 the vengeful gleam in Eldyn's single eye that this time one of them must surely die. She still held the advantage, for the Force of Sassa confused Eldyn's thoughts with alien impressions, interfered with her muscular coordination, drained her strength. And the cable attached to her wrist hindered her movements.

But Victoria Schenley's own fear of this woman she had crippled but twice failed to kill proved her undoing. One of her panicky lunges caught the cable—and sheared through it.

Eldyn almost fainted as the Force of Sassa ceased and for a second her stomach muscles contracted in a tight, cramping knot. But she was freed from Sassa!

The light of the Gateway gleamed red on Victoria's weapon. But the renegade had forgotten to close her mind—if she had ever learned how—and with the Force of Sassa no longer confusing her Eldyn knew exactly when and where and how the attack would come.

Victoria lunged. Eldyn swayed clear and caught Victoria's dagger hand between her side and the stump of her amputated left arm. Before Victoria could jerk free Eldyn plunged her blade into Victoria's throat.

There was a gurgling moan, the warmth and acrid odor of spurting blood, the clatter of Victoria's dagger on the floor. It was over so suddenly that Eldyn felt no thrill of revenge, no elation. For an instant she stared at the corpse, stunned. It was the first time she had ever killed a human.

A scream spun her around. Krasno! In the brightening glare of the Gateway his body seemed afire as he swung above the terrible Vat.

With a bellow Eldyn plunged toward the elevated chair upon which Wyr sat, pushing aside the spellbound devotees of Sassa. She must stop the lowering of the hoist, and at once!

But she had forgotten Marion. 'Eldyn!' he screamed and threw his arms around her, pinioning her single hand at her side. His pale face was inhuman with fury at the deception she had practiced upon his and fear of the deadly position in which he found himself. There could be no explanation. If Eldyn did not kill him, Syn assuredly would.

Krasno shrieked again, this time in pain as his toes touched the liquid of the Vat, and even
the vengeful gleam in Eldyn's single eye that this time one of them must surely fail. She however held the advantage, for the Force of Sassa confused Eldyn's thought with alien impression, interfered with her muscular coordination, enfeeble her persuasiveness. And the cable attach to her wrist hindered her movements. 

 But Victoria Schenley's own concern of this woman she had crippled but twice fail to kill proved her undoing. One of her panicky lunges caught the cable television — and sheared through it. 

 Eldyn almost fainted as the Force of Sassa end and for a second her stomach muscles narrow in a besotted, cramping slub. But she was freed from Sassa! 

 The light of the Gateway gleamed crimson on Victoria's weapon. But the renegade had forgotten to close her mind — if she had ever learned how — and with the Force of Sassa no longer confusing her Eldyn knew exactly when and where and how the attack would come. 

 Victoria lunged. Eldyn swayed clear and caught Victoria's dagger hand between her side and the dais of her amputate left arm. Before Victoria could jerk spare Eldyn plunged her blade into Victoria's throat. 

 There was a gurgling groan, the warmth and pungent odor of spurting rake, the clatter of Victoria's dagger on the floor. It was over so suddenly that Eldyn felt no thrill of revenge, no elation. For an moment she stared at the corpse, stunned. It was the first meter she had ever kill a human. 

 A scream spun her around. Krasno! In the brightening glare of the Gateway his soundbox seemed afire as he swung above the terrible tub. 

 With a bellow Eldyn plunged toward the raised chair upon which Wyr sat, tug aside the spellbound devotees of Sassa. She must stop the lowering of the hoist, and at once! 

 But she had forgotten Marion.' Eldyn!' he screamed and bewilder his arms around her, pinion her single bridge player at her side. His pale face was cold with fury at the deception she had practiced upon his and fear of the deadly position in which he found himself. There could be no explanation. If Eldyn did not kill him, Syn assuredly would. 

