Beyond the Stars by Ray Cummings

I had sent Alice, Sonya and Dolores into one of the castle bedrooms. They were all tired and overwrought with the excitement through which they had passed. A dream awakened Sonya, after how long an interval she did not know-several hours undoubtedly. She dreamed she had been talking with Prince Altho: he was in a cave; Jim and Ren were with him.

For a long time Sonya lay pondering. Then she awakened the other two girls.

"Listen, I want to go and try and rescue Altho."

She told them her plan. They could take a small flying platform, with a few birds. Once away from the city, the distraction of the thought-waves of all its people, she would be able to communicate with Altho or with Ren. Communicate with them, find them-rescue them!

A mad, impossible adventure, perhaps, but to the girls it looked feasible.

"Oh, Alice, oh, Dolores, shall we try it? Leonard will be many days getting his army together. That is too dangerous, to wait so long."

Dolores turned to her with shining, tearful eyes. "If I could only get to Jim, help him to safety."

Sonya had other plans. She could get weapons, a small weapon, the electronic needle pipe. She knew where they were kept, and how to use them.

"I heard Ren discussing it one day with Maxite the scientist. And there are image-finders stored in the same room. I think I know how to use them."

The girls decided to try it. They slipped unobserved from the room. Sonya found them long, hooded black cloaks. In the darkness, mingled with the confusion of arriving refugees, they got out of the castle without being recognized.

"Where are we going? " Dolores whispered. They were all three tense with excitement. Sonya had turned toward the rear of the castle, into the dimly lighted street along the base of the wall.

"A gate-door here," she whispered. "It is guarded by Grett. Quiet! Stand close beside me, but do not speak. But be ready to do what I say. Soon we will have the weapons."

In the castle bedroom, before leaving, Sonya had tom a garment into long, narrow strips, a staunch, tough fabric. She handed the strips now to Alice. At the small door in the wall, they paused.

"Keep behind me," Sonya whispered. "Over there in the shadow. But be ready."

The street along here was dark; it was a street little used and at the moment it was empty. Sonya knocked boldly on the door.

"Grett! Oh, Grett!"

In her own language from within came the muffled question, "Who is there?"

"It's Sonya."

"Yes?"

"Open the door."