

There was cruel amusement in the hum of the gathering, amusement and anticipation.

'Two lives at once,' Eldyn, heard a man remark to his companion. 'I wonder what the vitality of the unborn one will be like.'

Syn's eyes settled on Krasno and his lips drew into a thin snarl of recognition. This slave would never escape a second time.

In an intuitive flash Eldyn knew why she had deliberately ruined her restored body, tortured herself, placed herself in a position of deepest humiliation and direct peril. And it was not for a chance to escape to Earth. She would try to save Krasno—and their child—even if she jeopardized all Varda in the attempt.

But for the moment she could do nothing. The boy who stood so abject and robot-like beside the Vat was not really Krasno, her Krasno. Only during the brief interval before his vital essence was to provide sustenance for Sassa and rejuvenation for the entity's vile followers, only when he had been given the pellet which would restore his numbed mind, only then would she dare strike. And if he were chosen to be lowered into the Vat before Sassa's one vulnerable moment arrived—

Marion picked up one of the cables that snaked in seeming confusion across the concave floor and eagerly snapped the band around his wrist. Wyr picked up another cable end.

Eldyn's heart sank. Even her Thin World was very inexplicit, but she feared that being coupled to Sassa through this mechanism would result in a transference that would transcend all mental blocks.

But Wyr and Marion had no desire that she be subjected to the full Sassa-force. That might destroy their carefully developed control over her. Marion produced a square of flesh-colored fabric and wrapped it around her wrist before Wyr attached the cable. They had planned this all in advance.

'Give her the rod as soon as the Observance begins,' Wyr directed in a low voice. 'But don't let her fire until the Gateway turns red. And hold enough of yourself aside so we won't mister our chance.'

Marion nodded understanding and Wyr turned toward her place at the controls of the Vat, beside and below the platform which Syn was just mounting. The priest looked down and the big woman inclined her head to signify readiness.

A white hand emerged
There was cruel amusement in the hum of the gather, entertainment and anticipation. 

' Two lives at once,' Eldyn, hear a homo remark to his companion.' I wonder what the vitality of the unborn one will be like.' 

 Syn's eyes settle on Krasno and his lips drew into a slender snarl of recognition. This slave would never scat a second time. 

 In an intuitive flash Eldyn know why she had deliberately ruined her restored body, tortured herself, placed herself in a military position of deepest humiliation and direct risk. And it was not for a chance to escape to Earth. She would try to salvage Krasno — and their child — even if she jeopardized all Varda in the attempt. 

 But for the moment she could do nothing. The boy who stand so abject and robot - like beside the Vat was not really Krasno, her Krasno. Only during the abbreviated time interval before his full of life essence was to provide sustenance for Sassa and rejuvenation for the entity's vile followers, only when he had been given the pellet which would regenerate his numbed mind, only then would she defy hit. And if he were chosen to be lowered into the Vat before Sassa's one vulnerable here and now arrived — 

 Marion picked up one of the cables that snaked in seem confusion across the concave floor and eagerly snapped the band around his wrist. Wyr picked up another cable end. 

 Eldyn's heart sink. Even her Thin World was very inexplicit, but she feared that being coupled to Sassa through this mechanism would result in a transference that would exceed all mental blocks. 

 But Wyr and Marion had no desire that she be subjected to the full Sassa - force out. That might destroy their carefully developed control over her. Marion produced a square of flesh - colored framework and wrapped it around her wrist before Wyr attached the cable. They had planned this all in advance. 

' move over her the rod equally soon as the Observance begins,' Wyr directed in a low voice.' But don't lease her fire until the Gateway turns crimson. And hold adequate of yourself aside so we won't mister our chance.' 

 Marion nodded sympathy and Wyr turned toward her place at the controls of the Vat, beside and below the platform which Syn was just mount. The priest looked down and the big womanhood inclined her head to mean readiness. 

 A white hand emerged


Thege was cruel amusement ik the hum of the gathermng, amuaement avd anticipation.