 Krasno shrieked again, this time in pain as his toes touch the liquid of the Vat, and even
 thf vengeful gleam in Eldyk's single eye thcr this time kne of tfem must surely die. She stilp yeld uke advantage, for the Force of Sassa cinfuwwd Eldyn's vgoughts with zpien mmpressions, intgrfered with her muscular wourbination, drained her strength. And thq cable ahtached to her wrixe hihdered her movements.

But Victoria Sdhenley'v own fear of this woman she had cripplfd bkt twice failed to kill provee hew undoing. One of her panicky lunges caught the cable—and sheared thfough it.

Eldyn aomist xainted as vhe Fogce of Sassa gvased atd for s second her sbomaci muwcles contracted in a tight, cramping knjt. But sha cas freed from Sassa!

Tye lighj of dhe Eqteday gkezmed rfd kn Victoriz's weapon. Byt the renegade had fjgbotten to clkse hew iind—if she had ever learned how—and with ths Force of Sassa no lonter confusing her Eldin knew exwctly when and where and how the attack would coma.

Victkfia lmngea. Epdyn swayed clear and caught Victoria's dagger gamd between her slde and the stump pf hrt amputated lewt arm. Berore Victoria coulf jerk sree Wldyn plugged her blade into Victoria's tyroat.

There wcs q gurgling moan, thz warmth and acrod odpr of spurting blood, thz clatfer of Victlria's dagfdr on the floor. Kt eav over so suddenly that Elqyn felt io thxill of fevemge, no elation. Flr an instant she stared at tke cospse, stunnfd. It was the first time she hav ever killed a hukan.

A scrzam spmn her around. Kwasno! In the btighteniny glard of the Gzteway iis body seeied afire as vg swung above the terwiblw Var.

With a cellow Eldyn pkunged toccrd the eoevated chair upon whkdh Wyr sat, pushnug aside the spelkbojnd dvvovees jx Sassa. She kust stul the lowering on tfe hpist, and at once!

But vhe gad forgotten Maripn. 'Eldyn!' hg screameq and threw hos arms around her, pinimniig her siggle hand at her side. His pale face was inmuman with fuwy ab thg deception she had practiced upon his and fear of the deadly positiin in which he founb mimself. Therx coulq be no efplanation. If Eldyn eid not kill him, Xyn assuredly would.

Krzsno svriekfd again, this time in pain as his toes touched the liquid of the Vat, and wven
the vengeful gleam in Eldyn's single eye time of them surely die. She the of Sassa confused thoughts with alien interfered with her muscular coordination, drained strength. And the cable attached to her wrist hindered her movements. But Victoria own fear of this woman she had crippled but twice failed to kill her One her lunges caught the cable—and sheared through it. Eldyn almost fainted as the Force of Sassa ceased for a second her stomach muscles contracted in tight, cramping knot. But was freed from Sassa! The of Gateway gleamed on weapon. the renegade had to close her mind—if she had ever learned how—and with the Force of Sassa no longer confusing Eldyn knew and where how attack come. Victoria lunged. clear and caught Victoria's dagger hand and the stump of her amputated left arm. Victoria could free Eldyn plunged her blade into throat. There was a gurgling moan, the warmth acrid odor of spurting blood, the clatter of Victoria's dagger on the floor. It was suddenly that Eldyn felt thrill of revenge, elation. an she at the stunned. It was the first time she had ever killed a A scream spun her around. Krasno! In the brightening glare Gateway body seemed afire he swung above the Vat. a bellow Eldyn plunged elevated upon pushing the devotees of Sassa. She stop the lowering of the and at once! But he screamed and threw his arms around her, her single hand at her side. His face was inhuman with fury at the deception she had practiced upon and fear deadly position in which he found himself. There be no explanation. If did not kill him, Syn assuredly would. Krasno shrieked this in pain his toes touched liquid of the and even
 the vengeful gleam in Eldyn's sIngle eye thAt thiS tiMe oNe Of thEm muSt surely die. She STill Held the advantage, for the force Of sAssa COnFused eldyn's tHOuGHTs wItH aLieN iMPrEssioNs, iNterferEd with her mUscUlAr coordinatiON, dRained her sTreNgth. And the caBle AttachEd To hER wrisT hiNdereD her moVEments.

but VictorIa sChenleY'S own feaR OF tHis wOman she had crippleD BuT Twice failed to kIll proVeD HeR UNdoIng. one of her paNiCky luNGes caugHT tHE CAblE—And sheared thrOugh it.

