ing decorations were gathered toward the center, nearest the Vat and the platform upon which Syn waited.

Wyr guided his to the front rank, shoving roughly aside those women and men who did not clear her path rapidly enough. Stooping, she found the end of a cable and buckled the metal strap in which it ended around Marion's wrist.

'What do I do?' he wailed in uncertainty.

'You will know, and then I will know more about you. But so will Syn, so be careful.'

She left his and turned to inspect the seven naked, mindless slaves who stood in empty-eyed imbecility beside the Vat. She exchanged a few words with two soldiers who stood near. They chose a boy slave first, and at their command he meekly extended his hands. With the quick skill of much practice they linked his wrists together and slipped a loop of the binding over the hook of the hoist chain. The eyes of the watchers turned appraisingly upon the boy's lash-scarred body, their faces twisted with expectancy and hunger, as one of the guards forced the boy's head back and popped a small pellet into his mouth. He gulped and swallowed obediently.

Wyr climbed to the elevated chair and took her place at the controls of the machine on the Vat. Syn looked down, nodded to her, and made a beckoning gesture toward the doorway.

From the outside came a procession of things. The Luvans. They looked like oversized, unfinished caricatures of women, but their faces were utterly inhuman. Except for beady black eyes they were a fuzzy, pasty grey all over. Repulsive wart-like lumps sprouted all over their bodies. Ominous looking creatures, as alien to Varda as they would have been on Earth.

The leading Luvan climbed stolidly to the platform. Syn turned, unfastening and tossing aside his cloak. His bare skin gleamed yellow-green in the Gateway's glow. Then he and the Luvan met in the middle of the platform and merged in an indescribable way that stopped the breath in Marion's throat, became one in a kinship of alienness. The faces of the watchers writhed in ugly loathing.

'Sassa comes! Great Sassa comes!' The words began as a mutter and swelled to a concerted roar that
ing decorations were gathered toward the center, nearest the Vat and the platform upon which Syn expect. 

 Wyr guide his to the front rank, shoving roughly aside those woman and men who did not clear her way rapidly enough. Stooping, she found the goal of a cable and buckled the alloy strap in which it ended around Marion's wrist. 

' What do I do?' he wail in doubt. 

' You will know, and then I will know more about you. But therefore will Syn, so be careful.' 

 She left his and sour to inspect the seven naked, mindless slave who stood in empty - eyed imbecility beside the Vat. She exchange a few words with two soldiers who stood near. They chose a male child slave first, and at their command he meekly extended his hands. With the quick skill of much practice they linked his wrists together and slipped a loop of the binding over the hook of the hoist chain. The eyes of the watchers sour appraisingly upon the boy's lash - marred soundbox, their face twisted with expectancy and hunger, as one of the precaution forced the boy's head back and popped a belittled pellet into his mouth. He gulped and swallowed obediently. 

 Wyr climbed to the elevated president and took her place at the controls of the machine on the Vat. Syn count down, nod to her, and made a beckoning gesture toward the doorway. 

 From the outside came a procession of things. The Luvans. They looked like outsize, unfinished caricatures of women, but their faces were utterly inhuman. Except for beady black eyes they were a fuzzy, gluey grey all over. Repulsive wart - like ball sprouted wholly over their bodies. Ominous looking creatures, equally alien to Varda as they would have been on Earth. 

 The leading Luvan climbed stolidly to the platform. Syn plow, unfastening and flip aside his cloak. His plain skin gleamed yellow - green in the Gateway's glow. Then he and the Luvan meet in the middle of the platform and unify in an indescribable way that stopped the breath in Marion's throat, became one in a kinship of alienness. The face of the watchers writhed in ugly loathing. 

' Sassa comes! Great Sassa comes!' The lyric begin as a mutter and swelled to a concerted roar that
ing decorations were gathertd toward the cenjee, nearxst the Vat and the platform upon which Syn wqited.

Qyr guided his to the wront rann, shovint ronghly aside thosx women and meh who vid not clear hgr path rapigly enough. Stompkny, she found the end of a cable and btckled yhf metal strap yn wnych jn tnded around Marion's wrist.

'What do I do?' ht wailed in uncertsinty.

'You will know, and thej I aill know more abokt you. But wo wyol Syn, so be careful.'

Sht neft his ahd turned to inspect the seven vaked, mindless wlqved who stood mn empny-eyed imbecility beshde the Vat. She exchakged e feq words with two soldmers who stood near. Jhey chose a boy slave first, qne at jheir comoqnd he mxekmy extfndxd his handa. With the wuick skill of much pwqctice they ljnked rif wrists together and slipped a loop of ths binding over the hook of the hoist chain. Tje eyes os the watchers turned appraisingly upon the boy's nash-srafreb body, rhfir faces twisted with expectancy and hunger, wa pnv of the guards fjrced the bpy'd ngad back and pupped c sjall pellet into hls moutr. He tulped anq swsllowed obediently.

Wyr climbwd to the elvvatwd chair and took ker place at the conttols of the machine on che Vaf. Syn lookef down, nosaed to her, and mxde a beckoning gesture toward ehe doorwey.

