the least) and "stood" before me.

It came back to me looking exactly like an old-fashioned ghost, with the blanket still draped over it. (The blanket did not interfere with its ultronic vision at all.) Then it "stood" before me.

"The yellow devils were going to kill you, Tony," I heard Wilma's voice saying. "You've got to get out of there, Tony, before you are killed. Besides, we need you at the control boards, where you can make real use of your knowledge of the city. Have you your jumping belt, ultrophone and rocket gun?"

"The yellow devils were going to kill you, Tony," I heard Wilma say. "You've got to get out of there before they kill you, Tony. Besides, we need you at the control boards, where you can put your knowledge of the city to real use. Do you have your jumping belt, ultrophone and rocket gun?"

"No," I replied, "they are all gone."

"No," I replied, "they are all gone."

"It would be no good for you to try to make your way to one of the breaches in the wall, nor to the roof," she mused.

"It wouldn't help to try to reach one of the gaps in the wall or the roof," she mused.

"No, they are too well guarded," I replied, "and even if you made a new one at a predetermined spot I'm afraid the repair men and the patrol would go to it ahead of me."

"No, they are too well guarded," I replied. "And even if you made a new one at an agreed spot, I'm afraid the repair crews and patrol would get there before me."

"Yes, and they would beam you before you could climb inside of a swooper," she added.

"Yes, and they would beam you before you could get inside a swooper," she added.

"I'll tell you what I can do, Wilma," I suggested. "I know my way about the city pretty well. Suppose I go down one of the shafts to the base of the mountain. I think I can get out. It is dark in the valley, so the Hans cannot see me, and I will stand out in the open, where your ultroscopes can pick me up. Then a swooper can drop quickly down and get me."

"I'll tell you what I can do, Wilma," I suggested. "I know my way around the city pretty well. What if I go down one of the shafts to the base of the mountain? I think I can get out. It's dark in the valley, so the Hans can't see me. I'll stand out in the open, where your ultroscopes can pick me up. Then a swooper can drop down quickly and get me."

"Good!" Wilma said. "But take that Han's disintegrator pistol with you. And go right away, Tony. But wrap this ball in something and carry it with you. Just toss it from you if you are attacked. I'll stay at the control board and operate it in case of emergency."

"Good!" Wilma said. "But take that Han's disintegrator pistol with you. And go right away, Tony. But wrap this ball in something and carry it with you. If you're attacked, just throw it away from you. I'll stay at the control board and operate it in an emergency."

So I picked up ball and pistol, and thrust the hand in which I held it into the loose Han blouse I wore, wrapped the ball in a piece of sheeting, and stepped out in the corridor, hurrying toward the nearest magnetic car station, a couple of hundred feet down the corridor, for I had to cross nearly the entire width of the city to reach the shaft that went to the base of the mountain.

So I picked up the ball and pistol and slipped the hand holding the pistol inside my loose Han blouse. I wrapped the ball in a piece of sheeting and stepped into the corridor. I hurried toward the nearest magnetic car station, a couple of hundred feet down the corridor. I had to cross nearly the entire width of the city to reach the shaft leading to the mountain's base.

I thanked Providence for the perfection of the Han mechanical devices when I reached the station. The automatic checking system of these cars made station attendants unnecessary. I had only to slip the key I had taken from the dead Han officer into the account-charting machine at the station to release a car.

When I reached the station, I thanked Providence for the perfection of the Han mechanical devices. The cars’ automatic checking system made station attendants unnecessary. To release a car, I only had to insert the key I had taken from the dead Han officer into the station’s account-charting machine.

Pressing the proper combinations of main and branch line buttons, I seated myself, holding the pistol ready but concealed beneath my blouse. The car shot with rapid acceleration down the narrow tunnel.

I pressed the right combinations of main and branch line buttons and sat down. I held the pistol ready, hidden beneath my blouse. The car accelerated quickly down the narrow tunnel.

The tubes in which these magnetic cars (which slid along a few inches above the floor of the tunnel by localized repeller rays) ran were very narrow, just the width of the car, and my only danger would come if on catching up to another car its driver should turn around and look in my face. If I kept my face to the front, and hunched over so as to conceal my size, no driver of a following car would suspect that I was not a Han like himself.

