"War," reminded Lark, "is war. The only good enemy is a dead enemy. We know where we stand now. The Gogeans are on deck as they promised to be, and we know where the control tower is. Now if we can just lift that barrier shield—"
"We must get the girls first," reminded Gary. "I think we're almost there. Come on."
He was right. They sped through a few more chambers, then emerged into an apartment more elaborately furnished than any seen so far. Into this they shouldered rudely. At sight of them a gross figure, a mountainous mass of jelly parodying Magogean manhood, came mincing up to them on swollen feet emitting shrill little bleats of horror and dismay.
"Kraedar! Tramir! A thousand pardons, but these are the women's quarters. You have no right here."
"Beat it, capon!" grunted Lark, and with a twist of his foot sent the piping eunuch sprawling. He lifted his voice. "Penny! Nora! Where are you?"
At his cry a flurry sounded from an adjacent chamber as curtains flung apart and Penny and Nora ran to greet them. They still wore the peasant rags in which they had been sold.
Penny cried, "Lark! We knew you'd find us! We knew you would come!"
And Nora echoed, "We were waiting. But Gary, what does the alarm mean? When they heard it, those who were attending us fled. All the women in Khundru have taken shelter—"
"And every man has gone to his post," explained Gary. "They've spotted the Gogean army outside the city. We must work fast before they can turn their armaments on our unprotected friends. Come on."
"Yes, but where?"