In the back of his mind was the thought that they did have a chance to escape. After all, phase four of the attack had not yet gone into operation. Phase four was due to start any minute now.
"To the roof!" he ordered.
By the time the five minutes of grace were up everybody was on the flat roof of the temple. The moon was just rising. It looked like a gigantic conflagration on the horizon.
"Time is up!" Voronoff yelled, from some place of concealment. "What did you decide."
"We decided you could go to hell!" Craig answered. "If you want us, you've got to come and get us."
Hiding around the temple thousands of the Ogrum could be vaguely glimpsed. Captain Higgins surveyed the scene. "We command all approaches to the building," he said. "If they try to charge us, it will be slaughter. We've still got a chance, Craig."
"You're damned right we have!" the big man answered.
"Except," the captain continued thoughtfully, "for ammunition, food, and water, we're all right."
"If we're not out of here by the time our ammunition runs out, we'll never escape," Craig answered. "However, we'll be out of here in an hour."
"I hope you know what you're talking about," was Higgins' only comment.