“He has not spoken!” she whispered. “He is threatening now to tell them who we are——”
Then Vladimir was shouting promises, to judge by his tone. A moment later his voice was stern.
Maria sobbed suddenly. A growl went up from the Strangers, running all about among the huddled figures.
Far away over the hills a low-toned buzzing set up. It strengthened and grew louder. A black dot hung between earth and sky. It grew larger. A second black dot appeared; a third. Wings could be seen upon the first of the airplanes. More and more appeared until there were six in all, flying in formation and winging their way steadily toward the hills.
They darted back and forth, searching. Cunningham shouted joyously.
“There they are!” he yelled. “Tell Vladimir to go to hell, Stephan! We’ve got help with us now!”
Vladimir had heard the sound of the engines and stared upward. Then foam appeared upon his lips and he shrieked with rage.
“There will be soldiers upon those things?” asked Stephan quietly. The Strangers were gazing up at the swooping aircraft that quartered the hills like monster hawks, in quest of the Strangers and their enemies.
“Surely,” Cunningham told him joyously. “They’ll carry five men apiece, with the pilots.”
Stephan rose and stepped forward, where he shouted in a stentorian voice to Vladimir. Maria gasped in terror and clung close to Cunningham.