The Gate of Time

“Sounds risky to me,” Two Hawks said. “But I guess they know what they are doing.”

Raske greeted him as he came into the hangar just after the second of the morning’s instruction flights. The German had a peculiar smile. Two Hawks wondered if the escape plot had somehow been exposed. He looked around for arresting officers, but everything seemed normal. The workers were putting together two new planes, the parts for which had been rushed through factories and shipped to the field. A group of students was listening to a lecture by one of the recently graduated aviators. The only soldiers in sight were the usual guards. Nevertheless, he patted the derringer stuck inside his belt to reassure himself that it was there. The Itskapintik police had missed it when they had searched him, they were so eager to get to Ilmika. And the Perkunishans had never searched him because they presumed the Itskapintik had done so.

Raske said, “You once told me you admired the Lady Ilmika. How would you like to have her?”

“What do you mean?” Two Hawks said. He was not sure that Raske was not trying to trap him, although he did not know how an interest in her could do it.

“Don’t you know what’s happened to her?”

Two Hawks shook his head.

“I don’t suppose anybody told you. She’s in disgrace; she’s in prison. The Kassandras himself offered her her freedom if she would renounce Blodland for allegiance to Perkunisha. The stupid bitch slapped his face! Can you imagine that? Struck the Kassandras in the face and before the entire court! It’s a wonder she wasn’t executed on the spot! Believe me, His Majesty was angry enough to do it.

“But his wife pleaded for the girl, and the Kassandras merely had her imprisoned. He couldn’t stand being humiliated, however, so he’s been thinking of some suitable punishment for her.”

Raske gri

“Are you serious?” Two Hawks said.

Raske laughed and said, “The Lady Ilmika, niece to the Milka (king) of Blodland and grandniece to the Kassandras, is yours! She’s to be your slave! You have carte blanche with her. I. . . What’s the matter, Zwei Habichten? I thought you’d be delighted. Or are you...?”

“Overwhelmed is the word,” Two Hawks said. “Only... Never mind. What happens to her if I don’t accept her?”

“Not accept? You must be out of your mind! Selig! If you are so insane to reject my offer—well, I don’t know. I heard that Ilmika could be placed in solitary until she dies. Or perhaps sent to a military brothel, although I don’t really think the Kassandras would do that to his grandniece. Who knows? Who cares?”

Two Hawks should not have cared. But he did. Without considering the realities and logic of his situation, he knew he had to take Ilmika in as his slave. This was the only way to save her. Her presence would complicate the escape plan. The Blodlandish agents would be furious. Or would they? She was the daughter of a noble and niece to the ruler of their country. Why wouldn’t they be glad to include her?

He said, “O.K. Send her over.”

Raske clapped him on the shoulder and winked. “Tell me how it works out, heh?”

Two Hawks wanted to hit him but forced himself to unclench his fists and to smile.

“I might do that.”

Raske said that they had had enough fun; they must get back to work. Two Hawks would have to handle the aviation school today. Raske had to attend a conference with the head of Ordnance.

“He’s the most reactionary and stupid man I ever met.” Raske said. “I designed a clip-loaded carbine which will give the infantryman ten times the firepower he now has. Do you think that pighead will accept it? No, he says the common soldier will misuse it; he’ll spray the bullets instead of taking careful aim. The carbine will waste ammunition.

“However, that isn’t his only reason for not wanting my carbine! Did you know that the gatling gun crews are all officers? No noncoms or privates are allowed to handle a gatling except in extreme emergencies. This ridiculous rule is based on what happened 30 years ago. When Perkunisha was defeated, part of the army and a great number of workers, serfs, and slaves revolted. The uprising was stamped out, but ever since then the aristocracy has made sure the commoner doesn’t get his hands on powerful weapons. The rule might have been necessary at one time, but now it’s absurd! The swine!”

Two Hawks waited until an hour before dusk to begin the initial stage of his plan. Raske was not likely to come to the field at this late hour, so Two Hawks felt safe. On the pretext that one of the planes had a motor that sounded peculiar, he grounded the plane. Then, as if the thought had suddenly come to him, he a

It was midnight by then. Two Hawks ordered the auxiliaries disco

“I want you to get hold of your contact and find out what he intends to do. Tell him the plans have been changed. No, better still, have him talk directly to me. I have to explain in detail what’s needed.”

Kwasind protested that the Blodlandish would refuse. It was too dangerous to contact Two Hawks personally.

“Tell him if he doesn’t, the whole thing’s off. Now, when can I meet him?”

“Early tomorrow morning. Before you leave for the airfield,” Kwasind said.

When they walked into their suite, they found two soldiers with Ilmika Thorrsstein. She sat on a sofa, her hands folded on her lap, her back straight, her face haughty. Despite her dignity, she looked washed out. The coil of long blonde hair on top of her head was loose, with strands of straying hair, and she wore no makeup. Moreover, she wore a loose-fitting blouse and skirt of cheap dyed cotton, a slave girl’s garments.

When she saw Two Hawks enter, her eyes widened and her lips parted. Evidently she had not been told whose apartment this was. Perhaps, she did not know what her lot was to be.

Two Hawks dismissed the soldiers.

She spoke first. “What am I doing here?”

Two Hawks told her bluntly. She took the news without flinching.

“You must be tired and hungry,” Two Hawks said. “Kwasind, bring her some food and wine.”

“And then?” she said. She gazed steadily at him. He gri