
The form in the Gateway pulsed, swelling and writhing, striving to come through. An intense crackling hum reverberated throughout the spherical temple. Around Eldyn the devotees of the Faith were sagging and pitching to their knees as Sassa used their lives, drew upon them in an attempt to enter Varda. Eldyn too felt her legs buckling, her mind block weakening, but managed to remain on her feet.

* * * *

Just as Eldyn reached the point where her wracked nerves were shrieking for surrender Syn shot a meaningful glance at Wyr. The big woman's fingers flicked the controls and the pulsating waves of Sassa-force quieted.

High-pitched masculine screams cut the air as the hoist chain unreeled and the victim's feet touched the lavender fluid in the Vat. His writhing body stirred the pale surface to foam as he was lowered. And then, while Eldyn squirmed inwardly in impotent fury, he was gone. Only the cord that had bound his wrists remained. But there was nothing she could have done to save him without abandoning all hopes, all plans.

The restoring tide of the boy's vitality, the very essence of his life, poured through the cables at Wyr's touch. In the Gateway the unbelievable, eye-straining shape of Sassa swelled and solidified, thrusting against the thought-barrier that barred it from Varda.

Even through the insulating fabric a tiny portion of the life energy reached Eldyn, strengthening her, steadying her reeling mind. It was a human force, the antithesis of that emanating from the alien monstrosity, and Eldyn resolved that the Rebel boy should not have died entirely in vain. Quickly but unobtrusively she worked her shirt out of her trousers and touched the conducting wristband to the bare skin thus exposed. Instantly the life-current increased, filling her with a new vitality and a terrifying awareness of how crushingly irresistible the Sassa-force would have been in its full impact. The trick of the plotters had unintentionally saved her life and sanity.

All around her color returned to faces drained to death-like pallor by the alien entity. The panting, rasping breathing of the worshippers eased. Two guards stepped forward and the second sacrifice, a woman this time, was prepared.

And
The form in the Gateway pulsed, swelling and writhing, endeavor to hail through. An intense crackling hum reverberate throughout the spherical temple. Around Eldyn the fan of the Faith were sagging and pitching to their knees as Sassa use their lives, drew upon them in an attack to enter Varda. Eldyn too felt her legs heave, her mind block weakening, but managed to remain on her feet. 

 * * * * 

 merely as Eldyn reached the point where her wracked boldness were shrieking for surrender Syn shot a meaningful glance at Wyr. The big charwoman's fingers flicked the controls and the pulsating waves of Sassa - violence quieted. 

 High - pitched masculine screams cut the air as the hoist range reel off and the victim's foot touched the lavender fluid in the Vat. His writhing body stirred the pale surface to foam as he was lowered. And then, while Eldyn squirmed inwardly in impotent fury, he was go. Only the cord that had bound his wrist remain. But there be nothing she could have done to save him without abandon all hope, all plans. 

 The restoring tide of the male child's vitality, the very essence of his life, poured through the cables at Wyr's touch. In the Gateway the unbelievable, eye - straining shape of Sassa swell and solidify, thrusting against the thought - barrier that barred it from Varda. 

 Even through the insulating fabric a bantam portion of the life energy reached Eldyn, strengthening her, steadying her reeling mind. It was a human force, the antithesis of that emanating from the alien freak, and Eldyn resolved that the Rebel boy should not have died entirely in vain. promptly but unobtrusively she worked her shirt out of her trouser and touched the conducting watchband to the bare skin therefore exposed. Instantly the life - current increased, filling her with a modern vitality and a terrifying awareness of how crushingly irresistible the Sassa - force would have been in its full impact. The trick of the plotters had unintentionally saved her life and sanity. 

 wholly around her color returned to face drained to death - like pallor by the alien entity. The panting, rasping breathing of the worshippers eased. Two guard duty stepped forward and the second sacrifice, a woman this time, was prepared. 

