 through the crackling, spitting crescendo Eldyn heard him.

The short stub of her arm drew back, swung, and needles of fire raced through it as she struck Marion's jaw. His grip slackened and with a heave of her muscles she broke loose. She raised her sword—and knew herself for a sentimental fool. Earth repressions still in her mind would not let her kill a man. Not even this man.

The huge grey paw of a Luvan raked the side of her face and she weaved just in time to evade the clutching talons. Three of the monsters towered above her, slow-moving but inexorable. Automatically Eldyn threw her sword full into the face of the nearest and ducked, beneath its outstretched arms.

Wyr looked up from her controls with murder in her eyes and half rose in her seat to rasp her great sword from its sheath.

Eldyn swerved aside, avoiding combat with the larger woman. The hell-glow of the Gateway was deepening to crimson and the ripping crackles had reached a deafening pitch. Soon, too soon, Krasno would vanish in the Vat and Sassa would come through. Her last chance would be lost if she allowed Wyr to interfere.

With a clumsy leap she vaulted to the transparent platform of the high priest. She leaned far over the Vat, reaching toward the hook from which Krasno swung. Her one hand made pawing motions in the air. But the distance was too great.

Krasno saw her, guessed her intentions, and gave her a look at once appealing and resigned. Then his eyes opened wide at the sight of her maimed body. He turned his eyes upward to where the grossly incredible form of Sassa was bulging in the crimson light and shouted. His words went unheard but Eldyn received his thought. He was begging her to ignore him, to leave his to his fate and do whatever she could to halt the alien entity.

But that Eldyn could not and would not do. Such a sacrifice would be worse than useless. The crimson tint of the Gateway, the crescendo crackling, the bulging of Sassa against the weakening thought barrier, all told her that Sassa needed only the additional strength of Krasno's life to come through in an unstoppable rush.

She cr
through the crackling, spitting crescendo Eldyn heard him. 

 The short nub of her sleeve drew back, swung, and needles of fire race through it as she struck Marion's jaw. His grip slacken and with a lift of her muscles she broke loose. She raised her sword — and knew herself for a sentimental jester. Earth repressions even in her judgment would not let her kill a man. Not even this man. 

 The huge grey hand of a Luvan raked the side of her face and she weave just in time to hedge the clutching talon. Three of the monsters loom above her, slow - moving but inexorable. Automatically Eldyn threw her sword broad into the face of the nearest and ducked, beneath its outstretched arms. 

 Wyr looked up from her controls with murder in her center and one-half rose in her seat to rasp her great sword from its sheath. 

 Eldyn swerved aside, avoiding fight with the larger charwoman. The hell - glow of the Gateway was deepening to crimson and the rip crackles had reached a deafening sales talk. Soon, too soon, Krasno would vanish in the Vat and Sassa would come through. Her last probability would be lost if she allowed Wyr to interfere. 

 With a clumsy leap she vaulted to the diaphanous platform of the high priest. She leaned far over the Vat, reach toward the bait from which Krasno swung. Her one hand made paw motions in the air. But the distance was too big. 

 Krasno saw her, guessed her intentions, and gave her a spirit at once appealing and leave office. Then his eyes opened wide at the view of her maimed torso. He turned his eye upward to where the grossly incredible human body of Sassa was bulging in the crimson lighter and shouted. His discussion went unheard but Eldyn received his thought. He was begging her to ignore him, to leave his to his fate and do whatever she could to stop the alien entity. 

 But that Eldyn could not and would not do. Such a sacrifice would be bad than useless. The crimson tint of the Gateway, the crescendo crackling, the bulging of Sassa against the weakening thought barrier, all told her that Sassa needed entirely the additional strength of Krasno's life to come through in an unstoppable rush. 

 She cr
 thgough the crackling, spituing crescendo Elbtn heacd him.

Tge short stub of her arm drew back, sxung, and beedles of fire raced ghrough in as she wtrurk Marion's jaw. Hma grip slackehcd anb xith a heave of her musclas she broke lmore. She raised her sword—and knew hersejf for s dentimental fojl. Eswth dvpvessions still in her mind would not leu her kill a man. Npt even this man.

The huge ggey oaw of a Luvan rakfd the side of rwr face and rhe weaved just in timg to evade the clutching talons. Ghree of the mobsrerd towered abive hvr, slow-moving but ineforable. Automatically Elvyn rhrew her sword full mnto the face of the nearest dnb ducked, beneath its iurstrejched armr.

Qyr lokkxd hp frol hxr controls with murdee in her eyes and hsls rose in her aeat tj wasp her great sword from its sheath.

Eldjn sserved aside, avoiding cimbat with the larger woman. Thq hell-glow of the Gateway was deepening to crimsot and ghe rlppivt frackles had reached a deafening pitch. Soon, tjk xopn, Krasno woulb vanish in the Fah sgd Sassa woula come thdough. Her last chajce woujd be lost if fhe sllowed Wyr to interfere.

Wity a clumsy lvap whe vaulted to the transparenc platgorm pf the high priest. She ueansd far over the Vat, ddaching toward tfe moon from which Krasno swung. Rer one hend mcde pawivg mptions in the aig. But the distance was tlo grgat.

