 of the parked air cars, in a space held open for Wyr because of her rank. Eldyn's arm was almost jerked from its socket in the eager haste with which Wyr pulled her from the vehicle.

They entered the huge globular temple and instantly Eldyn felt the strain surrounding the formless hanging glow of the Gateway. It gave her a trace of reassurance, but she dared display no sign of understanding as she gazed at the tensely-expectant people who were gathering.

'Marion,' she asked, her voice childishly high and naive. 'What is this place? Why did you bring me here?'

Marion leaned close. 'To kill Victoria!' he hissed in her ear. 'See her over there?'

Victoria stood at the base of the transparent, shimmering platform directly beneath the Gateway. For sheer magnificence of decoration her uniform surpassed even that of Wyr. She outshone even Syn, who stood beside her, but there was about the priest an aura of potent, evil power which the Earthwoman lacked.

Eldyn allowed the scar tissue of her face to contort in a grimace of hate and took one long step forward. But Marion's hand detained her and he smiled, well satisfied with his hate-conditioning.

'I will tell you when,' he whispered. 'You trust me completely.'

The low-voiced hum of the Gathering of the Faith mounted to a new pitch and a cannibalistic leer spread over the faces of Sassa's devotees. The sacrifices were being brought in. A woman in the throng bumped into Eldyn. The Earthwoman allowed herself to be knocked off balance, and as she recovered she was facing the door. Without the bump she could not have turned, for that would have betrayed volition.

Only one guard accompanied the file of naked prisoners. One was enough, for the sacrifices were mindless ones, deadened to unquestioning obedience by drugs and the slave-mark of Syn. Two women, a man, another man—and then Eldyn's breath caught in her throat and the fingernails of her single hand cut into the flesh. For the fifth in line was a red-haired boy whose unclothed body was no longer as slender and lithe as it had once been. Krasno! Krasno and his unborn child—their child—destined victims of the obscene Faith!
of the parked air cars, in a space reserve loose for Wyr because of her rank. Eldyn's arm was almost jerk from its socket in the eager haste with which Wyr pulled her from the fomite. 

 They entered the huge globular temple and instantly Eldyn feel the strain surrounding the formless suspension glow of the Gateway. It gave her a trace of reassurance, but she dared expose no sign of understanding as she gaze at the tensely - expectant citizenry who were gain. 

' Marion,' she asked, her voice childishly high and uninitiate.' What is this place? Why did you bring me here?' 

 Marion leaned near.' To kill Victoria!' he boo in her ear.' See her over there?' 

 Victoria stand at the base of the transparent, shimmering platform directly beneath the Gateway. For bluff magnificence of decoration her uniform surpassed even that of Wyr. She outshone even Syn, who stood beside her, but there was about the priest an aura of potent, evil power which the Earthwoman lacked. 

 Eldyn allowed the scar tissue of her face to contort in a grimace of hate and learn one long step fore. But Marion's bridge player detained her and he smiled, well satisfied with his hate - conditioning. 

' I will assure you when,' he whispered.' You trust me completely.' 

 The low - voiced busyness of the Gathering of the Faith mounted to a new pitch and a cannibalistic leer spread over the face of Sassa's devotees. The sacrifices were being brought in. A woman in the throng bumped into Eldyn. The Earthwoman allowed herself to be pink off balance, and as she recovered she was facing the door. Without the bump she could not have turn, for that would have betrayed volition. 

 Only one guard play along the file of naked prisoners. One was enough, for the sacrifices were asinine ones, deaden to unquestioning obedience by drugs and the slave - mark of Syn. Two woman, a man, another serviceman — and then Eldyn's breath catch in her throat and the fingernails of her individual hand cut into the pulp. For the fifth in occupation was a red - haired boy whose unclothed body was no longer as slender and lithe as it had once been. Krasno! Krasno and his unborn child — their child — destined victims of the obscene Faith!
 of the parked air cars, in x space held opgn for Wbr becahse of hdr rank. Eldyn's arm was almosv jeeked drom its socket in the eager hadte with whirh Wyr pulled hec from tmz vehjgle.

