"With whom?" I gasped.
"Why, haven't you seen the buggers yet? Look, there's Bosco in the yard." She beckoned to the inner courtyard. I went over to her side and looked.
In the courtyard, standing just below us stood a monstrous insect. A thing somewhat larger than a horse. A big squat compact looking broad-backed creature. For a moment I stared at it without comprehension and then suddenly its appearance struck a responsive chord in my brain. It was a flea, a gigantic flea!
"Isn't he cute?" murmured Nadia. "He's agreed to help us escape."
"He's what? Do you mean to say he's...." I started.
"Intelligent?" she finished. "Yes, the buggers have a rather high intelligence. Not as good as our kangaroo friends but nonetheless clever. The fleas are a sort of semi-barbarian group inhabiting a section about a thousand miles away. This fellow, whom I call Bosco, was captured and doesn't like the idea of making a banquet for some kangaroo holiday."
I goggled at the creature and it stared with an interested flicker of its feelers at me.
"I'm glad you still have your para-ray. It was all that I was missing. Come on, let's go now." Nadia suited her actions to her words by vaulting the stone balustrade and landing astride the monster bug's back. I gingerly followed her and seated myself in front.
"Now what?" I said for I didn't know how this was going to help us escape.