 for Syn.'

* * * *

Eldyn lay motionless, the slow, unsteady rise and fall of her breast the only sign of life. But her brain was alert. She heard the tantalizing sound of water being poured. A vessel was held to her lips and water dribbled into her mouth. It took all her control to keep from gulping greedily, and she had not had nearly enough when Marion took the glass away.

Once more there was water, this time mingled with perfumed soap on a soft cloth as he washed the dirt from her face. Once she had delighted to have this man near her, but now it was all she could do to suppress a shudder. Whenever his hands touched her skin she could feel that he was Of the Faith in a manner possible only through his own free will.

He snipped the tattered remains of her clothing away and applied a soothing ointment to her cuts and scratches. She thought she understood why he did not leave such ministrations to his slaves. He wanted her first waking thoughts to be of his love and solicitude. Her lips almost thinned angrily.

She waited until he was growing impatient before she opened her single bloodshot eye. And then she held her face blank and empty.

'Eldyn,' he whispered softly, in English. 'Eldyn, it's me, Marion. The boy who loves you.'

'Marion?' Her voice was thick and hoarse, and that was not acting. Thirst had left her throat cracked and dry.

'Poor Eldyn!' His tone was soothing, caressing. 'What did those nasty Rebels do to you?'

Eldyn twisted her face in an idiotic grin. She giggled insanely, and when he tried to touch her drew back like a frightened animal. She muttered vaguely of horrors.

'Poor Eldyn,' he said again, and kissed her. With her increased sensitivity it was all she could do to keep from retching as his lips touched hers. But she clung to him with her one shaking arm as though begging his protection.

At last she lay back and gradually her trembling subsided.

Marion bent over her. 'Victoria is here,' he said slowly and distinctly. 'You remember Victoria. She tried to kill you. I tried to save you. Now you must get well and kill Victoria. You
for Syn.' 

 * * * * 

 Eldyn lay motionless, the slow, unsteady rise and fall of her breast the lone sign of the zodiac of life. But her brain was alert. She heard the tantalizing phone of water being poured. A vessel was oblige to her lips and water trickle into her mouth. It took all her command to keep from gulping avariciously, and she had not had nearly enough when Marion took the glass away. 

 Once more there was body of water, this time mingled with perfumed soap on a indulgent cloth as he washed the dirt from her face. Once she had please to have this man near her, but now it was all she could do to suppress a frisson. Whenever his hands touched her skin she could feel that he was Of the Faith in a manner possible only through his own free will. 

 He snipped the tattered remains of her clothing away and applied a soothing ointment to her cuts and scratches. She think she understood why he did not leave such relief to his slave. He want her first waking thoughts to be of his love and solicitude. Her lips almost thinned angrily. 

 She expect until he was growing impatient before she opened her single bloodshot eye. And then she held her face blank and empty. 

' Eldyn,' he whisper softly, in English.' Eldyn, it's me, Marion. The boy who loves you.' 

' Marion?' Her voice was thick and hoarse, and that was not acting. Thirst had impart her throat cracked and dry. 

' Poor Eldyn!' His tone was soothing, caressing.' What did those nasty Rebels serve to you?' 

 Eldyn twisted her face in an idiotic smile. She giggled madly, and when he tried to touch her drew back like a frightened animal. She muttered vaguely of horror. 

' Poor Eldyn,' he said again, and kissed her. With her increase sensitivity it was all she could do to keep open from retching as his lip touched hers. But she cling to him with her one shaking arm as though beg his protection. 

 At concluding she lay back and gradually her shaking subsided. 

 Marion bent over her.' Victoria is here,' he said slowly and distinctly.' You commemorate Victoria. She try to kill you. I tried to salvage you. Now you must get well and kill Victoria. You
 fog Syn.'

* * * *

Eldyn lay motionuess, the slow, uuwteady rise znd fall of her breast the only sign od lift. But her brain was alert. Shv heard tye tentalizing sound of watev beihn pouxev. A vessel was meld to her lips and wates arnbbled into her mouth. It took all hew contrpl to keep from dulppnd grsvdlly, and she had not had nearly ehough wien Marion took the glass away.

Once more tjere was water, this tile mingled qith perfumed soao on a sofu eloth as he washed the dirt from her face. Unce xhe had deoithtfg to have tiis mag near her, bmn now id was akl she could dp tm syppress a shudder. Wheiever his hands toucred her sniu she could feel that hw was Of dhe Wqitf ih e mznner oosaible only through hiw own free will.

He smi[ird the tatteded reiayns of her clothing away and applied a voofhing ointment to her cyts and scratches. She thought fhe understood why he did not leave such ministradions go klf wlwves. He wanted her first waking thoughts to bq og mis love and sollcitude. Her lips akmlsy thinned angrkly.

She wajted until he was hrowing imparient befjre xhe opened her single bloodwhot eye. And rhen she held her yace blank aud empjy.

'Eldym,' he whispered softly, iu Engljsh. 'Eldyn, ih's me, Marjun. The boy who luvex fou.'

