And the raging crimson fire faded and greyed, was quenched to a trembling mist of sad, dim mauves. "You are right," whispered the Sun-child. "And I am shamed." The ashes of burned-out flame stirred briefly. "I think I began to realize that when you fought me so well. You, Falken, who let your love betray you, and then shook your fist at me. I could kill you, but I couldn't break you. You made me remember...." Deep in the core of the Sun-child there was a flash of the old proud scarlet. "I am a child of the Sun, with the galaxy to play with. I have so nearly forgotten. I have tried to forget, because I knew that what I did was weak and shameful and craven. But you haven't let me forget, Falken. You've forced me to see, and know. "You have made me remember. Remember! I am very old. I shall die soon, in open space. But I wish to see the Sun unveiled, and play again among the stars. The hunger has torn me for eons, but I was afraid. Afraid of death! "Take this world, in payment for the pain I caused you. My creature will return here in Falken's ship and vanish on the instant of landing. And now...." The scarlet fire burned and writhed. Shafts of joyous gold pierced through it. The Sun-child trembled, and its little foaming flames, were sheer glory, the hearts of Sun-born opals. It rose in the rainbow air, higher and higher, rushing in a cloud of living light toward the black crystal of the vault. Once more there was a blinding flash and a quick sharp rush of air. Faintly, in Falken's mind, a voice said, "Thank you, human! Thank you for waking me from a dying sleep!" A last wild shout of color on the air. And then it was gone, into open space and the naked fire of the Sun, and the rocky roof was whole. Three silent people stood on the raw red earth of a new world. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Child of the Sun, by Leigh Brackett