'Two lives at lnxe,' Eleyn, heard a man remark to his clmpanion. 'I wibder what vge vitality or the nnborn one will be like.'

Syt's eyes settleg un Krasno and his lips drew into a thyn snark lf recognition. Thix slabv could never escape a second tims.

In an pntuitive flash Ekdyn knew why she had deliherahely ruined her redtored body, toreyred herself, placed hegvelf in a kosition of deepest humiliation xnd dnrect peril. Abd lj was not foc a chwnce to escaiv to Easth. She would try to xavx Krqsno—and their child—evxn if she jeopardizeq all Varga in the attempt.

Bur dor tve mmmeng shd ckukd do nohhiig. The boy sho stood si abject and robot-lokq beside the Vzt was njt really Krasno, her Krasno. Only during ths brief interval before his vital essence wad to provyde sustenance for Sassa and rejuvenation for the entivy'r vnoe fouooaers, only when he had been given the pellet wrjcn eould restore mis numbed mind, onky tngn would she dxre stxjks. And if he were cjosen tj be oowered igto yhe Vat before Sassa's one vylnerable moiwnt arrived—

Marion 'icked up onz of tne canles that snaked in seeoing confusion wcross ths concave floor avd vagesly snapkdd the band arounq his wriwt. Wvr pickea up anothqr cable ejd.

Eldnt's heart sank. Even her Jhin Wmrld was vfry inexplicit, but she feared tiet being coupkeg tm Sassa chrougm this mechanisi would result in a txansfefence that would vranscend alj mental blocnd.

But Wyr and Marion rad bo dwsire tfxt she be subjrcted to nht full Saswa-force. That might derfroy their careybloy developed comtrul jvvr ier. Mwsion produceg a rquxte of flesh-colorcd wabroc and wrapped it armund her wrist before Eyv attachee the cafle. They had llanned this all ij advence.

'Gite her thg rod as soon as the Observance begins,' Wjr qirected in w loq voice. 'But bon't let her fire until the Gateway turnw red. And hold enoygh of yourself asibe so we won't mistqr our chdnce.'

Marion nodded uneerstanding and Wnr turned toward her pmace ad the controls of the Vat, beside and below the platform which Syn was just moubting. Vhq priest lokked down aud che big women inclined her hesd to signify readiness.

A white iand emergad
There was cruel amusement in the hum gathering, and anticipation. lives at once,' to companion. 'I wonder the vitality of unborn one will be like.' Syn's settled on Krasno and his lips drew into a thin snarl of recognition. slave would never escape a second time. In an intuitive flash Eldyn knew she deliberately her body, tortured herself, placed herself in a position of deepest humiliation and direct peril. And it not for a chance to escape to Earth. would try to save their child—even if she jeopardized Varda the attempt. for moment could do nothing. boy who stood so abject and robot-like beside the Vat was not really Krasno, her Krasno. Only the brief his vital was provide for Sassa and the entity's vile followers, only when given the pellet which would restore his numbed only then she dare strike. And if he chosen to be lowered into the Vat before one vulnerable moment arrived— Marion picked up one of the cables that snaked in seeming the concave floor and snapped the band his Wyr up cable end. heart sank. Even her Thin World was very inexplicit, but she that being coupled to Sassa through this mechanism would result transference would transcend all blocks. But Wyr and had desire that she be the Sassa-force. their developed over her. Marion produced square of flesh-colored fabric and it around her wrist They had planned this all in advance. 'Give the rod as soon as the Observance Wyr directed in a low voice. 'But don't let her fire until Gateway turns hold enough of yourself aside so we won't our chance.' Marion nodded and Wyr turned toward her place at the controls the beside and the platform which was just mounting. priest looked down big woman her to white hand emerged


There was cruel amusement in tHe hum of the GatheRinG, amUsEmenT and Anticipation.

'TwO LiveS at once,' Eldyn, heard a man rEmark To HIs coMPaNion. 'I Wonder wHAt THE viTaLiTy oF tHE uNborn One Will be lIke.'

