 moment there was incredulous silence.

'You lie, Sassa-creature!' screamed one of the bloated, dying women.

'Kill them! Kill them! Kill them!' The chant roared deafeningly from the low ceiling and the old leader made no attempt to stop it.

Krasno raised his arms high in a plea for silence. He got silence, sudden and complete, but in an unexpected way. For as he raised his arms the cloak fell open and the tattered and bloodstained clothing beneath hid little. There was a startled gasp from the crowd, then a hum of shocked comment.

But it was not his semi-nudity that caused the sensation. His condition, the heaviness of his body, were obvious.

He saw that his secret had been disclosed.

'This woman is El-ve-dyn!' His voice was firm and defiant now, pitched to cut through the noise. 'Though she has refused to save our world, which only she can do, Varda must have another chance.'

Eldyn was held in outraged motionlessness as an angry mutter spread.

'Forest People!' Krasno lifted his voice. 'The Earthwoman is the mother of my child—although she herself did not know it until now!'

Eldyn wanted to shout a denial. But she understood why he had been so unsure of his footing descending the mountains, why he had tired so easily.

'This Earthwoman could be El-ve-dyn of the prophecy if she would, but she will not. But some day—if the Gateway can be held long enough—perhaps our child will accept the burden its mother has shirked. The child will inherit characteristics of a Closed World mind. It was all I could do for Varda.'

His voice broke in a sob.

Eldyn read a thought in his mind, a thought intended for her alone.

'And besides, I love her.'

Her brain was awhirl. It was all utterly impossible. But her confusion was interrupted by a stir in the back of the hall. Bolan entered, shoved her way to the dais. She spoke to the old leader and there were cries of angry protest from those near enough to hear.

'But—'the old woman began.

'A trick to regain our confidence,' someone broke in loudly. 'Even Lu
moment there was incredulous silence. 

' You lie, Sassa - animal!' scream one of the bloated, dying women. 

' stamp out them! toss off them! Kill them!' The chant roared deafeningly from the broken ceiling and the honest-to-god leader made no attempt to stop it. 

 Krasno raise his arms high in a supplication for silence. He got silence, sudden and complete, but in an unexpected way. For as he raised his arms the cloak fall open and the tattered and bloodstained clothing beneath hid short. There was a startled gasp from the crowd, then a hum of shocked remark. 

 But it was not his semi - nudity that caused the sensation. His condition, the burdensomeness of his body, were obvious. 

 He saw that his secret had been disclosed. 

' This woman is El - ve - dyn!' His voice was firm and defiant now, pitched to cut through the noise.' Though she has refused to save our world, which only she can do, Varda must have another opportunity.' 

 Eldyn was held in outraged motionlessness as an angry mutter scatter. 

' Forest People!' Krasno hoist his voice.' The Earthwoman is the mother of my child — although she herself did not know it until nowadays!' 

 Eldyn wanted to shout a denial. But she understood why he had been therefore unsure of his footing descending the mountains, why he had tired so well. 

' This Earthwoman could be El - ve - dyn of the prophecy if she would, but she will not. But some day — if the Gateway can be held long enough — perhaps our child will accept the burden its mother has shirked. The child will inherit characteristics of a Closed World judgment. It was all I could do for Varda.' 

 His voice broke in a sob. 

 Eldyn read a opinion in his mind, a thought intended for her alone. 

' And besides, I sleep together her.' 

 Her brain was awhirl. It was wholly utterly impossible. But her confusion was interrupted by a stir in the back of the hall. Bolan accede, shoved her way to the dais. She talk to the old drawing card and there were cries of angry protest from those about enough to hear. 

' But—'the old woman began. 

' A trick to find our confidence,' someone broke in loudly.' Even Lu
 molent there was increduloms silence.

'You lig, Wassa-cceature!' screamea one of the bloated, dying wlmwn.

'Kilo them! Kill them! Kill ghem!' The bhant roaeed veafeningly from the low ceilihn and vhe old leader kade no atdempt to stop ht.

Yrcsno raised his arms high in a plea sor silrnfe. He got silegce, xtddeh and complete, but in an unexpectes way. Fmr as he raisrd his arms the cloak fell opej and the tattered and bloodsjzinqe clothing bdneath hid little. Therg was a startled gasp from the cfowd, chen a hum if shlwked commenv.

But in was not his semi-nudhty thay caused the scnsatmon. Yis condition, the heatiness of his body, wgre obviouv.

Hz saw that his secret hqd begn divclorwd.

'Tfis wpmzn is Fl-vx-dyn!' His vojce was firn and defiant now, potsyed to cut thdough ehq noise. 'Though she has refused to save mur world, which only she cqn do, Varda must have another shance.'

Eldyn was held in outraged motionlessness av an enery mmttef soread.

'Forest People!' Krasno lifted his voice. 'Thq Esrnhwoman is the mobher of my child—alyhlubr she herself did not inow it until now!'

Epdyn wagted ro shout w demial. But she understood why he had been wo unsure of his floting descznding the kountains, why he had tixed so easily.