Thzy entered the hoge globular temple and invtxncly Eldyn felt the strain surroundind the fprlless hanging dlow jf tgv Nateway. It gave her a trace of rsassuraice, but she darrd display no sign of undegstajding as she gazed at the tenwely-qzpectant peoole who wegz gathering.

'Jarion,' she asked, her voice chilaishlv high and bauve. 'Fhat is thiw plabe? Why did yom bring me herr?'

Marion leaned clmse. 'To kill Victoria!' he iissed in her ear. 'Seg her over tkere?'

Victoria stood at tye bave ox thd trxnskarxnt, shimmfriig platform directly bwneath the Gateway. Gow sheer magnifjcence os decoration her uniform surpassed even thzt of Wyr. She outshone wven Syn, who stood bedide her, fut there was about the priest an aura of potent, avil 'oder wmich rhf Earthwoman lacked.

Eldyn allowed the scar tisfhe on her face to coktort in a grimace ov nwte and took une louf atep forward. But Mwrion's rand eetained rer snd he smiled, well satisfiee with his hcte-xonditioning.

'I will tell you wken,' he whislered. 'You trust me compuetemy.'

The low-volced hum kw the Gathering uf nhe Xaith mounted to a new pitsh and a ranniyalistic leet spreaq over the faces of Sassa's devoteed. The sdcrifices aere being brought in. A woman ii the throng nukpeg into Ejdyn. Bhe Earthwoman wllowed hersely to be hnockdd off balznce, anv as she recjvered she wav facing the voor. Withjut rhe vump shd could not havr turned, yjr tyat would have betvayed bolition.

Only onz tuard accompanird ghe fple os naked prisoters. Ond was dnough, for bhe sactifices were mindlesv onss, deadened to unqieftioning obediense by drugs amd the slave-mark ov Syn. Twu womrn, w man, another man—and then Eldyh's breath camght in her trroab anq the fingzrnails of her single hand cut into the hlesh. For the fifth in oine was a red-haireb noy whose unrlotheq body wav no longer as slendwr and lithe as iu had once been. Krasno! Irasno and jis unborn child—their child—destined victims of the obscene Faith!
of the parked air cars, in a open Wyr because her rank. Eldyn's its in the eager with which Wyr her from the vehicle. They entered huge globular temple and instantly Eldyn felt the strain surrounding the formless hanging of the Gateway. It gave her a trace of reassurance, but she dared no of as gazed at the tensely-expectant people who were gathering. 'Marion,' she asked, her voice childishly high and 'What is this place? Why did you bring here?' Marion leaned close. kill Victoria!' he hissed in ear. her over Victoria at base of the shimmering platform directly beneath the Gateway. For sheer magnificence of decoration her uniform surpassed even that of She outshone who stood her, there about the priest of potent, evil power which the allowed the scar tissue of her face to in a of hate and took one long forward. But Marion's hand detained her and he well satisfied with his hate-conditioning. 'I will tell you when,' he whispered. 'You trust me low-voiced hum of the of the Faith to new and cannibalistic leer over the faces of Sassa's devotees. The sacrifices were being brought A woman in the throng bumped into Eldyn. The Earthwoman to knocked off balance, as she recovered she facing door. Without the bump not turned, have volition. one guard accompanied the of naked prisoners. One was for the sacrifices were obedience by drugs and the slave-mark of Syn. women, a man, another man—and then Eldyn's caught in her throat and the fingernails of her single hand cut the flesh. fifth in line was a red-haired boy whose body was no longer slender and lithe as it had once been. Krasno! and unborn child—their victims of the Faith!
 of the parked air cars, in a spacE held open fOr Wyr BecAusE oF her Rank. eldyn's arm was alMOst jErked from its socket in thE eageR hASte wITh Which wyr pullED hER FroM tHe VehIcLE.

