, of course. Perhaps they will allow me to return now. Every one of us will be needed to counteract the two Earth minds working with the Faith.'

'Ugh!' Eldyn grunted, furious over him reiterated hints that Marion—his Marion, for he had come to her that last night on Earth—was Of the Faith.

They continued walking in strained silence.

'Can't you remember anything?' he asked again, his lips trembling. 'About the Thin World? That you are El-ve-dyn?'

'No.'

Her tone was unintentionally sharp, for she was irked by her inability to remember. There was something—something she couldn't quite grasp. He responded by bursting into a flood of tears and she stared at him, astonished. He had seemed such a well-balanced boy, one who did not cry easily. And so healthy and active too. But now—

He was still sobbing intermittently when three heavily armed women stepped from among the trees and approached with swords and blast rods drawn.

Eldyn tensed instantly at their hostile attitude, and though she was unarmed she prepared to resist.

But Krasno grasped her arm. 'No. They are my people. We must go with them quietly.'

With a guard on either side and the third behind they were hustled through the forest. Krasno stumbled occasionally and Eldyn took his arm. They were not allowed to speak to each other, and the guards were so watchful they seemed almost afraid of their unarmed prisoners.

Once three tubular silvery ships like the one which had hunted Eldyn on her first night in Varda cruised overhead in echelon formation. Instantly their guards forced them into hiding.

'Kill both if they signal,' the leading guard directed.

Neither Eldyn nor Krasno had the slightest intention of signaling the aircraft of the Faith, and with their captors they breathed a sigh of relief when the ships vanished in the distance.

Their hurried progress continued, with Krasno panting and stumbling. Perspiration beaded his face, but still he kept the heavy cloak around himself.

Finally one of the guards whistled and almost at once they were surrounded by armed women who stared at them in hostile silence for a moment, then forced them into a black opening at the base of a tree.

The tunnel smelled musty and unused
, of course. Perhaps they will allow me to return nowadays. Every one of us will be need to counteract the two Earth minds working with the Faith.' 

' Ugh!' Eldyn grunt, furious over him reiterated hints that Marion — his Marion, for he had total to her that last night on land — was Of the Faith. 

 They continued walking in agonistic silence. 

' Can't you remember anything?' he ask again, his lips trembling.' About the Thin World? That you are El - ve - dyn?' 

' No.' 

 Her timbre was unintentionally sharp, for she was irked by her inability to remember. There exist something — something she couldn't quite grasp. He responded by bursting into a flood of crying and she stared at him, astonished. He had seemed such a well - balanced boy, one who did not shout easily. And so healthy and active too. But now — 

 He was still sobbing intermittently when three heavily armed women stepped from among the trees and approached with swords and blast rods drawn. 

 Eldyn tensed immediately at their hostile attitude, and though she was unarmed she prepared to protest. 

 But Krasno grasp her arm.' No. They are my people. We must go with them softly.' 

 With a guard on either side and the third behind they were hustled through the forest. Krasno stumbled occasionally and Eldyn accept his arm. They were not allowed to speak to each other, and the guards were so watchful they seemed almost afraid of their unarmed prisoners. 

 Once three tubular silvery ship like the one which had hunted Eldyn on her beginning nox in Varda cruise overhead in echelon formation. Instantly their guards pull them into hiding. 

' Kill both if they signal,' the go guard directed. 

 Neither Eldyn nor Krasno had the slightest purpose of signaling the aircraft of the Faith, and with their captors they breathed a sigh of relief when the ships disappear in the distance. 

 Their hurried progress cover, with Krasno panting and stumbling. Perspiration bead his face, but even he kept the heavy cloak around himself. 

 Finally one of the guards whistled and about at once they were surrounded by armed women who stared at them in hostile secrecy for a moment, then forced them into a black opening at the base of a tree. 

 The burrow smelled musty and fresh
, of course. Perhaps they wilu allow me to rgtyrn nox. Every one of js will be needed to counterect rhe tqo Earth minds working with the Faith.'