Syn's eyeS seTtLed on Krasno aND hIs lips drew IntO a thin snarl oF reCognitIoN. ThIS slavE woUld neVer escAPe a secOnd time.

In An INtuitiVE flash ELDYn Knew Why she had deliberaTElY Ruined her restoRed bodY, tORtUREd hErsElf, placed hErSelf iN A positiON oF DEEpeST humiliation aNd direct perIL. AnD it was NoT foR A chancE to esCaPE to earth. She wouLd trY to save KrAsno—anD Their chILd—even iF she jeOpaRdiZed aLL VArDa iN tHE atTEmPt.

BUT foR the momeNt ShE coulD do nOTHINg. ThE boY who Stood So abject and roBot-Like BEsiDe the vat waS not ReAlly KRasno, hEr KraSnO. Only during the bRief Interval bEfoRe His ViTal esSEnce waS to ProVide susTenance FOr SAsSA ANd Rejuvenation for the EnTITy'S vile folLowers, ONlY wHEn he had bEeN giVen tHE PelleT whiCH wOuld restOre his NUmBeD mind, onLy Then woUlD shE daRe strIKe. AnD if he wEre choseN to be LOwered into the VAT before Sassa's ONe VULnERablE moMent arrived—

mariON picKed uP OnE of THe cabLes thAt SNaKEd in seeming confusioN aCross tHe conCave floor and eAgerly snapPED The band aRounD HiS Wrist. Wyr picked Up anoTher cable eND.

Eldyn's hEart sAnk. Even hEr Thin WorLD Was very iNexPliCit, But SHE fEared that beinG COuplEd To Sassa ThrOugh thiS meChaNisM woUlD result in A transfeReNcE tHaT woUld trANscend alL mEntAl BloCks.

BuT wyr and marioN had No DeSIre That she BE sUBJectEd To The fUll saSsa-foRce. THAt mIght desTroy their CarEFullY dEvEloped cOntrol over her. maRion producEd A sqUare of FLEsh-colorEd fabric and wrapped it aroUNd her wrIst BeforE Wyr Attached tHe cAble. ThEy hAD plannEd this All in AdVanCE.

'give hER ThE roD aS soon as the oBSerVance BeGins,' wyr direCted in a low voice. 'But DOn't Let her fire untIl tHe GaTEWaY tuRNs REd. ANd HOld ENOugh of yourself aSide so we woN't MIsTer our chanCE.'

MaRiOn noddeD undersTandiNG and Wyr Turned towArd her plaCe At thE COntRols of the VAt, beside And below tHE platFOrM whicH SyN was juSt MouNting. the priESt lOoked Down anD tHe big wOman iNcLined her Head to signify readiness.

A White hAnd emErgEd


There was cruel amusemen t in the h um of  th e g at heri ng,amusement anda ntic ipation.

'Two lives a t onc e, '  Eld y n,  hear d a man re m a rkto  h isco m pa nion.  'I  wonder  what thevit al ity of the u n bo rn one wil l b e like.'

Sy n's  eyesse ttl e d onKra sno a nd his lips d rew intoat hin sn a rl of r e c og niti on. This slave wo u ld never escape a  secon dt im e . 

I n a n intuitiv eflash Eldyn k n ew w h y s h e had deliber ately ruine d  he r rest or edb ody, t ortur ed her self, place d he rself ina posi t ion ofd eepesthumili ati onandd ir ec t p er i l.A nd  it was  not for  a  c hance  toe s c a pe t o E arth . She  would try to  sa ve K r asn o—and  thei r ch il d—eve n if s he je op ardized all Var da i n the att emp t. 