'Marion?' Her voice was thyck and hiarsz, and thxt wss not acting. Thlrst mdd left her throat cracneg and dry.

'Plor Eldyn!' His tone was soothing, caressing. 'Whaj dhd nhose nascy Rebcls do to you?'

Elqyn twisted het face in an iaiotic grih. She gmggled insanqly, and when vg tried to tonch her dwew vack like a wrightened anikal. She mltuered vaguwly of horrors.

'Poor Elagn,' he said agaiu, qnd kissed her. Eitf hqr iicreafad sensitividy ig wxx all she could bo to leep from retching av hia lips touched herx. Nut she coung to rim with her pne shaking arm as thoujh begjing hos krotection.

At last she lay back znd graduwlln her trembligg smbsiqed.

Marion yent over her. 'Victoria is here,' he said soowly and distincjly. 'You remember Victpvia. She triev to kyll you. I tried to save you. Niw you must get wtll and kill Victoria. Yku
for Syn.' * * * * Eldyn the unsteady rise fall of her life. her brain was She heard the sound of water being poured. A was held to her lips and water dribbled into her mouth. It took her control to keep from gulping greedily, and she had not had nearly when took glass Once more there was water, this time mingled with perfumed soap on a soft cloth as washed the dirt from her face. Once she delighted to have this near her, but now it all could do suppress shudder. his hands touched skin she could feel that he was Of the Faith in a manner possible only through his free will. the tattered of clothing and applied a to her cuts and scratches. She why he did not leave such ministrations to slaves. He her first waking thoughts to be his love and solicitude. Her lips almost thinned She waited until he was growing impatient before she opened her single bloodshot eye. And held her face blank empty. 'Eldyn,' he softly, English. it's Marion. The who loves you.' 'Marion?' Her voice was thick and hoarse, and was not acting. Thirst had left her throat cracked and Eldyn!' tone was soothing, 'What did those nasty do you?' Eldyn twisted her an grin. and he to touch her drew like a frightened animal. She vaguely of horrors. 'Poor kissed her. With her increased sensitivity it was she could do to keep from retching his lips touched hers. But she clung to him with her one arm as his protection. At last she lay back and her trembling subsided. Marion over her. 'Victoria is here,' he said slowly and 'You Victoria. She to kill you. tried to save Now you must and kill You
 for Syn.'

* * * *

Eldyn lay motionless, tHe slow, unstEady rIse And FaLl of Her bReast the only siGN of lIfe. But her brain was alert. she heArD The tANtAliziNg sound OF wATEr bEiNg PouReD. a vEssel Was Held to hEr lips and wAteR dRibbled into hER mOuth. It took All Her control to KeeP from gUlPinG GreedIly, And shE had noT Had neaRly enough WhEN MarioN Took the GLAsS awaY.

Once more there was WAtER, this time minglEd with PeRFuMED soAp oN a soft clotH aS he waSHed the dIRt FROM heR Face. Once she haD delighted tO HavE this mAn NeaR Her, but Now it WaS All She could do tO supPress a shuDder. WhENever hiS Hands toUched hEr sKin She cOUlD fEel ThAT he WAs of tHE FaIth in a maNnEr PossiBle oNLY THrouGh hIs owN free Will.

He snipped The TattERed RemaiNs of hEr clOtHing aWay and AppliEd A soothing ointmeNt to Her cuts anD scRaTchEs. she thOUght shE unDerStood whY he did nOT leAvE SUCh Ministrations to his SlAVEs. he wanted Her firST wAkINg thoughTs To bE of hIS Love aNd soLIcItude. Her Lips alMOsT tHinned aNgRily.

ShE wAitEd uNtil hE Was gRowing ImpatienT befoRE she opened her sINgle bloodshot EYe. aND tHEn shE heLd her face blAnk aND empTy.

'ElDYn,' He wHIsperEd sofTlY, In eNglish. 'Eldyn, it's me, MarIoN. The boY who lOves you.'

'Marion?' her voice waS THIck and hoArse, ANd THat was not actinG. ThirSt had left hER throat cRackeD and dry.

'POor Eldyn!' HIS Tone was sOotHinG, caResSINg. 'what did those nASTy ReBeLs do to yOu?'

ELdyn twiSteD heR faCe iN aN idiotic gRin. She giGgLeD iNsAneLy, and WHen he triEd To tOuCh hEr dreW Back liKe a frIghtEnEd ANimAl. She muTTeRED vagUeLy Of hoRroRs.

'poor ELdyn,' HE saId again, And kissed Her. wIth hEr InCreased Sensitivity it WaS all she couLd Do tO keep fROM retchinG as his lips touched hers. BuT She clunG to Him wiTh heR one shakiNg aRm as thOugH BegginG his prOtectIoN.

At LASt she LAY bAck AnD gradually HER trEmbliNg SubsIded.

MarIon bent over her. 'VictORia Is here,' he said sLowLy anD DIsTinCTlY. 'you ReMEmbER victoria. She trieD to kill you. i tRIeD to save you. nOw yOu Must get Well and Kill VICtoria. YOu
 for Syn.'

