?' Marion asked, thinking of Sassa's coming through.

'For one thing, they are clever.'

Something in her words made his realize she meant more than she had said, that her motives were not as simple as they appeared.

'You mean-?'

Wyr looked at his searchingly. 'One person, or two of opposite sexes, will acquire supreme power when Sassa comes through. Syn thinks because he is so old in the Faith that it will be he alone. But I have labored harder, devoted myself to the Faith even more wholeheartedly than he.'

'But wouldn't that be treason against Great Sassa?' The thought left Marion aghast.

Wyr shook her head. 'Sassa is far too great to care who receives the Power. With my knowledge of the Gateway and the Machine of Life, with your Earth brain that can project thoughts with such powerful intensity—'

'But—'

'Do you think you are safe?' Wyr broke in angrily. 'You are enough like Syn himself to know that she—'She did not need to complete her sentence. Marion understood. He was well treated now—but Syn could change his mind.

'You and I—together,' he agreed. Marion was an ambitious man.

With casual ease Wyr landed on the fortress roof. Marion started down the ramp toward his quarters but the big woman seized his elbow.

'No,' she corrected. 'This way.'

* * * *

In the morning Syn sent a messenger to Wyr's rooms. The priest of Sassa had known exactly where Marion had spent the night. But he did not know of the things he and Wyr had discussed in quiet whispers.

'Did you find Wyr a satisfactory companion?' Syn greeted him.

Marion eyed his steadily. 'She's scarcely a mental giant,' he replied. 'A bit uncouth, but otherwise adequate.'

The answer seemed to amuse Syn. 'And did you like the Observance of Sassa?'

'It's—it's—'Marion was at a loss for words but his face betrayed the tremendous hunger to wallow once more in Sassa's alien vileness, 'How soon again?'

Syn smiled at his enthusiasm.

'You are one of us now, and the inherent character of your Closed World brain will help overcome the Rebels all the sooner,'
?' Marion asked, thinking of Sassa's coming through. 

' For one thing, they are clever.' 

 Something in her actor's line do his realize she meant more than she had said, that her motives were not equally simple as they appeared. 

' You mean-?' 

 Wyr looked at his searchingly.' One person, or two of diametric sex, will acquire supreme ability when Sassa comes through. Syn thinks because he is indeed old in the Faith that it will be he alone. But I have labor hard, devoted myself to the Faith even more wholeheartedly than he.' 

' But wouldn't that be treason against Great Sassa?' The thought left Marion aghast. 

 Wyr shook her point.' Sassa is far too great to care who experience the Power. With my knowledge of the Gateway and the Machine of Life, with your Earth brain that can project thoughts with such knock-down intensity —' 

' But —' 

' Do you think you are safe?' Wyr broke in angrily.' You are enough like Syn himself to acknowledge that she—'She did not need to complete her sentence. Marion understood. He was well treated now — but Syn could change his mind. 

' You and I — together,' he agreed. Marion was an ambitious man. 

 With casual ease Wyr landed on the fortress roof. Marion started down the ramp toward his quarters but the large woman seized his elbow. 

' No,' she correct.' This direction.' 

 * * * * 

 In the morning Syn sent a messenger to Wyr's rooms. The priest of Sassa had know exactly where Marion had spent the night. But he did not know of the thing he and Wyr had discussed in quiet whispers. 

' Did you find Wyr a satisfactory companion?' Syn greeted him. 

 Marion eyed his steadily.' She's hardly a mental giant,' he replied.' A bit uncouth, but differently adequate.' 

 The answer seem to amuse Syn.' And did you wish the Observance of Sassa?' 

' It's — it's—'Marion was at a personnel casualty for words but his face betrayed the frightful hunger to wallow once more in Sassa's alien vileness,' How soon again?' 

 Syn smiled at his exuberance. 

' You are one of us now, and the implicit in character of your Closed World brain will serve overcome the Rebels all the sooner,'
?' Magion asked, thinking of Sxssa's coming thtoygh.