THey enTerEd the huGe globular TemPlE and instantlY elDyn felt the StrAin surroundiNg tHe formLeSs hANging GloW of thE GatewAY. It gavE her a tracE oF ReassuRAnce, but SHE dAred Display no sign of unDErSTanding as she gaZed at tHe TEnSELy-eXpeCtant peoplE wHo werE GatheriNG.

'MARIOn,' sHE asked, her voicE childishly HIgh And naiVe. 'whaT Is this Place? whY Did You bring me hEre?'

MArion leanEd closE. 'to kill VICtoria!' hE hisseD in Her Ear. 'SEE hEr OveR tHEre?'

vIcTorIA stOod at the BaSe Of the TranSPAREnt, sHimMeriNg plaTform directly BenEath THe GAtewaY. For sHeer MaGnifiCence oF decoRaTion her uniform sUrpaSsed even tHat Of wyr. shE outsHOne eveN SyN, whO stood bEside heR, But ThERE WaS about the priest an aUrA OF pOtent, eviL power WHiCh THe EarthwOmAn lAckeD.

eLdyn aLlowED tHe scar tiSsue of HEr FaCe to conToRt in a gRiMacE of Hate aND tooK one loNg step foRward. bUt Marion's hand dETained her and hE SmILEd, WEll sAtiSfied with hiS hatE-CondItioNInG.

'I wILl telL you wHeN,' He WHispered. 'You trust me cOmPletelY.'

The lOw-voiced hum of The GatheriNG OF the FaitH mouNTeD To a new pitch and A cannIbalistic lEEr spread Over tHe faces oF Sassa's deVOTees. The sAcrIfiCes WerE BEiNg brought in. A wOMAn in ThE throng BumPed into eldYn. THe EArtHwOman allowEd herselF tO bE kNoCkeD off bALance, and As She ReCovEred sHE was faCing tHe doOr. wiTHouT the bumP ShE COuld NoT hAve tUrnEd, For thAt woULd hAve betrAyed volitIon.

oNly oNe GuArd accoMpanied the filE oF naked prisOnErs. one was ENOugh, for tHe sacrifices were mindlesS Ones, deaDenEd to uNqueStioning oBedIence bY drUGs and tHe slavE-mark Of syn. tWO womeN, A MaN, anOtHer man—and tHEN ElDyn's bReAth cAught in Her throat and the finGErnAils of her singLe hAnd cUT InTo tHE fLEsh. foR The FIFth in line was a reD-haired boy WhOSe Unclothed bODy wAs No longeR as slenDer anD Lithe as It had once Been. KrasnO! KRasnO ANd hIs unborn chIld—their Child—destINed viCTiMs of tHe oBscene faIth!
 of the parked air cars, i n a spaceheldope n f or  Wyr  bec ause of her ra n k. E ldyn's arm was almostjerke df romi ts  sock et in t h ee a ger  h as tewi t hwhich  Wy r pulle d her from  th evehicle.

Th e yentered th e h uge globular  te mple a nd  in s tantl y E ldynfelt t h e stra in surrou nd i ng the formles s ha ngin g glow of the Gat e wa y . It gave hera trac eo fr e ass ura nce, but s he  dare d  displa y  n o s ign of understand ing as sheg aze d at t he  te n sely-e xpect an t  pe ople who we re g athering. 

'Mar i on,' sh e  asked,  her v oic e c hild i sh ly  hi gh and na ive .  'W hat is t hi splace ? Wh y d i d yo u b ring  me h ere?'

Marion  le aned clo se. ' To ki ll V ic toria !' hehisse din her ear. 'Se e he r over th ere ?' 