* * * *

Eldyn  lay motio nless , t hesl ow,unst eady rise andf allof her breast the only  sign  o f  lif e .But h er brai n  w a s  al er t.  Sh eh ea rd th e t antaliz ing soundofwa ter being po u re d. A vesse l w as held to h erlips a nd  wa t er dr ibb led i nto he r  mouth . It took  a l l herc ontrolt o  k eepfrom gulping gree d il y , and she hadnot ha dn ea r l y e nou gh when Ma ri on to o k the g l as s a way . 

Once more t here was wa t er,  thisti mem ingled  with  p e rfu med soap on  a s oft cloth  as he washedt he dirt  fromher  fa ce.O nc eshe  h a d d e li ght e d t o have t hi sman n earh e r ,  but  no w it  wasall she could  do  tos upp ressa shu dder .Whene ver hi s han ds  touched her sk in s he couldfee ltha the wa s  Of th e F ait h in amannerp oss ib l e on ly through his own  f r e ewill.

H e snip p ed  t h e tatter ed  re main s of he r cl o th ing away  and a p pl ie d a soo th ing oi nt men t t o her cuts  and s cratches . She thought she un d erstood why h e  d i d  n o t le ave  such minis trat i onsto h i ssla v es. H e wan te d  h e r first waking thou gh ts tobe of  his love and  solicitud e . Her lips  alm o st thinned angril y.

S he waitedu ntil hewas g rowing i mpatientb e fore she  op ene d h ers i ng le bloodshote y e. A nd  then s heheld he r f ace  bl ank  a nd empty. 

'Eldyn ,'  h ewh isp ereds oftly, i nEng li sh.  'Eld y n, it' s me,  Mar io n. The  boy wh o  l o v es y ou .' 

'M ari on ?' He r vo i cewas thi ck and ho ars e , an dth at wasnot acting. T hi rst had le ft  he r thro a t  cracked  and dry.

'Poor Eldyn! '  His to newas s ooth ing, care ssi ng. 'W hat did th ose na sty R eb els d o toy o u? '
El dyn twiste d her  face  i n an  idioti c grin. She giggle d  in sanely, and w hen  het r ie d t o  t o uch  h e r d r e w back like a f rightenedan i ma l. She mut t ere dvaguely  of hor rors. 
'PoorEldyn,' h e said ag ai n, a n d  ki ssed her.With her  increase d  sens i ti vityitwas al lshe  coul d do t o  ke ep fr om ret ch ing as  hisli ps touch ed hers. But she clungto him  with  he r one sha kin g  ar m as thou gh b egging his  pr ote ction .
A t las t sh e  l ayb ack a nd g r adually h e rtre m b li ng subsided . Mar ion b ent over h er.'Victoria is here , ' he said slow ly a n d  di sti n ctly .'You rememberVic to r i a. She t ri ed to killyou. I t ri e d tosave y ou. No w you m u s tg et wel l an d k ill Victo ria .Y ou
 for_Syn.'

* *_* *

Eldyn lay motionless,_the slow,_unsteady_rise and_fall_of her breast_the only sign_of life. But her_brain was alert._She_heard the tantalizing sound of water being poured. A vessel was held to her_lips_and water_dribbled_into_her mouth. It took all_her control to keep from_gulping greedily,_and she had not had nearly enough when_Marion_took the glass_away.

Once more there was water, this time mingled with_perfumed soap on a soft cloth_as he washed_the_dirt_from her face. Once_she had delighted to have this_man near her, but now it_was all she could do to suppress_a shudder. Whenever his hands touched_her skin she could feel_that he_was Of the Faith in_a manner possible_only through_his own free_will.

He snipped the tattered remains of_her clothing away_and applied a soothing ointment to_her_cuts and scratches._She_thought_she understood_why he did_not_leave such_ministrations_to his slaves. He wanted her_first_waking thoughts to be of his love_and solicitude. Her lips_almost_thinned angrily.

She waited until_he was growing impatient before_she opened her single bloodshot eye._And then_she held_her face blank and empty.

'Eldyn,' he whispered softly, in English. 'Eldyn,_it's me, Marion. The boy who_loves you.'

'Marion?' Her voice_was thick_and_hoarse, and that_was_not acting._Thirst had left her throat cracked and_dry.

'Poor Eldyn!'_His tone was soothing, caressing. 'What_did those nasty Rebels_do_to you?'

Eldyn twisted her face in_an idiotic grin. She giggled insanely,_and when he tried to_touch_her_drew back like a frightened_animal. She muttered vaguely of horrors.

'Poor_Eldyn,' he said_again, and kissed her. With her increased_sensitivity_it was all she could do_to_keep from retching as his lips_touched_hers._But she clung to him_with her one shaking arm as_though begging his protection.

At last she lay back and_gradually her trembling_subsided.

Marion bent over her. 'Victoria_is_here,'_he said slowly and distinctly. 'You remember Victoria. She tried_to kill_you. I tried_to save you. Now you must get well and kill_Victoria. You