"We can escape,” Thorn said swiftly. “But we've got to make it look as though we came here for a criminal purpose. Otherwise, people will ask why the Planeteers came to the Chairman's mansion, and it will be guessed that we're really your agents after all."
Thorn drew a roll of flexible metal cord from his pocket, and sprang toward the Chairman.
"Forgive me for this, sir,” he cried.
The bewildered Chairman did not resist as Thorn bound his arms and legs tightly. Then the young Earthman straightened.
"Tell them we tried to kidnap you, sir,” he said swiftly to the Chairman. “That we meant to hold you for ransom."
Gunner Welk stood ready now to open the window shutter. And Sual Av had taken a little metal sphere from his pocket.
"You're right-the light-bomb is our best chance,” Thorn clipped. “Throw it when Gunner opens the window."
Gunner Welk suddenly flung open the shutter. Before the police hammering outside it could enter, the bald Venusian flung out the tiny sphere. The Planeteers clapped their hands in front of their eyes. The sphere burst out on the terrace amid the pressing group of police. A terrific glare of blazing white light exploded from the bomb. A tiny charge of atoms inside it had been suddenly broken down, not into energy, but into pure radiation in the frequency of light. The awful glare of radiation instantly paralyzed the optic nerves of the unprepared police, temporarily blinding them.
The glare died swiftly. Thorn and his two comrades were already plunging out through the blinded men.
"This way!” Thorn cried.