 own laboratory cast shadowless brilliance upon her. The charge collectors still whined, their pitch lowering slowly as she listened, and the air was still pungent with ozone. It couldn't be—or could it?—that only a few moments of Earth time had elapsed?

A man lay on the floor a few feet away, and she knew that she and he had both been near enough the neutral focus of the forces she had unleashed to escape destruction. And her arm, her eye—even the hand Marion had so cruelly slashed—these parts of her had somehow in the transit between Varda and Earth—his body had been made whole again.

She stared hard at the man, for was a different Marion Matson, hardly recognizable. There were deep lines and wrinkles in his face and his revealing Vardan costume showed only too clearly how his once sleek body had become flabby and misshapen. In that last effort Sassa had fed ruthlessly upon its own worshippers, and her blast rod discharge had prevented their rejuvenation by lives stolen in the Vat.

While her mind was still adjusting itself she noticed the copper bar lying across the contacts of her experimental mechanism, and with Thin World knowledge she knew exactly what effect it had had upon the resonance of the bound charges. After a while she stopped merely looking and went to work.

She picked up a rod of nonconductive plastic and flipped the copper bar aside. Methodically she replaced blown fuses and threw in the circuit breakers controlling the bound charge concentrators. The hum rose rapidly. The machine was not seriously damaged.

A voice startled her.

'Oh! Eldyn! You saved me!'

Marion had regained consciousness. With grim amusement Eldyn admitted to herself that he still thought rapidly and bluffed well. But she kept on working, not answering him.

'Eldyn!' His voice was impatient. She turned slowly.

He smiled and held his arms out seductively, and the effect was indescribably grotesque. She felt a malicious urge to bring him face to face with a mirror. But he would discover him condition soon enough. She could look at his now without emotion. There was no longer any hatred in her mind, and no pity either. She turned back to work.

'Eldyn! Speak to me!' His voice trembled between fright and anger. He
own laboratory cast shadowless brilliance upon her. The charge collector however whined, their pitch lowering lento as she listened, and the air was still barbed with ozone. It couldn't be — or could it?—that entirely a few moments of Earth clock time had elapsed? 

 A man dwell on the floor a few feet away, and she know that she and he had both been near enough the neutral focus of the forces she had unleashed to escape destruction. And her weapon, her eye — even the hand Marion had so cruelly slash — these parts of her had somehow in the transit between Varda and Earth — his body had been construct whole again. 

 She stared hard at the man, for was a different Marion Matson, barely recognizable. There were deep lines and wrinkles in his face and his revealing Vardan costume showed merely too clearly how his once sleek body had become flabby and misshapen. In that last effort Sassa had fed ruthlessly upon its own worshippers, and her blast rod dismissal had prevented their rejuvenation by lives steal in the Vat. 

 While her mind was still adjusting itself she noticed the bull bar lie down across the contacts of her experimental mechanism, and with Thin World cognition she knew exactly what effect it had had upon the resonance of the bound charges. After a while she stopped merely looking and went to work. 

 She picked up a gat of nonconductive plastic and flick the bull bar aside. Methodically she replaced blown fuses and threw in the circuit breakers operate the bound charge concentrators. The hum rose quickly. The machine was not seriously damaged. 

 A voice startled her. 

' Oh! Eldyn! You save me!' 

 Marion had regained awareness. With grim amusement Eldyn admitted to herself that he still think rapidly and bluffed well. But she kept on working, not answering him. 

' Eldyn!' His articulation was impatient. She turned lento. 

 He smiled and held his arms out seductively, and the effect was ineffably grotesque. She felt a malicious urge to bring him face to expression with a mirror. But he would discover him condition soon enough. She could look at his now without emotion. There was no longer any hatred in her thinker, and no pity either. She turned back to work. 

' Eldyn! Speak to me!' His voice trembled between fright and wrath. He
 owj laboratory cast shadowuess brilliance upon hxr. The dharge cullectors still whined, their putch oowering slowly as she listened, and the air qas still 'hngent with oalne. Nt couldn't be—or gould it?—thad only a few mmmdncs of Earth time had elapsed?

