For a while I with the idea of just it up as a miracle.

Then I it would be a problem in probabilities. It had

been seven months since we had company on the pink at

Okk-Hamiloth. Where would I have gone if I had been a cat? And how

could I have me--my old from earth?

Itzenca a in my ear.

"Come to think of it, the is strong, isn't it? I guess

there's nobody on Vallon with the same fragrance. And what

with the close here, the of sweat, blood, and

you-name-it must be penetrating."

Itz didn't to care. She around my and again, now

and then a on my nose or chin, and up a steady

rumbling purr. The of I had for that cat right then

was close to being one of my life's passions. My hands roamed

over her frame, again the I had whiled

away an hour in for her the lifeboat--

My the with a I didn't notice. In

ten I had the clasp, the from

Itzenca's neck, the out into a about ten

inches long, and was at the my at fever

heat.

* * * * *

They had me three times by the time the was nine inches

deep on all of the block; and the had hardened. But I was

nearly through, I figured. I took a rest, then another try at

loosening the block. I the into the slot, gently

at the stone. If it was only supported on one now, as it would be

if it were a little less than a thick, it should be about to

go. I couldn't tell.

I put my scraper, got into position, and pushed. I wasn't as

strong as I had been; there wasn't much in the push. Again I

rested and again I tried. Maybe there was only a thin of mortar

still holding; maybe one more of pressure would do it. I took a

deep breath, ... and the shift minutely.

Now! I again, teeth gritted, my feet, and hard.

The out with a sound, an inch. I paused

to listen: all quiet. I again, and the with a

heavy to the outside. With no of time I pushed through

behind it, a of air, got my free, pulled

my through ... and stood, for the time in how many days....

I had already my next move. As soon as Itzenca had stepped

out I in, for the water bottle, the I

had been saving, and the of paste I had up. I reached

a second time for a of the I had produced,

then the stone. I settled it in place, using the hard bread

as supports, then packed the open joint with bread. I it

over with mortar, then up the debris--as well as I

could in the total darkness. The bread-and-water man would have a light

and he was in an hour or so--as closely as I had been able

to the time of his regular round. I didn't want him to see

anything out of the ordinary. I was on Foster filed

away in the stacks, and I'd need time to try to him.

I moved along the corridor, my steps, one hand full of

breadcrumbs and dust, the other the wall. There were

narrow every feet: the to the feeding

holes. Forty-one from my I came to a door. It wasn't

locked, but I didn't open it. I wasn't to use it yet.

I back, passed my hole, nine to a blank wall. Then

I the branches. They were all seven-foot stubs, ends;

each had the eight-inch on either side. I called Foster's name

softly at each ... but there was no answer. I no of

life, no or breathing. Was I the only one here? That wasn't

what I had on. Foster had to be in one of these delightful

bedrooms. I had come across the to see him and I wasn't going

to Bar-Ponderone without him.

It was time to for the man. I had a choice of trying

to into my and the block, or of in one

of the branches. I it over for a of microseconds

and against in my tomb. If there were as many

vacancies here as I guessed, I'd be safe in any one of the side

passages but my own.

I my way into a hidey-hole, Itzenca at my heels.

With a year's at her, she could

be not to at the moment, I figured. I had just

jettisoned my of trash in the of the passage

when there was a soft from the door. I myself

against the wall. I'd know in a second or two how the keeper

was.

A light on the floor; it must have been but to my

eyes like the of noon. Soft sounded. I my breath.

A man in bodyguard's trappings, in hand, moved past the entry

of the branch where I stood, on. I again. Now all I had

to do was keep an on the feeder, watch where he stopped. I stepped

to the corridor, a glance, saw him entering a branch down

the corridor. As he I it three along,

ducked out of sight.

I him back. I myself. He by me, opened the

door. It closed him and the and settled down

once more. I where I was, like a guy who's just up

for a party ... on the day.

The man had stopped at one only--mine. Foster wasn't here.

* * * * *

It was a long wait for the next but I put the time to use.

First I had a good nap; I hadn't been my while I scratched

my way out of my nest. I up and started thinking

about the next move. The who the food was the first

item: I had had to a set of and he'd be the

easiest to tap. If my clock was right it was about time--

The door creaked, and I did a fast a branch. The guard

shuffled into view; now was the time. I moved out--quietly, I thought,

and he whirled, the and bottle, and at his club

hilt. I didn't have a to slow me down. I at him, a

beautiful right, square to the mouth. He over backwards, with me

on top. I his with a like a length of hose

slapping a grapefruit. He didn't move.

