Keeping Hylda covered, Worrals went back to the room in which the Bronfields were waiting. She took the key out of the lock, put it in her pocket, and closed the door behind her.
To Hylda, she said, “Stand over by the wall—and stand still.” To Frecks, “This is no time for formal introductions. These are the Bronfields. Tell me, and make it short, what happened to you.”
In a few words Frecks explained her misfortunes.
“Have you any idea where Nimrud is?” asked Worrals.
“He must be on his way back here. He’s hardly had time to cover the distance.”
“I see,” said Worrals. “The position outside, then, is this. The machine is on the runway and the palms are down?”
“Yes.”
“There is still petrol in the gravity tank?”
“Yes—but I don’t know how much.”
“You left Berthold and Voss in Brunowsk
