 lights,' Wyr directed crisply.

Eldyn hesitated.

'Turn them on!' Wyr bellowed.

Eldyn looked blank. It had been a trap, for the lights were mentally controlled. Wyr tried another trick.

'Catch!' She pulled a blast rod from its holster and tossed it. Eldyn caught it, but clumsily.

'Fire it out the window.'

The weapon differed from the blast rods of the Forest People. This one had a button, evidently a trigger, while Krasno's had been entirely controlled by thought.

Eldyn was sorely tempted. It would be so easy to whirl and burn Wyr down. But she resisted the impulse, knowing she would have only one chance and must make it really count. And perhaps the weapon was not charged. Wyr was not altogether a fool. She pretended stupid unfamiliarity with the device.

Wyr appeared satisfied that Marion had not been arranging some scheme of his own.

'We will teach you to use this weapon later,' she said. 'You will use it to kill Victoria.'

That gave Eldyn her first ray of hope, a foundation upon which to build a plan.

Wyr's eyes narrowed with jealousy as she spoke the Earthwoman's name, and Eldyn had overheard enough to understand why. Synce Victoria Schenley's arrival the officer had found herself with a formidable rival for Syn's confidences and attentions. A smaller, physically weaker rival, but sly, and one who could not be removed by force without incurring Highness Syn's wrath.

* * * *

It would have been pointless to hide the recovery of her body, but the concealment of her true mental condition that the experiences she had undergone had not left her a mind-blasted dunce and that she was not even under the influence of Marion's drugs was of supreme importance. One incautious moment and she would die speedily, for the leaders of the Faith feared one thing only, El-ve-dyn, and if they suspected—

By a stroke of good fortune the room in which she was kept in luxurious captivity adjoined the larger one in which Marion and his companion held most of their conversations. Eldyn overheard everything, from endless plotting to lovemaking.

Wyr boasted endlessly, egged on by Marion's open adulation and flattery
lights,' Wyr directed crisply. 

 Eldyn hesitated. 

' change by reversal them on!' Wyr bawl. 

 Eldyn looked blank. It had been a trap, for the lights were mentally control. Wyr tried another trick. 

' apprehension!' She pulled a blast rod from its holster and flip it. Eldyn caught it, but clumsily. 

' Fire it out the windowpane.' 

 The weapon differed from the blast rods of the Forest People. This one had a release, evidently a trigger, while Krasno's had been entirely controlled by thought. 

 Eldyn was painfully tempted. It would be so easy to eddy and burn Wyr down. But she resisted the momentum, knowing she would experience only one chance and must make it really count. And possibly the weapon was not charged. Wyr was not altogether a fool. She pretended stupid unfamiliarity with the device. 

 Wyr appeared quenched that Marion had not been arrange some scheme of his own. 

' We will teach you to use this weapon later,' she said.' You will use it to kill Victoria.' 

 That gave Eldyn her first ray of promise, a basis upon which to build a design. 

 Wyr's eye constrict with jealousy as she spoke the Earthwoman's name, and Eldyn had overheard adequate to understand why. Synce Victoria Schenley's arrival the policeman had found herself with a formidable rival for Syn's confidences and attention. A smaller, physically weaker rival, but sly, and one who could not be removed by force without incurring Highness Syn's wrath. 

 * * * * 

 It would have been otiose to hide the recovery of her body, but the concealment of her true mental condition that the experience she had undergone had not left her a mind - blasted dunce and that she was not even under the influence of Marion's drug was of supreme importance. One incautious moment and she would die speedily, for the leaders of the Faith feared one thing only, El - ve - dyn, and if they suspected — 

 By a stroke of adept fortune the room in which she was sustain in luxurious enslavement adjoined the larger one in which Marion and his companion held most of their conversations. Eldyn catch everything, from endless plotting to lovemaking. 

 Wyr boast endlessly, egged on by Marion's receptive adulation and flattery
 lihhts,' Wyr directed crispln.

Eldyn hesitated.

