"Unlock the door."
He had to repeat the command twice before Sampson understood. Then the big man bent, fumbling with the lock, working with agonizing slowness.
Hours seemed to drag past before Sampson straightened.
Garth tried the door. It opened. The first step was accomplished, anyhow. The others would be more difficult. He was unfamiliar with the underground city. How the devil could he evade the Zarno and find a hiding-place? Alone, he would have a better chance. But he had twelve companions to take with him.
He spoke to each of them. "Follow me. You understand? Follow me till I tell you to stop. Move as quietly as you can."
Then he led them out of the cell.
The city, as he speedily learned, was a labyrinth. Luckily there were innumerable cross-passages. And all the cities of the Ancients had been built along a similar plan. Garth knew the layout of Chahnn, and that helped him now. But there were times when he had to move fast, and the others walked as though striding through water.
"Quick! In here! Fast!"
And they would follow him, into a side tunnel, while the heavy, metallic foosteps of the Zarno approached like the drums of doom.