Saturnopolis looked a dreary place in the sickly daylight beneath the falling rain. The cold mists that fogged its streets were bone-chilling. Through the streets roared rocketcars, and the pedestrian-walks were crowded with the Saturnian populace, and with hordes of officers and men of the four League navies. The four circle emblem of the League was showing everywhere, and it was clearly evident that Haskell Trask had whipped the people to war-fever.
Far away, across the city, there rose from the ruck of low, black cement buildings the huge, terraced square pile that dominated everything. It had been built two centuries before, as the seat of the Saturnian government. Now, Thorn knew, it was the guarded citadel in which the ruthless dictator of the League of Cold Worlds lived and worked and wove his plans of conquest.
Sual Av and Gunner Welk pressed close beside Thorn as the noisy hunters pushed through the crowded streets.
The Mercurian, glancing at the distant, frowning pile, spoke guardedly in deep undertones.
"The girl will be in that fortress, John. And I still don't see how we can, hope even to get in there."
"We'll get in,” Thorn muttered with grim determination. “I've been here before, and I have a plan."
"It'll have to be damned good to get us past the net of secret police around that place,” whispered Gunner. Thorn's eyes clung with fierce intensity to the looming, mist-vague fortress. Somewhere behind those forbidding walls was the pirate girl who was the focus of all his thoughts. What tortures were Haskell Trask and his fat spymaster using upon her to make her reveal the secret of Erebus?
"Here we are!” boomed Kribo, stopping in a dingy cross-street. He pushed through a door, the others following.
Thorn perceived that Mother Bornbey's was a shabby rendezvous, with a drinking-counter, tables, and a few “happiness vibration” booths. Krypton lamps lit the place, a few “glowers” dispelled the chill, and it was more than crowded with rough slith hunters.
"Welcome, Kribo!” roared a dozen voices. “What luck this time?"