The cloak of control fell away from Shane. His blue eyes blazed. His jaw was hard. "I swore my oath on the star-stone of Hiaroloch, Reggar," he slashed harshly. "There's nothing in this world or any other that will make me break it." And then, with savage force: "Get on with your killing, butcher--and make sure your first beam hits me true, for it will be your last!" The mottlings stood out on Reggar's scaly face. The light-gun thrust forward, and muscles stood out along the webbed hand's bones. "Perhaps there is a thing you have forgotten, _chitza_!" he snarled. "Perhaps you do not recall--the _theol_!" "The _theol_--?" And though the words came out as a question, already the color was draining from the Earthman's face. "Yes, the _theol_, _starbo_--and you know what I mean, for the fear is crawling through your eyes like the worms of Thora! Two doses you've had. A third will make you my slave forever!" The muscles in Shane's neck knotted. His head came forward just a fraction. "Wrong, Reggar!" he clipped. "To make me stand and take the _theol_, the fear of death must be in me even stronger. And that dread I do not have. I'll fight--here, now! So the choice is yours, not mine! You must kill me, or die yourself--" "Wait, Shane--!" cried the mongrel. "There is more! There is the woman--the _Malyalara_!" Shane went rigid. "I can kill you," rasped Reggar. "Have no doubt about it. My gun is out, and yours is still holstered. But let me tell you this: if I do, Talu is the one who shall suffer! I'll sell her in the brothels of Uranus! The great, hairy beasts there shall have this woman of yours--and she will be a long time dying...." * * * * * Shane's lips drained white. His face grew grey. Of a sudden his hands were shaking. "Is it not a pretty picture, Shane?" the creature before him gloated. "You dead--the _Malyalara_ sold for the sport of the beasts there on Uranus--and all because you would not stretch your oath even a little--?" "Damn you, Reggar!" the Earthman whispered. "Damn you, damn you, damn you--" "Then it is agreed?" the mongrel cried, in a voice alive with hideous glee. "You will promise me sanctuary, somewhere in the asteroids? You'll pledge your sworn word to hide me and shield me and give me aid?" "Reggar--" The veins were throbbing in the Earthman's temples. Only then Talu cried out, "No, Shane! No--!" She rushed forward, hurled her lithe body straight at Quos Reggar. "I would rather die than see you yield! You know the things this monster has done to the _Malyas_, the Chonyas! Kill him, kill him--!" A roar of rage burst from the mongrel. His clubbed light-gun slashed down at the woman's bare breasts, trying to drive her off. Shane leaped like a tiger. He clawed at the hybrid's pistol; wrenched it back--away from Talu's supple body, hard against his own. Twisting and snarling, Reggar crushed down the exciter.