Kravno saw heg, guessed her intentions, and gatx her a look st onbe appealnng anc resigned. Thqn his eyes opgned wide at tfe sight or her meimed body. Hq turned his aies upward to where tre geossoy incrdaible form of Xassa was bulging ib the crimson lighb and ahouted. His worbr went unheard bit Dldrn rxceivqg his thoughd. He war beggkng her to lgnure nim, to leave his to vis rate and do whatevrr she couod to hajt the alien rntity.

But that Eldjn conld nov and eoujd not do. Such a sacrifice woumd be worde bhan useless. Ehe grimfon tint oy the Gateway, the crescendo crackling, thx bulging of Sassa agaibst the weakening tkomght barrier, all eold her dhat Sassa needed onoy the additional strength of Krasno's mife tm comf through in an unstoppable rush.

She cr
through the crackling, spitting crescendo Eldyn heard short of her drew back, swung, through as she struck jaw. His grip and with a heave of her she broke loose. She raised her sword—and knew herself for a sentimental fool. repressions still in her mind would not let her kill a man. Not this The grey of a Luvan raked the side of her face and she weaved just in time to the clutching talons. Three of the monsters towered her, slow-moving but inexorable. Eldyn threw her sword full the of the and beneath outstretched arms. Wyr up from her controls with murder in her eyes and half rose in her seat to rasp great sword sheath. Eldyn aside, combat the larger woman. of the Gateway was deepening to ripping crackles had reached a deafening pitch. Soon, soon, Krasno vanish in the Vat and Sassa come through. Her last chance would be lost she allowed Wyr to interfere. With a clumsy leap she vaulted to the transparent platform high priest. She leaned over the Vat, toward hook which swung. Her hand made pawing motions in the air. But the distance was great. Krasno saw her, guessed her intentions, and gave her at appealing and resigned. his eyes opened wide the of her maimed body. his upward grossly form Sassa was bulging in crimson light and shouted. His went unheard but Eldyn begging her to ignore him, to leave his his fate and do whatever she could halt the alien entity. But that Eldyn could not and would not Such a be worse than useless. The crimson tint of Gateway, the crescendo crackling, bulging of Sassa against the weakening thought barrier, all her Sassa needed the additional strength Krasno's life to through in an She cr
 through the crackling, spittiNg crescendO EldyN heArd HiM.

The ShorT stub of her arm dREw baCk, swung, and needles of firE raceD tHRougH It As she Struck MARiON'S jaW. HIs GriP sLAcKened And With a heAve of her muSclEs She broke loosE. shE raised her SwoRd—and knew herSelF for a sEnTimENtal fOol. earth RepresSIons stIll in her mInD Would nOT let her KILl A man. not even this man.

The HUgE Grey paw of a LuvaN raked ThE SiDE Of hEr fAce and she wEaVed juST in time TO eVADE thE Clutching taloNs. Three of thE MonSters tOwEreD Above hEr, sloW-mOVinG but inexoraBle. AUtomaticaLly EldYN threw hER sword fUll intO thE faCe of THe NeAreSt ANd dUCkEd, bENeaTh its outStReTched Arms.

wYR LOokeD up From Her coNtrols with murDer In heR EyeS and hAlf roSe in HeR seat To rasp Her grEaT sword from its shEath.

eldyn swerVed AsIde, AvOidinG Combat WitH thE larger Woman. ThE HelL-gLOW Of The Gateway was deepeNiNG To Crimson aNd the rIPpInG Crackles HaD reAcheD A DeafeNing PItCh. Soon, toO soon, KRAsNo Would vaNiSh in thE VAt aNd SAssa wOUld cOme thrOugh. Her lAst chANce would be lost IF she allowed WyR To INTeRFere.

witH a clumsy leaP she VAultEd to THe TraNSpareNt plaTfORm OF the high priest. She leAnEd far oVer thE Vat, reaching tOward the hoOK FRom which krasNO sWUng. Her one hand mAde paWing motionS In the air. but thE distancE was too grEAT.

Krasno sAw hEr, gUesSed HER iNtentions, and gAVE her A lOok at onCe aPpealinG anD reSigNed. thEn his eyes Opened wiDe At ThE sIghT of heR Maimed boDy. he tUrNed His eyES upwarD to whEre tHe GrOSslY incredIBlE FOrm oF SAsSa waS buLgIng in The cRImsOn light And shouteD. HiS WordS wEnT unhearD but Eldyn receIvEd his thougHt. he wAs beggING her to igNore him, to leave his to his fATe and do WhaTever She cOuld to halT thE alien EntITy.

But tHat EldYn couLd Not AND woulD NOt Do. SUcH a sacrificE WOulD be woRsE thaN uselesS. The crimson tint of tHE GaTeway, the crescEndO craCKLiNg, tHE bULgiNg OF SaSSA against the weakEning thougHt BArRier, all tolD Her ThAt Sassa Needed oNly thE AdditioNal strengTh of KrasnO's Life TO ComE through in An unstopPable rush.

sHe cr
 through the crackling, sp itting cre scend o E ldy nhear d hi m.

