But there was something missing. Something which puzzled and worried Gary Lane. So much so that as they approached the central control tower he drew his companions to a halt in the shadow of a deserted lookout niche.
"Wait a minute," he warned. "Let's stop and look this situation over. There's something wrong here."
"Wrong," repeated Lark. "What's wrong about it? Everything looks O.Q. to me. We got this far without trouble—well, much, that is. And judging by appearances, that doorway—" He nodded—"opens to the control tower proper. So far as I can see there's not a damn soul around to stop us."
"That's just it! This is the nerve center of the entire Magogean defense system. Look ... look below, there!" Gary gestured to the window slit by which they were huddled. Through it could be seen the lower court of the Palace Royal and several streets of Khundru beyond. All had been emptied of vehicular traffic and were aswarm with fighting men prepared to repel any invasion attempt. "They've got the Palace guarded to the hilt ... but the main control tower doesn't have a man around it!"
Lark chuckled cheerfully. "Just like the Magogeans. Dr. Kang's been saying all along they don't have good sense. So much the better for us. Come on ... let's get going. We've got to open that barrier.
"Well, all right," agreed Gary. "But be careful. I don't like this."
So they crossed the last open space between their present post and the partially isolated control tower, a domed minaret of a building constructed within the palace walls but remote from other portions of the edifice.
Serving to strengthen Gary's suspicions, the door of this tower was not even locked, but yielded readily to their pressure.
Within this dome the thrumming drone of motors sounded more insistent than ever. It throbbed in their ears, their brains, their veins, like the slow and deadly dripping of a creeping poison. It was an audible magnet which drew them to the innermost chamber.