The magnetic cars traveled through very narrow tubes, only as wide as the cars themselves. Localized repeller rays kept the cars sliding a few inches above the tunnel floor. My only danger was that I might catch up to another car and its driver might turn around and see my face. If I faced forward and hunched over to hide my size, no driver behind me would suspect I wasn't a Han like himself.

The tube dipped under traffic as it came to a trunk line, and my car magnetically lagged, until an opening in the traffic permitted it to swing swiftly into the main line tunnel. At the automatic distance of ten feet it followed a car in which rode a scantily clad girl, her flimsy silks fluttering in the rush of air. I cursed my luck. She would be far more likely to turn around than a man, to see if a man were in the car behind, and if he were personable—for not even the impending doom of the city and the public demoralization caused by the "air balls" had dulled the proclivities of the Han women for brazen flirtation. And turn around she did.

The tube dipped beneath the traffic as it reached a main line, and my car slowed under magnetic control. When a gap opened in the traffic, the car swung swiftly into the main tunnel. It automatically followed ten feet behind another car carrying a scantily clad girl. Her thin silks fluttered in the rushing air. I cursed my luck. She was far more likely than a man to turn around and see if a man was behind her. If so, she would want to see if he was handsome. Even the city's impending doom and the public demoralization caused by the "air balls" had not dulled Han women's taste for brazen flirtation. And she did turn around.

Before I could lower my head she had seen my face, and knew I was no Han. I saw her eyebrows arch in surprise. But she seemed puzzled rather than scared. Before she could make up her mind about me, however, her car had swung out of the main tunnel on its predetermined course, and my own automatically was closing up the gap to the car ahead. The passenger in this one wore the uniform of a medical officer, but he did not turn around before I swung out of main traffic to the little station at the head of the shaft.

Before I could lower my head, she saw my face and knew I was no Han. I saw her eyebrows rise in surprise. But she seemed puzzled rather than scared. Before she could decide what to make of me, her car turned out of the main tunnel along its preset route. My car automatically closed the gap to the car ahead. Its passenger wore a medical officer’s uniform. But he did not turn around before I left the main traffic for the little station at the top of the shaft.

This particular shaft was intended to serve the very lowest levels exclusively, and since its single car carried nothing but express traffic, it was used only by repair men and other specialists who occasionally had to descend to those levels.

This shaft served only the lowest levels. Its single car made no stops along the way. Because of this, only repair workers and other specialists used it when they occasionally had to descend to those levels.

There were only three people on the little platform, which reminded me very much of the subway stations of the Twentieth Century. Two men and a girl stood facing the gate of the shaft, waiting for the car to return from below. One of these was a soldier, apparently off duty, for though he wore the scarlet military coat he carried no weapons other than his knife. The other man wore nothing but sandals and a pair of loose short pants of some heavy and serviceable material. I did not need to look at the compact tool kit and the ray machines attached to his heavy belt, nor the gorgeously jewelled armlet and diadem that he wore to know him for a repair man.

There were only three people on the little platform. It reminded me very much of the subway stations of the twentieth century. Two men and a girl faced the shaft gate, waiting for the car to return from below. One man was a soldier, apparently off duty. Though he wore a scarlet military coat, he carried no weapons except his knife. The other man wore only sandals and loose shorts made of heavy, durable material. I did not need to see the compact tool kit and ray machines on his heavy belt to know he was a repairman. Nor did I need to see his richly jeweled armlet and diadem.

The girl was quite scantily clad, but wore a mask, which was not unusual among the Han women when they went forth on their flirtatious expeditions, and there was something about the sinuous grace of her movements that seemed familiar to me. She was making desperate love to the repair man, whose attitude toward her was that of pleased but lofty tolerance. The soldier, who was seeking no trouble, occupied himself strictly with his own thoughts and paid little attention to them.

The girl wore very little clothing, but she had a mask on. That was common among Han women when they went out looking to flirt. Something about the graceful, flowing way she moved seemed familiar to me. She was flirting desperately with the repair man. He seemed pleased, but he tolerated her with an air of superiority. The soldier wanted no trouble, so he kept to his own thoughts and paid them little attention.