 And

The form in the Gateway pulred, swelling anb writhmng, strjving to come through. An intense crarklibg hun reverberated throughuut the siherical rempow. Around Eldyn the devotscs of vhe Faith were xagging ang pitching to dhdix knees as Sassa used their lives, drqw upon tjem in an atteipt uo qnted Varda. Eldyn too felt her legs budkling, ier mind block eeakening, but managed to rfmaij on her feet.

* * * *

Judt as Eldyn reasyed the poing where heg wracked ngrves were shrieking for surrenddr Syu shot a meqnungvol glance at Wyr. Nhe big woman's fingerv flickrd the controlx aid tye pulsating waves of Sassa-force quieteq.

High-pitcveb masculine screams cyt the dir ds tfw huisu ciaih unreflev and the vjctim's feet touched the lavendtr souid in the Vzt. His wwithing body stirred the pale surface tm fkam as he was lowered. Abd then, while Eldyn seuirmed igwardly in impotent fury, he was gone. Only the corg thav fad bjjbd his wrists remained. But there was nothing shq cpukd have done tj save him eihhpot abandoning xll ho'ss, all plans.

The restlring tyde od the boy'f viyality, the very essence of yis life, pouged rhrough the cables at Wyr's tobch. In the Bateway the unbelievablz, eye-sfraining shwpe of Saara swelled and sulicixied, thrusting against the thought-berriex that bxrrec it fwom Varda.

Egen tmsough the insulatijg fayric d tiny porhion of the life energy reached Eldyn, strengtnetinc her, stzadyinn her reeling mynd. It was a homan forcz, the xntithesis of thav emanating srom the aliet monstrosity, and Eldrn rwsolced thag the Rebel boy should not have diwd entirely in vaik. Quizily but unobtruwivtlt she worked hrr rhiwt ont of ver trousers and tojvhed ghe conductlng wrixtband to the bare snin fhus exposed. Instamtjy the lufe-curregt increased, gilling her with a new titalivy and a jerrifying awareness of how cruahingly igrefistible the Saswa-force woulb have been in its full impact. The trick of the plotters hqd unintentionally xsved her lihe and sanity.

Aln around her color rwturned to faces crained to death-like lallor by tje alien entity. The panting, rasping breathing of the worshippers eased. Twi guarvs stepped fodwarc and tke xecond saccihice, a woman this time, was prepared.

And
The form in the Gateway pulsed, swelling striving come through. intense crackling hum Around the devotees of Faith were sagging pitching to their knees as Sassa their lives, drew upon them in an attempt to enter Varda. Eldyn too her legs buckling, her mind block weakening, but managed to remain on her * * Just Eldyn reached the point where her wracked nerves were shrieking for surrender Syn shot a meaningful at Wyr. The big woman's fingers flicked the and the pulsating waves Sassa-force quieted. High-pitched masculine screams the as the chain and victim's feet touched lavender fluid in the Vat. His writhing body stirred the pale surface to foam as he was And then, squirmed inwardly impotent he gone. Only the had bound his wrists remained. But she could have done to save him without all hopes, plans. The restoring tide of the vitality, the very essence of his life, poured the cables at Wyr's touch. In the Gateway the unbelievable, eye-straining shape of Sassa swelled thrusting against the thought-barrier barred it from Even the fabric tiny portion the life energy reached Eldyn, strengthening her, steadying her reeling mind. was a human force, the antithesis of that emanating from monstrosity, Eldyn resolved that Rebel boy should not died in vain. Quickly but worked shirt trousers touched conducting wristband to the skin thus exposed. Instantly the increased, filling her with terrifying awareness of how crushingly irresistible the Sassa-force have been in its full impact. The of the plotters had unintentionally saved her life and sanity. All around color returned drained to death-like pallor by the alien entity. panting, rasping breathing of worshippers eased. Two guards stepped forward and the second a this time, prepared. And

The form in the Gateway pulsed, Swelling anD writHinG, stRiVing To coMe through. An intENse cRackling hum reverberateD throUgHOut tHE sPheriCal tempLE. AROUnd elDyN thE dEVoTees oF thE Faith wEre sagging And PiTching to theiR KnEes as Sassa UseD their lives, dRew Upon thEm In aN AttemPt tO enteR Varda. eLdyn toO felt her lEgS BuckliNG, her minD BLoCk weAkening, but managed TO rEMain on her feet.

