"You could reach the hangar if it weren't for the Zarno. Well, I'll get inside that throne and start the ruckus. That'll give you time." His voice was emotionless.
"How do you know you could reach that temple-cave? The city's full of Zarno."
Garth shrugged. "It's a chance we've got to take. The only one."
Willard chewed his lip. "Why the devil do you have to be the one?"
"Because I know the Ancient Tongue. The robot can talk, can't it? Well! It's between you and me, Doc, and you're the boy who can cure the Silver Plague. You can't get away from that."
"I-I suppose so. But—"
"You know the way out. Give me time to reach the temple and begin the ceremony. Then lead the others out. They'll obey you; they're in the Noctoli trance. Get 'em to the hangar and light out for Oretown. Be sure to take the recording of the power-source with you."
"You crazy fool," Willard said through stiff lips. "What about Moira?"
Garth's face went gray. "Moira died years ago," he said carefully. "It was the Silver Plague."
Doc didn't reply. But he nodded as though he had unexpectedly learned the answer to a problem that had been puzzling him.