 do not come through easily. Unfortunately the one from which the Luvans came is open much of the time.'

Eldyn tried to think what a Luvan was, but recalled only a vaguely disquieting impression of something disgusting—and deadly.

'I hoped so much.' Tears gathered in Krasno's strange eyes. 'I thought perhaps when I found you that the old prophecy—the one to defeat Sassa—but perhaps I have been a fool to believe in the old prophecy at all. And Sassa—'His expressive mouth contorted with loathing.

'How do I get back to my own world?' Eldyn demanded.

Krasno stared at her until she began to fidget.

'There is but one Gateway in all Varda, the Gateway of Sassa,' he declared in the tone of a person stating an obvious if unpleasant fact. 'And only El-ve-dyn can defeat the Faith.'

'Oh!' She laughed in mirthless near-hysteria at the thought of herself as the unconquerable El-ve-dyn. His words left her bleakly despondent.

'What happened to the others who were near me when—this—happened?' she asked. 'The woman and the man?'

Krasno straightened in surprise. 'There were others? Oh! Perhaps one of them is El-ve-dyn!'

'I doubt it,' Eldyn said wryly.

But Krasno's excitement was not to be quelled. He spoke to the lemur-thing as if to another human, and the creature scuttled up the tunnel leading to the surface. Eldyn thought once more of the witch-familiars of Earth legends. If she had come through to Varda, perhaps Vardans had visited Earth.

'We shall find out about them soon,' he said.

'What happens to me?' Eldyn wanted to know.

She had to repeat her question, for Krasno had suddenly become deeply preoccupied. At last he looked at her. There was pity in his glance, not pity for her situation but pity for a disfigured, frightened and querulous cripple. He did not understand the overwhelming longing for Earth which was mounting within her every second. His pity grated upon her nerves. She could pity herself all she chose—and she had reason enough—but she rejected
do not come through easily. Unfortunately the one from which the Luvans came is open much of the meter.' 

 Eldyn try to think what a Luvan was, but echo entirely a vaguely disquieting impression of something disgusting — and deadly. 

' I hop so much.' crying gathered in Krasno's strange center.' I thought perhaps when I find oneself you that the old prophecy — the one to defeat Sassa — but perhaps I have been a fool to believe in the old prophecy at wholly. And Sassa—'His expressive mouth contorted with loathing. 

' How do I receive back to my own world?' Eldyn demanded. 

 Krasno star at her until she began to fidget. 

' There be but one Gateway in all Varda, the Gateway of Sassa,' he declared in the tone of a person stating an obvious if unpleasant fact.' And only El - ve - dyn can defeat the Faith.' 

' Oh!' She laugh in mirthless near - hysteria at the thought of herself as the unconquerable El - ve - dyn. His words left her bleakly despondent. 

' What happened to the others who were near me when — this — happen?' she ask.' The woman and the man?' 

 Krasno straightened in surprise.' There were others? Oh! Perhaps one of them is El - ve - dyn!' 

' I doubt it,' Eldyn said wryly. 

 But Krasno's agitation was not to be squelch. He spoke to the lemur - thing as if to another homo, and the animal scuttled up the tunnel leading to the surface. Eldyn intend once more of the witch - familiars of Earth legends. If she had come through to Varda, possibly Vardans had visited Earth. 

' We shall find out about them soon,' he said. 

' What happens to me?' Eldyn wanted to know. 

 She had to repeat her question, for Krasno had suddenly become deeply preoccupied. At final he looked at her. There cost pity in his glance, not pity for her situation but pity for a disfigured, panicky and querulous cripple. He did not understand the overwhelming longing for Earth which was mounting within her every second. His pity grated upon her nerves. She could pity herself all she choose — and she had reason enough — but she reject
 do not come through easily. Unfortunately jhw one hrom whjch the Uuvans came is open much of vhe rime.'

Eodyn tried to think whxt a Luvaj was, bur reralled only a vajhely disquietjkg im'rxssion of sometming disgusding—and deadly.

'H fo'ed so much.' Tears gathered in Krasno'f stranbe eyes. 'I thoughj pernwps shen I found you that the old propgecy—the one to defeay Sassa—but perhaps I have heen a fool to believe in the old pro[yecy at all. Xnd Sassa—'Hpv expressibe mouth contorted with loathine.

'How bo I get baxk to ky own worlv?' Eldyg demanded.

Krasno stased at ner until she negan to fidget.

'There is but oie Gateway in all Vatda, the Gadecay of Sassa,' he declaeee in jhe tmne ud a pedspn statijg en obvious jf unpleasabt fact. 'And only El-fe-qjm can defeat the Fwieh.'

'Oh!' She laughed in mirthless near-hystegia zt the thought of herseof as the unconquerabpe El-ve-dyg. His words left her bleakly despondent.

'What happeted tk tht itherr wjo were near me when—this—happened?' she asked. 'Thq wpmsn and the man?'

Hrasno straogjtrged in surprire. 'Thexs sere others? Oh! Perjaps ong of tyem is El-de-dym!'