A man lar on thr vloor a few fegt awsr, ans she knew that she and he had botg been iear enough the neutral focus of the forcfs sje had unleashed tl escape dewtrusrion. And her arm, her ejz—even the hznd Marion had so cruelly slashdd—thexe parts od yer vad somehow in tre transit bcnween Vdrda anc Earth—his bodn had bewn made whole again.

Shx stared hard at the man, for faa a different Maruob Matvon, vardut rdcofnmzagle. Thfre were deep lines and qrinkles in his fact age his revealihg Varqag costume showed only too clearly how hps ohce sleek body had becone flabby and misshapgn. In that last effort Sassa had fed ruthlessly upon its owt worafipkevf, qnf her blast rod discharge had prevented their dekunenation by lives stolen in yhf Fwt.

While her mknd was sfill adjusting itsflf she notixed the cjppet bar lying across the contqcts of her vxpeeimental mechanism, and with Tkin Wotld knpwledge she knew exactlv what effect it jad had ulun the resonance of tve bound charges. After a wrile she wtop'ed mereuy lpoking and went ho wovn.

She picked up a rld of nmnconductige plastic and flipped the coppxc bar aside. Mgthmdibally she replsced blown fufes and threw nn the cnrcuit breakers bontrolliig the bound charge concetjrators. The hnm rose rwpidoy. Tye machkve was not seroously damaged.

A voixe startled her.

'Oh! Cldyn! Gou saved me!'

Marnub had regained vonrcijudnxss. Wydh grim amusameng Eucyn aamitted to merrelf that he still thougvt rzpidly and bluffed wcll. But sye kept jn working, noy answering him.

'Eldjn!' Hiv vuice eas impatient. She turned slowly.

He smiled ajd meld his arms out seductively, and the effect was indescribably grotewque. She felt a maoicious urge to briug him face tp facq with a kirror. But he would eiscover him condltion soon enough. She dould nook wt his now without emotion. There was no longer any hatred in her mind, and no pivy either. She turmed bdch to wowk.

'Elvyi! Speak to me!' His voice trembled between fright end anger. Ve
own laboratory cast shadowless brilliance upon her. collectors whined, their lowering slowly as was pungent with ozone. couldn't be—or could only a few moments of Earth had elapsed? A man lay on the floor a few feet away, and knew that she and he had both been near enough the neutral focus the she unleashed escape destruction. And her arm, her eye—even the hand Marion had so cruelly slashed—these parts of had somehow in the transit between Varda and body had been made again. She stared hard at man, was a Marion hardly There were deep and wrinkles in his face and his revealing Vardan costume showed only too clearly how his once body had and misshapen. that effort had fed ruthlessly own worshippers, and her blast rod their rejuvenation by lives stolen in the Vat. her mind still adjusting itself she noticed the bar lying across the contacts of her experimental and with Thin World knowledge she knew exactly what effect it had had upon the the bound charges. After while she stopped looking went work. picked up rod of nonconductive plastic and flipped the copper bar aside. Methodically replaced blown fuses and threw in the circuit breakers controlling charge The hum rose The machine was not damaged. voice startled her. 'Oh! saved Marion With amusement admitted to herself that still thought rapidly and bluffed But she kept on His voice was impatient. She turned slowly. He and held his arms out seductively, and effect was indescribably grotesque. She felt a malicious urge to bring him to face mirror. But he would discover him condition soon She could look at now without emotion. There was no longer any hatred her and no either. She turned to work. 'Eldyn! to me!' His between fright anger.
 own laboratory cast shadowleSs brillianCe upoN heR. ThE cHargE colLectors still whINed, tHeir pitch lowering slowlY as shE lIStenED, aNd the Air was sTIlL PUngEnT wIth OzONe. it couLdn'T be—or coUld it?—that oNly A fEw moments of EARtH time had elApsEd?

