'Let me call the Commander's offce,' the guard said.
Kiah and Rilla waited. It was hot and Kiah began to feel thirsty.
The guard came back. 'I'm sorry,' he said. 'The Commander can't see you.'
'Bu Italked to the Commander yesterday,' Rilla said.
'He wanted to see us at four-thirty.'
'The Commander is leaving on the train in three minutes,' the guard said.
'Can we wait and see him here?' Kiah asked.
'No!' the guard shouted. 'Get out of here!'
Kiah and Rilla walked back to the taxi.
'Where's the driver?' Kiah asked.
'Look! He's sitting by that wall,' Rilla said.
Just then, Commander Zadak came out of the gate. He was a very tall, big man with blue eyes and a lot of white hair. Two guards marched in front of him, and two guards marched behind him. They all carried guns.
'There he is!' Rilla cried. 'Commander!' And she began to run along the road to him.
Commander Zadak did not stop. A guard opened the door of the train and the Commander got in. Slowly, the train began to move.
Kiah ran to the taxi and jumped in. Then he drove the taxi fast down the road. The taxi driver saw him and ran after him. The train began to move faster. Suddenly, Kiah drove the taxi off the road. He drove in front of the train and stopped.