I the off him, into them. They didn't fit too

well and they to who hadn't a week

where I had, but like those didn't count anymore. I his

sash into and him. He wasn't dead--quite, but I had reason

to know that any he did was to much attention.

I he'd the and until the next time. By

then I to be long gone. I the door open and out

into a dimly-lit corridor.

With Itzenca of me I moved along in stillness, passed

a corridor, came to a door: locked. We our steps,

went the hall, a of steps, them up

two flights, and in a dark room. A line of light around

a door. I to it, through the crack. Two men in stained

kitchen-slave over a cauldron. I pushed through

the door.

The two looked up, startled. I a table, up a

heavy ladle, and the nearest cook just as he opened up to

yell. The other one, a big fellow, for a cleaver. I him in

two jumps, him out cold his pal.

I an apron, it up, and and the two slaves,

then them into a storeroom. I was Vallonians away like

a nuts.

I came into the kitchen. It was now. The room of

sour soup. A of familiar by the oven.

I gave them a that the as I passed to up a

knife. I slices from a cold of Vallonian mutton,

threw one to Itzenca across the table, and sat and the meat

while I to think through my plans.

Owner Qohey was a big man to but he was the one with the

answers. If I make my way to his and if I wasn't

stopped I'd the truth out of him, then I might to

Foster and tell him that if he had the memory machine I had

the memory, if it hadn't been from the of a knapsack

aboard a at Okk-Hamiloth.

Four 'if's' and a 'might'--but it was something to shoot at. My first

move would be to Qohey's quarters, here in the Palace,

and inside. My bodyguard's was as good a as any for

the attempt.

I off my of the meat and got to my feet. I'd have to

find a place to clean myself up, shave--

The door open and two came through it, talking

loudly, laughing.

"Hey, cook! Set out meat for--"

The in the lead stopped short, at me. I back. It was

Torbu.

"Drgon! How did you...?" He off.

The other came past him, looked me over. "You're no Brother

of the Guard--" he started.

I for the the kitchen-slave had left on the table,

backed against a tall cupboard. The his club.

"Hold it, Blon," said Torbu. "Drgon's okay." He looked at me. "I kind

of you for done for, Drgon. The boys you over pretty

good."

"Yeah," I returned, "and thanks for your help in stopping it."

"This is the we immured!" Blon out. "Take him!"

Torbu shifted. "Hold it a minute," he said. He looked uncomfortable.

"Listen, you two!" I said. "You to in the around

here. You think it's a great life, all play and no barred

and of for the winner. I know, it was about Cagu,

but that's life, isn't it? But what about the I saw in that

Audience Hall? You try not to think about that angle, is that it?"

"The Owner's right--" Blon started.

"I didn't like the with the wires, Blon," said Torbu. "You didn't

either; neither did most of the boys--"

"And I don't much of a myself," I said. "There

are a of your I plan to look up when I have some free

time--"

"I didn't a hand on you, Drgon," said Torbu. "I didn't want no part

of that."

"It was the Owner's orders," said Blon. "What was I go, tell

him----"

"Never mind," I said. "I'll tell him myself. That's all I want: just a

short with the Owner--minus the wire nets."

"Wow ..." Torbu, "yeah, that'd be a bout." He to Blon.

"This guy's got a punch, Blon. He don't look so but he swap

buffets with the Fire Drgon he's named after. If he's that good with a

long blade--"

"Just me one," I said, "and me the way to his apartment."

"The Owner'll cut this to in two minutes flat,"

said Blon.

"Let's the boys."

"How we it to the Owner?" said Blon. "He

ain't think much of he was and safe

turnin' up in his ... armed."

"We're Brothers of the Guard," said Torbu. "We ain't got much but we

got our Code. It don't say nothing about wires. If we don't up our

oath to the Brotherhood we ain't no than slaves." He to

me. "Come on, Drgon. We'll take you to the Guardroom so you can clean

up and put on a good blade. If you're all your at

once, you do it right."

* * * * *

Torbu as the boys and me into a guardsman's

fighting outfit. I had him uneasy, maybe started him

thinking. If I last--just those 'two minutes flat'--before Owner

Qohey killed me, then he'd his bet, I'd be out of his hair,

and he go to being Torbu, a plain guy with a Code he

could still in. And if I won....

I in the clean of leather and steel. Torbu

led the way and fifteen followed, like a of trolls.