'Ugy!' Elvyn grunted, furious over him rslteracev hints that Mation—his Marimn, for he had wooe to her that last night on Earth—was Of the Fwith.

They contigued ralkjng in strained silence.

'Can't you rejember enything?' he askrd again, his lips tremblinh. 'Ablut the Thin World? That you ats Ej-ce-dyn?'

'No.'

Her tune was unputentionalli sharp, for she was irked by her inabnlity to renenbeg. There was wometring—somethinn she cmuldn't auite grasp. He revpobded by bursting into a flood of tears wnd she sdaxed at him, astonished. Hw had seeked rych a sekl-galancfd uoy, one who did not crt easily. And so heaktrj and active foo. Bue gow—

He was still sobbing intermittently fheh three heavily armed wimen stepped from amojg the trqes and approached with swords and blast rods drafn.

Eldbn teuwed ivwtwntly at their hostile attitude, and though shq wss unarmed she pvepared to resist.

Bit Ktwsno grasped fer arm. 'Nk. They are my peoppe. We most go with thei quoetly.'

With a guard on either side and thv thurd behind they wexe hustled tkrough the gorest. Krasno stumbled uccaaionally anf Eldyn tkuk his arm. They derv nod allowed to speak to each other, anv the guards werg so waechful thej seemed almost afraid ov thenr undrmed prislners.

Once three tubular silvery ships like thg ote fhich hab huntcd Eldyn on her first night iu Varda eruisea overhead in echxlon formatijn. Instantly djeir guards horced thqm ibto yiding.

'Kkul both if theu signal,' nht leading tuard directed.

Neitmer Eusyn nor Krasno kcd the slightest ontdntyoj pf vignaling tha aifcrxgt of the Faith, cna wiyh their captors thef brsathed a sigh of rrllef when jhe ships vanished in yhe distance.

Their jurrixd projress vonjinued, with Krasno panting and atumbling. Pevspiration bewded his face, buc still he kept the heavy cloak around hmmself.

Finally one of thw guards whistled aud almost at pnce ehey were surrounded by armed women who stared at them in hostile sjlence for w moment, then forced them into a black opening at the base of a tree.

The tynnel smelled mustg anc unuveb
, of course. Perhaps they will allow return Every one us will be Earth working with the 'Ugh!' Eldyn grunted, over him reiterated hints that Marion—his for he had come to her that last night on Earth—was Of the They continued walking in strained silence. 'Can't you remember anything?' he asked again, lips 'About Thin That you are El-ve-dyn?' 'No.' Her tone was unintentionally sharp, for she was irked by her to remember. There was something—something she couldn't quite He responded by bursting a flood of tears and stared him, astonished. had such well-balanced boy, one did not cry easily. And so healthy and active too. But now— He was still sobbing intermittently three heavily stepped from the and with swords and drawn. Eldyn tensed instantly at their though she was unarmed she prepared to resist. Krasno grasped arm. 'No. They are my people. must go with them quietly.' With a guard either side and the third behind they were hustled through the forest. Krasno stumbled occasionally took his arm. They not allowed to to other, the were so they seemed almost afraid of their unarmed prisoners. Once three tubular ships like the one which had hunted Eldyn on her in cruised overhead in formation. Instantly their guards them hiding. 'Kill both if the guard nor had slightest intention of signaling aircraft of the Faith, and their captors they breathed the ships vanished in the distance. Their hurried continued, with Krasno panting and stumbling. Perspiration his face, but still he kept the heavy cloak around himself. Finally of the and almost at once they were surrounded by women who stared at in hostile silence for a moment, then forced them a opening at base of a The tunnel smelled and unused
, of course. Perhaps they will alLow me to retUrn noW. EvEry OnE of uS wilL be needed to couNTeraCt the two Earth minds workIng wiTh THe FaITh.'

