Chapter 23

Bracken slowly walked toward the open door.  A few swirls of early morning fog brushed by him as he reached the entrance.  The padding of Lisha's footsteps could be heard retreating through the dense mist.  Bracken's face took on a slightly pathetic expression as two conflicting affections clashed in his heart.

Momentarily, he thought of pursuing her, but as he hesitated, the feeling began to dissipate.  Resolved to remain in the safety of noncommitment, he tarried in the doorway musing.

Temporarily distracted, he did not notice the sound of other feet clattering toward him.  Abruptly, he came to himself as four armed figures materialized from the haze.  Before he was able to react, they had raced up to the door and overpowered him.  In a roar of pounding confusion, he fell against the hardwood floor, his head aching from several unexpected blows.  Stunned, he lay quietly as he heard his assailants clamor through Os's house, rousing the sleepers, and forcibly assembling them in the spacious gathering room.  A Pair of strong arms, belonging to a grizzly looking man, roughly pulled Bracken to his feet and pushed him to where the others had been collected.  "We're not going to take your word this time, Os," growled a short, squat man, his fingers clutched tightly to an energy thruster in his hand.  It's blunt snout, festooned with wart-like darts, was pointed at Ley's head. Obviously deadly, the weapon's explosive potential seemed no more lethal than the temperament of its owner.  A frown was sternly grilled on his face. "We want the map, and we'll have it if we have to break apart this building, and you and your friends with it."

"That won't be necessary," answered Ley smoothly, a casual attitude in his voice.  He smiled warmly at the fat man.  "I'll give you the map, if that's what you want.   But first, please answer me one question."

The corpulent man growled his reply.  "What's that?"

"Oh, I was just wondering what you intended to do with the Gems once you found them?  Undoubtedly, you know the effect they have on people."

"I'm aware of it."

"Then, you must realize that once you're exposed to the Mingus, you'll be looking at reality a little different.   In fact, you'll probably stop this foolish bad man business, and learn how to love others."

The portly figure smirked a tart response, sucking in his protruding stomach.  "A definite possibility if I was planning to use the Gems myself, but I have no such intention."

"Then what possible interest could you have in them?" queried Ley, narrowly eyeing the position of the stout man's companions. The assailants Shifted nervously, gripping their weapons impatiently.

"Money, Os, the same ultimate motive you have yourself."  Ley, who had previously been in front of Bracken and the musicians slowly began to back along beside them, near the wall.

"Oh, but you're wrong my friend.  If financial gain was my motive, you certainly wouldn't find me so freely distributing the stones."

"Those free samples," sneered Ley's obese opponent, temporarily distracted by Ley's smooth response, "are only a come on. Once someone tries the product, they come back for more.  That's when the price is attached."

"Such lack of trust in your fellow man," replied Ley, his body now parallel to his friends.  Ley's seeming confidence was not evidenced in his companions.  They stared warily at the vicious arms pointed at them.

The chubby man's patience seemed to boil over, his red face snapping his reply.  "The map, Os, and no more questions!"  The barrel of his thruster panned across the captives.

"All right," sighed Os, his face scowling in apparent despair.  "It's here behind this..."

Suddenly a loud explosion shook the house as an energy egg vaporized the front door of Os' home.  The fat man and his cohorts turned in surprise as the first members of a Pirax Assault Squadron stormed down the hall and broke into the

Others quickly filed in behind them, their boots clacking on the floor and their weapons held ready.  For a moment the two armed groups eyed each other.  Then without warning, a volley of fire erupted between them.  Explosive charges burst, penetrating human flesh. Men fell moaning.  Ricocheting projectiles bounced from the shining shields that the Pi held in their hands, detonating harmlessly in a flash of sizzling light.

In the midst of the commotion, Ley moved quickly to the wall and touched a small stud beneath a picture frame.   To Bracken's and the others' amazement, a steel partition slammed down from the ceiling, instantly separating them from the battle on the other side.

"What's going on?" shouted Chepa, shocked by the previous threat, and now even more mystified by their instant escape.

"Quite simple," explained Ley, as he turned and activated a switch on the opposite wall.  "I had this escape mechanism installed when I bought the house.  I never thought I'd use it to avoid the likes of the fat man.  It was mainly for any unexpected run-in with the Pirax.  It looks like we've had a little of both though."  Muffled explosions resounded through the wall.  "They should take care of each other nicely."  The whine of the motors that had been humming beneath their feet since Ley had activated the buttons on the wall suddenly ceased.  Os reached down to the floor and pulled aside a thick cover carpet.  Beneath it, a stairwell descended into a dimly lit passage.  "This corridor leads to a hidden exit in the park.   We can easily escape."  Os' countenance became more intent as the noise of the battle increased in the background.  "All of you, listen closely!" he shouted over the noise of the explosives.  "Split up into small groups.   We'll be less obvious that way.  After you leave the tunnel, hide.  We'll have to avoid contact with each other for a while."

"Where will we meet after that?" asked Chepa.

"At Roon's house," Ley responded, as he began stepping down the stairway.  "Stay undercover until then.  Let's go quickly now ... it won't take the Pi long to break through that wall if they start using their energy eggs against it."

Chepa and Bracken found themselves paired together.  Bracken pushed Chepa ahead, hurrying him down the stairway.  "You can come with me to Malchag, we'll be safe there.

"Fine," nodded Chepa, running ahead of his companion as they rushed after Ley through the shadowy passage.