 from Syn's enveloping black cloak, touched the fastening at his throat, and as the garment fell away he drew his slender white body erect and raised his arms in invocation to Great Sassa. The Observance had finally begun.

Eldyn felt her scalp prickle as a huge grey shape appeared beside his on the platform. After a moment of symbolic gyrations the figures of the man and the Luvan merged, seemed to interpenetrate each other and become something that still looked like Syn but was only partly human. She heard Marion's indrawn breath, felt the psychic wave of his lustful, panting impatience, saw his face masked in unearthly expectancy as something took on nebulous outlines in the Gateway, throbbing evilly.

The guards bound the wrists of the first sacrificial victim, a boy, and at a touch of Wyr's hands on the controls he was drawn up until his bare toes just touched the floor. There was a hush of tense expectancy as the restorative pill took effect, and then a satisfied whisper swept the gathering as he screamed and struggled in sudden horror. The glow of the Gateway brightened, shaded from green to yellow, and Sassa showed more clearly in all its alienness, glorying in the terror of the victim.

Wyr's fingers flashed to the controls and a thrilled shudder shook the gathering as the Sassa-force flowed through the maze of woven cables. Eldyn felt rather than saw Marion's slender body, so exactly like that of the high priest, shiver and go rigid beside her.

Then she was too occupied to notice. For the fabric around her wrist was not a perfect insulator. Her entire body tingled. Her heart was pounding and blood raced through her body and throbbed in her temples under the leaking influx of the Force of Sassa. It was a terrible sensation, evil and yet compelling. The eerie waves surging through her brain called upon her to surrender, to give herself now and utterly and forever to the service of Sassa—for Sassa was the All, the Everlasting.

Almost she succumbed. But then for an instant her sight cleared and she looked upon Syn's cruel face, on the screaming boy who hung above the Vat in readiness for sacrifice, upon Krasno, the piquantly smiling face she remembered so well now dull with idiot emptiness. Soon he too would be screaming above the Vat.

from Syn's enveloping black cloak, touched the fastening at his throat, and as the garment fell aside he puff his slender white body tumid and raised his arms in invocation to Great Sassa. The Observance had ultimately begun. 

 Eldyn felt her scalp spine as a huge gray shape appeared beside his on the chopine. After a moment of symbolic gyration the figure of the man and the Luvan merged, seemed to interpenetrate each other and become something that however looked like Syn but was only partly human. She hear Marion's indrawn breath, felt the psychic wave of his lustful, panting restlessness, saw his font masked in unearthly expectancy as something consume on nebulous outlines in the Gateway, throbbing evilly. 

 The guards bind the wrists of the first sacrificial victim, a boy, and at a touch of Wyr's hands on the controls he was drawn up until his bare toes just reach the floor. There was a hush of tense expectancy as the recuperative pill remove effect, and then a satisfied whisper swept the gathering as he screamed and struggled in sudden horror. The gleam of the Gateway brightened, shaded from green to yellow, and Sassa testify more clearly in all its alienness, glorying in the terror of the victim. 

 Wyr's fingers flashed to the controls and a thrilled frisson shook the gathering as the Sassa - force flowed through the maze of woven cable television. Eldyn felt rather than saw Marion's slender body, so exactly like that of the high priest, shudder and go rigid beside her. 

 Then she was too occupied to notice. For the framework around her wrist was not a perfect insulator. Her entire body tingled. Her center was pounding and lineage raced through her body and throbbed in her temples under the leaking inflow of the Force of Sassa. It was a terrible sensation, evil and even compelling. The eerie waves surging through her brain called upon her to surrender, to give herself nowadays and utterly and forever to the military service of Sassa — for Sassa was the All, the Everlasting. 

 Almost she succumbed. But then for an instant her sight cleared and she looked upon Syn's barbarous face, on the screaming boy who hung above the Vat in readiness for sacrifice, upon Krasno, the piquantly smiling grimace she remember so well now dull with idiot emptiness. Soon he too would be screaming above the Vat.
 frlm Syn's enveloping black cloak, touched jhw fastxning af his thfoat, and as the garment fell aqay ht drew his slender dhite bodj erect abd reised his arms ii invocabnon tk Grect Sassa. The Obsgrvance had xinally begun.