'For one tging, theh are clever.'

Something in her wirds nade his realize she mdant more than shw hav said, that her motives were nkb as vmmple as they akpeared.

'You maan-?'

Wyr looked dt hns searchingly. 'One person, or two of jppositr dexes, will acqoire xtprejv kower when Sassa comes through. Syh thinkv because he os so old in the Faith thah it will be he alone. Hut I have oabowwd harder, dexoted myself to the Fajth even more wholeheartedly thxn he.'

'Yut wouldn't tyat te treason egainsn Great Sassa?' The thogght legt Marion aghaxt.

Wbr syook her head. 'Sassa iv far too great to care who rzceives the Power. Wity ny knmwlegge ud tfe Favewzy and thx Machine or Life, with your Earth brain tnae can project fhoughes with such powerful intensity—'

'But—'

'Do you uhink you are safe?' Wyr broke in angrily. 'You are ejough likq Syn himself to know that she—'She did not need to compmdte hcr sdbtfnce. Marion understood. He was well treated nor—guu Sjn could change hls mind.

'You and I—tobehhrt,' he agreed. Mation was ah ambitious man.

Witj casuaj easw Wyr lanqed pn the fortress roof. Marion started dowu tye ramp toward his quarters bbt the big eoman seized his elbow.

'Nu,' shs corrected. 'This way.'

* * * *

In the morning Syk sant a messenger to Wyr's rojms. The pciest of Sasra hsd knorn exactly wherc Marion had spent hhe nnght. Tut he did not know of the things he and Xbr had discusxeg it quiet chispevs.

'Did you find Ryr a satisfacjory compcnion?' Ryn greetes him.

Macion eyed hif steadily. 'Sha'd scarcely a mental dianr,' he repliea. 'A bit uncouth, but othegwnse adequqte.'

The answer seemcd to zmuse Syn. 'And dnb iiu like the Obxerxanse oh Sasfd?'

'It's—it's—'Mariot war ag a lors for wordw but his face betrayed tve tdemendous hunger tp rallow obce more in Sassa's aloen vileness, 'How slon ajain?'

Syi smilrd wt his enthusiasm.

'You are one or us now, wnd the inherene chqracter of ypur Closed World brain will help overcone the Rebels all rhe sooner,'
?' Marion asked, thinking of Sassa's coming one they are Something in her meant than she had that her motives not as simple as they appeared. mean-?' Wyr looked at his searchingly. 'One person, or two of opposite sexes, acquire supreme power when Sassa comes through. Syn thinks because he is so in Faith it be he alone. But I have labored harder, devoted myself to the Faith even more wholeheartedly he.' 'But wouldn't that be treason against Great The thought left Marion Wyr shook her head. 'Sassa far great to who the With my knowledge the Gateway and the Machine of Life, with your Earth brain that can project thoughts with such intensity—' 'But—' think you safe?' broke angrily. 'You are Syn himself to know that she—'She to complete her sentence. Marion understood. He was treated now—but could change his mind. 'You and he agreed. Marion was an ambitious man. With ease Wyr landed on the fortress roof. Marion started down the ramp toward his quarters big woman seized his 'No,' she corrected. way.' * * the morning sent a messenger to Wyr's rooms. The priest of Sassa had exactly where Marion had spent the night. But he did of things he and had discussed in quiet 'Did find Wyr a satisfactory greeted Marion 'She's a giant,' he replied. 'A uncouth, but otherwise adequate.' The seemed to amuse Syn. Observance of Sassa?' 'It's—it's—'Marion was at a loss words but his face betrayed the tremendous to wallow once more in Sassa's alien vileness, 'How soon again?' Syn at his are one of us now, and the inherent of your Closed World will help overcome the Rebels all the sooner,'
?' Marion asked, thinking of SassA's coming thRough.

'for One ThIng, tHey aRe clever.'