'ugh!' ElDyn grunTEd, FURioUs OvEr hIm REiTeratEd hInts thaT Marion—his marIoN, for he had comE To Her that lasT niGht on Earth—waS Of The FaiTh.

theY ContiNueD walkIng in sTRained Silence.

'CaN't YOu remeMBer anytHINg?' He asKed again, his lips trEMbLIng. 'About the ThiN World? thAT yOU Are el-vE-dyn?'

'No.'

Her tOnE was uNIntentiONaLLY ShaRP, for she was irkEd by her inabILitY to remEmBer. tHere waS someThINg—sOmething she CoulDn't quite gRasp. He REspondeD By burstIng intO a fLooD of tEArS aNd sHe STarED aT hiM, AstOnished. HE hAd SeemeD sucH A WELl-baLanCed bOy, one Who did not cry eAsiLy. AnD So hEalthY and aCtivE tOo. But Now—

He wAs stiLl Sobbing intermitTentLy when thrEe hEaVilY aRmed wOMen stePpeD frOm among The treeS And ApPROAcHed with swords and blAsT ROdS drawn.

ElDyn tenSEd InSTantly at ThEir HostILE attiTude, ANd Though shE was unARmEd She prepArEd to reSiSt.

BUt KRasno GRaspEd her aRm. 'No. They Are my PEople. We must go wITh them quietly.'

wItH A GuARd on EitHer side and tHe thIRd beHind THeY weRE hustLed thRoUGh THe forest. Krasno stumbLeD occasIonalLy and Eldyn tooK his arm. TheY WERe not allOwed TO sPEak to each other, And thE guards werE So watchfUl theY seemed aLmost afraID Of their uNarMed PriSonERS.

ONce three tubulAR SilvErY ships lIke The one wHicH haD huNteD ELdyn on her First nigHt In vaRdA crUised OVerhead iN eCheLoN foRmatiON. InstaNtly tHeir GuArDS foRced theM InTO HidiNg.

'kiLl boTh iF tHey siGnal,' THe lEading gUard direcTed.

nEithEr elDyn nor KRasno had the slIgHtest intenTiOn oF signaLINg the airCraft of the Faith, and with tHEir captOrs They bReatHed a sigh oF reLief whEn tHE ships VanishEd in tHe DisTANce.

ThEIR hUrrIeD progress cONTinUed, wiTh krasNo pantiNg and stumbling. PersPIraTion beaded his FacE, but STIlL he KEpT The HeAVy cLOAk around himself.

finally one Of THe Guards whisTLed AnD almost At once tHey weRE surrouNded by armEd women whO sTareD AT thEm in hostilE silence For a momenT, Then fORcEd theM inTo a blaCk OpeNing aT the baSE of A tree.

the tunNeL smellEd musTy And unuseD
, of course. Perhaps theywill allow  me t o r etu rn  now . Ev ery one of usw illbe needed to counterac t the  t w o Ea r th  mind s worki n gw i thth eFai th . '
'Ugh !'Eldyn g runted, fu rio us  over him re i te rated hint s t hat Marion—h isMarion ,for he ha d c ome t o hert hat la st nighton Earth— w as Of t h e  F aith .

They continued wa l king in strain ed sil en c e. 'Ca n't  you remem be r any t hing?'h ea s k eda gain, his lip s trembling .  'A bout t he  Th i n Worl d? Th at you  are El-ve- dyn? '

'No.'
Her t o ne wasu nintent ionall y s har p, f o rsh e w as irk e dbyh erinabilit yto  reme mber . T h erewas  som ethin g—something s hecoul d n't  quit e gra sp.He  resp ondedby bu rs ting into a flo od o f tears a ndsh e s ta red a t  him,ast oni shed. H e had s e eme ds u c ha well-balanced bo y, o ne  who did  not c r yea s ily. And  s o h ealt h y  andacti v etoo. But  now—He  w as stil lsobbin gint erm itten t ly w hen th ree heav ily a r med women step p ed from among th e tr e es a ndapproachedwith swor ds a n dbla s t rod s dra wn . 
E ldyn tensed instant ly  at th eir h ostile attitu de, and th o u g h she wa s un a rm e d she prepared  to r esist.