Endhn felt her scalp prickle as a huge gwey shale appeared besiqe hps on fhe platform. After a moment of symgolic gjrations the figutes of the man and the Luvwn mfrged, seemed to inherpenetratg easy other and cecome somttking that sjill looked like Syn but was onlh parcly human. Sye hewtd Marion's iidrawn breath, felt the psywhic wafe of his lustnul, pentibg impatience, saw his face masked in ungarthly ex[eetancy as something tioj on tebunous iutuints mn fhe Gahewey, throbbinf evilly.

The guards bound the wtifnx of the firat sacwisicial victim, a boy, and at a touch of Wjr's gands on the controls hw was drawn up until jis bare eoes just touched the floor. There was a hush of tanse xxoecuakgy ar tje restorative pill took effect, and then a saejsgivd whisper swept bhe gathering as hr dctgamed and struegled nh audden horror. The hlow of the Tateway bwighyened, shaded from green to tellow, and Scssq showed more cleaxly in all ics alignness, glorying in the terror of fhe victim.

Wjr's fingedr flashed to the coktrmls and a thrilled shudder shook thx gatkering ar thg Sassa-sorce flowfd thvmugh the maze of wlven eablev. Eldyn fept rather than saw Marion's slenvxr body, so exscdly like thct of bhe high priest, shiver and go rigid yeside her.

Then sge was voo occupied to notice. Fos the fabric eround hew wrust qas not x perfect insukator. Her entire boey tingled. Her heavt war pounding and boooe raced through hef bjdj aid thwmbbed in her temoler undef the ltckikg knflix of the Force of Sdssa. It was a terrible scnsation, gvil and ret compellinb. The eerie waves durgiig thruugh ner brain called upon her to surrsnder, to hivc herself now and utterly and forever to the service of Sassa—for Saswa was the All, thg Everlasting.

Almost ske succumbed. Uut thqn for an instant her sight coeared and she lopked upon Syn's cruel race, ot the screaming boy who hung above the Vat in readiness for sacrifice, upon Krawno, thx [iquantly sjilimg fabe fke remeiberxd so well now dulk with idiot emptiness. Soon he voo would te screaming above the Vat.

from Syn's enveloping black cloak, touched the his and as garment fell away body and raised his in invocation to Sassa. The Observance had finally begun. felt her scalp prickle as a huge grey shape appeared beside his on platform. After a moment of symbolic gyrations the figures of the man and Luvan seemed interpenetrate other and become something that still looked like Syn but was only partly human. She heard indrawn breath, felt the psychic wave of his panting impatience, saw his masked in unearthly expectancy as took nebulous outlines the throbbing The guards bound wrists of the first sacrificial victim, a boy, and at a touch of Wyr's hands on the he was until his toes touched floor. There was of tense expectancy as the restorative and then a satisfied whisper swept the gathering he screamed struggled in sudden horror. The glow the Gateway brightened, shaded from green to yellow, Sassa showed more clearly in all its alienness, glorying in the terror of the victim. flashed to the controls a thrilled shudder the as Sassa-force through the of woven cables. Eldyn felt rather than saw Marion's slender body, exactly like that of the high priest, shiver and go her. she was too to notice. For the around wrist was not a Her body was and raced through her body throbbed in her temples under leaking influx of the a terrible sensation, evil and yet compelling. The waves surging through her brain called upon to surrender, to give herself now and utterly and forever to the of Sassa—for the All, the Everlasting. Almost she succumbed. But for an instant her cleared and she looked upon Syn's cruel face, on screaming who hung the Vat in for sacrifice, upon the piquantly smiling remembered so now with he too would be screaming above Vat.
 from Syn's enveloping black clOak, touched The faSteNinG aT his ThroAt, and as the garmENt feLl away he drew his slender White BoDY ereCT aNd raiSed his aRMs IN InvOcAtIon To gReAt SasSa. THe ObserVance had fiNalLy Begun.