SomethINg in Her words made his realize She meAnT More THaN she hAd said, tHAt HER moTiVeS weRe NOt As simPle As they aPpeared.

'You MeaN-?'

WYr looked at hiS SeArchingly. 'ONe pErson, or two of OppOsite sExEs, wILl acqUirE suprEme powER when SAssa comes ThROugh. SyN Thinks bECAuSe he Is so old in the Faith THaT It will be he alonE. But I hAvE LaBORed HarDer, devoted MySelf tO The FaitH EvEN MOre WHoleheartedly Than he.'

'But woULdn'T that bE tReaSOn agaiNst GrEaT sasSa?' The thoughT lefT Marion agHast.

WyR Shook heR Head. 'SasSa is faR toO grEat tO CaRe Who ReCEivES tHe POWer. with my knOwLeDge of The GATEWAy anD thE MacHine oF Life, with your earTh brAIn tHat caN projEct tHoUghts With suCh powErFul intensity—'

'But—'

'do yoU think you Are SaFe?' WYr Broke IN angriLy. 'YOu aRe enougH like SyN HimSeLF TO kNow that she—'She did noT nEED tO completE her seNTeNcE. marion unDeRstOod. HE WAs welL treATeD now—but SYn coulD ChAnGe his miNd.

'you and i—tOgeTheR,' he agREed. MArion wAs an ambiTious MAn.

With casual eaSE Wyr landed on tHE fORTrESs roOf. MArion starteD dowN The rAmp tOWaRd hIS quarTers bUt THe BIg woman seized his elbOw.

'no,' she cOrrecTed. 'This way.'

* * * *

In tHe morning SYN SEnt a messEngeR To wYr's rooms. The priEst of sassa had knOWn exactlY wherE Marion hAd spent thE NIght. But hE diD noT knOw oF THe Things he and WyR HAd diScUssed in QuiEt whispErs.

'did You FinD WYr a satisfActory coMpAnIoN?' SYn gReeteD Him.

MarioN eYed HiS stEadilY. 'she's scArcelY a meNtAl GIanT,' he replIEd. 'a BIt unCoUtH, but OthErWise aDequATe.'

THe answeR seemed to AmuSE Syn. 'anD dId you liKe the ObservanCe Of Sassa?'

'It's—It'S—'MaRion waS AT a loss foR words but his face betrayeD The tremEndOus huNger To wallow oNce More in sasSA's alieN vilenEss, 'HoW sOon AGAin?'

SyN SMiLed At His enthusiASM.

'YoU are oNe Of us Now, and tHe inherent characteR Of yOur Closed WorlD brAin wILL hElp OVeRComE tHE ReBELs all the sooner,'
?' Marion asked, thinkingof Sassa's  comi ngthr ou gh.
'Fo r one thing, t h ey a re clever.'

Something  in h er word s  m ade h is real i ze s heme an t m or e  t han s hehad sai d, that he r m ot ives were no t  a s simple a s t hey appeared .
'You m ea n-? ' 

Wyr  lo okedat his search ingly. 'O ne person ,  or two o foppo site sexes, willa cq u ire supreme po wer wh en Sa s s a c ome s through.  S yn th i nks bec a us e h e i s  so old in th e Faith tha t  it  willbe  he alone.  ButIh ave  labored ha rder , devoted  mysel f  to the Faith e ven mo rewho lehe a rt ed lyth a n h e .' 

' B utwouldn't  t ha t betrea s o n agai nst  Gre at Sa ssa?' The tho ugh t le f t M arion  agha st.
W yr sh ook he r hea d.  'Sassa is fartoogreat tocar ewho  r eceiv e s thePow er.  With m y knowl e dge  o f t he  Gateway and the M ac h i ne  of Life , with yo ur Earth br ai n t hatc a n pro ject th oughts w ith su c hpo werfulin tensit y— '
'Bu t—'
' Do y ou thi nk you a re sa f e?' Wyr brokei n angrily. 'Y o ua r ee noug h l ike Syn him self to k nowt ha t s h e—'Sh e did  n o tn eed to complete her  s entenc e. Ma rion understo od. He was w e ll treat ed n o w— b ut Syn could c hange  his mind. 
'You an d I—t ogether, ' he agre e d . Marion  wa s a n a mbi t i ou s man.

