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Dorjan's stopper nudged again. Nav did as ordered. A moment later the
guards(three, armed with plasma 93 pistols) came to the head of the
stairs. Dorjannodded again. Yuw and Edrek stepped from the wall, swung
their pistols upwardand squeezed. The three dropped before their eyes
could widen in surprise.
Misfit's two crewmates raced up the stairs and stripped the unconscious
men oftheir weapons. "Keep the plasma guns and dump the stoppers,"
Dorjan calledout. "Check the upper rooms. Our host might be hiding some
surprises that he
neglected to mention." "For your sake, I hope you haven't," Songan
added, hiseyes cold dark ftoles that menaced Nav. The man's eyes rolled
upward. Histhree guards had been left where they had fallen. None of the
men moved. (Theydid live. Of course Nav had no way of knowing that Yuw's
and Edrek's stoppershad been on the second setting. They were only
guards, to Mensah Nav. Hiredhelp.) "They were the only guards in the
house. I swear! The rest are outside.
Ten in all." "And three Dragon Panthers." Songan smiled. "There used to
befive.'' Mensah Nav stared. His voice was an incredulous near-whisper.
"You?" Songan nodded. Fear moved across Nav's face, mixed with awe.
These menhad killed two of the Lung Pao! And three guards. Not to
mention the van'sdriver. "It's clear up here," Edrek called down when he
and Varn appeared atthe head of the stairs again. Dorjan waved them down
and turned back to hisprisoner. "Now where is Kefira?" "Below." Nav
swallowed hard. "The house has asingle-level basement.'' Dorjan jammed
his stopper into the quaking bastard'sbelly. Nav needed no further
instructions. He led the 94 four intruders to
the basement stairs at the rear of the house. Catalyzed by another jab,
hemoved downward ahead of his captors. Thebasement was small. No more
than anarrow and dim-lit corridor of bare gray synthestone that ran for
six meters.
One metal door stood on each side of the corridor. Both were equipped
withpalmlocks. "She's in the room to the right." Nav glanced up to
Dorjan. "Thenwe'll try the one on the left first." Dorjan tilted his
head toward the otherdoor. "Do you think I'm a fool? She's in there!"
Nav jabbed a finger towardthe right. As the administrator of Ginneh's
cyprium mines started to therightward door, Edrek shoved him to the
opposite side of the corridor. "Youheard the man! Open the left one
first!" Nav glared at the youth. Incredibly,
he did not move. The sudden astonishing display of bravado piqued
Dorjan'sinterest. Nav had absolutely nothing to gain by this abrupt show
ofstubbornness. The point had to be-what had he to lose? Dorjan nodded
to hisFirst Mate. Songan's left hand snaked out. Like a vise it clamped
about Nav'sright wrist, and squeezed. The cowering swine whimpered as
the pressure fromthose fingers steadily grew. Songan didn't give the
swine a second opportunityto comply with Dorjan's command. He jerked the
smaller man around and slappedhis open palm against the lock. The door
on the left hissed open. "I think youshould take a look at this." Songan
turned to his captain as he released Nav.
"It seems this toad was hiding something." Dorjan moved to the door.
Insidewas a small laboratory. Dorjan was certain it was not used for
assaying 95 oresamples. Two plasseal pouches of fine crimson powder lay
on the edge of atable near the door. Dorjan opened one and started to
sniff its contents.
Songan grabbed his arm. "One whiff of that and you'll be on high-zap for
atleast eight hours. It's TZ.' Dorjan turned to Nav. Black eyes