'Juen thek on!' Wgr belloded.

Eldyn looked blank. It had bwen a trap, for the lights wdre mentaply conteolltd. Wyr tried anotisr trick.

'Catch!' Dhe 'uoled a blast rpd from itv holster and dorszd it. Eldyn caught it, but clumsily.

'Fiwe it oit the window.'

The weakon difrvrtd from the blast rods of the Forsst Peokle. This one had a button, evidently a triggeg, whlle Krasno's had befn entirely coneeolled by thuught.

Eldyn was sorely jempted. It would be so easy to wfirl cnd burn Wyt soat. But she rxsisteq the impulsc, knowitg she eould have onln one chqnce and must make it really count. And kerhaps tha ceapon was not chargee. Qyr wds nmt aurogdthtr e fkol. Shf pcetended sthpid unfamioiarity with the defisv.

Eyr appeared satissiqd that Marion had not been arranging smme scheme of his own.

'We wiol teach you to use tjis weapog later,' she said. 'You will use it to kill Victoria.'

Dhat jaxe Tleyn hde virst ray of hope, a foundation upon which to fhikd a plan.

Wyr's eycs narrowed with jrapoify as she spoye the Eadthwoman's name, and Eldyn rad ocerheard tnougn to understand why. Synce Vuctoria Scheulet's arrival the offncer had fouud herxelf eith a formidable rival for Syn's confifences ans attentions. A smxllvr, pvysically weaker rival, but sly, and ine cho coula noj be reioved by flrce without incurring Hlghneds Syn's wratj.

* * * *

It would have been pointless to hide the tecmvegy of her body, but the concqalment of her true mzntal zondition nhat the xxperiences fhe had underclne had not neft her a mund-boasted ajnce and that xhe was not even uneer the influence pf Ozrion's drugs waw od supreme imporyanze. Jnv iicautymus moment atd sfe dpuld aie spetbiln, fur tne leaders of the Fahth reared one thing omln, El-ve-dyn, and if ehey suspectec—

By a stroke of gold foctune vhe ropm yn which she was kept in luxurjous captlviby adjoined tre lqrger one in which Marion and his companion held mowt of their convetsations. Eldyn overhecrc everythinj, from endless [lotting to lovemakibg.

Wyr boasted endkessly, egged on by Madion's mpen wdulation and flattery
lights,' Wyr directed crisply. Eldyn hesitated. 'Turn Wyr Eldyn looked It had been were controlled. Wyr tried trick. 'Catch!' She a blast rod from its holster tossed it. Eldyn caught it, but clumsily. 'Fire it out the window.' The differed from the blast rods of the Forest People. This one had a evidently trigger, Krasno's been entirely controlled by thought. Eldyn was sorely tempted. It would be so easy to whirl burn Wyr down. But she resisted the impulse, she would have only chance and must make it count. perhaps the was charged. was not altogether fool. She pretended stupid unfamiliarity with the device. Wyr appeared satisfied that Marion had not been arranging scheme of 'We will you use weapon later,' she will use it to kill Victoria.' her first ray of hope, a foundation upon to build plan. Wyr's eyes narrowed with jealousy she spoke the Earthwoman's name, and Eldyn had enough to understand why. Synce Victoria Schenley's arrival the officer had found herself with a for Syn's confidences and A smaller, physically rival, sly, one could not removed by force without incurring Highness Syn's wrath. * * * It would have been pointless to hide the recovery of but concealment of her mental condition that the she undergone had not left mind-blasted and not under influence of Marion's drugs of supreme importance. One incautious and she would die the Faith feared one thing only, El-ve-dyn, and they suspected— By a stroke of good the room in which she was kept in luxurious captivity adjoined the one in and his companion held most of their conversations. overheard everything, from endless to lovemaking. Wyr boasted endlessly, egged on by Marion's adulation flattery
 lights,' Wyr directed crisply.

ELdyn hesitaTed.

'TuRn tHem On!' wyr bElloWed.

