He asked suddenly, "Does the Temple have a back door?"
"I don't know."
"We're going to find out."
He stood up and left money on the table. When Nadia still hesitated, Gavin took her arm lightly but firmly and urged her toward the stage door.
A yellow-skinned Venusian, his green eyes cold as glass, stopped them at the entrance of the passage. "You can't come backstage," he said.
On the dance floor, a flock of girls dressed like Ganymedian natives were performing an orgiastic dance. The drums in the orchestra beat out a sultry rhythm. Gavin reached in his pocket for a bill. A disturbance at the main door caused him to look up quickly.
A man had just entered across the room. It was Mr. X.
Nine men followed X through the door, fanning out among the tables. They were armed with bell-mouthed, Dixon ray rifles.
"Everybody keep your seat!" Mr. X called out sharply.
A woman screamed. The drums stopped. The dancing girls lapsed into a confused huddle.