* * * *

JUst as ELdYN rEACheD thE point wherE hEr wraCKed nervES wERE ShrIEking for surreNder Syn shot A MeaNingfuL gLanCE at Wyr. the biG wOMan'S fingers fliCked The controLs and tHE pulsatINg waves Of SassA-foRce QuieTEd.

hiGh-pItCHed MAsCulINe sCreams cuT tHe Air as The hOIST ChaiN unReelEd and The victim's feeT toUcheD The LavenDer flUid iN tHe Vat. his wriThing BoDy stirred the palE surFace to foaM as He Was LoWered. aNd then, WhiLe ELdyn squIrmed inWArdLy IN IMpOtent fury, he was gone. onLY ThE cord thaT had boUNd HiS Wrists reMaIneD. But THEre waS notHInG she coulD have dONe To Save him WiThout aBaNdoNinG all hOPes, aLl planS.

The restOring TIde of the boy's viTAlity, the very eSSeNCE oF His lIfe, Poured throuGh thE CablEs at wYr'S toUCh. In tHe GatEwAY tHE unbelievable, eye-strAiNing shApe of sassa swelled aNd solidifiED, THrusting AgaiNSt THe thought-barriEr thaT barred it fROm Varda.

EVen thRough the InsulatinG FAbric a tiNy pOrtIon Of tHE LiFe energy reachED eldyN, sTrengthEniNg her, stEadYinG heR reElIng mind. It Was a humaN fOrCe, ThE anTitheSIs of that EmAnaTiNg fRom thE Alien mOnstrOsitY, aNd eLdyN resolvED tHAT the reBeL boy ShoUlD not hAve dIEd eNtirely In vain. QuiCklY But uNoBtRusivelY she worked her ShIrt out of heR tRouSers anD TOuched thE conducting wristband to tHE bare skIn tHus exPoseD. InstantlY thE life-cUrrENt incrEased, fIllinG hEr wITH a new VITaLitY aNd a terrifyING awAreneSs Of hoW crushiNgly irresistible thE sasSa-force would hAve Been IN ItS fuLL iMPacT. THE trICK of the plotters hAd unintentIoNAlLy saved her LIfe AnD sanity.

all arouNd her COlor retUrned to faCes draineD tO deaTH-LikE pallor by tHe alien eNtity. The pANting, RAsPing bReaThing oF tHe wOrshiPpers eASed. two guArds stEpPed forWard aNd The seconD sacrifice, a woman this timE, was prEpareD.

AnD

The form in the Gateway p ulsed, swe lling  an d w ri thin g, s triving to com e  thr ough. An intense crack linghu m  rev e rb erate d throu g ho u t  th esp her ic a ltempl e.AroundEldyn thedev ot ees of the F a it h were sag gin g and pitchi ngto the ir  kn e es as  Sa ssa u sed th e ir liv es, drewup o n them in an a t t em pt t o enter Varda. El d yn too felt her l egs bu ck l in g ,  he r m ind blockwe akeni n g, butm an a g e d t o  remain on he r feet.

**  **

Jus tasE ldyn r eache dt hepoint where  her  wrackednerves were sh r iekingfor su rre nde r Sy n  s ho t a  m e ani n gf ulg lan ce at Wy r.  T he bi g wo m a n ' s fi nge rs f licke d the control s a nd t h e p ulsat ing w aves  o f Sas sa-for ce qu ie ted.

High-pitc hedmasculine  sc re ams  c ut th e  air a s t hehoist c hain un r eel ed a n dthe victim's feetto u c he d the la vender fl ui d  in theVa t.Hisw r ithin g bo d ystirredthe pa l esu rface t ofoam a shewas  lowe r ed.And th en, whil e Eld y n squirmed inw a rdly in impot e nt f ur y , he  wa s gone. Onl y th e  cor d th a thad bound  hiswr i st s  remained. But ther ewas no thing  she could ha ve done to s a ve him w itho u ta bandoning allhopes , all plan s .

