The party quickly surrounded him and sped for the security of the trees. There was a flurry of shots from behind that the roboes answered, then the foliage concealed them.
"It's no use," Don gasped from between gritted teeth. "This place is surrounded by soldiers; in fact, I rather imagine that the general anticipated and hoped for something like this."
"We'll get out," smiled Shiela tenderly. Don saw why when they broke into a small clearing and were confronted by one of the two missing space ships, towering high among the forest giants.
"We came in last night during the storm," Shiela explained. "Once in the air we'll fly close to the Earth's surface and nothing can touch us or follow us back to our base."
The party hustled aboard and they were soon shooting through the atmosphere. "Wait!" protested Don as they then turned attention to his shattered leg. "The sun! Has the sun risen yet?"
"It's just a few minutes more," soothed Shiela, pressing his hot forehead with a cool palm. "Just lie back while we straighten your leg."
"But I've got to tell you," he insisted. "You haven't long to live if I'm right. Perhaps you can do something, although I doubt it."
The roboes all stiffened. Shiela was the first to recover and asked anxiously, "Tell us what, Don?"
He explained about the new weapon. "And," he concluded, "from what's been hinted and knowing the general as I do, I believe sunrise was to signal the transmission of the wave."