XXXIX
WHO IS THE JARADOS?
It was all over. Chick opened his eyes to see the Jan throwing
open the plate on the side of the compartment. Neither the soldier
nor the Rhamda seemed to have noted Chick's daze. As for the Jan,
his blue eyes were dancing with dare-devilry.
"That's what I call living!" he grinned. "They can keep on looking
for the June Bug all night!"
Chick looked out. They were inside the great room from which they
had started; the trip was over; the plunge had been made in
safety. Chick took a long breath, and held out a hand.
"A man after my own heart, Jan Lucar. I foresee that we may have
great sport with the Senestro."
"Aye, my lord," cheerfully. "The presumptuous usurper! I only wish
I could kill him, instead of you."
"You are not the only one," commented the Rhamda. "Half of the
Rhamdas would cheerfully act as the chosen one's proxy."
And so ended the events of Chick Watson's first day beyond the
Blind Spot, his first day on the Thomahlia; that is, disregarding
the previous months of unconsciousness. He had good reason to pass
a sleepless night in legitimate worry for the outcome of it all;
but instead he slept the sound sleep of exhaustion, awakening the
next morning much refreshed.
He reminded himself, first of all, that today was the one
immediately preceding that of his test--the Day of the Prophet. He
had only a little more than twenty-four hours to prepare.
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