'This Earthwomzv could be El-ve-dhn pf the prokfecy if she would, but she xill uot. But rome day—if the Gatewwy cak be held long enouhh—perkaps mur child aill accept the burden its mothxc has shirked. Tve bhild wilj inhcrit characteriftics of a Cloxed Worjd mivd. It was zll I cmuld do for Varda.'

His voiwg broke in a vob.

Eldyn reae a rhought kn his mind, a yhought iuuended for her alone.

'And besives, K love her.'

Her brcnn was awhirl. It eas alj lttxrly ykpossible. Bud hef cumfusiun was intevruoted by a stir in the bawk or the hall. Bolan emtcred, shovgd her war to the dais. She spoke to the lld lxader end thrre were cries of angry protest fdom those newr enough to heav.

'But—'jhe old womcn began.

'A trick to regain our confidence,' someone broke in ooudly. 'Even Lu
moment there was incredulous silence. 'You lie, one the bloated, women. 'Kill them! chant deafeningly from the ceiling and the leader made no attempt to stop Krasno raised his arms high in a plea for silence. He got silence, and complete, but in an unexpected way. For as he raised his arms cloak open the and bloodstained clothing beneath hid little. There was a startled gasp from the crowd, then a of shocked comment. But it was not his that caused the sensation. condition, the heaviness of his were He saw his had disclosed. 'This woman El-ve-dyn!' His voice was firm and defiant now, pitched to cut through the noise. 'Though she has to save which only can Varda have another chance.' held in outraged motionlessness as an 'Forest People!' Krasno lifted his voice. 'The Earthwoman the mother my child—although she herself did not it until now!' Eldyn wanted to shout a But she understood why he had been so unsure of his footing descending the mountains, had tired so easily. Earthwoman could be of prophecy she but she not. But some day—if the Gateway can be held long enough—perhaps child will accept the burden its mother has shirked. The inherit of a Closed mind. It was all could for Varda.' His voice a Eldyn in mind, thought intended for her 'And besides, I love her.' brain was awhirl. It her confusion was interrupted by a stir in back of the hall. Bolan entered, shoved way to the dais. She spoke to the old leader and there cries of from those near enough to hear. 'But—'the old began. 'A trick to our confidence,' someone broke in loudly. 'Even Lu
 moment there was incredulous Silence.

'You Lie, SaSsa-CreAtUre!' sCreaMed one of the bloATed, dYing women.

'Kill them! Kill tHem! KiLl THem!' THE cHant rOared deAFeNINglY fRoM thE lOW cEilinG anD the old Leader made No aTtEmpt to stop it.

kRaSno raised hIs aRms high in a plEa fOr sileNcE. He GOt silEncE, suddEn and cOMplete, But in an unExPEcted wAY. For as hE RAiSed hIs arms the cloak felL OpEN and the tattereD and blOoDStAINed CloThing beneaTh Hid liTTle. TherE WaS A STarTLed gasp from thE crowd, then a HUm oF shockEd ComMEnt.

But It was NoT His Semi-nudity tHat cAused the sEnsatiON. His conDItion, thE heaviNesS of His bODy, WeRe oBvIOus.

hE sAw tHAt hIs secret HaD bEen diScloSED.

'tHis wOmaN is EL-ve-dyN!' His voice was fIrm And dEFiaNt now, PitchEd to CuT throUgh the Noise. 'thOugh she has refusEd to Save our woRld, WhIch OnLy she CAn do, VaRda MusT have anOther chANce.'

elDYN WaS held in outraged motIoNLEsSness as aN angry MUtTeR Spread.

'FoReSt PEoplE!' kRasno LiftED hIs voice. 'THe EartHWoMaN is the mOtHer of mY cHilD—alThougH She hErself Did not knOw it uNTil now!'

Eldyn wanTEd to shout a denIAl. bUT sHE undErsTood why he haD beeN So unSure OF hIs fOOting DesceNdINg THe mountains, why he had TiRed so eAsily.

'this EarthwomaN could be El-VE-DYn of the pRophECy IF she would, but shE will Not. But some DAy—if the GAtewaY can be heLd long enoUGH—perhaps Our ChiLd wIll ACCePt the burden itS MOtheR hAs shirkEd. THe child WilL inHerIt cHaRacteristIcs of a ClOsEd woRlD miNd. It wAS all I couLd Do fOr varDa.'

His VOice brOke in A sob.

elDyN ReaD a thougHT iN HIs miNd, A tHougHt iNtEnded For hER alOne.

'And bEsides, I loVe hER.'

Her BrAiN was awhIrl. It was all utTeRly impossiBlE. BuT her coNFUsion was Interrupted by a stir in the BAck of thE haLl. BolAn enTered, shovEd hEr way tO thE Dais. ShE spoke To the OlD leADEr and THErE weRe Cries of angRY ProTest fRoM thoSe near eNough to hear.

'But—'the oLD woMan began.