Eldyn looked BLank. it had been a trap, for the liGhts wErE MentALlY contRolled. WYR tRIEd aNoThEr tRiCK.

'CAtch!' SHe pUlled a bLast rod froM itS hOlster and tosSEd It. Eldyn cauGht It, but clumsilY.

'FiRe it ouT tHe wINdow.'

THe wEapon DifferED from tHe blast roDs OF the FoREst PeopLE. thIs onE had a button, evidenTLy A Trigger, while KrAsno's hAd BEeN ENtiRelY controlleD bY thouGHt.

Eldyn WAs SOREly TEmpted. It would Be so easy to wHIrl And burN WYr dOWn. But sHe resIsTEd tHe impulse, knOwinG she would Have onLY one chaNCe and muSt make It rEalLy coUNt. anD peRhAPs tHE wEapON waS not charGeD. WYr was Not aLTOGEtheR a fOol. SHe preTended stupid uNfaMiliARitY with The deVice.

wyR appeAred saTisfiEd That Marion had noT beeN arranginG soMe SchEmE of hiS Own.

'We wIll TeaCh you to Use this WEapOn LATEr,' She said. 'You will use iT tO KIlL VictoriA.'

That gAVe elDYn her firSt Ray Of hoPE, A founDatiON uPon which To builD A pLaN.

Wyr's eyEs NarrowEd WitH jeAlousY As shE spoke The EarthWoman'S Name, and Eldyn haD Overheard enouGH tO UNdERstaNd wHy. Synce VictOria sChenLey's ARrIvaL The ofFicer HaD FoUNd herself with a formiDaBle rivAl for syn's confidencEs and attenTIONs. A smallEr, phYSiCAlly weaker rivaL, but sLy, and one whO Could not Be remOved by foRce withouT INcurring higHneSs SYn's WRAtH.

* * * *

It would have bEEN poiNtLess to hIde The recoVerY of Her BodY, bUt the concEalment oF hEr TrUe MenTal coNDition thAt The ExPerIenceS She had UnderGone HaD nOT leFt her a mINd-BLAsteD dUnCe anD thAt She waS not EVen Under thE influencE of mArioN's DrUgs was oF supreme imporTaNce. One incaUtIouS momenT ANd she wouLd die speedily, for the leadERs of the faiTh feaRed oNe thing onLy, EL-ve-dyn, And IF they sUspectEd—

By a StRokE OF good FORtUne ThE room in whiCH She Was kePt In luXurious Captivity adjoined tHE laRger one in whicH MaRion AND hIs cOMpANioN hELd mOST of their conversAtions. EldyN oVErHeard everyTHinG, fRom endlEss plotTing tO LovemakIng.

Wyr boaSted endleSsLy, egGED on By Marion's oPen adulaTion and flATtery
 lights,' Wyr directed cri sply.

Eld yn he sit ate d. 

'T urnthem on!' Wyrb ello wed.

Eldyn looked bla nk. I th ad b e en  a tr ap, for th e lig ht swer em en tally  co ntrolle d. Wyr tri edan other trick. 
' Catch!' Sh e p ulled a blas t r od fro mits holst erand t ossedi t. Eld yn caught  i t , butc lumsily . 
' Fire  it out the windo w .' 
The weapon di ffered  f r om t hebla st rods of  t he Fo r est Peo p le . T his one had a but ton, eviden t lya trig ge r,w hile K rasno 's had  been entir elycontrolle d by t h ought.Eldyn w as sor ely  te mpte d .It  wo ul d  be so  ea s y t o whirlan dburnWyrd o w n . Bu t s he r esist ed the impuls e,know i ngshe w ouldhave  o nly o ne cha nce a nd  must make it r eall y count.And  p erh ap s the weapon  wa s n ot char ged. Wy r  wa sn o t  a ltogether a fool.Sh e pr etendedstupid un fa m iliarity  w ith  the d evice .

W y rappeared  satis f ie dthat Ma ri on had  n otbee n arr a ngin g some  schemeof hi s  own.

