Without knowing why, he threw himself face down, carrying Dessie with him, as traces of the fog wafted slowly toward the thicket. It must be gas, and those men were now floundering in it. Then the world went black and Dard fell into deep space, a place where Dessie, too, was swept away from him.
4. AD ASTRA
DARD LAY ON HIS back staring up into unfamiliar gray reaches. Then a pinkish globe swam into position over him and he concentrated upon it. Eyes, nose, a mouth that was opening and shutting, took proper place.
“How is it, fella?”
Dard considered the question. He had been face down in the snow, there had been Peacemen creeping after him and— Dessie! Dessie! He struggled to sit up and the face of that figure above him moved.
“The little girl, she’s all right. You’re both all right now. You are the Nordis kids?”
Dard nodded. “Where is here?” he formed the inquiry slowly. The face crinkled into laughter.
“Well, at least that’s a variation on the old ’Where am I?’ You’re in the Cleft, kid. We saw you trying to make it across the river valley with that ’copter after you. You managed to delay them long enough for us to lay down the fog. Then we gathered you in. Also we’re a ’copter and some assorted supplies to the good, so you’ve more than paid your admittance fee—even if you weren’t Lars Nordis’ kin.”
“How did you discover who we are?” Dard asked.
Dark brown eyes twinkled. “We have our little ways of learning what is necessary for us to know. And it is a painless process—done while you’re asleep.”