Joel swung toward the door. The prisoners were all staring in that direction too.
Nick Thorp scrambled to his feet, came over to Joel and Tamis. "What's the fuss?"
Tamis shrugged naked ivory shoulders. She slipped into her coveralls, a frown tugging at her eyebrows.
Suddenly a siren turned loose like a blast from the last trumpet. Joel jumped involuntarily.
"Someone's escaped!" Tamis gasped.
The door burst open. Guards spilled into their prison. They wore white shorts and tunics and carried paralyzers. The dapper colonel was no longer jaunty. His face was red.
"Line up against the wall!" he shouted in a furious tone.
Joel fell into line beside Tamis and Thorp. The colonel opened the muster, barked, "Allyn!"
"Here."
"Aus'l!"