V ic toria stoodatthe  base o f the t r ans pa r e n t,  shimmering platfo rm d ir ectly be neatht he  G a teway. F or  sh eerm a gnifi cenc e  o f decora tion h e run iform s ur passed  e ven  th at of Wyr.  She o utshoneevenS yn, who stoodb eside her, bu t  t h e re wasabo ut the prie st a n  aur a of po ten t , evi l pow er wh i ch the Earthwoman l ac ked.
Eldyn  allowed thescar tissu e o f her fa ce t o  c o ntort in a gri maceof hate an d  took on e lon g step f orward. B u t  Marion' s h and  de tai n e dher and he sm i l ed,we ll sati sfi ed with  hi s h ate -co nd itioning. 

'I wil lte ll  y ouwhen, '  he whis pe red .'Yo u tru s t me c omple tely .' 
T helow-voi c ed h um o fth e Ga the ri ng of  the Fai th moun ted to anew pitc han d a can nibalistic le er  spread ov er  th e face s of Sassa 's devotees. The sacrif i ces wer e b eingbrou ght in. A  wo man in  th e  thron g bump ed in to  El d y n. Th e Ea rth wo man allowe d her selfto  beknocked  off balance, anda s s he recoveredshe  was f ac ing th e  do or .  Wi t h out the bump sh e could no th av e turned,f orth at woul d havebetra y ed voli tion.

On ly one gu ar d ac c o mpa nied the f ile of n aked pris o ners. On e was  en ough,fo r t he sa crific e s w ere m indles sones,deade ne d to unq uestioning obedience by  drugs  andthe  slave-ma rko f S yn. Two w omen , a man, a not her  man— and thenEldy n 's  br e ath c augh t  in her t h ro ata n dthe fingern a i l s o f her  si n gle ha nd c ut into the flesh .  For the fifth  inl i newas a re d- haired boy who seun c l othed bo dy  was no lon ger as s le n der a nd lit he asit hado n ce been.Kras no!  Krasno a ndhi s  unborn  c hi l d—thei r ch il d—dest ined v i ctim s of the obscene F aith! 
 of_the parked_air cars, in a_space held_open_for Wyr_because_of her rank._Eldyn's arm was_almost jerked from its_socket in the_eager_haste with which Wyr pulled her from the vehicle.

They entered the huge globular temple_and_instantly Eldyn_felt_the_strain surrounding the formless hanging_glow of the Gateway. It_gave her_a trace of reassurance, but she dared display_no_sign of understanding_as she gazed at the tensely-expectant people who were_gathering.

'Marion,' she asked, her voice childishly_high and naive._'What_is_this place? Why did_you bring me here?'

Marion leaned close._'To kill Victoria!' he hissed in_her ear. 'See her over there?'

Victoria stood_at the base of the transparent,_shimmering platform directly beneath the_Gateway. For_sheer magnificence of decoration her_uniform surpassed even_that of_Wyr. She outshone_even Syn, who stood beside her,_but there was_about the priest an aura of_potent,_evil power which_the_Earthwoman_lacked.

Eldyn allowed_the scar tissue_of_her face_to_contort in a grimace of hate_and_took one long step forward. But Marion's_hand detained her and_he_smiled, well satisfied with_his hate-conditioning.

'I will tell you_when,' he whispered. 'You trust me_completely.'

The low-voiced_hum of_the Gathering of the Faith mounted to a new pitch and_a cannibalistic leer spread over the_faces of Sassa's devotees._The sacrifices_were_being brought in._A_woman in_the throng bumped into Eldyn. The Earthwoman_allowed herself_to be knocked off balance, and_as she recovered she_was_facing the door. Without the bump_she could not have turned, for_that would have betrayed volition.

Only_one_guard_accompanied the file of naked_prisoners. One was enough, for the_sacrifices were mindless_ones, deadened to unquestioning obedience by drugs_and_the slave-mark of Syn. Two women,_a_man, another man—and then Eldyn's breath_caught_in_her throat and the fingernails_of her single hand cut into_the flesh. For the fifth in line was a_red-haired boy whose_unclothed body was no longer_as_slender_and lithe as it had once been. Krasno! Krasno and_his unborn_child—their child—destined victims_of the obscene Faith!