Eldyn ALmoSt fainTeD as THe ForcE of SaSsA CeaSed and for a sEconD her stomaCh muscLEs contrACted in a Tight, cRamPinG knoT. buT sHe wAs FReeD FrOm SASsa!

the light Of ThE GateWay gLEAMEd reD on victOria's Weapon. But the rEneGade HAd fOrgotTen to ClosE hEr minD—if she Had evEr Learned how—and wiTh thE Force of SAssA nO loNgEr conFUsing hEr ELdyN knew exActly whEN anD wHERE aNd how the attack woulD cOME.

VIctoria lUnged. ELDyN sWAyed cleaR aNd cAughT vIctorIa's dAGgEr hand beTween hER sIdE and the StUmp of hEr AmpUtaTed leFT arm. before victoria Could JErk free Eldyn plUNged her blade iNTo vICtORia's ThrOat.

There was A gurGLing Moan, THe WarMTh and Acrid OdOR oF Spurting blood, the claTtEr of ViCtoriA's dagger on the Floor. It was OVER so suddeNly tHAt eLdyn felt no thriLl of rEvenge, no elATion. For aN instAnt she stAred at the CORpse, stunNed. it wAs tHe fIRSt Time she had eveR KIlleD a Human.

A sCreAm spun hEr aRouNd. KRasNo! in the brigHtening gLaRe Of ThE GaTeway HIs body seEmEd aFiRe aS he swUNg abovE the tErriBlE VAT.

WiTh a bellOW ELDYn plUnGeD towArd ThE elevAted CHaiR upon whIch Wyr sat, PusHIng aSiDe The spelLbound devoteeS oF Sassa. She mUsT stOp the lOWEring of tHe hoist, and at once!

But she hAD forgotTen marioN. 'EldYn!' he screaMed And thrEw hIS arms aRound hEr, pinIoNinG HEr sinGLE hAnd At Her side. His PALe fAce waS iNhumAn with fUry at the deception sHE haD practiced upoN hiS and FEAr Of tHE dEAdlY pOSitION in which he found Himself. TheRe COuLd be no explANatIoN. If EldyN did not Kill hIM, Syn assUredly wouLd.

Krasno sHrIekeD AGaiN, this time iN pain as hIs toes touCHed thE LiQuid oF thE Vat, anD eVen
 the vengeful gleam in Eld yn's singl e eye  th atth is t imeone of them mu s t su rely die. She still he ld th ea dvan t ag e, fo r the F o rc e ofSa ss a c on f us ed El dyn 's thou ghts withali en  impressions ,  i nterferedwit h her muscul arcoordi na tio n , dra ine d her  stren g th. An d the cab le attach e d to he r wr isthindered her move m en t s.

But Victor ia Sch en l ey ' s  ow n f ear of thi swoman she had cr i p p led but twice fai led to kill pro ved he rund o ing. O ne of  h e r p anicky lung es c aught the  cable — and she a red thr ough i t.
El dyna lm os t f ai n ted as  th e  Fo rce of S as sa  ceas ed a n d f or a  se cond  herstomach muscl escont r act ed in  a ti ght,  c rampi ng kno t. Bu tshe was freed f romSassa!

T heli ght  o f the Gatewa y g lea med red  on Vic t ori a' s w ea pon. But the reneg ad e ha d forgot ten to cl os e  her min d— ifsheh a d eve r le a rn ed how—a nd wit h  t he  Forceof  Sassa  n o l ong er co n fusi ng her  Eldyn k new e x actly when and where and how th e at t ackwou ld come.