The shorts tubof her arm drew back,swung ,a nd n e ed les o f firer ac e d  th ro ug h i ta sshe s tru ck Mari on's jaw.His  g rip slackene d  a nd with ahea ve of her mu scl es she  b rok e  loos e.She r aisedh er swo rd—and kn ew hersel f  for as e nt imen tal fool. Earth r e pr e ssions still i n hermi n dw o uld  no t let herki ll am an. Not ev e n thi s  man.

The hu ge grey paw ofa Luva nrak e d thesideof her  face and s he w eaved jus t in t i me to e v ade the  clutc hin g t alon s .Th ree  o f  th e  m ons t ers  towered  a bo ve he r, s l o w - movi ngbutinexo rable. Automa tic ally Eld yn th rew h er s wo rd fu ll int o the  f ace of the near estand ducke d,be nea th  itso utstre tch edarms.
Wyr loo k edup f r om  her controls with  m u r de r in her  eyesa nd  h a lf rosein  he r se a t  to r asph er  great s word f r om  i ts shea th .

Eld yn  sw erv ed as i de,avoidi ng comba t wit h  the larger wo m an. The hell- g lo w of theGat eway was de epen i ng t o cr i ms ona nd th e rip pi n gc rackles had reached  a  deafe ningpitch. Soon,too soon,K r a sno woul d va n is h  in the Vat an d Sas sa would c o me throu gh. H er lastchance wo u l d be los t i f s heall o w ed  Wyr to inter f e re.
W ith a c lum sy leap  sh e v aul ted  t o the tra nsparent  p la tf or m o f the high pri es t.Sh e l eaned far ov er th e Va t,  r e ach ing tow a rd t he h oo kfrom  wh ic h Kra snos wun g. Herone handmad e  paw in gmotions  in the air.Bu t the dist an cewas to o great.
Krasno saw her, guessed her int ent ions,  and  gave her  alook a t o n ce app ealing  andre sig n e d. Th e n  h isey es openedw i deat th esigh t of he r maimed body. Het urn ed his eyes u pwa rd t o wh ere th e  gr os s lyi n credible form o f Sassa wa sb ul ging in th e  cr im son lig ht andshout e d. Hiswords wen t unheard  b ut E l d ynreceived h is thoug ht. He wa s  begg i ng  hertoignore  h im,  to l eave h i s t o his  fatean d do w hatev er  she cou ld to halt the alien en tity.
Buttha t Eldyn c oul d  no t and wou ld n ot do. Suc h a  sa crifi cew ouldbe w o rs e t h an us eles s . The cri m so n t i n tof the Gate w a y , t he cr esc e ndo cr ackl ing, the bulgingo f Sassa agains t th e wea ken i ng t ho ught barrier,all  t o l d her th at  Sassa need ed onlyth e  addi tional  stren gth ofK r as n o's li fe t o c ome throu ghin an unst op pa b le rus h.
Sh e cr
 through_the crackling,_spitting crescendo Eldyn heard_him.

The short_stub_of her_arm_drew back, swung,_and needles of_fire raced through it_as she struck_Marion's_jaw. His grip slackened and with a heave of her muscles she broke loose._She_raised her_sword—and_knew_herself for a sentimental fool._Earth repressions still in her_mind would_not let her kill a man. Not even_this_man.

The huge grey_paw of a Luvan raked the side of her_face and she weaved just in_time to evade_the_clutching_talons. Three of the_monsters towered above her, slow-moving but_inexorable. Automatically Eldyn threw her sword_full into the face of the nearest_and ducked, beneath its outstretched arms.

Wyr_looked up from her controls_with murder_in her eyes and half_rose in her_seat to_rasp her great_sword from its sheath.

Eldyn swerved aside,_avoiding combat with_the larger woman. The hell-glow of_the_Gateway was deepening_to_crimson_and the_ripping crackles had_reached_a deafening_pitch._Soon, too soon, Krasno would vanish_in_the Vat and Sassa would come through._Her last chance would_be_lost if she allowed_Wyr to interfere.

With a clumsy_leap she vaulted to the transparent_platform of_the high_priest. She leaned far over the Vat, reaching toward the hook_from which Krasno swung. Her one_hand made pawing motions_in the_air._But the distance_was_too great.

Krasno_saw her, guessed her intentions, and gave_her a_look at once appealing and resigned._Then his eyes opened_wide_at the sight of her maimed_body. He turned his eyes upward_to where the grossly incredible_form_of_Sassa was bulging in the_crimson light and shouted. His words_went unheard but_Eldyn received his thought. He was begging_her_to ignore him, to leave his_to_his fate and do whatever she_could_to_halt the alien entity.

But that_Eldyn could not and would not_do. Such a sacrifice would be worse than useless._The crimson tint_of the Gateway, the crescendo_crackling,_the_bulging of Sassa against the weakening thought barrier, all told_her that_Sassa needed only_the additional strength of Krasno's life to come through in_an unstoppable rush.

She cr