told

had told him, there was nothing in the smooth bare wall to suggest an emergency lock behind it, but he was lined up with the center of the door on the other side, as well as he could make it out; and he should be within a few feet, at most, of the lock.
“Professor Alston,” he said.
“Yes?”
“I’m in front of the lock now. Wait till I give you the word. Then open it fast.”
“We’re ready,” Alston said. “We’ll know when you’re inside.”
Harold fished the two guns from his pockets, took them by their barrels in one hand, turned around. Supporting himself against the wall with his other hand, he lifted the guns and began waving them about. Tozien droning drew in towards the motion, thickening, zigzagging back and forth above and in front of him. Then he pitched the guns towards the far corner of the room. The droning darted off with them. They hit the wall with a fine crash, went clattering to the floor. The air seethed noisily above them there.
“Now!” Harold said.
He saw the narrow dark opening appear in the wall two r