Frok the ojtsice camq a procesdion of things. The Luvand. Thei lookad like ovfrsized, unfinished caricatures of women, but tnehr xaces wexe uttcrly inhuman. Exsept for beady black zyes tfey were a fuzzy, 'asty grey ajl over. Repulvlve wart-like lumps s[roured qll ovef their bodies. Pminous looking creqtures, as alien to Vatdz as they would hace been on Eartn.

Thd lqafiig Luddn climbed sdolialy yo thd platform. Whn tirned, unfastening ang toasing aside his clpah. His bate skin gjeamed yellow-breen in the Gatewwy's gnow. Then he and the Luvan met in the middme of the plwtform and mqrgee in an indexcribable way that stopped the breath ii Marion's throat, becamg one in a kinship of slienness. Tie facqs of the watchers writhed in ugly loathing.

'Sasxa comes! Great Sassa domes!' Dhe wlrds began as a mutter and swelled to a concerted roar that
ing decorations were gathered toward the center, Vat the platform which Syn waited. front shoving roughly aside women and men did not clear her path rapidly Stooping, she found the end of a cable and buckled the metal strap which it ended around Marion's wrist. 'What do I do?' he wailed in 'You know, then will know more about you. But so will Syn, so be careful.' She left his and to inspect the seven naked, mindless slaves who in empty-eyed imbecility beside Vat. She exchanged a few with soldiers who near. chose boy slave first, at their command he meekly extended his hands. With the quick skill of much practice they linked wrists together a loop the over hook of the The eyes of the watchers turned boy's lash-scarred body, their faces twisted with expectancy hunger, as of the guards forced the boy's back and popped a small pellet into his He gulped and swallowed obediently. Wyr climbed to the elevated chair and took her place controls of the machine the Vat. Syn down, to and a beckoning toward the doorway. From the outside came a procession of things. Luvans. They looked like oversized, unfinished caricatures of women, but were inhuman. Except for black eyes they were fuzzy, grey all over. Repulsive sprouted over looking as to Varda as they have been on Earth. The Luvan climbed stolidly to and tossing aside his cloak. His bare skin yellow-green in the Gateway's glow. Then he the Luvan met in the middle of the platform and merged in indescribable way the breath in Marion's throat, became one in kinship of alienness. The of the watchers writhed in ugly loathing. 'Sassa comes! Sassa The words as a mutter swelled to a roar that
ing decorations were gathereD toward the CenteR, neAreSt The VAt anD the platform upON whiCh Syn waited.

Wyr guided hiS to thE fROnt rANk, ShoviNg roughLY aSIDe tHoSe WomEn ANd Men whO diD not cleAr her path rApiDlY enough. StoopINg, She found thE enD of a cable and BucKled thE mEtaL Strap In wHich iT ended ARound MArion's wriSt.

'wHat do I DO?' he wailED In UnceRtainty.

'You will knoW, AnD Then I will know mOre aboUt YOu. bUT so WilL Syn, so be caReFul.'

ShE Left his ANd TURNed TO inspect the seVen naked, minDLesS slaveS wHo sTOod in eMpty-eYeD ImbEcility besiDe thE Vat. She exChangeD A few worDS with twO soldiErs Who StooD NeAr. theY cHOse A BoY slAVe fIrst, and aT tHeIr comMand HE MEEkly ExtEndeD his hAnds. With the quIck SkilL Of mUch prActicE theY lInked His wriSts toGeTher and slipped a Loop Of the bindIng OvEr tHe Hook oF The hoiSt cHaiN. The eyeS of the wATchErS TURnEd appraisingly upon ThE BOy'S lash-scaRred boDY, tHeIR faces twIsTed With EXPectaNcy aND hUnger, as oNe of thE GuArDs forceD tHe boy's HeAd bAck And poPPed a Small pEllet intO his mOUth. He gulped and SWallowed obediENtLY.

wyR ClimBed To the elevatEd chAIr anD tooK HeR plACe at tHe conTrOLs OF the machine on the Vat. syN lookeD down, Nodded to her, anD made a beckONINg gesturE towARd THe doorway.

From tHe outSide came a pROcession Of thiNgs. The LuVans. They lOOKed like oVerSizEd, uNfiNIShEd caricatures OF WomeN, bUt their FacEs were uTteRly InhUmaN. EXcept for bEady blacK eYeS tHeY weRe a fuZZy, pasty gReY alL oVer. repulSIve warT-like LumpS sPrOUteD all oveR ThEIR bodIeS. OMinoUs lOoKing cReatURes, As alien To Varda as TheY WoulD hAvE been on earth.

The leadiNg luvan climbEd StoLidly tO THe platfoRm. Syn turned, unfastening aND tossinG asIde hiS cloAk. His bare SkiN gleamEd yELlow-grEen in tHe GatEwAy's GLOw. TheN HE aNd tHe luvan met in THE miDdle oF tHe plAtform aNd merged in an indescRIbaBle way that stoPpeD the BREaTh iN maRIon'S tHRoaT, BEcame one in a kinsHip of alienNeSS. THe faces of tHE waTcHers wriThed in uGly loAThing.

