He took the little cylinder from the girl, inspected it curiously, then laid it on the blankets.
"They'll need it, I guess, if it's any colder where they're going."
He set one of the captives free.
"Anina, tell him to sit quiet until we've gone. Then he can cut the others loose." He tossed a knife into the box. "Come on, Anina; let's get away."
They were about ready to start back, when Mercer suddenly decided he was hungry. He hopped off the platform. "They don't need all that food."
He gathered some of the little flat cakes of dough in his hands. "Want some?" He offered them to the girls, who smilingly refused.
"All right. I do. I'm hungry. Might as well take a blanket, too. It's devilish cold."
He was back on the platform in a moment, sitting down with the blanket about his knees and munching contentedly at the bread.
"All right, Anina. Start her off."
They swung up into the air and began the return flight.