Then she was lost, in the red mist of my own agony. A cold smooth noose sank into my throat. Breath and blood were stopped. My lungs screamed. I felt the rush of blood from ears and nostrils. Dimly, through the roaring of my ears, I heard the voice of Malgarth: "Go, Bari Horn! Through the geodesic mirror! And take your ancient secret with you!" Through that darkening mist, I saw the quick movement. My dimming eyes followed a bright parabola. I glimpsed the thing of wondrous flame that fell upon the dark spinning film at my feet. It was the Dondara Stone--that we had sought so long, so vainly! Then the metal giant was lost in smothering darkness. I swayed alone, in agony. I knew the thing was done. The mirror of Malgarth was going to hurl us into some unthinkable oblivion--but not until after we were dead. "Bari!" A soft new voice was calling my name. "Bari Horn, the time has come." I made a savage effort to recover my sight, in vain. "Bari! Oh, beloved, don't you--can't you see me?" Dimly, then, I saw the tall white beauty of Dondara Keradin. I saw Dona Carridan, my own beloved wife--she who had died the night our son was born. They were one. One ghostly shadow that had risen out of the great diamond that Malgarth had tossed out upon the dark mirror! "Dona--" My tortured throat could make no sound, but my red lips tried to frame the syllables. "Can you--kill--Malgarth?" The white phantom of her hand touched my arm. Somehow it seemed to ease a little the agony of those constricting coils. Or, perhaps, I questioned fleetingly, was that but the mercy of death, this woman no more than delirium? Her white lips were speaking. I think they made no sound--I think my numbing senses were beyond hearing sound. But her words, in that dear musical voice I knew so well, came clear to my brain. "We can, Bari," the white ghost said. "For I still keep the weapon that you gave me--and now there is surely no other way, but to use it. Perhaps you have forgotten the secret, Bari. But you have the strength to use it, preserved a million years against this hour!" I tried to make some final struggle against the white, binding tentacles of the robot. But my body was a stiffly leaden thing. Even the pain was gone. I could not move. "I can't, Dona," I tried to say. "My strength is all squeezed out--" The black mist was crowding upon me again. Now that the sharp pressure of agony was gone from throat and chest and limbs, a merciful darkness beckoned. Oblivion was a warm, soothing pool. It would heal all my injuries, cradle me forever. "_Bari_--" That soft familiar voice called to me urgently. It was a golden line that sought to draw me from that sea of soothing darkness. I clung to it. Dimly, I could once more see that white and lovely wraith floating above the shimmer of the diamond. "Come, Bari!" * * * * * The phantom took my hand, drew my arm out of the silver loops.