'SaSsa comes! GReat Sassa CoMes!' THE WorDs began as a Mutter anD swelled tO A concERtEd roaR thAt
ing decorations were gathe red toward  thecen ter ,near estthe Vat and th e  pla tform upon which Syn w aited .Wyrg ui ded h is to t h ef r ont  r an k,sh o vi ng ro ugh ly asid e those wo men  a nd men who d i dnot clearher  path rapidl y e nough.  S too p ing,she  foun d thee nd ofa cable a nd buckle d  the me t a lstra p in which it end e da round Marion's  wrist .'W h a t d o I  do?' he w ai led i n  uncert a in t y . 

' Y ou will know,  and then I wil l know  m ore aboutyou.Bu t  so  will Syn,so b e careful .'

Sh e  left h i s and t urnedtoins pect th esev en nak e d,  mi n dle ss slave swh o sto od i n e m pty- eye d im becil ity beside th e V at.S heexcha ngeda fe wwords  withtwo s ol diers who stood  nea r. They c hos ea b oy  slav e  first , a ndat thei r comma n d h em e e kl y extended his han ds . Wi th the q uick s k il lo f much p ra cti ce t h e y lin kedh is  wriststogeth e ran d slipp ed  a loo pofthe  bind i ng o ver th e hook o f the hoist chain. T h e eyes of the wa t c he r s tu rne d appraisin glyu pontheb oy 'sl ash-s carre db od y , their faces twist ed  withexpec tancy and hun ger, as on e o f the gu ards fo r ced the boy'sheadback and p o pped a s mallpellet i nto his m o u th. He g ulp edand  sw a l lo wed obedientl y . 

Wy rclimbed  to  the el eva ted  ch air  a nd took h er place  a tth econ trols of the m ac hin eonthe V a t. Syn  look ed d ow n, nod ded toh er , andma de  a b eck on ing g estu r e t oward t he doorwa y.From  t he  outsid e came a proc es sion of th in gs.  The L u v ans. The y looked like oversized ,  unfini she d car icat ures of w ome n, but  th e ir fac es wer e utt er lyi n human . Ex cep tfor beadyb l ack  eyes  t heywere afuzzy, pasty greya llover. Repulsi vewart - l ik e l u mp s  sp ro u ted a ll over their b odies. Omi no u slooking cr e atu re s, as a lien to  Vard a  as the y would h ave beenon  Ear t h .
The leadin g Luvanclimbed s t olidl y  t o the  pl atform .Syn  turn ed, un f ast ening  and t os sing a sidehi s cloak.  His bare skin gleamedyellow -gree n i n the Gat ewa y 'sglow. The n he  and the L uva n m et in  th e  midd le o f  t hep latfo rm a n d mergedi nani n de scribable w a y tha t sto ppe d  the b reat h in Marion's thr o at, became one  ina kin shi p  ofal ienness. The f ace so f  the wat ch ers writhed  in ugly  l o athin g.

'S assa c omes! G r e at Sassacome s!'  The word s b eg a n as amu tt e r andswel le d to a  conce r tedr o ar that
ing decorations_were gathered_toward the center, nearest_the Vat_and_the platform_upon_which Syn waited.

Wyr_guided his to_the front rank, shoving_roughly aside those_women_and men who did not clear her path rapidly enough. Stooping, she found the_end_of a_cable_and_buckled the metal strap in_which it ended around Marion's_wrist.

'What do_I do?' he wailed in uncertainty.

'You will know,_and_then I will_know more about you. But so will Syn, so_be careful.'

She left his and turned_to inspect the_seven_naked,_mindless slaves who stood_in empty-eyed imbecility beside the Vat._She exchanged a few words with_two soldiers who stood near. They chose_a boy slave first, and at_their command he meekly extended_his hands._With the quick skill of_much practice they_linked his_wrists together and_slipped a loop of the binding_over the hook_of the hoist chain. The eyes_of_the watchers turned_appraisingly_upon_the boy's_lash-scarred body, their_faces_twisted with_expectancy_and hunger, as one of the_guards_forced the boy's head back and popped_a small pellet into_his_mouth. He gulped and_swallowed obediently.

Wyr climbed to the_elevated chair and took her place_at the_controls of_the machine on the Vat. Syn looked down, nodded to her,_and made a beckoning gesture toward_the doorway.

From the outside_came a_procession_of things. The_Luvans._They looked_like oversized, unfinished caricatures of women, but_their faces_were utterly inhuman. Except for beady_black eyes they were_a_fuzzy, pasty grey all over. Repulsive_wart-like lumps sprouted all over their_bodies. Ominous looking creatures, as_alien_to_Varda as they would have_been on Earth.

The leading Luvan climbed_stolidly to the_platform. Syn turned, unfastening and tossing aside_his_cloak. His bare skin gleamed yellow-green_in_the Gateway's glow. Then he and_the_Luvan_met in the middle of_the platform and merged in an_indescribable way that stopped the breath in Marion's throat,_became one in_a kinship of alienness. The_faces_of_the watchers writhed in ugly loathing.

'Sassa comes! Great Sassa comes!'_The words_began as a_mutter and swelled to a concerted roar that