human
If you're wondering about the silver masked man who struck you, she said,
gpt
There are dozens of them on the train. They have us all under guard.
human
They won't let me make a dash for the door, Jeff, O'Toole said in an unhappy voice.
gpt
Once in the hall, I could clean up on a snag of those black devils.
human
And get your head bashed in, like Jeff did, Ferrell added.
gpt
You're sitting right here with me, _Mr._ O'Toole until we find out what this is all about.
human
You asked for trouble, Jeff, he said tersely.
gpt
You've got it. These are the same Silver Masks that have practically ruined my business. Looks as though this might do it. Wade was told to clean out this tribe of black devils six months ago. I detailed fifty men to work with him. I'll bet you a ten spot that at this moment Wade Blake is at South Station watering his flower bed, or some equally insane occupation.
human
That's not fair, Dad, she flared.
gpt
He just isn't the type of boy to handle this problem. You saw what happened to Jeff....
human
Wait a minute, Blake begged.
gpt
O'Toole is all for knocking Wade's head against his garden wall. Ferrell, you want him to keep us out of trouble when he's eight thousand miles away, and Dauna is protecting him when I'm not altogether sure he deserves it. For the time being let's worry about what is to become of us. Later, there'll be time to fight over Wade.
human
You're right, he admitted more quietly.
gpt
But you're a better man than I am if you can make sense out of this. Why don't they take what they want, kill us and be on their way?
human
I think I can answer that, he said.
gpt
From my following the stars, we are now heading directly east, into the heart of the mountain country. If I'm correct on directions, the monoline runs directly north and south. Right?
human
By golly, he said.
gpt
Jeff's right. We must be flying or something. There isn't any track that's laid in this direction!