“See here, why would not a hundred pounds of gold-leaf tempt you? The code-words which were taken from Johnson––I mean to say, why not tell us where they are?”
So that was one of the brigands new difficulties! Snap had taken the code-word sheet, that time we sealed the purser in the cage.
I said, “You’ll never find them. And when a police ship sights us, what will you do then?”
The chances of a police ship were slim indeed, but the brigands evidently did not know that. I wondered again what had become of Snap. Was he captured––or still holding them off?
I was watching my windows; for at any moment, under cover of this talk, I might be assailed.
Gravity came suddenly to the room. Miko’s voice said. “We mean well by you, Haljan. There is your normality. Join us. We need you to chart our course.”
“And a hundred pounds of gold-leaf,” urged Coniston. “Or more. Why, this treasure––”
I could hear an oath from Miko. And then his ironic voice: “We will not bother you, Haljan. There is no hurry. You will be hungry in good time. And sleepy. Then we will come and get you. And a little acid will make you think differently about helping us....”
His vibrations died away. The pull of gravity in the room was normal. I was alone in the dim silence, with the bodies of Carter and Johnson lying huddled on the grid. I bent to examine them. Both were dead.