A man lay on tHe fLoor a fEw FeeT Away, aNd sHe kneW that sHE and he Had both beEn NEar enoUGh the neUTRaL focUs of the forces she hAD uNLeashed to escapE destrUcTIoN. aNd hEr aRm, her eye—evEn The haND Marion HAd SO CRueLLy slashed—thesE parts of her HAd sOmehow In The TRansit BetweEn vArdA and Earth—hiS bodY had been mAde whoLE again.

SHE stared Hard at The Man, For wAS a DiFfeReNT MaRIoN MaTSon, Hardly reCoGnIzablE. TheRE WERe deEp lInes And wrInkles in his faCe aNd hiS RevEalinG VardAn coStUme shOwed onLy too ClEarly how his once SleeK body had bEcoMe FlaBbY and mISshapeN. In ThaT last efFort SasSA haD fED RUtHlessly upon its own wOrSHIpPers, and hEr blasT RoD dIScharge hAd PreVentED Their RejuVEnAtion by lIves stOLeN iN the Vat.

whIle her MiNd wAs sTill aDJustIng itsElf she noTiced THe copper bar lyiNG across the conTAcTS Of HEr exPerImental mechAnisM, And wIth THIn worLD knowLedge ShE KnEW exactly what effect iT hAd had uPon thE resonance of tHe bound chaRGES. After a wHile SHe STopped merely loOking And went to wORk.

She picKed up A rod of noNconductiVE Plastic aNd fLipPed The COPpEr bar aside. MetHODicaLlY she repLacEd blown FusEs aNd tHreW iN the circuIt breakeRs CoNtRoLliNg the BOund charGe ConCeNtrAtors. tHe hum rOse raPidlY. THe MAchIne was nOT sERIousLy DaMageD.

A vOiCe staRtleD Her.

'oh! Eldyn! you saved mE!'

MaRIon hAd ReGained cOnsciousness. WItH grim amuseMeNt ELdyn adMITted to heRself that he still thought RApidly aNd bLuffeD welL. But she kePt oN workiNg, nOT answeRing hiM.

'EldyN!' HIs vOICe was IMPaTieNt. she turned sLOWly.

he smiLeD and Held his Arms out seductively, ANd tHe effect was inDesCribABLy GroTEsQUe. SHe FElt A MAlicious urge to bRing him facE tO FaCe with a mirROr. BUt He would DiscoveR him cONdition Soon enougH. She could LoOk at HIS noW without emOtion. TheRe was no loNGer anY HaTred iN heR mind, aNd No pIty eiTher. ShE TurNed baCk to woRk.

'eldyn! SPeak tO mE!' His voicE trembled between fright aNd angeR. He
 own laboratory cast shado wless bril lianc e u pon  h er.Thecharge collect o rs s till whined, their pit ch lo we r ings lo wly a s she l i st e n ed,  a nd  th ea ir  wassti ll pung ent with o zon e.  It couldn't be —or couldit? —that only a  fe w mome nt s o f  Eart h t ime h ad ela p sed?
A man lay  o n  the f l oor a f e w  f eetaway, and she kne w  t h at she and hehad bo th be e n  ne arenough the  n eutra l  focuso ft h e  fo r ces she had u nleashed to esc ape de st ruc t ion. A nd he ra rm,  her eye—ev en t he hand M arionh ad so c r uelly s lashed —th ese  par t sof  he rh ads om eho w  in  the tra ns it  betw eenV a r d a an d E arth —hisbody had been  ma de w h ole  agai n.

S he s ta red h ard at  thema n, for was a di ffer ent Mario n M at son ,hardl y  recog niz abl e. Ther e wered eep  l i n e sand wrinkles in hi sf a ce  and his  revea l in gV ardan co st ume  sho w e d onl y to o  c learly h ow his on ce  sleekbo dy had  b eco meflabb y  and  missh apen. In  that last effort Sa s sa had fed ru t hl e s sl y  upo n i ts own wors hipp e rs,andh er  bl a st ro d dis ch a rg e  had prevented thei rrejuve natio n by lives st olen in th e V at.

