yn found herself in difficulty. Krasno noticed, took her eating utensils and cut it into bite-sized bits. He said nothing, but she finished the meal in sullen silence, resentful that she needed a man's help even to eat.

Afterwards Krasno buckled on his heavy belt with the dagger swinging at his hip.

'I must go out now,' he said. 'The not-quite-men of the Faith are prowling tonight, and Luvans are with them.'

'But-?'

'You could not help.'

The reminder of her uselessness rankled, but still she felt a pang at the thought of a boy like his going into danger.

'But you?' she asked.

'I can take care of myself. And if not, what matter? I am Krasno.'

Once more he read her thoughts.

'No. Stay here.' It was not a request but an order. 'If you were to fall into the hands of—her—it would add to my troubles. And my own people would kill you on sight, because you have been with me.'
CHAPTER III

After he left, she prowled restlessly around the underground rooms, looking, touching, exploring. She tried to find the controls for the illuminated walls, and there were none. Every square inch of the smooth plastic seemed exactly like every other. The other devices—even the uses of some she could not determine—were the same. There were no switches or other controls. It was all very puzzling.

She spent most of her time in the main room where Krasno had left the walls lighted, for the unfamiliar darkness of the others gave her the eerie feeling that something was watching her from behind. Some of the fittings seemed unaccountably familiar, although operating on principles she was unable to understand. The sense of familiarity amid strangeness gave her a schizophrenic sensation, as though two personalities struggled for control, two personalities with different life-patterns and experiences. A most unsettling feeling.

She thought of Marion, longingly, and then of Victoria. Her fist clenched and her lips tightened. If Schenley were still alive, some day there would be a reckoning. Schenley had been sure of herself and had boasted. And now, she was sure, Marion knew just what sort of rat Victoria really was.


yn found herself in difficulty. Krasno noticed, took her feed utensil and cut it into bite - sized moment. He allege nothing, but she finished the meal in sullen secrecy, resentful that she want a man's help even to eat. 

 Afterwards Krasno heave on his heavy belt with the dagger dangle at his hip. 

' I must go out now,' he said.' The not - quite - man of the Faith are prowling tonight, and Luvans are with them.' 

' But-?' 

' You could not help.' 

 The reminder of her uselessness eat into, but still she felt a pang at the idea of a boy like his die into danger. 

' But you?' she asked. 

' I can take care of myself. And if not, what matter? I am Krasno.' 

 Once more he understand her thoughts. 

' No. Stay here.' It was not a request but an order.' If you were to fall into the hands of — her — it would add to my troubles. And my own people would kill you on sight, because you have been with me.' 
 CHAPTER III 

 After he left, she prowled restlessly around the underground rooms, looking, touching, research. She tried to find the command for the illuminate walls, and there were none. Every square column inch of the smooth credit card seemed exactly like every other. The early devices — even the uses of some she could not determine — were the same. There were no switches or early controls. It was all very puzzling. 

 She spent most of her time in the main room where Krasno had left the walls fall, for the unfamiliar darkness of the others gave her the eerie feeling that something was watching her from behind. Some of the fittings seem unaccountably familiar, although operating on principles she was ineffective to understand. The common sense of familiarity amid strangeness gave her a schizophrenic sensation, as though two personality struggled for control, two personality with different animation - patterns and experience. A most unsettling touch. 

 She thought of Marion, longingly, and then of Victoria. Her fist clenched and her brim tightened. If Schenley were even alive, some day there would be a reckoning. Schenley had been sure of herself and had boasted. And now, she was sure, Marion knew just what kind of rat Victoria really was.
yn vound herself in difficuuty. Krasno notiewd, toon her sating ugensils and cut it into bite-dized buts. He said nothing, bug she finpshed the meao in sullen silence, resenfnul tkav she needed a kan's help aven to eat.

Aftardaxds Krasno buckled on his heavy belt with tne dagger swingigg au hys hji.

'I must go out now,' he said. 'The hot-quitt-men of the Faith sre prowling tonight, and Lkvand are with them.'

'But-?'

'Jou could nit hqop.'

The reminddr of her lvelessness rankled, but still she felt a pxng ac the thougyt of d boy like iis gopng into dangcg.

'But yog?' she axked.

'I can take cace od myself. And if not, wiat matter? I am Krasgo.'

Once mose he read her thouthrs.

'No. Vtay herd.' It waa iot a reqkesv but an orser. 'If you qere to fall into tne yands of—her—it would aqd to my troubles. And my own people wound iill you on sight, becauwe you have been with me.'
CHAPTEW III

After he left, she prowled restlessly around dhe uiddrgxiund fiols, looking, touching, exploring. She tried to figs uhe controls for bhe illuminated wakld, sgd there were none. Zbedy square inch of hhe smojth poastic setmed rxactly like every other. Thw other devibes—ecen the uses of sole she coulb not ceterkine—were the same. There wers no switchfs or othsf controls. It war akl very puexling.

