a moment he tensed, ready to spring. Rick saw the Moro's
shadow just as Scotty leaped.

Rick ran out, Zircon right behind him, in time to see Scotty confront
the Moro. The man's eyes widened. His hand flashed to his sash with the
speed of a striking snake and emerged with a short dagger, a vicious
thing with a wavy blade like a kris.

Scotty didn't hesitate. He let go with a punch that had his powerful
shoulder behind it. But fast as Scotty was, the Moro dodged, then lunged
forward with the knife.

Rick sprang forward to help, but Scotty was ready. The boy stepped to
one side and in the same motion grabbed the wrist that held the knife.
He doubled the Moro's arm back, twisting at the same time. Rick ran to
pick up the knife as it fell.

The Moro hadn't given up. He kicked out, his foot catching Scotty under
the armpit, breaking his hold. The Moro broke free and started to run.

"Get him!" Zircon bellowed.

Scotty dove, both hands outstretched, with Rick right behind him. One
of Scotty's hands caught the Moro by shirt and jacket, stopping him long
enough for the other hand to get a grip, too. The Moro plunged wildly
and the clothing ripped loose. By then Rick was in position. He
delivered a judo chop to the side of the Moro's neck. The man slumped to
the ground, the red fez dropping into the dust.

For the first time Rick got a look at the Moro's back, where Scotty's
frantic grab had bared it. The man was tattooed with a strange design. A
Moro kris was crossed with a barong, and both weapons dripped blood.
Above the knives, in bright blue ink, was a symbol composed of a short
horizontal line from which three vertical lines rose. The middle
vertical line was slightly taller than the other two.

[Illustration: _The man's back was tattooed with a strange design_]

Sound smote Rick's ears. He turned swiftly and saw that the old Chinese
had come to frightened life. The old man's eyes were open wide, staring
at the tattooed design. His mouth was open, and he was wailing at such
high pitch that Rick flinched.

Then the old man babbled something and ran like one possessed into the
shelter of the warehouse.

Scotty stared after him in amazement. "What got into him? He ran as
though he'd got a sudden look at the devil!"

Zircon hauled the groggy Moro to his feet. "Possibly he did," the
physicist stated. He pointed to the symbol. "This looks like a Chinese
character. Perhaps the old man recognized it."

Swift excit