World in Duplicate by John Russell Fearn

Author:John Russell Fearn [Fearn, John Russell]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Golden Amazon
Publisher: Elf Press
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER VI

IN a few minutes the four had left the “instrument room,” a task which presented no difficulty since there was nothing particularly complicated about the door lock. They left the half-clothed members of the Denafrone exactly where they were on the floor, and then proceeded up the right-angled passage outside. They were alert for every move, yet on the other hand they did not move with any furtiveness. They moved exactly as became members of the ruling race.

“Now for some fun!” Abna murmured, his eyes narrowing. “This is where we run the gauntlet, with a vengeance.”

“Don’t you realize where we are?” Viona asked. “This is the same hall we were brought into before the First packed us off underground. We’ve returned to it by a sort of ‘backstairs’ route.”

“She’s right—” the Amazon started to say; then she paused as she gave a quick glance at the corridor windows. “It’s night outside,” she whispered. “Maybe that will help us.”

“Once we get outside,” Abna responded. “We’ve got these guards to convince first.... Leave the talking to me.”

He strode forward, the other three behind him, In a moment or two they came to the first guard and Abna breathed an unnoticed sigh of relief. There was no chance of the guard recognizing the fugitives. He was not one of the men who had been on duty earlier. Evidently the guard had been changed in the meantime. Just the same, an expression of faint suspicion crossed his face as his eyes surveyed the four. Before giving him a chance to come to any conclusion, Abna stopped and faced him.

“Well?” he demanded, in the Kolbian language. “Why such an expression?”

“I humbly beg your excellency’s pardon.” the guard muttered. “It is just that your faces are not familiar to me, and therefore I was—”

“How dare you?” Abna barked. “Must the supreme Denafrone make itself known, in all its members, to the mere guard?' Remember your place in future or the First shall hear of it!”

“Yes, Excellency. I am sorry, Excellency!”

Abna turned to move on, then he stopped again. He thought for a moment and asked a question:

“Which of you guards is in charge? There must be a leader among you.”

“I am the leader, Excellency.”

“You are? Good! Dismiss the rest of the guard from this hall at once.”

“But, Excellency, without the First’s express wishes—”

“Enough? I speak for the First. Let us have no more insolence. There is a reason for my request. A matter of privacy.”

Entirely unsure of himself, but evidently afraid that he might risk the First’s displeasure if he did not obey, the guard raised his voice in a brief command. Instantly the remaining sentries on duty marched into the centre of the corridor, turned like clockwork, then went “left-right” to the darkness of the interior, and disappeared. The Amazon, Viona, and Mexone watched this performance with silent interest, and wondered vaguely what kind of pressure Abna had brought to bear.

“Now,” Abna resumed, turning back to the guard, “as Captain of the Guard you are entitled to an explanation.

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