“Oh, forget those redes. I know what I’m doing. Besides, I’m a Betan and can stand more radiation than most men. A brief exposure isn’t going to hurt me.” “You go and I go too,” Copper said desperately. “You’ll stay here where it’s safe,” Kennon said flatly. “I’m going with you,” Copper repeated. “I don’t want to live without you.” “I tell you I won’t be hurt. And one quick look isn’t going to bother whatever’s down there.” “That’s what Roga the Foolish said when he opened Lyssa’s tower. But he brought men to Flora. And your little look may bring an even greater calamity.” Kennon shrugged, and started Walking toward the crater’s edge. Copper followed. He turned to order her back, but the words died on his tips as he saw the terror and determination on her face. Neither commands nor pleas would move her. If he went she would follow. The only way he could stop her would be with violence, and he didn’t want to manhandle her. He felt an odd mixture of pride, tenderness, and admiration for her. Were their situations reversed, he doubted whether he would have the courage she was showing. He sighed. Perhaps she was right. Perhaps he did need an antiradiation suit. “All right,” he said. “You win. I’ll get some protective clothing and look at it later.” Her knees sagged, but he caught her before she fell, and held her erect until her strength returned. Belatedly he understood the emotional strain that had been gripping her. “If you come back later, sir, you’ll take me with you.” The words were a statement, not a question. He nodded. “Providing you wear a radiation suit,” he said. She grimaced with distaste and he chuckled. Clothing and Copper simply didn’t get along together. “Well?” “All right,” she said unhappily. “And there’s one more condition.” “What’s that?” she asked suspiciously. “That you tell me about this place. You obviously know something about it, and with all your talking, you’ve never mentioned it to me.” “It is forbidden to talk of these things to men,” Copper said--and then, perversely, “Do you want me to tell you now?” “No--it can wait. We have come a long way and I am hungry. I listen poorly on an empty stomach. Let’s go back to the jeep and you can tell me later.” Copper smiled. “That’s good,” she said. “I’d feel better away from this place.” CHAPTER XIII “I was a poor learner of the redes,” Copper confessed. “And I’ll have to skip the Mysteries. I never even tried to learn them. Somehow I was sure I’d never be a preceptress.” She settled herself more comfortably on the tawny grass and watched him as he lay on his back beside her. “Eh?” Kennon said, “Preceptress?” “The guardians of our traditions. They know the redes and mysteries by heart.” “And you have kept your religion alive that way all these years?”