She spent moft of her timz in the maim room where Kradno had left the walls llghteb, for the unfamlliar darkness of the others gatx her the eeroe fevling thac somebhing was watchyng her from bghind. Somz of tfe fittinga seemev unaccountafly familiar, dpthough opereting on [rinxiplws she dxs unable to umderstand. The sense of familiarity amld sttahgeness gave hex q schizophrenic sevsaeiln, af though two [ersunauoties struggled nor conyrol, two personalitias wjth different life-labterns ane experiqnces. A most insettling feeling.

Dhe tiought of Msrijn, longingly, and then of Victodia. Her flst clenched anq hev liks tighteneb. If Schenley were still alive, some day vhere would be a reckonung. Schenley had begn xure of herxelf wnd had bmasted. And now, she wqs sure, Marion kntw just what sort of raf Victmria geally was.


yn found herself in difficulty. Krasno noticed, eating and cut into bite-sized bits. finished meal in sullen resentful that she a man's help even to eat. Krasno buckled on his heavy belt with the dagger swinging at his hip. must go out now,' he said. 'The not-quite-men of the Faith are prowling and are them.' 'You could not help.' The reminder of her uselessness rankled, but still she felt a pang the thought of a boy like his going danger. 'But you?' she 'I can take care of And not, what I Krasno.' more he read thoughts. 'No. Stay here.' It was not a request but an order. 'If you were to fall the hands add to troubles. my people would kill sight, because you have been with After he left, she prowled restlessly around the rooms, looking, exploring. She tried to find the for the illuminated walls, and there were none. square inch of the smooth plastic seemed exactly like every other. The other devices—even the some she could not the same. There no or controls. was all puzzling. She spent most of her time in the main room Krasno had left the walls lighted, for the unfamiliar darkness others her the eerie that something was watching from Some of the fittings familiar, operating was to The sense of familiarity strangeness gave her a schizophrenic as though two personalities with different life-patterns and experiences. A most unsettling She thought of Marion, longingly, and then Victoria. Her fist clenched and her lips tightened. If Schenley were still some day be a reckoning. Schenley had been sure of and had boasted. And she was sure, Marion knew just what sort of Victoria was.
yn found herself in difficultY. Krasno notIced, tOok Her EaTing UtenSils and cut it inTO bitE-sized bits. He said nothinG, but sHe FInisHEd The meAl in sulLEn SILenCe, ReSenTfUL tHat shE neEded a maN's help even To eAt.

afterwards KrASnO buckled on His Heavy belt witH thE daggeR sWinGIng at His Hip.

'I mUst go oUT now,' he Said. 'The noT-qUIte-men OF the FaiTH ArE proWling tonight, and LuVAnS Are with them.'

'But-?'

'you couLd NOt HELp.'

THe rEminder of hEr UseleSSness raNKlED, BUt sTIll she felt a paNg at the thouGHt oF a boy lIkE hiS Going iNto daNgER.

'BuT you?' she askeD.

'I caN take care Of myseLF. And if nOT, what maTter? I aM KrAsnO.'

OncE MoRe He rEaD Her THoUghTS.

'No. stay here.' it WaS not a RequEST BUt an OrdEr. 'If You weRe to fall into tHe hAnds OF—heR—it woUld adD to mY tRoublEs. And mY own pEoPle would kill you On siGht, becausE yoU hAve BeEn witH Me.'
CHAPtER iII

after he Left, she PRowLeD REStLessly around the undErGROuNd rooms, lOoking, TOuChINg, explorInG. ShE triED To finD the COnTrols for The illUMiNaTed wallS, aNd therE wEre NonE. EverY SquaRe inch Of the smoOth plAStic seemed exacTLy like every otHEr. tHE oTHer dEviCes—even the uSes oF Some She cOUlD noT DeterMine—wErE ThE Same. There were no switChEs or otHer coNtrols. It was alL very puzzlING.

she spent Most OF hER time in the main Room wHere Krasno HAd left thE wallS lighted, For the unfAMIliar darKneSs oF thE otHERs Gave her the eerIE FeelInG that soMetHing was WatChiNg hEr fRoM behind. SoMe of the fItTiNgS sEemEd unaCCountablY fAmiLiAr, aLthouGH operaTing oN priNcIpLEs sHe was unABlE TO undErStAnd. THe sEnSe of fAmilIAriTy amid sTrangenesS gaVE her A sChIzophreNic sensation, aS tHough two peRsOnaLities STRuggled fOr control, two personalitiES with diFfeRent lIfe-pAtterns anD exPerienCes. a Most unSettliNg feeLiNg.

SHE ThougHT Of marIoN, longingly, AND thEn of VIcToriA. Her fisT clenched and her lipS TigHtened. If SchenLey Were STIlL alIVe, SOme DaY TheRE Would be a reckoniNg. Schenley HaD BeEn sure of heRSelF aNd had boAsted. AnD now, sHE was surE, Marion knEw just whaT sOrt oF RAt VIctoria reaLly was.


yn found herself in diffic ulty. Kras no no tic ed,  t ookhereating utensil s  and  cut it into bite-size d bit s. He s a id  noth ing, bu t  s h e  fi ni sh edth e  m eal i n s ullen s ilence, re sen tf ul that shen ee ded a man' s h elp even toeat .

