ockets, clumsy and
time-consuming. Finally, he rose slowly, towering
over the small man.

"Lead on," he said.

Alarms shrilled in Hodak's mind as he recognized
the person speaking with Ram. What were Scarf's
stooge and Ram discussing? Ram's mission to Planet
Pluto was clearly diplomatic and entirely Drummer's
show. Drummer would not have knowingly accepted
Scarf's involvement in the proceedings.

Ram's surreptitious glance in his direction and
deliberate clumsy hesitation imparted doubts
concerning his predicament. Hodak stretched,
quickly finished his drink, paid his tab, and
slapped drinking partners' shoulders good-bye. He
sauntered toward the door, left the bar-room and,
outside, turned away as Ram and his escort emerged
and moved off. Hodak turned casually to observe.

A man in a dark tunic slipped out from a shadow
along the wall and followed behind Ram. Another
trailed further behind. As Hodak watched, two more
moved out of an alley and took positions ahead of
Ram and his escort. Ram was boxed.

Hodak followed, barely close enough to distinguish
Ram's swaying form in the street crowds.

Ram's guide moved toward a break in the wall and
motioned Ram to follow. Hodak saw Ram hesitate,
speak harshly, and draw back. He was too late.
The others closed in and pushed him forward.
Ram stumbled, tripped, fell, tried to rise. Arms
whipped about and he stayed down. The four lifted
and dragged him through the breach. The fifth
waited until they disappeared and darted away.
It had happened fast.

Direct intervention on his part, Hodak realized,
would be extremely hazardous. Recognition would
instantly compromise the Sentinel mission. He
had to help Ram in a way that would not disclose
his own identity.

He slipped silently into the alley.

From up ahead came rumbled curses and harsh
laughter; they were sure of themselves.

Hodak's eyes searched the shadows without success
except for the grind of boots on stony detritus and
the scrape of a weight being dragged. He closed the
gap, counting on the procession ignoring their rear.

The sounds muted and stopped. Peering from a
recessed slot along the wall he saw Ram's abductors
crowd around the entry to an open utility. One of
them crawled in and Ram's unconscious form passed
to him. The remaining three followed and the cover
drawn into place.

Hodak moved swiftly to the entry and pressed his
ear against its thick cover. Shifting position and
scooping as