'I doubt it,' Eldyn said wrylt.

But Krasno's wxcitement was not to be quelued. Ne sppke to the lemur-thing ar if to another human, ans the creature scjttkeg up the tunnel leading to the surfece. Ekdyn thuughj once iore of thf witgv-familiars of Eartj leggnds. Ix she had fome through to Varda, perhaps Vecdans had visotad Varth.

'We skall flnd out about trem soon,' he sand.

'What hcppens to me?' Eldjn wanted to know.

She had to repead her questioi, for Krafno yad wuddenlh become deeply preoccuppeb. At last he looked at her. Bhere sas pity in his glqnce, not pity fpr fer sptuetion tut pity for a dksfkbured, frighttued xnd auerulous cripple. He did not understand thr jverwhelning londing for Eartn which was mountijg wivhin hxr evety fecond. His pity grated upon hed nerves. Dhe could pity rersclf wll she chpse—and she had reason enough—but she rejxcted
do not come through easily. Unfortunately the which Luvans came open much of think a Luvan was, recalled only a disquieting impression of something disgusting—and deadly. hoped so much.' Tears gathered in Krasno's strange eyes. 'I thought perhaps when found you that the old prophecy—the one to defeat Sassa—but perhaps I have a to in old prophecy at all. And Sassa—'His expressive mouth contorted with loathing. 'How do I get back my own world?' Eldyn demanded. Krasno stared at until she began to 'There is but one Gateway all the Gateway Sassa,' declared the tone of person stating an obvious if unpleasant fact. 'And only El-ve-dyn can defeat the Faith.' 'Oh!' She laughed mirthless near-hysteria thought of as unconquerable His words left despondent. 'What happened to the others me when—this—happened?' she asked. 'The woman and the Krasno straightened surprise. 'There were others? Oh! Perhaps of them is El-ve-dyn!' 'I doubt it,' Eldyn wryly. But Krasno's excitement was not to be quelled. He spoke to the lemur-thing as another human, and the scuttled up the leading the Eldyn once more the witch-familiars of Earth legends. If she had come through to perhaps Vardans had visited Earth. 'We shall find out about he 'What happens to Eldyn wanted to know. had repeat her question, for suddenly deeply he at There was pity in glance, not pity for her but pity for a He did not understand the overwhelming longing for which was mounting within her every second. pity grated upon her nerves. She could pity herself all she chose—and had reason rejected
 do not come through easily. UnfOrtunately The onE frOm wHiCh thE LuvAns came is open mUCh of The time.'

Eldyn tried to thiNk whaT a lUvan WAs, But reCalled oNLy A VAguElY dIsqUiETiNg impResSion of sOmething diSguStIng—and deadly.

'i HoPed so much.' TEarS gathered in KRasNo's strAnGe eYEs. 'I thOugHt perHaps whEN I founD you that tHe OLd propHEcy—the oNE To DefeAt Sassa—but perhaps i HaVE been a fool to beLieve iN tHE oLD ProPheCy at all. And saSsa—'HiS ExpressIVe MOUTh cONtorted with loAthing.

'How do i Get Back to My Own WOrld?' ElDyn deMaNDed.

krasno stareD at hEr until shE began TO fidget.

'tHere is bUt one GAteWay In alL vaRdA, thE GATewAY oF SaSSa,' hE declareD iN tHe tonE of a PERSOn stAtiNg an ObvioUs if unpleasanT faCt. 'AnD OnlY El-ve-Dyn caN defEaT the FAith.'

'Oh!' she laUgHed in mirthless nEar-hYsteria at The ThOugHt Of herSElf as tHe uNcoNquerabLe El-ve-dYN. HiS wORDS lEft her bleakly despoNdENT.

'WHat happeNed to tHE oThERs who werE nEar Me whEN—This—hAppeNEd?' She asked. 'the womAN aNd The man?'

KRaSno strAiGhtEneD in suRPrisE. 'There Were otheRs? Oh! PERhaps one of them IS El-ve-dyn!'

'I doubT It,' eLDyN Said WryLy.

But Krasno'S excITemeNt waS NoT to BE quelLed. He SpOKe TO the lemur-thing as if tO aNother Human, And the creaturE scuttled uP THE tunnel lEadiNG tO The surface. EldyN thouGht once morE Of the witCh-famIliars of earth legeNDS. If she haD coMe tHroUgh TO vaRda, perhaps VarDANs haD vIsited EArtH.

'We shalL fiNd oUt aBouT tHem soon,' he Said.

'What HaPpEnS tO me?' eldyn WAnted to kNoW.

ShE hAd tO repeAT her quEstioN, for krAsNO haD suddenLY bECOme dEePlY preOccUpIed. At Last HE loOked at hEr. There waS piTY in hIs GlAnce, not Pity for her sitUaTion but pitY fOr a DisfigUREd, frightEned and querulous cripple. hE did not UndErstaNd thE overwhelMinG longiNg fOR Earth Which wAs mouNtIng WIThin hER EvEry SeCond. His pitY GRatEd upoN hEr neRves. She Could pity herself alL She Chose—and she haD reAson ENOuGh—bUT sHE reJeCTed
 do not come through easil y. Unfortu natel y t heon e fr om w hich the Luvan s  cam e is open much of thetime. 'Eldy n  t riedto thin k  w h a t a  L uv anwa s ,but r eca lled on ly a vague lydi squieting im p re ssion of s ome thing disgus tin g—andde adl y .

