The baron's eyes narrowed. A spark that might have been grim mirth lighted behind them. "And ... there is another thing you should know...." He spoke almost softly. "Your serf genius, Tumek, sought to defeat me. With this." Left-handed, he reached into the stand beside the sleeping-couch once more, and brought out a flat, black case perhaps six inches across. His thumb touched a spring. The cover flew open. A great crystal gleamed on black orlon. In spite of himself, Craig Nesom went rigid. "You see? It ends here!" Zenaor chuckled. "What it means, how the serfs were to use it against the weapon I plan to defeat them with, I do not know. But whatever its purpose, I have it, and its maker lies dead." He snapped shut the case, dropped it back into the stand. "Back, now, both of you, while I call the guards." The pulse in Craig Nesom's temple pounded. Turning, he started past Narla towards the door. Her grey eyes dodged his. She stepped aside, fire-gun lowered. "Guards...." That was Zenaor, at the com-box. Craig stopped breathing, stopped thinking. Like lightning striking, he leaped sidewise, pivoting--back, behind Narla. Zenaor roared a curse. But already, Craig was clawing the girl close against him, snatching her fire-gun, blazing a flare straight at the baron. Zenaor dived over the sleeping-couch. The fireball seared into the wall. Craig jammed the gun against Narla. "Zenaor! If I die, she burns with me!" Time stood still. Silence echoed. Again Craig lashed out: "Do you love her, Zenaor? Do you want her to burn?" He could hear the rasp of the other's quick-drawn breath. "Curse you, Earthman--!" "And curse _you_, Zenaor!" New recklessness surged through Craig. "Curse you for all the blood you've shed; your arrogance, your lust for power, your cruelty!" And then: "Vydys! Bring me that crystal!" Tension. The fire-gun's muzzle, leveling. Wordless, the woman obeyed. Craig gripped the jewel-case. "I'm leaving now, Zenaor--and Narla goes with me! Warn your guards of that!" Silence again, broken only by the sound of heavy breathing. Craig drew Narla back, tight against him, a living shield. Holding her close, he backed through the exit door. The girl was trembling now. He could feel her heart pound. Then they were out in the corridor once more ... the same bleak, echoing passageway through which he'd come with dark Vydys. Only that seemed an eternity ago, now. Jerking the door shut, dragging the girl by one wrist, Craig raced for the force shaft. Slamming back the panel on the down-side, he jammed it ajar. Then, sliding open the other unit, he pulled Narla into the lift-current, closed the gate behind them, and let go of the hand-hold. Together, they surged upward, level after level. Narla's face showed pale and drawn. "Where ... are you taking me?" Craig laughed aloud. His head swam, as if he were suddenly drunk on danger and recklessness and tension. "You'll see."