Marva flung herself beside him. Over the prone man her dark glance caught Allyn's. Her eyes were wet with tears. But accusation blazed from them. Betrayer! Betrayer! As loud as though she had shrieked it. Yet, no sound passed her bloodless lips.
"Marva." He took a step forward.
A scarlet cloaked Senior Gard moved between. "Come quietly. Metas wants you unharmed for hypno."
Two gards moved to either side and grasped Allyn's arms. As in a nightmare he let them take him.
They marched down the stretch of waste land to the waiting gyro. One of the Gard clambered into the cabin, slid into the pilot seat and adjusted dials on the instrument panel. As Allyn and the Senior came aboard the motor hummed, warming.
Keeven was flung unconscious through the door. They had put irons around his wrists and throat connected by chains that rattled as he rolled against the wall. Marva, similarly shackled, was thrown unceremoniously into the cabin. She rose, panther-lithe, and came to her brother's side. With fettered hands she tried to staunch the bleeding on his face, and softly cried his name.
The Senior turned in annoyance. "Stop your noise!"
Oblivious to all but her brother's need of aid she sobbed, "Keeven! Keeven, open your eyes!"
Grimly the Senior advanced upon her, gun-butt raised. He brought it smashing down.
Allyn sprang. He caught the Senior's lowering hand, and twisted it sharply back. The gun dropped while a scream of pain filled the cabin. Allyn stopped the cry with a chopping fist that felled the Gard.