“Didn’t find a thing. Got good and scratched by briars,” said Jan. “Oh yes! Just this. That’s all.” She held out a bit of thin cloth.
“Purple!” Gale whispered.
The planes were close now, circling like wild geese looking for a landing.
“Looking for the light to guide them,” said Gale. “They meant to destroy the temple.” “And us.” Jan shuddered.
“Oh, sure! They’d like to get us and Jimmie and they hate the temple because the monks help to rescue our airmen. But they’ll never find the temple now,” Gale added. “On a night like this it cannot be seen from the sky. The monks should know about this,” said Jan.
“That’s right,” Gale agreed. “You go hurry back and tell them. I’ll stand guard.”
“Give me that gun.” Jan put out a hand. “I can shoot as straight as you can. Besides, I could handle that woman and her black dwarf with one hand.”
“Can you?” Gale hesitated. “Don’t forget the contents of her toilet case.”
“Oh, oh!” Jan breathed. “A gun and a dagger! All the same, I’m staying!”
“Okay. Here’s the gun. I’ll be back before you know it.” Gale was away.