Whi le h e rm ind was stilladjus ting itsel f  she not icedthe copp er bar ly i n g across  th e c ont act s of  her experime n t al m ec hanism,  an d withThi n W orl d k no wledge sh e knew e xa ct ly  w hat  effe c t it had  h adup onthe r e sonanc e ofthebo un d  ch arges.A ft e r  a w hi le  she  st op ped m erel y  lo oking a nd went t o w o rk.
S he  picked  up a rod ofno nconductiv epla stic a n d  flipped  the copper bar aside.M ethodic all y she  rep laced blo wnfusesand threwin the  circ ui t b r e akers c on tro ll ing the bo u n d c harge  c once ntrator s. The hum rose ra p idl y. The machin e w as n o t  s eri o us l y d am a ged . 
A voice startl ed her.

' Oh !  E ldyn! Yous ave dme!'

M arion h ad re g ained c onsciousn ess. With  g rima m use ment Eldyn  admitte d to hers e lf th a the st ill  thoug ht  ra pidly  and b l uff ed we ll. Bu tshe ke pt on  w orking,not answering him.

'El dyn!'His v oic e was imp ati e nt.  She turn ed s lowly.

He  sm ile d and  he l d his  arm s  o uts educt ivel y , and the ef fec t wa s indescrib a b l y g rotes que .  She f elta malicious urget o bring him fa ce t o fac e w i th a  m irror. But hewou ld d iscoverhi m condition  soon en ou g h. Sh e coul d look  at his n ow withou t em oti on. There  wa sn o longe ran y  hatre d in  h er min d, and no p i t y either. She tu rnedb a ck to wor k.

' El dyn! Sp e ak t o me!' His  voice trem bled b etwe en fr ight an danger.  He 
 own_laboratory cast_shadowless brilliance upon her._The charge_collectors_still whined,_their_pitch lowering slowly_as she listened,_and the air was_still pungent with_ozone._It couldn't be—or could it?—that only a few moments of Earth time had elapsed?

A_man_lay on_the_floor_a few feet away, and_she knew that she and_he had_both been near enough the neutral focus of_the_forces she had_unleashed to escape destruction. And her arm, her eye—even_the hand Marion had so cruelly_slashed—these parts of_her_had_somehow in the transit_between Varda and Earth—his body had_been made whole again.

She stared hard_at the man, for was a different_Marion Matson, hardly recognizable. There were_deep lines and wrinkles in_his face_and his revealing Vardan costume_showed only too_clearly how_his once sleek_body had become flabby and misshapen._In that last_effort Sassa had fed ruthlessly upon_its_own worshippers, and_her_blast_rod discharge_had prevented their_rejuvenation_by lives_stolen_in the Vat.

While her mind was_still_adjusting itself she noticed the copper bar_lying across the contacts_of_her experimental mechanism, and_with Thin World knowledge she_knew exactly what effect it had_had upon_the resonance_of the bound charges. After a while she stopped merely looking_and went to work.

She picked up_a rod of nonconductive_plastic and_flipped_the copper bar_aside._Methodically she_replaced blown fuses and threw in the_circuit breakers_controlling the bound charge concentrators. The_hum rose rapidly. The_machine_was not seriously damaged.

A voice startled_her.

'Oh! Eldyn! You saved me!'

Marion had_regained consciousness. With grim amusement_Eldyn_admitted_to herself that he still_thought rapidly and bluffed well. But_she kept on_working, not answering him.

'Eldyn!' His voice was_impatient._She turned slowly.

He smiled and held_his_arms out seductively, and the effect_was_indescribably_grotesque. She felt a malicious_urge to bring him face to_face with a mirror. But he would discover him_condition soon enough._She could look at his_now_without_emotion. There was no longer any hatred in her mind,_and no_pity either. She_turned back to work.

'Eldyn! Speak to me!' His voice trembled_between fright and anger. He