Eldyn feLT hEr scalp priCklE as a huge grey ShaPe appeArEd bESide hIs oN the pLatforM. after a Moment of sYmBOlic gyRAtions tHE FiGureS of the man and the LuVAn MErged, seemed to iNterpeNeTRaTE EacH otHer and becoMe SometHIng that STiLL LOokED like Syn but waS only partly HUmaN. She heArD MaRIon's inDrawn BrEAth, Felt the psycHic wAve of his lUstful, PAnting iMPatiencE, saw hiS faCe mAskeD In UnEarThLY exPEcTanCY as SomethinG tOoK on neBuloUS OUTlinEs iN the gatewAy, throbbing evIllY.

The GUarDs bouNd the WrisTs Of the First sAcrifIcIal victim, a boy, anD at a Touch of WyR's hAnDs oN tHe conTRols he Was DraWn up untIl his baRE toEs JUST tOuched the floor. TherE wAS A hUsh of tenSe expeCTaNcY As the resToRatIve pILL took EffeCT, aNd then a sAtisfiED wHiSper swePt The gatHeRinG as He scrEAmed And strUggled in SuddeN Horror. The glow oF The Gateway briGHtENEd, SHadeD frOm green to yeLlow, ANd SaSsa sHOwEd mORe cleArly iN aLL iTS alienness, glorying iN tHe terrOr of tHe victim.

Wyr's fIngers flasHED To the conTrolS AnD A thrilled shuddEr shoOk the gatheRIng as the sassa-Force floWed througH THe maze of WovEn cAblEs. ELDYn Felt rather thaN SAw MaRiOn's slenDer Body, so eXacTly LikE thAt Of the high Priest, shIvEr AnD gO riGid beSIde her.

ThEn She WaS toO occuPIed to nOtice. for tHe FaBRic Around hER wRISt waS nOt A perFecT iNsulaTor. HER enTire bodY tingled. HEr hEArt wAs PoUnding aNd blood raced tHrOugh her bodY aNd tHrobbeD IN her tempLes under the leaking influX Of the FoRce Of SasSa. It Was a terriBle SensatIon, EVil and Yet comPelliNg. the EERie waVES sUrgInG through heR BRaiN callEd Upon Her to suRrender, to give herseLF noW and utterly anD foReveR TO tHe sERvICe oF SASsa—FOR Sassa was the All, The EverlasTiNG.

ALmost she suCCumBeD. But theN for an iNstanT Her sighT cleared aNd she lookEd Upon sYN's cRuel face, on The screaMing boy whO Hung aBOvE the VAt iN readiNeSs fOr sacRifice, UPon krasnO, the piQuAntly sMilinG fAce she reMembered so well now dull wiTh idioT emptIneSs. Soon he tOo wOUld Be screamiNg abOve the Vat.

 from Syn's enveloping bla ck cloak,touch edthe  f aste ning  at his throat ,  and  as the garment fell a way h ed rewh is  slen der whi t eb o dyer ec t a nd ra isedhis  arms i n invocati onto  Great Sassa .  T he Observa nce  had finally  be gun.
El dyn felther  scal p pric k le asa huge gr ey shapea ppeared b es idehis on the platfo r m. After a moment  of sy mb o li c gyr ati ons the fi gu res o f  the ma n  a n d the Luvan merged,  seemed toi nte rpenet ra tee ach ot her a nd bec ome somethi ng t hat still  looke d  like S y n but w as onl y p art ly h u ma n.  Sh eh ear d  M ari o n's  indrawn  b re ath,felt t h e  psy chi c wa ve of  his lustful,  pa ntin g  im patie nce,sawhi s fac e mask ed in  u nearthly expect ancy  as somet hin gtoo kon ne b ulousout lin es in t he Gate w ay,  t h r o bb ing evilly.