There were out at this hour; those who saw us gaped

from a safe and on about their business. We the

empty Audience Hall, a wide staircase, along a spacious

corridor with rich and in deep-pile silk, with

soft lights around doors.

We stopped a great door. Two in dress purple

sauntered over to see what it was all about. Torbu them in. They

hesitated, looked us over....

"We're goin' in, rookie," said Torbu. "Open up." They did.

I pushed past Torbu into a room Gope's state

apartment look like a four-dollar motel. Bright Cintelight streamed

through tall windows, me a wide and somebody in it. I went

to it, the bedclothes, and them off onto the floor.

Owner Qohey sat up slowly--seven of muscle. He looked at me,

glanced past me to the of my escort....

He was out of the like a tiger, for me. There

was no time to with the sword. I to meet him, all

my weight into a right and it connect. I past,

whirled.

Qohey was ... but still on his feet. I had him with

everything I had, nearly my ... and he was still standing.

I couldn't let him rest. I was after him, a hard to the

kidneys, him across the as he turned, a left and right

into his stomach----

A from the top of the Golden Gate Bridge and shattered

every in my body. There was a like surf, and I was

floating in it, dead. Then I was in Hell, being by red-hot

tridents.... I my eyes. The was now. I saw

Qohey, against the of the bed, heavily. I had to

get him.

I got my under me, up. My was in and my left

arm to somebody else. Okay; I still had my right. I it

over to Qohey, into position. He didn't look at me; he

seemed to be having trouble breathing; those punches had to

him. I a spot just the right ear, back, and threw

a trip-hammer with my and it. I the

jaw go. Qohey jumped the foot-board and onto the like a

hundred-car an open switch. I sat on the of

the and in air and to the lights that

were in.

After I noticed Torbu in of me with the cat under

one arm. Both of them were at me. "Any orders, Owner Drgon?"

I my voice. "Wake him up and him in a chair. I want to talk

to him."

Ex-Owner Qohey didn't much like the idea but after Torbu and a couple

of other strong-arm had the to him in sign

language he to cooperate.

"Get off his head, Mull," Torbu said. "And that rope, Blon.

Owner Drgon wants him in a mood. You are gonna

make him self-conscious."

I had been over my ribs, trying to count how many were broken

and how many just bent. Qohey's was a like the of a

two-ton ostrich. He was looking at me now, wild.

"Qohey, I want to ask you a questions. If I don't like the answers,

I'll see if I can't for you in the annex. I just

left a room there myself. There's no view to speak of but it's

peaceful."

Qohey something. He was having trouble talking around his

broken jaw.

"The in black," I said, "the one who your place as

Owner. You him and had your boys him off somewhere. I

want to know where."

Qohey again.

"Hit him, Torbu," I said. "It will help his enunciation." Torbu kicked

the Owner in the shin. Qohey jumped and at him.

"Call off your dogs," he mumbled. "You'll not the you seek

here."

"Why not?"

"I sent him away."

"Where?"

"To that place from which you and your will fetch

him back."

"Be more specific."

Qohey spat.

"Torbu didn't much like that about turncoats," I said. "He's

eager to you how little. I you to talk fast and plain,

before you a whole of lives."

"Even these would dare--" I took out the needle-pointed

knife I was as part of my get-up. I put the point against

Qohey's and pushed until a of ran down

the thick neck.

"Talk," I said quietly, "or I'll cut your myself."

Qohey had as as he in the chair.

"Seek him then, assassin," he sneered. "Seek him in the of the

Owner of Owners."

"Keep talking," I prompted.

"The Great Owner that the be to him ... at the

Palace of Sapphires by the Shallow Sea."

"Has this Owners' Owner got a name? How'd he about him?"

"Lord Ommodurad," Qohey's voice out. He was Torbu's

foot. "There was that about the person of the that me to

inform him."

"When did he go?"

"Yesterday."

"You know this Sapphire Palace, Torbu?"

"Sure," he answered. "But the place is tabu; it's crawlin' with demons

and warlocks. The word is, there's a on the--"

"Then I'll go in alone," I said. I put the knife away. "But I've

got a call to make at the at Okk-Hamiloth."

"Sure, Owner Drgon. The port's easy. Some say it's of too

but that's just a gag; the Greymen out there."

"We can take of the Greymen," I said. "Get fifty of your best men

together and line up some air-cars. I want the to move

out in an hour."

"What about this chiseler?" asked Torbu.

"Seal him up until I back. If I don't make it, I know he'll

understand."