There was a crashing of explosions and debris leaped skyward behind them and along both sides of the swale. The firing continued, scattered but very effectively consistent, and he said as he drew his blaster, "I guess they don't want us to go away." He set the regulator of the blaster at lowest intensity so that the beam would not clip dangerous flying fragments from the boulders. The green, tough vines disintegrated reluctantly while the precious minutes sped by; while the unhindered assassins would be hurrying to the point where the entire swale would be visible to them and under their fire. Alonzo was following along near the top of the swale's side, ignoring the danger as he watched the progress of the enemy and reported it to Hunter: "Now they are halfway, Rootenant, hurrying faster--" They reached the lower end of the swale. The last of the vines disintegrated and the ghost tree forest lay before them. He touched her cheek in farewell. "Get on to camp, as fast as you can run." The firing abruptly ceased as he spoke. There was an ominous silence. Alonzo came running, his tone almost a yelp in its urgency: "They are awrmost where they can see us! We got to get her out of here, Rootenant--awrfur quick!" * * * * * "_Lyla!_" It was the voice of Val, sharp with concern for her. He came running out of the ghost trees, all his cold impassiveness gone. "Are you hurt, Honey--are you hurt?" "_You came for me!_" She whispered the words, her face radiant. Then she ran to meet him, her arms outstretched, crying, "_Val ... oh, Val...._" Their arms went around each other. Then the woods erupted as ten blasters laid down a barrage to block any escape to camp. "I'll try to give you a chance to get through," Hunter said quickly. "Be ready for it when it comes." He ran toward the firing line, taking advantage of the concealment afforded by the first fringe of ghost trees. They should be almost within range of his own weapon, now-- Again, the firing abruptly ceased, as though by some signal. There came the furious raving of Narf: "_It's that Boran she wants! Kill him, too!_" Sonig cursed with bitter rage. "_Jardeen is lost to Verdam if any witness escapes--and we'll all hang, besides._" There was a second of silence, and then Narf's command: "_Kill the woman, too!_" There was a roar like thunder as the firing began. The ground trembled and debris filled the air with flying fragments. Hunter, still running toward the enemy under cover of the trees, saw Val trying to get Lyla to safety and saw them both hurled to the ground as a tree exploded in front of them. They would never live to rise and run again-- * * * * * He saw Rockford's plan, at last, and what his own duty would now have to be. He knew why Rockford had said of this day, "_If you can live through it, you will have it made._" And he had a cold feeling inside him that he was not going to have it made.