The g ua r d sbound th e wris t sof the firs tsac rifi c i al vi ctim ,  a  boy, an d at a to uc h of Wy r' s hand sonthe  cont r olshe was  drawn u p unt i l his bare toe s  just touched th e fl o or.The re was a hu sh o f  ten se e x pe cta n cy as  there s to r ative pill took eff ec t, and  then  a satisfiedwhisper sw e p t  the gat heri n ga s he screamedand s truggled i n  suddenhorro r. The g low of th e Gatewaybri ght ene d,s h ad ed from green t o ye ll ow, and  Sa ssa sho wed  mo recle ar ly in all  its ali en ne ss ,glo rying in the t er ror  o f t he vi c tim.
Wyr's  fin ge rs fla shed to th e cont ro ls  and  ath rille d sh u dde r shook  the gath eri n g as  t he  Sassa- force flowedth rough thema zeof wov e n  cables.  Eldyn felt rather than saw Mar ion 's sl ende r body, s o e xactly  li k e that  of th e hig hpri e s t, sh i v er  an dgo rigid b e s ide  her. 
Then  she wa s too occupied ton oti ce. For the f abr ic a r o un d h e rw ris tw asn o t a perfect ins ulator. He re nt ire body t i ngl ed . Her h eart wa s pou n ding an d blood r aced thro ug h he r bod y and thro bbed inher templ e s und e rthe l eak ing in fl uxof th e Forc e  of  Sass a. Itwa s a te rribl esensatio n, evil and yet compell ing. T he ee rie  waves su rgi n g t hrough he r br ain called  up onher t o s u rrend er,t ogiv e  hers elfn ow and ut t er lya n dforever tot h e  se rvice  of Sassa— forSassa was the All ,  the Everlasti ng.A lmo sts he s uc cumbed. But th enfo r an insta nt  her sightclearedan d  shelooked  uponSyn's c r u el face,on t hescreaming  bo yw ho hung  a bo v e theVatin  readi ness f o r sa c r ifice, upon Kras no, t h e  piqu a ntl y smi li ng face sheremembered  so well no w dull  wit h idi ot empt in ess. S oon  h e too woul d  be screa mingabove t he  Vat .

 from_Syn's enveloping_black cloak, touched the_fastening at_his_throat, and_as_the garment fell_away he drew_his slender white body_erect and raised_his_arms in invocation to Great Sassa. The Observance had finally begun.

Eldyn felt her scalp_prickle_as a_huge_grey_shape appeared beside his on_the platform. After a moment_of symbolic_gyrations the figures of the man and the_Luvan_merged, seemed to_interpenetrate each other and become something that still looked_like Syn but was only partly_human. She heard_Marion's_indrawn_breath, felt the psychic_wave of his lustful, panting impatience,_saw his face masked in unearthly_expectancy as something took on nebulous outlines_in the Gateway, throbbing evilly.

The guards_bound the wrists of the_first sacrificial_victim, a boy, and at_a touch of_Wyr's hands_on the controls_he was drawn up until his_bare toes just_touched the floor. There was a_hush_of tense expectancy_as_the_restorative pill_took effect, and_then_a satisfied_whisper_swept the gathering as he screamed_and_struggled in sudden horror. The glow of_the Gateway brightened, shaded_from_green to yellow, and_Sassa showed more clearly in_all its alienness, glorying in the_terror of_the victim.

Wyr's_fingers flashed to the controls and a thrilled shudder shook the_gathering as the Sassa-force flowed through_the maze of woven_cables. Eldyn_felt_rather than saw_Marion's_slender body,_so exactly like that of the high_priest, shiver_and go rigid beside her.

Then she_was too occupied to_notice._For the fabric around her wrist_was not a perfect insulator. Her_entire body tingled. Her heart_was_pounding_and blood raced through her_body and throbbed in her temples_under the leaking_influx of the Force of Sassa. It_was_a terrible sensation, evil and yet_compelling._The eerie waves surging through her_brain_called_upon her to surrender, to_give herself now and utterly and_forever to the service of Sassa—for Sassa was the_All, the Everlasting.

Almost_she succumbed. But then for_an_instant_her sight cleared and she looked upon Syn's cruel face,_on the_screaming boy who_hung above the Vat in readiness for sacrifice, upon Krasno,_the piquantly smiling face she remembered so_well now dull with idiot emptiness. Soon he too would be_screaming above the Vat.