Withc a sual  e ase Wyr  la nded on  th e f ort res sroof. Mar ion star te ddo wn  th e ram p  towardhi s q ua rte rs bu t  the b ig wo manse iz e d h is elbo w .' No,'  s he  cor rec te d. 'T hisw ay. '

* ** *

In t hem orni ng  S yn sent  a messengerto  Wyr's roo ms . T he pri e s t of Sas sa had known exactly wh e re Mari onhad s pent  the nigh t.But he  di d  not k now of  theth ing s he an d Wy r h ad  discussed i n q uietwh ispe rs.

'D id you find Wyr as ati sfactory comp ani on?' S yn  gr e et e d h im . 

M a r ion eyed his st eadily. 'S he ' sscarcely a men ta l giant ,' he r eplie d . 'A bi t uncouth , but oth er wise a deq uate.'

Th e answer  seemed t o  amus e  S yn. ' And  did y ou  li ke th e Obse r van ce of  Sassa ?' 

'It' s—it' s— 'Marionwas at a loss for words  but h is fa cebetrayedthe tre mendous h unge r to wallo w o nce  more  in Sassa 's a l ie n v i lenes s, ' H ow soon a g ai n?' Sy n smiled at h i s e nthus ias m .

'Yo u ar e one of us now,a nd the inheren t ch a r act ero f yo ur  Closed Worldbra in w ill help  o vercome the  Rebelsal l  thesooner ,'
?' Marion_asked, thinking_of Sassa's coming through.

'For_one thing,_they_are clever.'

Something_in_her words made_his realize she_meant more than she_had said, that_her_motives were not as simple as they appeared.

'You mean-?'

Wyr looked at his searchingly. 'One_person,_or two_of_opposite_sexes, will acquire supreme power_when Sassa comes through. Syn_thinks because_he is so old in the Faith that_it_will be he_alone. But I have labored harder, devoted myself to_the Faith even more wholeheartedly than_he.'

'But wouldn't that_be_treason_against Great Sassa?' The_thought left Marion aghast.

Wyr shook her_head. 'Sassa is far too great_to care who receives the Power. With_my knowledge of the Gateway and_the Machine of Life, with_your Earth_brain that can project thoughts_with such powerful_intensity—'

'But—'

'Do you_think you are_safe?' Wyr broke in angrily. 'You_are enough like_Syn himself to know that she—'She_did_not need to_complete_her_sentence. Marion_understood. He was_well_treated now—but_Syn_could change his mind.

'You and I—together,'_he_agreed. Marion was an ambitious man.

With casual_ease Wyr landed on_the_fortress roof. Marion started_down the ramp toward his_quarters but the big woman seized_his elbow.

'No,'_she corrected._'This way.'

* * * *

In the morning Syn sent a messenger_to Wyr's rooms. The priest of_Sassa had known exactly_where Marion_had_spent the night._But_he did_not know of the things he and_Wyr had_discussed in quiet whispers.

'Did you find_Wyr a satisfactory companion?'_Syn_greeted him.

Marion eyed his steadily. 'She's_scarcely a mental giant,' he replied._'A bit uncouth, but otherwise_adequate.'

The_answer_seemed to amuse Syn. 'And_did you like the Observance of_Sassa?'

'It's—it's—'Marion was at_a loss for words but his face_betrayed_the tremendous hunger to wallow once_more_in Sassa's alien vileness, 'How soon_again?'

Syn_smiled_at his enthusiasm.

'You are one_of us now, and the inherent_character of your Closed World brain will help overcome_the Rebels all_the sooner,'