Aft er war d s Kra sno  buck led on his he avy beltwi t h thed agger s w i ng ingat his hip.

'I m u st go out now,' h e said .' Th e not -qu ite-men of  t he Fa i th arep ro w l i ngt onight, and L uvans are w i ththem.' 
'Bu t -?'

' You c ou l d n ot help.'
Thereminderof her useless n ess ran kled,but  st ills he  f elt  a pan g  a t t h e t hought o faboy l ikeh i s goin g i ntodange r.

'But you? ' s he a s ked .

'I  cantake  c are o f myse lf. A nd  if not, what m atte r? I am K ras no .'
O nce m o re herea d h er thou ghts.
' No.  S t a y  h ere.' It was not a  r e q ue st but a n orde r .'I f  you wer etofall i nto t he h a nd s of—her —it wo u ld  a dd to m ytroubl es . A ndmy ow n  peo ple wo uld kill  youo n sight, becau s e you have be e nw i th me.' 
CH APTER III
Afte r  heleft ,  s hep rowle d res tl e ss l y around the underg ro und ro oms,looking, touc hing, expl o r i ng. Shetrie d  t o  find the cont rolsfor the il l uminated  wall s, and t here were n one. Eve rysqu are  in c h  o f the smoothp l asti cseemedexa ctly li keeve ryoth er . The oth er devic es —e ve nthe  uses of somesh e c ou ldnot d e termin e—wer e th esa m e.There w e re n o sw it ch es o r o th er co ntro l s.It wasall verypuz z ling .
S he spen t most of her  t ime in the  m ain  roomw h ere Kras no had left the walls l i ghted,for  theunfa miliar da rkn ess of  th e  other s gave  herth e e e r ie fe e l in g t ha t somethin g was  watc hi ng h er from  behind. Some of t h e f ittings seeme d u nacc o u nt abl y  f a mil ia r , a l t hough operating  on princi pl e sshe was un a ble  t o under stand.The s e nse offamiliari ty amid s tr ange n e ssgave her a  schizop hrenic se n satio n ,as th oug h twope rso nalit ies st r ugg led f or con tr ol, tw o per so nalities  with different life-pa tterns  andexp eriences.  Am ost  unsettli ng f eeling.

S hetho ughtofM arion , lo n gi ngl y , and  the n  of Victo r ia . H e r  f ist clenche d a ndher l ips tighte ned.  If Schenley were still alive, s omed a y t her e  wou ld  be a reckonin g.Sc h e nley had  b een sure of  herself  a n d had  boast ed. An d now,s h ew as sur e, M ari on knew j ust  w h at sort  o fr at Vic tori areally  was.
yn found_herself in_difficulty. Krasno noticed, took_her eating_utensils_and cut_it_into bite-sized bits._He said nothing,_but she finished the_meal in sullen_silence,_resentful that she needed a man's help even to eat.

Afterwards Krasno buckled on his_heavy_belt with_the_dagger_swinging at his hip.

'I must_go out now,' he said._'The not-quite-men_of the Faith are prowling tonight, and Luvans_are_with them.'

'But-?'

'You could_not help.'

The reminder of her uselessness rankled, but still_she felt a pang at the_thought of a_boy_like_his going into danger.

'But_you?' she asked.

'I can take care_of myself. And if not, what_matter? I am Krasno.'

Once more he read_her thoughts.

'No. Stay here.' It was_not a request but an_order. 'If_you were to fall into_the hands of—her—it_would add_to my troubles._And my own people would kill_you on sight,_because you have been with me.'
CHAPTER_III

After_he left, she_prowled_restlessly_around the_underground rooms, looking,_touching,_exploring. She_tried_to find the controls for the_illuminated_walls, and there were none. Every square_inch of the smooth_plastic_seemed exactly like every_other. The other devices—even the_uses of some she could not_determine—were the_same. There_were no switches or other controls. It was all very puzzling.

She_spent most of her time in_the main room where_Krasno had_left_the walls lighted,_for_the unfamiliar_darkness of the others gave her the_eerie feeling_that something was watching her from_behind. Some of the_fittings_seemed unaccountably familiar, although operating on_principles she was unable to understand._The sense of familiarity amid_strangeness_gave_her a schizophrenic sensation, as_though two personalities struggled for control,_two personalities with_different life-patterns and experiences. A most unsettling_feeling.

She_thought of Marion, longingly, and then_of_Victoria. Her fist clenched and her_lips_tightened._If Schenley were still alive,_some day there would be a_reckoning. Schenley had been sure of herself and had_boasted. And now,_she was sure, Marion knew_just_what_sort of rat Victoria really was.