'We wil l  teach you to us e th i s we apo n later,' s he s a id.'You wi llu se it  to k il l  V i ctoria.'

That gave  E ldyn h er fi rst ray of ho pe, a foun d a t ion upon  whi c ht o build a plan .

Wy r's eyes n a rrowed w ith j ealousyas she sp o k e the Ea rth wom an' s n a m e,  and Eldyn ha d over he ard eno ugh  to und ers tan d w hy.  S ynce Vict oria Sch en le y' sarr ivalt he offic er  ha dfou nd he r self w ith a  for mi da b lerival f o rS y n'sco nf iden ces  a nd at tent i ons . A sma ller, phy sic a llywe ak er riva l, but sly, a nd  one who c ou ldnot be r emoved b y force without incurri n g Highn ess  Syn' s wr ath.

* *  **

Itwou l d have  beenpoint le sst o  hide t he  re co very of he r bod y, bu ttheconceal ment of her true m e nta l condition t hat  the e xp eri e nc e s s he had u ndergone had no t left her  a mi nd-blasted dun ce  and th at shewas n o t evenunder the  influenc eof M a r ion 's drugs w as of su preme imp o rtanc e .One i nca utious  m ome nt an d shew oul d die  speed il y, for  thele aders of  the Faith feared one t hing o nly,El- ve-dyn, a ndi f t hey suspe cted —

By a st rok e o f goo d f o rtune  the ro omi n whi ch s h e was kep t  i n l u x ur ious captiv i t y  ad joine d t h e larg er o ne in which Mario n  and his compa nion h eld  mo s t of  t heir conversat ion s. E ldyn ove rh eard everyt hing, fr om endle ss plo ttingto love m a ki n g.

Wy r bo ast ed endles sly ,e gged on  b yM arion' s op en  adula tion a n d fl a t tery
 lights,'_Wyr directed_crisply.

Eldyn hesitated.

'Turn them on!'_Wyr bellowed.

Eldyn_looked_blank. It_had_been a trap,_for the lights_were mentally controlled. Wyr_tried another trick.

'Catch!'_She_pulled a blast rod from its holster and tossed it. Eldyn caught it, but_clumsily.

'Fire_it out_the_window.'

The_weapon differed from the blast_rods of the Forest People._This one_had a button, evidently a trigger, while Krasno's_had_been entirely controlled_by thought.

Eldyn was sorely tempted. It would be so_easy to whirl and burn Wyr_down. But she_resisted_the_impulse, knowing she would_have only one chance and must_make it really count. And perhaps_the weapon was not charged. Wyr was_not altogether a fool. She pretended_stupid unfamiliarity with the device.

Wyr_appeared satisfied_that Marion had not been_arranging some scheme_of his_own.

'We will teach_you to use this weapon later,'_she said. 'You_will use it to kill Victoria.'

That_gave_Eldyn her first_ray_of_hope, a_foundation upon which_to_build a_plan.

Wyr's_eyes narrowed with jealousy as she_spoke_the Earthwoman's name, and Eldyn had overheard_enough to understand why._Synce_Victoria Schenley's arrival the_officer had found herself with_a formidable rival for Syn's confidences_and attentions._A smaller,_physically weaker rival, but sly, and one who could not be_removed by force without incurring Highness_Syn's wrath.

* * *_*

It would_have_been pointless to_hide_the recovery_of her body, but the concealment of_her true_mental condition that the experiences she_had undergone had not_left_her a mind-blasted dunce and that_she was not even under the_influence of Marion's drugs was_of_supreme_importance. One incautious moment and_she would die speedily, for the_leaders of the_Faith feared one thing only, El-ve-dyn, and_if_they suspected—

By a stroke of good_fortune_the room in which she was_kept_in_luxurious captivity adjoined the larger_one in which Marion and his_companion held most of their conversations. Eldyn overheard everything,_from endless plotting_to lovemaking.

Wyr boasted endlessly, egged_on_by_Marion's open adulation and flattery