Read Online The Incredible Tide by Alexander Key - Free Book Online

them, and they’ll tell you there’s no place to go. And they’d be right. Just where would you go from here?”
    â€œWhat’s wrong with High Harbor?”
    â€œ Every thing’s wrong with it. It’s on the other side of an unknown sea—so it might as well be on another planet. The only men who know how to get there are the officers of the two big vessels. No one here wants to go to the place. They’ve heard too much about it. Things are bad there, and it’s just a matter of time before Industria takes it over.”
    â€œNo!”
    â€œI’m afraid it’s true, Conan. It’s bound to happen—unless we can get there ourselves and think of some way to stop them.”
    â€œBut how in the world are we going to get there?”
    â€œYou’re going to take us.”
    â€œBut—” Conan shook his head. “I don’t understand.”
    â€œI’ll explain it later. Other things come first. Repko has me worried. He wants you disqualified. That means the desert for you. Has anyone told you about it?”
    â€œDr. Manski did.”
    â€œThen you know the score. I’ve a friend of sorts at headquarters, and I’m praying he’ll let me know in time to warn you if Repko has his way. Then you can break out at night and I’ll hide you at the boathouse.”
    â€œWouldn’t that be dangerous for you?”
    â€œNot for a night or two. And I’ll need you there to help get ready.”
    Conan asked where it was, and learned he could reach it in total darkness merely by going two hundred paces up the waterfront.
    â€œIf you are forced to break out in daylight,” Teacher added, “we’ll have to change plans. Are you a good swimmer?”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œThen don’t stop at the boathouse. Keep going on up the coast. You may have to go only five or six miles, or it may be double that distance. I’m not sure. I saw the spot only once, and I was so exhausted my judgment was poor.”
    â€œWhat’s there?”
    â€œA break in the cliff. It’s where I stopped and spent the night four years ago, when I came here on the raft. It has a trickle of fresh water, so a person could hide there indefinitely. The spot is important to us. Very important. To escape from here we’ll have to use it as a base.”
    â€œBut someone must know of it. What about the men you brought here?”
    â€œThey don’t remember it. They were too far gone. And no one ever goes in that direction. It’s impassable—seemingly. High cliffs all the way.”
    â€œBut how—”
    â€œYou’ll have to swim around the worst spots. A good swimmer can do it easily. You see, there’s no surf to worry about. Offshore reefs protect it. At low tide, you’ll find a narrow bit of beach here and there.”
    The old man paused for a moment, listening. Then he added hastily, “I think our harpies are returning. There’s just one thing more. If you fail to get away, and Repko takes you to the desert, wait till dark and cut over the hills to the cliffs. See you tomorrow.…”
    The days passed. A full week went by. Conan had learned patience on his islet, but now he was feeling like a caged animal. If he had not known that his presence at the shop was important to Teacher’s plans, he would have smashed down the door and gone up the coast to wait.
    On the tenth morning he was surprised to see Repko approaching with the other man he had marked. Repko unlocked the door and peered at him balefully a moment. Suddenly he gave an ominous jerk of his thumb.
    â€œOn your feet, brand. Out!”
    Conan, who had slumped down quickly and was now feigning extreme weakness, got up slowly and staggered outside. Unconsciously his eyes went to the foreheads of both men, and he saw that their crosses had been removed.
    Repko did not miss the glance. His pale, heavy features tightened with