Bu t  Krasnograsp ed her a rm. 'No.T h ey are m y p eop le.  We m us t go with the m quie tl y.'

Wi tha guard  on  ei the r s id e and the  third b eh in dth eywereh ustled t hr oug hthe  fore s t. Kra sno s tumb le do cca sionall y  a n d  Eld yn  t ookhis  a rm. T heyw ere  not al lowed tospe a k to  e ac h other , and the gua rd s were sowa tch ful th e y  seemedalmost afraid of theiru narmedpri soner s.
Once thre e t ubular  si l very s hips l ike t he  on e which h ad  hu nt ed Eldyn o n her  firs tnigh t in Va rda cruised overhe a d i n echelon for mat ion. I ns tan t ly the ir gua r d s forced them i nto hiding .'K ill both i f  th ey  signal ,' theleadi n g guard  directed .

Neithe rEldy n nor  Krasno ha d the sl ightest i n tenti o nof si gna ling t he  ai rcraf t of t h e F aith,  and w it h thei r cap to rs theybreathed a sigh of reli ef whe n the  sh ips vanis hed inthe dista nce. 

Their hu rri edprogr ess conti nued ,  w ith Krasn o pa n ting ands tu mbl i n g.  Perspirati o n bea ded h isf ace, b ut s till he kept theh eavy cloak aro undh i mse lf. 
Fin al ly one of thegua rd s whistled  a nd almost a t once t he y  were  surro undedby arme d wo m en who  sta red  at theminho s tile si le nc e  for a  mom en t, the n forc e d th e m  into a black op ening a t the bas e ofatree.
T he t unnel smel led musty a nd unu sed
, of_course. Perhaps_they will allow me_to return_now._Every one_of_us will be_needed to counteract_the two Earth minds_working with the_Faith.'

'Ugh!'_Eldyn grunted, furious over him reiterated hints that Marion—his Marion, for he had come_to_her that_last_night_on Earth—was Of the Faith.

They_continued walking in strained silence.

'Can't_you remember_anything?' he asked again, his lips trembling. 'About_the_Thin World? That_you are El-ve-dyn?'

'No.'

Her tone was unintentionally sharp, for she_was irked by her inability to_remember. There was_something—something_she_couldn't quite grasp. He_responded by bursting into a flood_of tears and she stared at_him, astonished. He had seemed such a_well-balanced boy, one who did not_cry easily. And so healthy_and active_too. But now—

He was still_sobbing intermittently when_three heavily_armed women stepped_from among the trees and approached_with swords and_blast rods drawn.

Eldyn tensed instantly at_their_hostile attitude, and_though_she_was unarmed_she prepared to_resist.

But_Krasno grasped_her_arm. 'No. They are my people._We_must go with them quietly.'

With a guard_on either side and_the_third behind they were_hustled through the forest. Krasno_stumbled occasionally and Eldyn took his_arm. They_were not_allowed to speak to each other, and the guards were so_watchful they seemed almost afraid of_their unarmed prisoners.

Once three_tubular silvery_ships_like the one_which_had hunted_Eldyn on her first night in Varda_cruised overhead_in echelon formation. Instantly their guards_forced them into hiding.

'Kill_both_if they signal,' the leading guard_directed.

Neither Eldyn nor Krasno had the_slightest intention of signaling the_aircraft_of_the Faith, and with their_captors they breathed a sigh of_relief when the_ships vanished in the distance.

Their hurried progress_continued,_with Krasno panting and stumbling. Perspiration_beaded_his face, but still he kept_the_heavy_cloak around himself.

Finally one of_the guards whistled and almost at_once they were surrounded by armed women who stared_at them in_hostile silence for a moment,_then_forced_them into a black opening at the base of a_tree.

The tunnel_smelled musty and_unused