The r estor ing tide  of the b o y 's vital ity , t hever y es sence of hisl i fe,po ured th rou gh thecab les  at  Wy r' s touch.In the G at ew ay  t heunbel i evable,ey e-s tr ain ing s h ape of  Sass a sw el le d  an d solid i fi e d , th ru st ingaga in st th e th o ugh t-barri er that b arr e d it  f ro m Varda .

Even throu gh  the insul at ing  fabri c a tiny p ortion of the life ener g y reach edEldyn , st rengtheni ngher, s tea d ying h er ree lingmi nd. I t was a  h uma nforce, the a nti thesi sof t hat ema nating from the al i enmonstrosity,and  Eld y n  r eso l ve d  th at the R ebel boy should  not havedi e dentirely i n  va in . Quick ly butunobt r usively  she work ed her sh ir t ou t ofher trouse rs and t ouched th e  cond u ct ing w ris tbandto  th e bar e skin thu s exp osed.In stantl y the  l ife-curr ent increased, fillingher wi th anew  vitality  an d  aterrifyin g aw areness of  ho w c rushi ngl y  irre sist i bl e t h e Sas sa-f o rce would ha veb e en  in its ful l i mpa ct. T het rick o f th e plotters had un i ntentionally s aved h erlif e  and  s anity.

All ar oun dh e r colorre turned to f aces dra in e d todeath- like p allor b y th e  alien  ent ity . The pan tin g, rasping  b re a thingof t he  worsh ippers ease d .  Two guards step ped f o r warda ndthe s ec ond sac r ific e, a woman  this time,  was p repa red.
And

The form_in the_Gateway pulsed, swelling and_writhing, striving_to_come through._An_intense crackling hum_reverberated throughout the_spherical temple. Around Eldyn_the devotees of_the_Faith were sagging and pitching to their knees as Sassa used their lives, drew_upon_them in_an_attempt_to enter Varda. Eldyn too_felt her legs buckling, her_mind block_weakening, but managed to remain on her feet.

*_*_* *

Just as_Eldyn reached the point where her wracked nerves were_shrieking for surrender Syn shot a_meaningful glance at_Wyr._The_big woman's fingers flicked_the controls and the pulsating waves_of Sassa-force quieted.

High-pitched masculine screams cut_the air as the hoist chain unreeled_and the victim's feet touched the_lavender fluid in the Vat._His writhing_body stirred the pale surface_to foam as_he was_lowered. And then,_while Eldyn squirmed inwardly in impotent_fury, he was_gone. Only the cord that had_bound_his wrists remained._But_there_was nothing_she could have_done_to save_him_without abandoning all hopes, all plans.

The_restoring_tide of the boy's vitality, the very_essence of his life,_poured_through the cables at_Wyr's touch. In the Gateway_the unbelievable, eye-straining shape of Sassa_swelled and_solidified, thrusting_against the thought-barrier that barred it from Varda.

Even through the insulating_fabric a tiny portion of the_life energy reached Eldyn,_strengthening her,_steadying_her reeling mind._It_was a_human force, the antithesis of that emanating_from the_alien monstrosity, and Eldyn resolved that_the Rebel boy should_not_have died entirely in vain. Quickly_but unobtrusively she worked her shirt_out of her trousers and_touched_the_conducting wristband to the bare_skin thus exposed. Instantly the life-current_increased, filling her_with a new vitality and a terrifying_awareness_of how crushingly irresistible the Sassa-force_would_have been in its full impact._The_trick_of the plotters had unintentionally_saved her life and sanity.

All around_her color returned to faces drained to death-like pallor_by the alien_entity. The panting, rasping breathing_of_the_worshippers eased. Two guards stepped forward and the second sacrifice,_a woman_this time, was_prepared.

And