I stepped from my car, still carrying my bundle in which the "air ball" was concealed, and the car shot away as I threw the release lever over. Not so successful as the soldier in simulating lack of interest in the amorous girl and her companion, I drew from the latter a stare of haughty challenge, and the girl herself turned to look at me through her mask.

I stepped out of my car, still carrying the bundle that concealed the "air ball". I threw the release lever, and the car shot away. The soldier had done a better job than I had of pretending not to notice the flirtatious girl and her companion. Her companion gave me an arrogant, challenging stare, and the girl turned to look at me through her mask.

She gasped as she did so, and shrank back in alarm. And I knew her then in spite of her mask. She was the favorite of the Heaven-Born himself.

She gasped as she did so and shrank back in alarm. Then I recognized her, despite her mask. She was the favorite of the Heaven-Born himself.

"Ngo-Lan!" I exclaimed before I could catch myself.

“Ngo-Lan!” I cried out before I could stop myself.

At the mention of her name, the soldier's head jerked up quickly, and the girl herself gave a little cry of terror, shrinking against her burly companion. This would mean death for her if it reached the ears of her lord.

At the mention of her name, the soldier's head jerked up. The girl gave a little cry of terror and shrank against her burly companion. If her lord heard about this, it would mean death for her.

And her companion, arrogant in his immunity as a repair man, hesitated not a second. His arm shot out toward the soldier, who was nearer to him than I. There was the flash of a knife blade, and the soldier sagged on his feet, then tumbled over like a sack of potatoes, and before my mind had grasped the danger, he had swept the girl aside and was springing at me.

Her companion was arrogant because his status as a repair man made him immune, and he didn't hesitate for a second. His arm shot out toward the soldier, who was closer to him than I was. A knife blade flashed. The soldier sagged, then fell over like a sack of potatoes. Before I realized the danger, the man had pushed the girl aside and was leaping at me.

That I lived for a moment even was due to the devotion of my wife, Wilma, who somewhere in the mountains to the east was standing loyally before the control board of the air ball I carried.

I lived even for a moment because of my wife Wilma's devotion. Somewhere in the mountains to the east, she stood loyally at the control board of the air ball I carried.

For even as the Han leaped at me, the bundle containing the air ball, which I had placed at my feet, shot diagonally upward, catching the fellow in the middle of his leap, hurling him back against the grilled gate of the elevator shaft, and pinning his lifeless body there.

Just as the Han leaped at me, the bundle containing the air ball shot diagonally upward from my feet. It caught him in mid-leap and hurled him back against the elevator shaft's grated gate, pinning his lifeless body there.

An instant the girl gazed in speechless horror at what had been her secret lover, then she threw herself at my feet, writhing and shrieking in terror.

For a moment, the girl stared in speechless horror at what had been her secret lover. Then she threw herself at my feet, writhing and screaming in terror.

At this moment, the elevator shot to a sudden stop behind the grill, and prepared for the worst, I faced it, disintegrator pistol raised.

At that moment, the elevator came to a sudden stop behind the grill. Prepared for the worst, I faced it with my disintegrator pistol raised.

But I lowered the pistol at once, with a sigh of relief. The elevator was empty. For a moment I considered. I dared not leave either of these bodies nor the girl behind in descending the shaft. At any moment other passengers might glide out of the tunnel to take the elevator, and give an alarm.

But I lowered the pistol at once, sighing with relief. The elevator was empty. I thought for a moment. I couldn't risk leaving either body or the girl behind when I went down the shaft. Other passengers might come gliding out of the tunnel at any moment to take the elevator and raise the alarm.

So I played the beam of the pistol for an instant on the two dead bodies. They vanished, of course, into nothingness, as did part of the station platform. The damage to the platform, however, would not necessarily be interpreted as evidence of a prisoner escaping.

So I aimed the pistol’s beam at the two dead bodies for a moment. Of course, they vanished into nothingness, along with part of the station platform. But the damage to the platform would not necessarily be seen as evidence that a prisoner had escaped.

Then I threw open the elevator gate, dragging Ngo-Lan into the car and stifling her hysterical shrieks, pressed the button that caused it to shoot downward. In a few moments I stepped out several thousand feet below, into a shaft that ran toward one of the Valley Gates.

