Battle Out Of Time By Dwight V. Swain Burke knew of the ancient Bronze Age and its legend of the dread Minotaur. But he didn't know he was about to become a vital part of it! [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy August 1957 Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] An utter dark lay upon the hills outside the palace now, moonless and with clouds drawn heavy all across the Cretan sky. Wind, too, had come with the night, rising till Burke found himself fearing for the shutters. The lamps flared on their stands with each new gust and draft. Light flickered orange and yellow on Ariadne's lovely face, eddying through the shadows so that the tentacles of the frescoed octopi on the walls seemed to writhe and twist and turn.... Burke laughed without mirth. It was that mad a moment. And that dangerous. For while he might find temporary cover here with Ariadne, in these private quarters beyond the Queen's Megaron, death yet bayed at his heels. Already, bearded King Minos himself no doubt paced some other palace hall--thirsting for Burke blood; raging in jealous fury that any outlander should dare aspire to his lovely daughter. That slavering Greek lecher, Theseus, too--it was lucky he lay dead drunk there in the corner. Sober, and confronted with a rival, he'd kill just to salve his wounded ego. And then, as if that were not enough of peril, there was ... the other. Involuntarily, Burke shuddered. What chance did a mere human have, pitted against the dark craft of the alien? Where could he hope to find the strength and skill and insight to win over the strange horror from beyond the void? Yet with Ariadne's life at stake, Earth's whole future in the balance, how could he turn back? No; he had no choice but to press on; seek out and challenge the might of that nightmare monster men called the Minotaur. He couldn't help find it surprising, though, that in the face of such he still had it in him to notice the play of light on decorative motifs. Truly, the strange twist of mind that seemed to pervade this weird Mediterranean realm had claimed him for its own! But to dare the Labyrinth, the Minotaur.... Almost without thinking, Burke rested a hand on the worn Smith & Wesson in his belt; then, bleakly, laughed again. Ariadne moved uneasily beside him. Her words came halting and uncertain: "You--you are amused, my lord Dionysus...?" Irritation boiled up in Burke--quick anger that he should have let himself forget even for a moment the desperate urgency of his task. How could he play the fool so--here, now, at a time when every breath, every second, brought inevitable disaster closer?