We had removed the cords from our prisoners' ankles. I motioned them to get out of the boat. We crowded Tao's men on the platform. They were surprised, and some of them alarmed, when they saw how we proposed to transport them over the water. Miela silenced their protests, and soon we had them all seated on the platform, with Mercer at the rear end facing them.
The fifty girls grasped the platform handles. Another moment and they were in the air, with Mercer waving good‑by to us vigorously.
Miela and I, left alone, watched them silently as they dwindled to a speck in the haze of the sky.
We were about to start back when we saw a girl coming toward us, flying low over the water. One of those we had directed to patrol the coast, Miela said when she came closer. She saw us, and came down on the beach.
The two girls spoke together hurriedly.
"Tao's men in the Water City have caused great disturbance, Alan," Miela said to me.
"Where's the Water City?"
"Near the Great City—across the marshlands. We must get back. And when Anina and our friend Ollie have returned we must go to the Water City. It is very bad there, she said."
Our trip back to the Great City was without unusual incident. We followed the main route at the best speed we could make.
"We shall tell our king, of course, about this disturbance," said Miela. "Perhaps he will think there is something he can do. But I fear greatly that unless he appeals directly to the people, and they are with him—"