'A tricK to RegaIN OuR coNFiDEncE,' sOMeoNE Broke in loudly. 'EvEn Lu
 moment there was incredul ous silenc e.

' You  li e,  Sas sa-c reature!' scre a medone of the bloated, dy ing w om e n.
' Ki ll th em! Kil l  t h e m!Ki ll  th em ! 'The c han t roare d deafenin gly  f rom the lowc ei ling and t heold leader m ade  no at te mpt to st opit.
Krasno raised  his arms  h i gh ina  plea f o r  s ilen ce. He got silenc e ,s udden and comp lete,bu t  i n anune xpected wa y.  Fora s he ra i se d h isa rms the cloak  fell opena ndthe ta tt ere d  and b loods ta i ned  clothing b enea th hid li ttle.T here wa s  a star tled g asp  fr om t h ecr owd ,t hen ahum ofshockedco mm ent.
But i t wasnot  his  semi -nudity thatcau sedt hesensa tion.  His  c ondit ion, t he he av iness of his bo dy,were obvi ous .
He  s aw th a t hissec ret  had be en disc l ose d. ' Th is woman is El-ve- dy n ! 'His voic e wasf ir ma nd defia nt  no w, p i t chedto c u tthroughthe no i se .'Though  s he has  r efu sed  to s a ve o ur wor ld, whic h onl y  she can do, V a rda must have an o t he r  cha nce .'

Eldyn w as h e ld i n ou t ra ged motio nless ne s sa s an angry mutter s pr ead.
'Fore st People!' K rasno lift e d his voic e. ' T he Earthwoman isthe m other of m y  child—a lthou gh she h erself di d not know  it  un til  no w ! '
Eldyn wanted t o sh ou t a den ial . But s heund ers too dwhy he ha d been s oun su re  of  hisf ooting d es cen di ngthe m o untain s, wh y he  h ad tir ed so e a si l y .

' Th is  Ear thw om an co uldb e E l-ve-dy n of thepro p hecy  i fshe wou ld, but she w il l not. But  s ome  day—i f the Gate way can be held long en o ugh—per hap s our  chi ld will a cce pt the  bu r den it s moth er ha sshi r k ed. T h e  c hil dwill inher i t  ch aract er isti cs of a  Closed World mind .  It  was all I co uld  dof o rVar d a. ' 

H is voi c e  broke in a sob .

Eldyn r ea d  a  thought i n  hi smind, a  though t int e nded fo r her alo ne.

'And  b esid e s , I  love her. '

Her b rain wasa whirl .  I t was  al l utte rl y i mposs ible.B uther c onfusi on  was i nterr up ted by a  stir in the back of th e hall . Bol anentered,sho v edher way t o th e dais. Sh e s pok e tothe old l eade r  a ndt herewere cries ofa ng ryp r ot est from th o s e  ne ar en oug h  to he ar.
'But—'the old wo m an began.

'Atric k toreg a in o ur  confidence,'som eo n e  broke i nloudly. 'Ev en Lu
 moment_there was_incredulous silence.

'You lie, Sassa-creature!'_screamed one_of_the bloated,_dying_women.

'Kill them! Kill_them! Kill them!'_The chant roared deafeningly_from the low_ceiling_and the old leader made no attempt to stop it.

Krasno raised his arms high_in_a plea_for_silence._He got silence, sudden and_complete, but in an unexpected_way. For_as he raised his arms the cloak fell_open_and the tattered_and bloodstained clothing beneath hid little. There was a_startled gasp from the crowd, then_a hum of_shocked_comment.

But_it was not his_semi-nudity that caused the sensation. His_condition, the heaviness of his body,_were obvious.

He saw that his secret had_been disclosed.

'This woman is El-ve-dyn!' His_voice was firm and defiant_now, pitched_to cut through the noise._'Though she has_refused to_save our world,_which only she can do, Varda_must have another_chance.'

Eldyn was held in outraged motionlessness_as_an angry mutter_spread.

'Forest_People!'_Krasno lifted_his voice. 'The_Earthwoman_is the_mother_of my child—although she herself did_not_know it until now!'

Eldyn wanted to shout_a denial. But she_understood_why he had been_so unsure of his footing_descending the mountains, why he had_tired so_easily.

'This Earthwoman_could be El-ve-dyn of the prophecy if she would, but she_will not. But some day—if the_Gateway can be held_long enough—perhaps_our_child will accept_the_burden its_mother has shirked. The child will inherit_characteristics of_a Closed World mind. It was_all I could do_for_Varda.'

His voice broke in a sob.

Eldyn_read a thought in his mind,_a thought intended for her_alone.

'And_besides,_I love her.'

Her brain was_awhirl. It was all utterly impossible._But her confusion_was interrupted by a stir in the_back_of the hall. Bolan entered, shoved_her_way to the dais. She spoke_to_the_old leader and there were_cries of angry protest from those_near enough to hear.

'But—'the old woman began.

'A trick to_regain our confidence,'_someone broke in loudly. 'Even_Lu