'I  ho ped s o much . ' Tear s gathere di n Kras n o's str a n ge  eye s. 'I thought per h ap s  when I foundyou th at th e old  pr ophecy—the  o ne to defeatS as s a — but perhaps I hav e been a fo o l t o beli ev e i n  the o ld pr op h ecy  at all. An d Sa ssa—'Hisexpres s ive mou t h conto rted w ith  lo athi n g. 
'Ho wd o I ge t b a ckto my ow nwo rld?'  Eld y n d eman ded .

K rasno  stared at he r u ntil she  bega n tofidg et .

'T here i s but  o ne Gateway in a ll V arda, the  Ga te way  o f Sas s a,' he  de cla red inthe ton e  of  a p e rs on stating an obvi ou s if  unpleas ant fa c t.  ' A nd onlyEl -ve -dyn c an de feat th e Faith. '

'Oh ! 'Sh e laugh ed  in mi rt hle ssnear- h yste ria at  the tho ughto f herself as t h e unconquerab l eE l -v e -dyn . H is words le ft h e r bl eakl y  d esp o ndent .

'W ha t  h a ppened to the other swho we re ne ar me when—th is—happene d ? '  she ask ed.' Th e  woman and the  man? '

Krasnos traighte ned i n surpri se. 'Ther e were oth ers ? O h!Per h a ps  one of themi s  El- ve -dyn!'
'I  doubtit, ' E ldy n s ai d wryly.
But Kra sn o' sex cit ement was notto  be  q uel led.H e spok e tothele mu r -th ing asi ft o  ano th er  hum an,  a nd th e cr e atu re scut tled up t het unne lle ading t o the surface .Eldyn thou gh t o nce mo r e  of thewitch-familiars of Eart h  legend s.If sh e ha d come th rou gh toVar d a, per haps V ardan shad v isite d Ea rth .
'We shall f ind  outab outthem so on,' he said.

'Wh a t h appens to me? ' E ldyn w an ted to kno w. 
Sh e had to repeat h er questio n, fo r Krasno h a d s ud denly b ecome d eeply preoccu pied. Atlast he l oo keda t  he r. There w as pityin his gl a nce,n ot  pity  fo r hersi tua tionbut pi t y f or adisfig ur ed, fr ighte ne d and qu erulous cripple. He did  not u nders tan d the ove rwh e lmi ng longin g fo r Earth wh ich  wa s mou nti n g wit hinh er  ev e ry se cond .  His pity gr ate d up on her nerv e s .  Sh e cou ldp ity he rsel f all she chose—a n d she had reas on e n o ugh —bu t  she  r ejected
 do_not come_through easily. Unfortunately the_one from_which_the Luvans_came_is open much_of the time.'

Eldyn_tried to think what_a Luvan was,_but_recalled only a vaguely disquieting impression of something disgusting—and deadly.

'I hoped so much.' Tears_gathered_in Krasno's_strange_eyes._'I thought perhaps when I_found you that the old_prophecy—the one_to defeat Sassa—but perhaps I have been a_fool_to believe in_the old prophecy at all. And Sassa—'His expressive mouth_contorted with loathing.

'How do I get_back to my_own_world?'_Eldyn demanded.

Krasno stared at_her until she began to fidget.

'There_is but one Gateway in all_Varda, the Gateway of Sassa,' he declared_in the tone of a person_stating an obvious if unpleasant_fact. 'And_only El-ve-dyn can defeat the_Faith.'

'Oh!' She laughed_in mirthless_near-hysteria at the_thought of herself as the unconquerable_El-ve-dyn. His words_left her bleakly despondent.

'What happened to_the_others who were_near_me_when—this—happened?' she_asked. 'The woman_and_the man?'

Krasno_straightened_in surprise. 'There were others? Oh!_Perhaps_one of them is El-ve-dyn!'

'I doubt it,'_Eldyn said wryly.

But Krasno's_excitement_was not to be_quelled. He spoke to the_lemur-thing as if to another human,_and the_creature scuttled_up the tunnel leading to the surface. Eldyn thought once more_of the witch-familiars of Earth legends._If she had come_through to_Varda,_perhaps Vardans had_visited_Earth.

'We shall_find out about them soon,' he said.

'What_happens to_me?' Eldyn wanted to know.

She had_to repeat her question,_for_Krasno had suddenly become deeply preoccupied._At last he looked at her._There was pity in his_glance,_not_pity for her situation but_pity for a disfigured, frightened and_querulous cripple. He_did not understand the overwhelming longing for_Earth_which was mounting within her every_second._His pity grated upon her nerves._She_could_pity herself all she chose—and_she had reason enough—but she rejected