Then I threw open the elevator gate and dragged Ngo-Lan into the car. I muffled her hysterical screams and pressed the button that sent the elevator shooting down. Moments later, I stepped out several thousand feet below, into a shaft leading toward one of the Valley Gates.

The pistol again became serviceable, this time for the destruction of the elevator, thus blocking any possible pursuit, yet without revealing my flight.

The pistol proved useful again. This time, I used it to destroy the elevator, blocking any pursuit without revealing my escape.

Ngo-Lan fought like a cat, but despite her writhing, scratching and biting, I bound and gagged her with her own clothing, and left her lying in the tunnel while I stepped in a car and shot toward the gate.

Ngo-Lan fought like a cat, writhing, scratching, and biting. But I tied her up and gagged her with her own clothing. I left her lying in the tunnel, got into a car, and sped toward the gate.

As the car glided swiftly along the brilliantly lit but deserted tunnel I conversed again with Wilma through the metallic speaker of the air ball.

As the car glided swiftly through the brightly lit but deserted tunnel, I spoke again with Wilma through the air ball's metal speaker.

"The only obstacle now," I told her, "is the massive gate at the end of the tunnel. The gate-guard, I think, is posted both outside and inside the gate."

"The only obstacle now," I told her, "is the massive gate at the end of the tunnel. I think guards are posted both outside and inside the gate."

"In that case, Tony," she replied, "I will shoot the ball ahead, and blow out the gate. When you hear it bump against the gate, throw yourself flat in the car, for an instant later I will explode it. Then you can rush through the gate into the night. Scout ships are now hovering above, and they will see you with their ultroscopes, though the darkness will leave you invisible to the Hans."

"In that case, Tony," she replied, "I'll shoot the ball ahead and blow up the gate. When you hear the ball hit the gate, lie flat in the car. A moment later, I'll explode the ball. Then you can rush through the gate into the night. Scout ships are hovering above now. They'll see you with their ultroscopes, though the darkness will keep you hidden from the Hans."

With this the ball shot out of the car and flashed away, down the tunnel ahead of me. I heard a distant metallic thump, and crouched low in the speeding car, clapping my hands to my ears. The heavy detonation which followed, struck me like a blow, and left me gasping for breath. The car staggered like a living thing that had been struck, then gathered speed again and shot forward toward the gaping black hole where the gate had been.

With that, the ball shot out of the car and flashed down the tunnel ahead of me. I heard a distant metallic thump and crouched low in the speeding car, pressing my hands over my ears. The powerful explosion that followed struck me like a blow and left me gasping for breath. The car staggered like a living thing that had been struck. Then it picked up speed again and shot toward the gaping black hole where the gate had been.

I brought it to a stop at the pile of debris, and climbed through this to freedom and the night. Stumblingly I made my way out into the open, and waited.

I stopped it at the pile of debris and climbed through the debris to freedom and the night. I stumbled out into the open and waited.

Behind, and far above me on the mountain peak, the lights of the city gleamed and flashed, while the iridescent beams of countless disintegrator ray batteries on surrounding mountain peaks, played continuously and nervously, criss-crossing in the sky above it.

Behind me, far above on the mountain peak, the city lights gleamed and flashed. On the surrounding peaks, countless disintegrator ray batteries sent iridescent beams sweeping constantly and nervously across the sky above the city.

Then with a swish, a line dropped out of the sky, and a little seat rested on the ground beside me. I climbed into it, and without further ado was whisked up into the swooper that floated a few hundred feet above me.

Then, with a swish, a line dropped from the sky, and a small seat landed beside me. I climbed in and was immediately whisked up into the swooper floating a few hundred feet above me.

A half an hour later I was deposited in a little forest glade where the headquarters of the Wyoming Gang were located, and was greeted with a frantic disregard for decorum by the Deputy Boss of the Wyomings, who rushed upon me like a whirlwind, laughing, crying and whispering endearments all in the same breath, while I squeezed her, Wilma, my wife, until at last she gasped for mercy.

Half an hour later, I was dropped off in a small forest clearing where the Wyoming Gang had its headquarters. The Deputy Boss of the Wyomings greeted me with wild abandon. She rushed at me like a whirlwind, laughing, crying, and whispering endearments all at once. I squeezed her, Wilma, my wife, until she finally gasped for mercy.