White gulped the liquid and coughed. He whispered "No, not ransom—I mean, not the usual kind. Not money."
"What, then? Come on, pull yourself together!"
"Please, I'm trying!" White took a deep breath. "Schlegel demands all the photographic equipment be turned over to him—every last camera, reflector, jar of developer, and scrap of film."
"What on earth for? Schlegel isn't going into the movie business, is he?"
"No. He wants to destroy Swords Under Three Moons—totally." White took another gulp of kvad.
"Go easy," warned Reith. "You're not a two-fisted drinker like Cyril. Why does Schlegel want to destroy our equipment?"
"He says the movie would show Krishnan culture in an unflattering light. It would increase Terrans' contempt for Krishnans. He'll destroy the cameras and stuff to make sure we don't reshoot the film while we're on this planet."
"He may be right about giving Krishna a poor image; but that's not my concern. I sighed on to protect you people and your property, whatever you do. Where are the girls being held?
"Somewhere in the big forest east of Gishing."
"Durchab Forest. Tell me, how did Schlegel nab them?"
"We don't know. I heard Cassie ask Alicia's advice on how to keep Bennett and Randal happy when she's sleeping with both. I guess they decided to walk down the road a ways, because that little inn is so crowded you can't say a private word. When they didn't come back by dark, Doc Hamid and I decided to go look for them. Just then an arrow with a message rolled around the shaft came whistling out of the woods and struck the front door of the inn. Here's the message!"
White handed Reith a small, torn sheet of native paper. Reith read:
TO THE OBERHAUPT OF THE CINEMA COMPANY: I HAVE YOUR WOMEN WHERE YOU SHALL FIND THEM NOT. I SHALL RETURN THEM UNHARMED WHEN YOU TO ME HAVE GIVEN ALL PHOTOGRAPHISCH EQUIPMENT FOR WELL-SERVED DESTRUCTION, A CRIME AGAINST KRISHNAN CULTURE TO PREVENT. WRAP YOUR REPLY AROUND THIS ARROW AND STAND IT UPRIGHT UPON THE ROAD. ATTEMPTS AT RESCUE OR TO ALERT KRISHNAN OFFICIALS WILL THE INSTANT DEATH OF THE WOMEN CAUSE.
SCHLEGEL
"Why did Stavrakos pick you to bring the news?"
White shrugged. "We tried to get one of the drivers to do it, with Strachan interpreting. But they wouldn't get involved in a quarrel among Earthmen. Strachan didn't trust any of them to deliver the message anyway. I'm not much of a rider; but I've had more experience than any of the others except Strachan, and he's not up to riding yet. What are you going to do?"
"Have to dunk," muttered Reith. "What did Stavrakos make of the kidnapping?"
"Said he'd rather let the whole company be slaughtered than give up the film."
"I might have guessed. But I wouldn't trust Schlegel to deliver his part of the bargain, either."
"Say, Fergus, why was that crowd of Krishnans carrying you back to the hotel?"
"They had a banquet for me at the town hall. Now I've got to make an announcement to my party. Help me to get them together."
The news caused consternation and an outburst of protests. Reith studied his fourteen Terrans. When the chatter died down, he beckoned to Fairweather and Valdez. He led them into the street, saying: "Are you two up to trying a rescue? We may all get killed; but you two are the only ones here who look as if you'd stand up to a fight to save Alicia and Cassie."
Fairweather grinned. "Hell, yes! I've rescued so many damsels in distress in my movies, I'd like to try the real thing once!"
"You, Ernesto?" said Reith.
"I will be a good soldier. It would, of course, lend extra courage if I thought the lady would express her gratitude in—in a suitable manner afterwards."
Reith scowled. "Damn it, if you think you're going to screw my fiancée as a reward—"
"No, no, Fergus; I was only joking. You do not understand the Latin sense of humor. I will be as brave as a lion."
"Okay. I want you two in bed early and up before dawn. We'll have to get some bows, even if we've got to rout the armorer out of bed. When we go after Schlegel, I'm your captain; whatever I say goes. Is it agreed?"
The two men mumbled assent.
As Roqir incarnadined the farmlands around Vasabád, Reith stood on the edge of a freshly-plowed field, teaching his companions to use the Krishnan crossbow.
"Hey!" said Fairweather. "This thing has sights. None of the crossbows in my medieval movies ever had em!"
Reith explained. "A Terran named Hasselborg introduced them around thirty years ago. Came out alive in a duel because of them. There was some stink about his violating the technological blockade, but all crossbows have sights now.
"To cock the weapon, put the muzzle end on the ground and stick your toe through the stirrup. Take the cocking lever in your right hand ..."
Reith had offered White a place in the enterprise; but the location manager begged off, saying he was done in by his all-day ride. Seeing him lying drawn and pale in bed, Reith admitted that nothing more could be expected of him for the time being. Reith had also sounded out the three Krishnan riders in charge of the remuda of spare ayas. But, like the drivers at Gishing, they refused to take part in a quarrel among Terrans.
So an hour later, the three rescuers were on the road to Gishing, Fairweather and Valdez mounted on ayas from the pool and Reith driving his gig. Beside Reith a half-dozen newly purchased crossbows were stowed, along with several swords left adrift after the battle at Zinjaban.
Fairweather and Valdez wanted to gallop the entire distance; but Reith insisted on leading the way in order to pace the beasts, varying their gaits from walk to trot to canter and back. His companions grumbled that he was wasting time.
"Damn it!" he burst out. "I've been riding and driving these critters for twenty-odd years, and I know what they can and cannot do. We won't get to Gishing a second later than I can help."
Arriving in midafternoon, the rescue party went to the little inn at the edge of the unwalled village. Before the inn stood the wagon that had accompanied the first group. The photographic equipment still lay under its tarpaulin; but on top of this, Olson the gasser and two other Cosmic employees were piling hay. The party's hand luggage stood in a neat row on the ground beside the vehicle.
The remaining crew members excitedly rushed out of the inn and surrounded the newcomers, yammering: "Hey, Reith, what are you going to do?"
"How'll you get us out of this fix?"
"Why didn't you foresee this kidnapping, if you know this world so well?"
"If anything happens to us, we'll sue you!"
"What's this?" demanded Reith, indicating the activity on the wagon.
"Ask Kostis," snapped Olson. "We're just following orders." Olson had been disagreeable to Reith ever since Reith had saved him from beheading. He was the sort of person who can never forgive one who does him a favor.
Reith found Stavrakos in his room, thumbing papers. When Reith repeated his question, Stavrakos explained: "I'm just getting ready in case we have to run for it. We're putting hay on the wagon and baggage on the hay, so if we're stopped, we'll say the photographic stuff is with the second group; this is just baggage. I hope that, at night in the dark, they won't look under the tarp."
"You mean you're planning to beat it, leaving the girls at Schlegel's mercy? Why, you—"
"Now, now, don't get angry, Fergus! I wouldn't do that unless I absolutely had to. But be practical! Ken Strachan tells me this Schlegel would as lief kill you as spit. The worst of it is, he's some kind of idealist, who thinks he's serving a cause. They're the worst land of nut; you can't bribe 'em."
Reith growled: "He's a con man who's come to believe his own line of crap."
Stavrakos continued: "Ken says that, even if we give up the film and stuff, there's no assurance Schlegel would turn over the dames. Both have probably been raped to a fare-thee-well, and he's liable to kill them to make sure they don't testify against him some day."