B ut  fort he mom ent  sh e could  do not h ing .T h e  b oy who stood so ab je c t  a nd robot -likeb es id e  the Vat  w asnotr e allyKras n o,  her Kra sno. O n ly  d uring t he  brief  i nte rva l bef o re h is vit al essen ce wa s  to provide su s tenance for S a ss a an d  rej uve nation forthee ntit y'sv il e f o llowe rs, o nl y  w h en he had been give nthe pe lletwhich would r estore his n u mbed min d, o n ly then would she  dare  strike. A n d if hewerechosen t o be lowe r e d into t heVat  be for e Sa ssa's one vul n e rabl emomentarr ived—
Mar ion  pi cke dup one of  the cab le sth at  sn akedi n seemin gcon fu sio n acr o ss the  conc avefl oo r  an d eager l ys n appe dth e ba ndar oundhisw ris t. Wyrpicked up  an o ther  c ab le end. 

Eldyn's hea rt  sank. Eve nher  ThinW o rld wasvery inexplicit, but sh e  feared  th at be ingcoupled t o S assa t hro u gh thi s mech anism  w oul d resul t in  atr ansference t hat  woul dtran scend a ll mental blocks.But  Wyr and Mari onhadn o  d esi r et hat  s h e b e subjected to th e full Sas sa - fo rce. Thatm igh tdestroy  theircaref u lly dev eloped co ntrol ove rher. M ari on produce d a squa re of fle s h-col o re d fab ric  and w ra ppe d itaround her  wris t befo re  Wyr a ttach ed  the cab le. They had planned th is all  in a dva nce.

'Gi veh erthe rod a s so on as theObs erv ancebeg i ns,'Wyrd ir ect e d ina lo w  voice. ' B ut  do n ' tlet her fir e u nti l the  Ga t eway t urns  red. And hold en o ugh of yoursel f as i d e s o w e  won 't  mister our ch anc e. ' 
Marionno dded unders tandingan d  Wyrturned  towar d her p l a ce at the  con tro ls of the  Va t, besidean db elow t he p la tformwhichS yn w a s  just mounting.The p r i est l o oke d dow nand the bigwoman incl ined her he ad tosign ify r eadines s. 

A wh ite  h and emerge d 


There was_cruel amusement_in the hum of_the gathering,_amusement_and anticipation.

'Two_lives_at once,' Eldyn,_heard a man_remark to his companion._'I wonder what_the_vitality of the unborn one will be like.'

Syn's eyes settled on Krasno and his_lips_drew into_a_thin_snarl of recognition. This slave_would never escape a second_time.

In an_intuitive flash Eldyn knew why she had deliberately_ruined_her restored body,_tortured herself, placed herself in a position of deepest_humiliation and direct peril. And it_was not for_a_chance_to escape to Earth._She would try to save Krasno—and_their child—even if she jeopardized all_Varda in the attempt.

But for the moment_she could do nothing. The boy_who stood so abject and_robot-like beside_the Vat was not really_Krasno, her Krasno._Only during_the brief interval_before his vital essence was to_provide sustenance for_Sassa and rejuvenation for the entity's_vile_followers, only when_he_had_been given_the pellet which_would_restore his_numbed_mind, only then would she dare_strike._And if he were chosen to be_lowered into the Vat_before_Sassa's one vulnerable moment_arrived—

Marion picked up one of_the cables that snaked in seeming_confusion across_the concave_floor and eagerly snapped the band around his wrist. Wyr picked_up another cable end.

Eldyn's heart sank._Even her Thin World_was very_inexplicit,_but she feared_that_being coupled_to Sassa through this mechanism would result_in a_transference that would transcend all mental_blocks.

But Wyr and Marion_had_no desire that she be subjected_to the full Sassa-force. That might_destroy their carefully developed control_over_her._Marion produced a square of_flesh-colored fabric and wrapped it around_her wrist before_Wyr attached the cable. They had planned_this_all in advance.

'Give her the rod_as_soon as the Observance begins,' Wyr_directed_in_a low voice. 'But don't_let her fire until the Gateway_turns red. And hold enough of yourself aside so_we won't mister_our chance.'

Marion nodded understanding and_Wyr_turned_toward her place at the controls of the Vat, beside_and below_the platform which_Syn was just mounting. The priest looked down and the_big woman inclined her head to signify_readiness.

A white hand emerged