The bar-room's heavy vapors seemed to ceasetheir dreary ballet. An uneasy cackle, strident andjarring, erupted from a corner, accompanied bythe flat slap of a hard hand against the bar's roughcounter. The tension dissolved into a ripple ofraucous laughter. The hubbub resumed, and quicklyreturned to its former level.
Myra, followed by Zolan, Adari and Kumiko, enteredthe bar-room, spotted Brad and Hodak, and movedtoward them, snatching empty stools along the way.Placing the stools, they encircled the table.
Their eyes took in Scarf's heavy-duty red-blackweapon, and then Brad and Hodak, elbows on table,scanning the crowd. They saw Drummer nearbyand noted his disheveled appearance.
They rose silently, rearranged their seats, andsat again, backs against the wall. Kumiko fixed hereyes on the entryway; Adari scanned in the oppositedirection, taking in the bar. Zolan and Myra joinedBrad and Hodak to observe the roisterers resumetheir bar-room habits.
Drummer still showed his embarrassment,apprehension and rage. His eyes darted fromthe doorway to Hodak to Brad. Brad turned hishead slightly to take him in, then pointed to anoverturned stool nearby.
"Pull up and sit a while."
"You in charge?" Drummer asked.
"No," Brad said, "we're each on our own. Justsocializing."
He motioned at the stool again.
"C'mon, join us."
Drummer looked closely at Brad, then at the otherswho ignored him. Brad's expression was bland,neutral.
Drummer felt certain that Scarf would return soonwith reinforcements. He had to get out, fast, andhe needed an escort to safety. Beyond that, hewanted to know why the squat powerhouse, nowsitting calmly at the table, had intervened. Hemust have realized that his interference had beenmade at great personal risk.
Drummer righted the stool and stared intently atHodak as he sat. Hodak, sensing Drummer's scrutiny,glanced sideways at him, winked straight-faced, andreturned to observe the crowd.
Drummer finally turned to Brad, convinced he wasthe leader of this pack.
"We'd better get out of here, now," he said,his tone urgent. "Scarf'll be back as soon as hecollects a few of his goons."
"What was it about?" Brad asked.
"No time for talk," Drummer replied, gesturinghis impatience. "We've got to get away from here,and I mean right now."
"Sure, but who is that guy?"
"Major Scarf, Chief of Internal Security forPresident Narval. He has his own troops, and Idon't doubt that he's lining them up right now."Drummer's fingertips tapped the table in nervousstaccato. "Let's get out of here. Now."
Brad stood, and the others rose with him. "Leadthe way," he motioned Drummer toward thedoorway. "We're not familiar with the territory."
"Leave that to me," said Drummer.
Brad hefted Scarf's weapon, slipped it into 'safe'and, passing the bar, handed it to the bartenderwith a nod that was returned with a respectful wave.