Chapter nineteen
Mazdo the SplanduWhat a confounded mess!
I swung to glare at my friends.
“Stay here!” I spat it out. I know my face must have blazed that old devilish look, I know I sounded like the craziest of all mad emperors. “Stay here. Keep a watch from the voller. Slay any guard who tries to molest you. If I fail — lift off.”
“But...!”
“We will...”
“We won’t let you...”
“By the Black Chunkrah! Will you do as I ask?” Then, cunning with the frantic pressures of the moment, I bellowed, “For the sakes of Tilly and Fransha!”
They had not seen what I had glimpsed among the trees and shrubbery beyond the corner of the landing platform. A small stairway led down over there. Without giving them any further chance of argument, I leaped away, raced across the roof.
Their faces must ha
