Torko was commencing to look uncomfortable, but he came right through with the same argument that even great statesmen of our own Earth use when they're caught red-handed.
"They're a pack of lies!" he yelled.
"He won't think so when he learns about the other thing you have done—something that he can see with his own eyes," I baited him.
"That's the other lie," he demanded, his curiosity and fear getting the better of him.
"Oh, just that you unlocked the cell of Mintep, jong of Vepaja, and let him escape," I said.
"That is a lie," he cried.
"Well, go and look for yourself," I suggested. "If he's gone, who else could have unlocked his cell? You have the only keys."
"He's not gone," he said; but he turned and ran down the stairs as fast as he could go.
"You seem to be having a good time," said Mantar, "and we might as well have all the fun we can while we may. It's not going to be so funny when morning comes—not for us."
"On the contrary," I objected, "that may be the most amusing time of all."
"I am amused now," said Zerka. "How furious Torko will be when he discovers that you have hoaxed him into running all the way down to the basement."
"But it is not a hoax," I said. "He will find Mintep's cell door open and Mintep gone."
"How can you possibly know that?" demanded Zerka.
"Because I released Mintep myself, and he is on his way to safety right now."
"But how could you enter the Gap kum Rov and take a prisoner out under the noses of the Zani Guard?" demanded Zerka. "Why, it is simply impossible. You couldn't have even unlocked his cell if you had managed to get into the prison, which, in itself, would have been impossible."
I had to smile. "But I did," I said, "and it was very easy."
"Would you mind very much telling me how you did it?" she asked.
"Not at all," I assured her. "In the first place, I secured a duplicate master key to all the locks of Gap kum Rov while I was stationed here. Last night I came in a boat to the side of the prison and entered it through the chute that discharges the ashes from the furnace into the bay. I brought Mintep out the same way."
Mantar and Zerka shook their heads in astonishment. It could not have seemed possible to many inhabitants of Amlot that a prisoner might escape from the Gap kum Rov, for few of them knew anything about the prison except that no prisoner had ever escaped from it.
"And you have a master key to the locks?" asked Mantar.
I took it from my pocket pouch. "Here it is," I said. "If they had confined us in the basement, we might have escaped easily, at least as far as the waters of the bay; but with a guard watching constantly on the floor below there is no chance from here."
"But aren't you afraid they'll find the key on you?" asked Zerka.
"Yes, of course; but what can I do about it? I have no place to hide it. I shall simply have to take the chance that they won't search me—they are so stupid. Anyway, unless they confine us in the basement, it cannot possibly be of any use to us. Furthermore, I have an idea that we'll walk out of here without any need of a key."
"You are very optimistic," said Mantar, "but I can't see upon what food your optimism thrives."
"Wait for dawn," I counselled.
"Listen!" said Zerka.
From below we heard Torko's voice bellowing orders. Guards were running to and fro. They were searching the prison for Mintep. When they reached our floor they entered every cell and searched it carefully, although they could have seen the whole interior of each of them from the corridor. Torko's face was drawn and pale. He looked to me like a broken man. When he reached our cell he was trembling, as much, I think, from fright as from rage.
"What have you done with him?" he demanded.
"I?" I asked in feigned astonishment. "Now, how could I have gotten into this impregnable prison, so ably guarded by the great Torko—unless with the connivance of Torko? Mephis will be sure to ask that very question."
"Listen," Torko said, coming close and whispering. "I was good to you when you were here. Do not send me to my death. Do not tell Mephis that Mintep has escaped. If he is not told, he may never know it. The chances are he has forgotten all about Mintep by this time. If you do not tell him, I promise not to torture you and your accomplices unless I am forced to; and then I'll make it as easy as I can."
"If you do torture us, I'll certainly tell him," I replied. I certainly had Torko over a barrel.
Torko scratched his head in thought for a moment. "Say," he said at last, "of course you couldn't have let him out; but how in the world did you know he was gone?"
"I'm psychic, Torko," I told him. "I even know things are going to happen before they do. What is the hour?"
He looked at me rather fearfully as he replied. "It is the 1st hour," he said. "Why?"
"Presently you shall hear a great noise in the direction of the palace of Mephis ," I said, "and then word will pass around that death and destruction are raining upon the Zanis from the sky because they hold me and my friends prisoners in Gap kum Rov. When Mephis sets us free, it shall stop."
"Rubbish!" said Torko, and went on to search other cells for Mintep, jong of Vepaja. He didn't find him.
Time dragged leadenly after dawn crept slowly out of the east and its light sought to penetrate the dirty windows of the Gap kum Rov. I was tense from waiting for the first detonation of a bomb. The second hour came and then the third, yet still nothing had happened. What could the reason be? Had disaster overtaken Duare? I imagined a hundred terrible things that might have happened. A crack-up at the take-off seemed the most likely. I was still worrying when Torko came with a detail of the guard and took us down to the courtroom. There were Mephis, Spehon, and a number of other high Zanis. We were lined up before them. They glowered at us like ogres out of a fairy tale.
"It is the third hour," said Mephis. "I have waited, and because you have made me wait it shall go the harder for you. If any of you expect any mercy you will name all your accomplices in the low plot you have fostered to overthrow the state. Torko, take the woman first. We'll make her talk, and I'll save you for the last. Take that thing off his head, Torko." He pointed at me.
I looked at Torko, as he took off my flying helmet and threw it into a corner. The sweat was pouring down his face, although it was not hot. "Do not forget, Torko," I whispered.
"Mercy," he pleaded. "I must obey orders."
They laid Zerka upon a hideous thing that would have crushed her slowly, inch by inch, starting at her toes; and they brought a brazier containing a pot of molten metal and set it down on a table beside her. It was not difficult to guess how they intended to use it. I turned my head, for I could not look at the frightful thing they contemplated.
"Do you wish to confess?" asked Mephis.
"No," replied Zerka in a firm voice.
"Have you anything to say?" he inquired.
"Yes, this: I joined the Zani Party because I had learned that you tortured and murdered my man. I joined to undermine it; and for another, greater purpose—to kill you."
Mephis laughed. "And this is the way you kill me!" he taunted.
"No, not this way; nor the way I had hoped, but the only way I could find," replied Zerka.
"What do you mean?" demanded Mephis.
"I mean that I have avenged my husband, but you did not know it. Know it now, then. Before another day has passed, you will be dead."
"And how, please, am I to die at the hand of a dead woman?" jeered Mephis.
"You ate food in my home last night, Mephis. Do you recall? That food was poisoned. I have kept it there for a long time to cheat you of the pleasure of killing me, were I caught. Last night I had the opportunity I had never hoped for of letting you eat it instead. At any moment, now, you will die—certainly before another day has passed."