"To the control tower. It's the key to the whole situation."
This time their flight through the avenues of the Palace Royal was not so unimpeded as before. The entire city had sprung to a state of alert. As they left the residential quarters and moved once more into that portion of the citadel which was its walled fortress, they passed on several occasions small bodies of troops hurrying toward designated battle posts. As they passed gun stations they saw artillery crews huddled behind flame guns and rotors which, through slits in the palace wall, commanded wide areas of the city before and below. Twice their passage was challenged. Once by a patrol sentry whom Lark easily satisfied.
"Kraedar Gorilu and one attendant on special duty. Taking these two females to the dungeons for safekeeping."
"Very good, sir," said the sentry, and permitted them to pass.
But the second challenge was not so easily averted. This came from a kraedar of equal rank to him as whom Lark masqueraded. This noble made the fatal error of attempting to question the fugitives without first calling assistance.
"Kraedar Gorilu?" he repeated. "I know no such lord. And your trappings designate you as one of the inner Palace Guard. Why, then, are you fleeing in this direction? And why are you drawing that gun, kraedar?"
"Because," answered Lark simply, "you ask too damn many questions, and we haven't got time to answer them. Sorry, pal!"
And they left the inquisitive kraedar behind, inquisitive and suspicious no longer....
But finally they went again to that section of the Palace Royal which they knew to be its nerve center. From the deepening throb of many motors, and by the slowly increasing static crackling of dynamos endlessly turning, they knew when they had reached their objective.