Jon frowned. For the first time the scarred giant's height struck him. "Why...?" he started. "It is my country that we go to," said Arkor. "I know how to get there. I can take you through it. Geryn says it is part of the plan." Jon felt a sudden knot of resentment tighten inside him. These plans--the Duchess', Geryn's, even the plans of the triple beings who inhabited them--they trapped him. Freedom. The word went in and out of his mind like a shadow. He said, "When do we go then, if you know how to get there?" "In the morning," said Arkor. "Alter, take him to a room. Get him out of here. Quick. Go on." They backed from the room and Alter hurried them up the hall. Jon was thinking. After delivering Let to the forest people, he was going further. Yes. He would go on, try to get through the radiation barrier. But all three of them had to get through if they were to do any good. So why wasn't Geryn coming instead of sending the giant? If Geryn came, then there'd be two people near the Lord of the Flames. But Geryn was old. Maybe the Duchess could bring him with her when she came. Mentally he smashed a fist into his thoughts and scattered them. Don't think. Don't think. Thinking binds up your mind, and you can never be-- He stopped. Then another thought wormed into his skull, the thought of five years of glittering hunger. That night he slept well. Morning pried his eyes open with blades of light that fell through the window. It was very early. He had been up only a minute when there was a knock on his door. Then it opened, and Arkor directed the dwarfed form of the Prince into Jon's room, then turned and left. "He says to meet him downstairs in five minutes," Let said. "Sure," said Jon. He finished buttoning up the ragged shirt stolen from the mugger the night before, and looked at the boy by the door. "I guess you're not used to these sort of clothes," he said. "Once I wasn't either. Pretty soon they begin to take." "Huh?" said Let. Then, "Oh." "Is something wrong?" "Who are you?" Jon thought for a moment. "Well," he said. "I'm sort of a friend of your brother. An acquaintance, anyway. I'm supposed to take you to the forest." "Why?" "You'll be safe there." "Could we go to the sea instead?" "My turn for a 'why'?" Jon asked. "Because Tel told me all about it last night. He said it was fun. He said there were rocks all different colors. And in the morning, he said, you can see the sun come up like a burning blister behind the water. He told me about the boats, too. I'd like to work on a boat. I really would. They don't allow me to do anything at home. Mother says I might get hurt. Will I get a chance to work someplace?" "Maybe," Jon said. "Tel had some good stories about fishing. Do you know any stories?" "I don't know," Jon said. "I never tried telling any. Hey, come on. We better get started." "I like stories," Let said. "Come on. I'm just trying to be friendly."