“Yes. Of course.”
“Three main secrets. We call those the Three Secrets of Radar. I’m sure that enemy spies are after them—a woman in purple and a black dwarf.”
“Isabelle told me about these, and that you have seen the woman in a temple near here. It is not easy to keep track of all the people around us. I sent two Intelligence Officers to investigate.”
“You did?” Gale leaned forward eagerly.
“Yes. They got on the woman’s trail and followed it for hours. They lost it at last in a terrible stretch of jungle the flyers call ‘Hell’s Half Hour’.”
“Hell’s Half Hour!” the girl breathed, in sudden surprise. “Then—” she caught herself and did not finish. Instead, she said: “I’m sure the Black Dwarf is not with that woman.”
“Why?” he asked simply.
“I shot at something when I was recovering my radar.” She reached deep in her pocket. “Someone was watching me. He was after my radar. He got a shot instead. My bullet cut the strap—from this.” She drew something strange from her pocket.
“What is it?” he asked in surprise.
“It’s made of aluminum, covered with thin leather,” she replied. “It’s about six inches high and fits the right foot.”