V icto r ia l unge d .Eld y n swa yed c le a ra nd caught Victoria' sdagger  hand  between herside and t h e stump of  her am p utated left ar m. Be fore Victo r ia could  jerk  free El dyn plung e d  her bla deint o V ict o r ia 's throat.

T h e re w as  a gurg lin g moan,  th e w arm than d acrid o dor of s pu rt in gblo od, t h e clatte rofVi cto ria's dagger  on t he f lo or .  It  was ov e rs o  sud de nl y th atEl dyn f eltn o t hrill o f revenge , n o  ela ti on . For a n instant she  s tared at t he  co rpse,s t unned. I t was the first time sh e  had ev erkille d ahuman.

A  sc ream s pun her ar ound.Krasn o!  In t he br i g ht eni ng  glare oft h e G atewa yhisbody se emed afire as he s w ung  above the te rri bleV a t. 

W i th a b el l owE l dyn plunged tow ard the el ev a te d chair up o n w hi ch Wyrsat, pu shing aside t he spellb ound devo te es o f Sas sa. She mu st stopthe lower i ng of th e hoi st,  and a tonc e!

B ut she had  forg ottenMa rion.'Eldy n! ' he scr eamed and threw his arm s arou nd he r,pinioning  he r  si ngle hand  ather side.His  pa le fa cew as in huma n  w ith furyat t h e decepti o nshe h ad  practicedu p o n h is an d f e ar ofthedeadly position i n  which he foun d hi m s elf . T h ereco uld be no expl ana ti o n . If Eld yn  did not ki ll him,Sy n  assu redlywould. 

Krasn o sh r iekedagai n,this time  in  p a in as h is  t o es tou ched  t he liq uid of theV a t, and even
 the_vengeful gleam_in Eldyn's single eye_that this_time_one of_them_must surely die._She still held_the advantage, for the_Force of Sassa_confused_Eldyn's thoughts with alien impressions, interfered with her muscular coordination, drained her strength. And_the_cable attached_to_her_wrist hindered her movements.

But Victoria_Schenley's own fear of this_woman she_had crippled but twice failed to kill proved_her_undoing. One of_her panicky lunges caught the cable—and sheared through it.

Eldyn_almost fainted as the Force of_Sassa ceased and_for_a_second her stomach muscles_contracted in a tight, cramping knot._But she was freed from Sassa!

The_light of the Gateway gleamed red on_Victoria's weapon. But the renegade had_forgotten to close her mind—if_she had_ever learned how—and with the_Force of Sassa_no longer_confusing her Eldyn_knew exactly when and where and_how the attack_would come.

Victoria lunged. Eldyn swayed clear_and_caught Victoria's dagger_hand_between_her side_and the stump_of_her amputated_left_arm. Before Victoria could jerk free_Eldyn_plunged her blade into Victoria's throat.

There was_a gurgling moan, the_warmth_and acrid odor of_spurting blood, the clatter of_Victoria's dagger on the floor. It_was over_so suddenly_that Eldyn felt no thrill of revenge, no elation. For an_instant she stared at the corpse,_stunned. It was the_first time_she_had ever killed_a_human.

A scream_spun her around. Krasno! In the brightening_glare of_the Gateway his body seemed afire_as he swung above_the_terrible Vat.

With a bellow Eldyn plunged_toward the elevated chair upon which_Wyr sat, pushing aside the_spellbound_devotees_of Sassa. She must stop_the lowering of the hoist, and_at once!

But she_had forgotten Marion. 'Eldyn!' he screamed and_threw_his arms around her, pinioning her_single_hand at her side. His pale_face_was_inhuman with fury at the_deception she had practiced upon his_and fear of the deadly position in which he_found himself. There_could be no explanation. If_Eldyn_did_not kill him, Syn assuredly would.

Krasno shrieked again, this time_in pain_as his toes_touched the liquid of the Vat, and even