But Shane followed her--cautious, cat-footed; through alleys and shadows and tumbled wreckage; till finally she went into one of the ancient, conical, loaf-like hovels in the oldest part of the native city. For ten long minutes the Earthman watched and waited. Then, half-angrily, he rose from the place where he lay hidden, and slapped the gun slung at his hip, and strode to the door through which the woman had gone. His knock echoed. After a moment the woman opened the door a crack. When she saw who it was, her eyes went wide, and she tried to force the door back shut. But Shane put his weight against it and held it open, and said, "I want to see your house, _bartok_." "No, no--!" the woman panted. "I must," Shane said. As gently as he could, he pushed her aside, and stepped into the room. And there was Quos Reggar. * * * * * The giant mongrel stood in the corner, behind the door through which Shane had entered. A light-pistol gleamed in one webbed hand, and the great lobed eyes were hot with hate. And about the creature's waist still was drawn the iron-linked belt--Shane's _Chonya_ belt, the belt of the asteroids. "Welcome, Earthman!" the mongrel rasped, just as on the other night that now seemed so far away, so long ago. "Welcome to death!" Shane froze in his tracks--statue-like, taut-muscled. His eyes alone moved ... gauging Quos Reggar, measuring the distance, weighing the light-gun against his own draw. And the mongrel saw the things in the cold blue eyes--the death, the decision; and he snapped sharply, "No, _chitza_! Wait--!" "Why?" clipped the Earthman. "Why put it off?" And there was recklessness in his voice; a fierce exaltation. "Because it may be you need not die!" the mongrel came back swiftly. "Because there are things you do not know--things that still may save your life and make it worth living." Shane still stood taut, motionless, waiting. He did not answer. "I thought you would come to Talu's name," the hybrid told him, and now the creature's tone held a gloating note. "I planned it well--and you, fool that you are, came to the trap as on wings of fire." "Get on with it!" Shane slashed harshly. "We both know what is between us. Why waste this time?" "The time is not wasted," Reggar answered. "Your coming here as you did proves something ... a fine point on which much may hang, for you as well as me." Shane bared his teeth. His left hand moved in a savage, contemptuous gesture. "Get on with it!" he slashed again. "What is it you seek to say?" A sly smile of sorts came to Reggar's lips. He called: "Talu--" "Here, _Sha_ Reggar." She stepped through the doorway, lithely graceful as always, garbed in a _ban-dong_ of scarlet and gold. A gold clip held the midnight hair, and a gleaming fire-ruby of Neptune hung by a golden chain in the hollow of her throat. Her eyes met the Earthman's, poised and calm. "_Sha_ Shane...." * * * * *